MERCURY
Thumping on our blue wooden desks and clapping in intervals of three with my girl squad, sending giggles throughout the class is my first memory of Queen. It was simple yet so catchy; it was a groove routine for us!
Trying to confine Freddie’s persona to an article is like trying to confine the Ocean to a pot! He was Multitudes, if I were to write I could probably write a book.
Born on the Island of Zanzibar into an Indian Parsi family, Farrokh Bulsara started calling himself Freddie since junior high. Freddie was born with four supernumery incisors, to which he attributed his four-octave vocal range. With a profound love for music, it was very natural for the young Freddie to form a school band, The Hectics, at the age of 12 covering Rock n Roll. They fled to Middlesex escaping the Violence of the Revolution against the Sultan of Zanzibar. He studied graphic art and design at Ealing Art College and graduated in 1969 with a diploma.
After short-lived stints with numerous bands, he met guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor and became the lead vocalist of their band called Smile in 1970. They were later joined by bassist John Deacon in 1971, completing the lineup of Queen.
Shortly afterward Freddie changed the band’s name to Queen.
“It’s very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid. It’s a strong name, very universal and immediate. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.”
– Freddie
Unbelievably creative, he designed Queen’s logo known as the “Queen Crest”: two lions for Deacon and Taylor (Leo), a crab for May (Cancer), and two fairies for Mercury (Virgo).
Regarded as the greatest Rock vocalist ever, he had a larger-than-life stage persona. Undeniably Outrageous in everything he did, he found himself in Queen. He believed if anyone had to be outrageous, it had to be him, the most! A musical genius, he composed music anywhere! He had a piano over his bedrest and would play the melody he dreamed of! Never satisfied, they’d make music for hours, perfecting every chord! He could sing almost anything and with such perfection that it’s hard to find a vocalist with such a diverse range!
Freddie had a way with words. His turn of phrase was charismatic and witty, he left a lasting impression on the people he met. He loved Opera and cats. Throughout his life, he was a dad to 10 cats. He even dedicated his solo Album to his cats!!
As a lyricist, he wrote 10 of Queen’s 17 greatest hits. The most notable aspect of his songwriting is the variety, he never liked to repeat things. He hated repeating things, as is true for all of Queen. All the four members were totally different individuals in every aspect yet they stuck together for the love of music. Queen was very experimental! This led to each Queen’s album being different and unique. Some of their most famous and best-selling Albums include “News of the World”, “The Game” and “Night at the Opera”. And “Night at the Opera” takes away the crown.
Some of Queen’s Greatest Hits
Another one bites the dust This Grammy-nominated, chart smashing track is a total stunner! The addictive guitar track is so perfectly complemented with Freddie’s vocals and he brings out every emotion and note in the song with such conviction!
Love of my life Written for his best friend and soulmate, Mary Austin, Freddie’s performance is so tender and heartfelt, you can’t help but close your eyes and sway! His voice sounds so soulful and true, it became a fan-favourite and at times he had to stop singing and let the audience do the singing! Its easily one of the best love songs ever!
Radio Ga Ga This is the song that showed Freddie’s power, capturing the crowds from the beginning till the end and the crowd wouldn’t miss a beat! This song unified the crowds and left them mesmerized!
The Show must go on The song was recorded when Freddie was near death (so frail), Brian May challenged him at the studio and asked whether Mercury could perform. Mercury exchanged a coy smile (vodka in hand) and simply said “I’ll f**king do it, darling” and slammed his vodka down. He recorded it in one take. The song feels so raw with emotion with death looming around the corner, his grit in the song is otherworldly!
Bohemian Rhapsody I don’t know how to introduce this song but it’s considered one of the best songs ever recorded! I can’t begin to describe this one because it would end up becoming an article on “Bohemian Rhapsody”. There’s no song like this, never will be! It’s perfect in every sense. From the piano to the guitar solo, it’s a masterpiece! This song has different genres all blended together beautifully! ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has four distinct sections, a piano ballad, a Capella, opera, and hard rock. This song is mysterious and can mean so many different things all at once. It’s a MERCURY MASTERPIECE. This song has aged so well: In December 2018, it became the most-streamed song of the 20th century!
Freddie is remembered for his enigmatic concerts! He’s one of the best performers history has ever seen or probably The Best. A shy person when not performing and around people he didn’t know well but when he took on the stage, he became a whole new individual! The crowds danced to his tunes. In other words, they were in his palms. He had such a connection with the audience that they couldn’t help but sing along! He swayed them into an unforgettable experience, a once-in-a-lifetime! He loved including the audience while performing and loved their adoration. Sitting at my table and watching his concerts on YouTube, 35 years later, I can feel his aura, his power. I feel the energy oozing out of him when he performs and I can’t help but move. If there’s one thing I would do if I could go back in history would be to watch him perform live in the Live Aid 1985!
Queen’s performance in Live Aid is considered the greatest concert ever and unarguably it is! It was beyond perfection. If you’re new to Queen, start with the Live Aid Concert!
A concert is not a live rendition of our album. It’s a theatrical event.
– Freddie Mercury
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die I can fly my friends Ooh, I’ll top the bill, I’ll overkill I have to find the will to carry on
On with the show
Comentarios