There are MULTIPLE GENERATIONS of folks that know every note, every word of this song, by heart. There is a video of Green Day at Hyde Park. Before the band comes out they play this over the PA and everyone in the crowd stops what they are doing and sings along ... even the guitar parts. All of them know every note ... thousands of people in unison. RIP Freddie.
I was going to say the same thing! LOL I can remember my FATHER of all people, the same man that grew up on bands like "The Lettermen" and Pat Boone, cranking this song up in the car on a road trip and singing it as loud as he could! LOLOL so many great memories!
I remember the first time I saw/heard it. It was on Countdown in Australia. The whole family just fell silent and watched/listened, awestruck. I was 10.
This is what u get when 4 genius musicians release their creativity with no bounds or record exec. telling them “no”…. a song that transcends through time and is still as great today as it was the day it was released.
The guitarist Brian May is also an astrophysicist, & has consulted on NASA missions, including the mission to land a probe on the asteroid Bennu. He developed a technique to create 3-D images from a conventional camera, which helped the mission land the probe and collect samples. Another cool thing about him is that together with his father they hand built his guitar from wood taken from an ancient castle's fireplace mantle. Pretty f'in' cool! Thanks for your reaction.
Not to mention it was pretty much the first real music video. They never own that enough, but their wanting to not mime this on Top of the Pops pretty much cemented the genre!! There is nothing they didn't top the industry on IMHO
Freddy rarely talks about meaning. He believes listeners should have room to create their own interpretations. You're an example of that in practice. Peace brother
Had to pause when you started talking about those who've served. My son was in Iraq for a year and in Afghanistan almost a year in the Army. My Dad was a lifer in the Air Force, one cousin is a sniper in the Green Beret (we aren't even allowed to know where he is!!), and Uncles in the Navy & Army. While I was a "Blue Star" Mom...I was just PRAYING that I wouldn't become a "Gold Star" Mom! Each letter from Jonathan was priceless...and scary. Unfortunately he returned with mental health issues. That's the heartbreak. He's never told me what he did or saw during either deployment.
Comment 2: just a couple suggestions if you come across a person in the military! If you are ahead of them in a line for coffee or something, BUY THEIR ORDER!! Same thing if you see them in a restaurant!! They aren't paid as much as you think, especially considering what's asked of them!! On flights: If you are in 1st class & see somebody in coach that's in the military, TRADE SEATS!!!! They spend HOURS & HOURS in airports going across the world! A little extra leg room and a bit of pampering is MASSIVELY appreciated!! If you happen to just see somebody in uniform... please....go thank them for their service and shake their hand!! You can pay their movie tickets, etc., and something even that small goes a long way to encourage them!!
On an interview with Rick Beato, asked Brian May - the guitarist- about the meaning of Bohemian Rhapsody. Brian mentioned that Freddy never really talked about the meaning of Bohemian Rhapsody and he was glad he never did. Leaves it open to interpretation for everyone.
Western nc here 👋. My world has been turned upside down, just got cell phone service back today. Needed a moment away from the disaster around me. Thanks for some Queen today, took me away and as always you made me smile thru my tears. Chimney Rock NC is gone! It doesnt exist anymore. As many other small mtn towns. Keep us in your prayers out there, we need all of them. Country folks WILL survive, we are living proof in these mtns! Its sad but beautful, people helping people, neighbors checking on each other, sharing what you have with one another, food, gas for generators, water. We will get thru this together. ❤
That makes sense in relation to this song. His use of both the words Bismillah, from Arabic, literally: in the name of God, the merciful and compassionate. And Beelzebu. (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) the chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell. Both speak to the inner battle and his thought of not being born at all may relate to why would God have created him as he is if he can’t live that life. I believe he is of Persian descent. Beautiful religion of the mystics.
@@sandrasmith7091 Bisexual more on gay spectrum. She didnt cope with him being open relationship. So they broke up. But remind like his eternal platonic love until the last day. He dedicated her the love of my life.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a masterpiece from Queen & Freddie was the ultimate showman. Queen was and is so epic! This song was operatic experience. Brian Mays guitar! ❤❤
The art of making great songs and music is to create a narrative within the lyrics so that the listener can interpret the song to relate to whatever they have desired the meaning of the song to be..
I have friends who, when you ask them "hey, what are you looking at?" "What do you see?", reply with "I see a little silhouette of man". Too funny. That line might last forever.
This video was made for the programme Top of the Pops because they were unable to appear. It blew our minds. People can sing it word for word to this day.
I remember it being shown on The Midnight Special, back when "promo clips" (as music videos were called then) were something that only Big Stars could afford to make. The first thing I noticed was that the shadowy poses of the four guys were a re-creation of the cover shot for Queen II.
I could be wrong, but musicians on Top of the Pops lip synced/mimed their songs & I suspect Queen wouldn't do that, therefore the reason for sending the video. Respect for their decision to do so.
@@CharCanuck14 they definately had tour commitments, they had appeared on TOTP before, Dont know if after and they stuck with vids / films - esp with the rise of MTV and so on
@CharCanuck14 You're not wrong but only half right. There were live performers in TOTPS, but eventually TOPTS stopped allowing live performances as it was a nightmare for the sound engineer who had to deal with different sound levels each performer every 3 munites which was also causing issues for the performers. If you want a perfect example of this check out "Human resource - Dominator ( TOTP 19/12/1991), It's one of the worst performances ever and also ironic.
i became a fan in 1973 so ive been listening to Queen for 52 years and its still fresh and i never tire of listening to Queen. I absolutely adore them and ive never known them give less than 100%. All talented musician playing multiple instruments, highly educated, especially Brian who is Dr Brian May and has a PHD in Astrophysics doing work for NASA. There intelligence shows in their songs and they are deep, very deep.
Many people believe this song is about Freddie coming to terms with his sexuality and accepting who he truly was. When he says “I just killed a man” I believe he means that he killed the man he used to be, the straight man he’s been pretending to be. The man his parents wanted him to be. When he says “Mama didn’t mean to make you cry” because his family was religious and maybe he couldn’t be the son they wanted. “Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to go and leave you all behind and face the truth” In the middle section they sing “Bismillah will you let me go, no we will not let you go, let him go.” Bismillah is arabic for In the name of god. Then he says “So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye.” In his Zoroastrian religion, there was a time when people would be stoned to death and being gay would be a sin. The last lines “Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me.” I believe is him giving permission to everyone to be their true self and love whoever they want because it doesn’t matter. “ Anyway the wind blows.” Listen to the lyrics again and see if you agree.
"Galileo" was a nod to guitarist Sir Brian May who earben an astrophysics doctorate and was part of the Osuris-rex NASA team that landed on an astroid and collected the first asteroid samples. He helped guide and land the Mars Rover too. He also (I believe) did that using stereoscopy (as an enthusiast of that particilar type of 3D photography).
And he was on the team with Neil De Grasse Tyson to help determine that Pluto is a dwarf planet. He’s ENORMOUSLY well-respected in the scientific community. So he’s a REAL rocket scientist, who happens to also play music.
Do you realise how much respect I have for you? You are a very respectable person. There are people who are responding to this song and treating it like a joke. You have taken the time to listen to it. Thank you for a great video. Stay safe.
I am so happy I am old now! Because I got to see them live in 1979 at Madison square garden! A cherished memory, 20, 000 people literally shaking the building. I've seen many great, legendary bands and artists, Queens concert topped them all. I still have the concert program from that night. One of my treasures!!!
Thats so dope. I can't say I'm not jealous. I've seen a lot of the greats (Elton John, Rolling Stone's, Prince, etc) but it was far later into their respective careers, not in their primes like you got to see. Hold on to that program, it'll be worth a lot some day.
My 4 1/2 year old grandson loves queen. There is nothing better than him singing “We Will Rock You” or “We Are The Champions”. He was listening to this song until his mother listened to the words and didn’t think it was appropriate for him. My favorites are “Fat Bottom Girls” and “Bicycle”.
His very last video was so awe-inspiring and heartbreaking. It took everything he had to make that video. Take a minute to watch "These Are The Times of Our Lives." His last album, Made In Heaven, was a goodbye letter to the world, in my opinion.
Freddie Mercury said he wanted to bring Opera to the masses, and with this song he did that. They laid down so many voice tracks to get exactly the right sound that Freddie Mercury envisioned, they almost wore out the tape it was being recorded onto. He was a perfectionist with this, this was his masterpiece.
My late father was in Vietnam war, and he never talked about people he had to take out. He had nightmares for years after the war 'cause it was so horrific. This war didn't even need to happen, neither do other wars.. People just are too greedy for power in this world. 😢
Freddie began writing this years before it was recorded. He was coming face to face with the fact he was gay. It was utterly unacceptable in his time and he also knew how his family would feel about it. He was torn to shreds by the realization. I will always believe this song came out of his struggle to accept himself from a perspective alien to his upbringing and his past.
No, I have to disagree. At this time, being gay was not the atrocity of 20 years before. And, he never actually did come out, if you will. As a person who was around at the time can tell you, being gay was just not a big deal. Everyone will make up their own stories about the meaning of the song, seems pretty apparent to me, but that's the beauty of it.
I was thinking about this and it would make sense. He was so confused sexually, just like a lot of singers in this time period, Elton John, George Michael, Boy George, etc. They were afraid to come out and most would've kept their secret had it not been for Aids. I think Elton John founded a foundation for Aids.
Freddie was working on three very different songs when he had the inspiration to combine them into this epic masterpiece. The section that deals with killing a man was originally part of what was going to be called "The Cowboy Song". Even the other band members never knew what the song was about. When asked, they would just shake their heads and say "That's Freddie's baby". After his death his mother was asked if she liked the song. She said yes, she did, but hearing his voice say "mama" made her cry.
Just before Christmas 1975. When we first heard and saw this it was a gamechanger, music was never the same again and Freddie and the boys led from the front. Four great musicians led by the best frontman of any band ever.
Watching this music video when it originally came out in the UK is literally one of my first ever memories as an infant. It scared the living shit out of me!!!
@@AngB517 Yes me too. That was one of those shows that I didn’t realize existed until it was already on the air for a while. But once I found it I had to watch it!
@@kristophergoordman7225the tv show was a Canadian Paris production. I think Canada had it on air before the States did. There was a spin off of the tv show called Raven.
Someone told me that the theme for Highlander was written in the back of a limo during a car ride to an event. They are remaking Highlander with Henry Cavill and they are using the original soundtrack in the new movie
Back in the day, they had to do what they called "reading between the lines" so it could get airplay. A lot of songs were written like that. Some artists were clever that the same lyrics took on different meanings for different people, too.
Every creature in nature picks out differences from perceived normalcy. If you are, or choose to be different, it is natural that others would notice the difference.
I read in comment's about the song played before green day concert The crowd started to sing it and greeb day waited before going on stage As the crowd was singing it in time with the recording Its bloody amazing and you really need to watch how even when gone the effect still lives on RIP Cheers mate 🦘🇦🇺👍
That’s a great analogy BP interesting that’s why I like your channel so much. You opened my mind to other interpretations of music and certain songs thanks bud. Appreciate it. Keep up the good work, man. We enjoy it. Now, let’s finish listening thank you.
I’ve been listening to this song since the mid 70s and this is hard to understand as the Bible is I guess I’m just not quite smart enough to figure it out
Great reaction, as always. Freddie never really let anyone know what Bo Rhap was really about as he always wanted everyone to have their own interpretation/meaning individually to themselves. However, it has been widely speculated that it was him coming to terms with his own sexuality and the unfairness this brought back in the day (70's) and was him killing off the earlier man and becoming someone who decided to be truthful to himself about who he was. He was a lovely human being, compassionate and had an annate ability. What is accepted via the band was that Bo Rhap was three songs that Freddie had wrote (initially referred to as the Cowboy song) that he couldn't finish so he put them all together which then gave birth to the infamous Bohemian Rhapsody which roughly means (Bohemian: "in a context of poverty, hunger, appreciation of friendship, idealization of art and contempt for money" and Rhapsody: "free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour, and tonality" which is everything that Bo Rhap stands for. Hope this helps. Stay safe from Manchester UK
I was going to talk about this on my comment, but instead, I will state that BP's acknowledgment of double or triple entendres/meanings is precisely what the song is. It is truly Metal's version of a rap song in many ways. However, I prefer Freddie's idea that it is a real Opera, an operatic moment that can be surmised any way a listener decides to interpret it as many in Opera often do. BP, you should really check out The Charismatic Voice's interpretation of this piece as an actual Opera singer and vocal researcher/coach. It's incredible.
@@barbkennedy9382 I don’t think sexual orientation matters in any debate or forum about Freddie, whether he was heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual the point of it all was that he couldn’t be true to himself because of the persecution, ridicule and all the taboo that was around in the 60’s and 70’s in particular. He couldn’t even tell his own parents, although his mother eventually cottoned on that Jim was more than a gardener at Garden Lodge as that is what Freddie kept telling her when she kept asking, for the fear of breaking their hearts as especially in the Zoroastrian faith it was considered some sort of sin. He kept his mum and dad completely separate to the rock star life he had and was even Farrokh when he went to visit his parents. RIP Freddie you beautiful complex man
@@jo_jolambrini6775 Ss, you misunderstand, I agreed but maybe overexplained. I am 67 and enjoyed Freddie in person and I didn't care what orientation he possessed. I loved him and the band period. And still do. The 70s and 80s was my youth.
@@barbkennedy9382 I’m 55 and had my first ever Queen experience when I was at Live Aid in 1985 when I was 16 years old. I then saw them the following year in July 1986 and then Freddie’s last ever LIVE performance at Knebworth in August 1986 when there were 150,000 of us in the crowd and Queen flew over us in helicopters. I’ve loved them/him ever since. The 80’s for me was the best period but even then the whole sexual orientation debacle was still present, poor Fred (as Brian used to call him)
I didn't realize Green Day playing this song pre concert was a thing! A video of Green Day's fans singing along to this at their concert in San Diego, 28 Sept 2024 was posted on twitter the next day! First thing I thought of was Black Pegasus and Krizz Kaliko reactions to audiences singing along!
@@ahmcguffin The story I heard was that Green Day was playing BoRap at Hyde Park just until they were ready to go onstage. But when they realized the entire audience was singing, they refused to on go until the song was over. After that, Green Day began doing this all the time.
I've said this before: I like YOUR capacity for introspection. I agree with everything that you said about interpretation and perception. Just in case, I wanted to mention that the guitar solo is courtesy of Queen's lead guitar, Dr. Brian May, PhD. He's an astrophysicist and philanthropist. I admire the man.
I was 17 when this album came out. Went out and bought it and wore it out LOL. I remember thinking how innovative it was to style the whole album as if it was an opera. A Night At The Opera. Awesome.
8:41 that man playing the solo is an astrophysicist that has worked with NASA. The guitar he's playing, named Red Special, is either the one he and his father made when he was a teen, or a replica of it.
This is one of the most beautifully composed and arranged songs ever made especially considering the limited technology available to all bands in the early 70s. Do yourself a favor and listen to "Inside the Rhapsody'" - Brian May and Roger Taylor give background about the song and then Brian dissects the Rhapsody while sitting at the huge console they used to tape and then mix this masterpiece. Just for some context, here's some info for you: Freddie Mercury - named Farrokh Bulsara at birth - was born in Zanzibar (an island off the east coast of Africa) to Indian (Parsi) parents who practiced a very old and very strict religion. His parents sent Freddie far away to India at 8 years old to attend a British run boarding school. He missed his parents, his younger sister and everything he knew but he did receive a wonderful classical education. (I hear that sadness, that longing in some of his music.) When revolution broke out in Zanzibar, the family relocated to a suburb of London, England. Freddie had finished boarding school by then - a gangly and very shy 16 year old who was thrust into an urban, modern environment culturally foreign to him. I can only imagine how he felt ... can you? He then entered college where he studied art and design. (Several years later, Freddie designed Queen's logo and was largely responsible for Queen's stage presence.) But his first love was music. While he was completing his college studies, he met Tim Staffell who was studying photography at the same college as Freddie. Tim introduced Freddie to Roger Taylor who was in college studying biology. Both Tim (a singer) and Roger (a drummer) had joined a band started by a fellow college student, Brian May, a guitarist who was studying physics. (Brian eventually earned his Phd in astrophysics.) That band was called "Smile". While Freddie joined some other bands, he always hung around with Tim, Roger and Brian and, when Tim decided to leave Smile to pursue a career in photography, Freddie became the lead singer for "Smile". At first, the band did small gigs mostly to college crowds. They searched for quite awhile for a bass player and finally found John Deacon who had received his certificate in electronics and who was a perfect fit for the band. So here were 4 educated young guys with innate musical talent but who had not received much, if any, classical musical training and who had very limited knowledge of the music industry. But they had a VISION. And they were not afraid of hard work. And they were perfectionists who could write diverse, interesting, complex music. And 3 of their voices (Freddie, Brian and Roger) CREATED BEAUTIFUL HARMONIES. And Freddie somehow persuaded them to change their name to QUEEN. And Freddie changed his last name to MERCURY. And the rest, as they say, is HISTORY!! During the early years, and way before his enormous success, Freddie met Mary Austin who was born to parents who were both deaf. Mary was his first - and maybe his only - complete love. They lived together for about 7 years prior to his telling her that he was gay. While they never lived together after that, Mary was ALWAYS by his side through his entire career and life experiences. Mary was the only person he trusted explicitly - he gave her control over his business finances. In almost every photo of the band in all the countries they visited while on tour, Mary is always present. And she stayed by his side throughout his long battle with AIDS and was one of the people - along with his partner of 6 years, Jim Hutton - who cared for him the day he passed in 1991 at age 45. Freddie bequeathed the bulk of his estate to Mary including a huge portion of his share of Queen revenue as well as his beautiful home in London - Garden Lodge - which she had helped him decorate and which he loved. Mary is the ONLY person who knows where Freddie's remains are buried - it is a secret she says she will take to her grave. Mary took good care of Garden Lodge until very recently when, due to her age, she decided to sell the home and then sell most of its contents at a huge Sotheby's auction. A preview of the auction - fine art, sculpture, furnishings, Freddie's stage clothing - was taped for all of us to see on RUclips and other platforms. Freddie had exquisite taste. We expected that of course because Freddie Mercury was exquisite!
A rhapsody is a free-form piece of music that takes different tunes and strings them together to tell a story. Freddie Mercury had three pieces of separate music he had been working on and stitched them together. The story tells of a young man emotionally opining about having ruined his life by taking the life of another. The more operatic section portrays his trial, perhaps a metaphor for internal demons, where he is condemned, then the piece concludes with his rebellious defiance to his fate.
I'm 64 yrs old and man back in the day Queen was my favorite band. Saw them live in concert twice back in the 70's in Boston, MA. Such incredible memories of those days with these songs.
I'm a bit stunned that you haven't reacted to this already! What a treat to see this video for the first time! I'm envious. I went to the Queen concert in Montreal, on Nov 24, 1981. By far the best 5000-mile round trip I ever drove!
I was at that concert, too!!! Wasn't it THE most perfect concert ever?? I'll never forget it! If I could see Queen once more LIVE in their prime, I would definitely drive at least the 1000 mile round trip I made that November in 1981.
When you mentioned part of it was comical, the 1st time we heard it on the radio and we heard “oh mama Mia mama Mia” we laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe! I heard that Freddie liked opera music and this song was a tribute to opera
Was so lucky to see Queen live. Once for 8 bucks, the other time I crashed the show for free. The one I crashed, had Billy Squire as the guestband. Insane concert experience.
When the band went to their manager with this song he said NO WAY! Too long ,too different wont work, blah, blah, blah...I think they fired him . Mercury and that band fought for it and you see its probably the most popular song of theirs ...EVER! Its beautiful, Freddy was indeed a visionary!
They'd already got rid of their manager Norman Sheffield before recording the album. The first track on it, Death on 2 legs is about him. He ripped them off, buying a new Rolls while they got virtually nothing. They stayed with his replacement John Reed (recommended to them by Elton John) for 3 years , he would have been their manager when this came out.
Queen (Brian May) played on top of Buckingham Palace for one of Queen Elizabeth’s celebrations. Later when she met him, Brian said Queen was hilarious when introduced as she said”oh, you are that young man who played on top of my roof! The last Jubilee before Queen’s death, QElizabeth is having tea with”Paddington Bear”. Her butler tells her concert about to start, and she lifts up her priceless teaspoon and begins to do the rock beat “we will rock you” by tapping tea spoon against her teacup. The Queens Band picks up beat with drums and then up pops Queen with Adam Lambert as lead singer. Wonderful show ! Worth your time to watch. Queen Elizabeth kept it a secret from her family. Catherine, Princess of Wales has her children just having a blast watching “granny” before Queen the band began show. Think Queen played for and on behalf of Queen Elizabeth charities several times. Good music is truly unifying.
There are a lot of Queen songs that you'll hear people say is about Freddy's struggle to come out, but often you'll find that the song in question is written by another band member.
He was coming out, and the man he killed was his old self. It was hard. He was in love with Mary, yet he had feelings for others. He was coming to terms with his bisexuality. When he died, he left everything to Mary. Watch the movie.
I fell in love with Queen the very first time I heard “Killer Queen” as a teenager in the 70’s. What a wonderful magical voice Freddie had and the band as a whole are amazing. Just brilliant writhers. Love your reactions, thank for sharing.
I LOVE this song and this band so much. They are one of the reasons I survived some really bad times. For me, I take it as the stages of grief, the stages of mental health, the struggle of just trying to be me in a world who wanted me to be someone else.
I saw Queen in concert on July 31, 1982, in front row seats to the stage. It was mind-blowing!! I was so shocked when I learned Freddie Mercury was part Indian. My former daughter-in-law is from Mumbai and was shocked too, LOL. All the band members of Queen had University degrees. Pretty impressive.
Queen’s performance at the Live Aid at Wembley 1985 is iconic. Freddie had the whole audience on the palm of his hand singing along. BTW two Queen compositions that are sporting anthems - “We will Rock You” and “We are the Champions”.
The meaning is quite clear . . . to me. Freddie Mercury's genius implores one to listen and listen even more as emotion from not only words but tone and rhythm etc. play a huge role in the understanding of this masterpiece.
Fact - Freddie told the DJs that the length of the song, nearly 6 minutes, 1:17 would allow them time to go to the bathroom, since most songs were 2.5 to 3 minutes long. He included Galileo as a reference to Brian’s astrophysicist degree, there was something that referenced to Roger, and of course a salute to John Deacon. It’s just a fun song from an album that was released in October 1975 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA.
As an almost teenager, this was my introduction to Queen. I never looked back. I have my Ready Freddie Go playlist that I often run to, but Queen wasn't only Freddie. That said, I still miss him 😢. I think you should react to Barcelona. It's magical ✨️
The technical aspects of how they recorded this (on tape) are amazing! There’s an interview with Brian May where he describes it. Roger Taylor’s high notes are phenomenal!
In all the times I have listened to this song, the idea of it being a young man at war killing for the first time never crossed my mind. Thank you for something to think about.
He wrote this song after learning that he has AIDS. So, from a purely philosophical perspective, he was responsible for killing someone by passing that deadly virus to someone else, and he had his own death sentence looming because of it as well. It is a very profound song.
"essentially, interpretation is yours" Exactly 👍 Just as Joni Mitchell wrote in her song "Blue" (from the album "Blue", 1971): "Blue, *songs are like tattoos* ... " "Hey Blue, there is a song for you Ink on a pin Underneath the skin An *empty space to fill in* ..."
I really enjoy listening to you try to extract meaning from songs. It's what art is there for, so dont get in your head about going on a tangent. To me, that's what a true reaction is. Not just, "That's tight, playlist, Im out." Take pride that you actually have the mind to go there, and not many other reactors do. Some do really good musical breakdowns, but I like to get into mind of the music itself. That's where the magic happens.
It’s a masterpiece for sure. Not many can compare. What’s also evident from this video is that Freddie had dramatic flare from the start. If you’re interested in a queen doc, these are the days of our lives is the one fans will tell you to watch.
If you want to see a good documentary about Queen not just Freddie Days of our Lives is a good one ❤ I remember when this first came out it was amazing & still is to me I still have the single I bought at the time x
I still know every word,note,and tones in this song since 1975……we used to smoke weed on the beaches in So.Cal. And blast this in the car…….great memories…ty for the memories again……..
I agree with the person who said that he “rarely talked about the meaning of this song”, but given where we are and what’s going on today ,I think it’s more powerful for people to understand what was going on in his head. The song's about Freddie coming out as gay. The firstpart if the song he wrote to his mom. "Momma just killed a man." He knew what his mom would think if he came out as gay. As the whole family was religious, he thought she would mourn the death of the son she gave birth to, and that her son would be dead if he came to her (as the whole family would ). "Momma life has just begun and now... throw it all away" was about everything he's worked for up until the his time will be gone! his friends, his band, his small group of fans, but most but most importantly his dreams! This song was was written in 1973/4, hadn't been much more than 10 years since they had change being gay as a “mental illness”, men like him where grown into “ insane asylums”. Second part " thunderbolts and lightning very very frightening me” was him playing out his worst fears about coming out. then his defiance kicked in."So you think you can spit in my eye."…… And then, in the end, "nothing matters, anyone can see nothing really matters to me. And realizing he doesn’t have a choice., he has be himself, and whatever happens will happen. How do I know? I was there.
Bohemian Rhapsody, was released in 1975 on the album "A Night at the Opera" which gives a hint as to the musical genre. Freddie Mercury was a huge fan of opera so this song was written as an operatic suite consisting of five distinct parts: an acapella intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock section, and a reflective coda. Generally it is classified as rock-and-roll, but specifically as a "rock opera" and "progressive rock." Truth is, labeling any Queen song, or Queen the band, is next to impossible! "Bohemian" describes an unconventional, artistic style with freedom and individuality as key elements. "Rhapsody" in musical composition refers to a single work comprised of episodic, diverse pieces arranged into a free-flowing structure designed to heighten emotions. This song came to be because Freddie had pieces of songs he never completed, so he put them together, each section totally different yet masterfully blended into a truly epic masterpiece. It is the band's magnum opus, and is unanimously considered one of the best songs ever written. As for the meaning of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Freddie was purposefully vague. As with most of the greatest songs, the lyrics are written to be poetic and mysterious. Are they literal or figurative? As separate pieces initially, should the song have a singular meaning? Who knows! The meaning is open to interpretation for each listener to decide, based on how the music and lyrics touched them. You will read comments claiming the song's meaning, but the fact is, the entire band has never stating a specific meaning AND has been firm that there isn't one, or if Freddie DID have a specific interpretation, he never shared it. Any assertion of the meaning pertaining to Freddie's sexuality are speculative and because certain groups WANT that to be the meaning.
Sharon, great explanation! The only hints we ever got were 1. Brian called the first part Freddie's cowboy song and 2. Freddie just loved the sound of the words Beelzebub and scaramouche. You're right, Freddie left it to us to figure out what it means to us! To me, it's Freddie's genius!
i agree. Early on Pegasus was definitely hunting Wabbits that inhabited the windmills of his own mind. Those of us who are familiar with the song figured the lightbulb would flash eventually.
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There are MULTIPLE GENERATIONS of folks that know every note, every word of this song, by heart. There is a video of Green Day at Hyde Park. Before the band comes out they play this over the PA and everyone in the crowd stops what they are doing and sings along ... even the guitar parts. All of them know every note ... thousands of people in unison. RIP Freddie.
Gives you goosebumps hearing a 60,000+ audience sing this word for word, amazing.
Yes bloody amazing
I was going to say the same thing! LOL I can remember my FATHER of all people, the same man that grew up on bands like "The Lettermen" and Pat Boone, cranking this song up in the car on a road trip and singing it as loud as he could! LOLOL so many great memories!
That’s worth a video reaction of its own. ❤
That video is one of the coolest things I've ever seen!
Bohemian Rhapsody isn’t a song, it’s an experience.
I remember the first time I saw/heard it. It was on Countdown in Australia. The whole family just fell silent and watched/listened, awestruck. I was 10.
People who didnt live through the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s music just can’t imagine just how big and how GOOD bands were then!
Think how we felt in 1975 when we heard and saw this. We'd never seen anything like this.
It was epic!
@@skmarrama yes it was...and we had to catch it on PBS at the time because it was on a British tv show.
Exactly! Mindblowing!
I was born this year. I feel yes.
The initial critical reaction was reportedly mixed. I know Bill Burr hates the song to this day.
This is what u get when 4 genius musicians release their creativity with no bounds or record exec. telling them “no”…. a song that transcends through time and is still as great today as it was the day it was released.
The guitarist Brian May is also an astrophysicist, & has consulted on NASA missions, including the mission to land a probe on the asteroid Bennu. He developed a technique to create 3-D images from a conventional camera, which helped the mission land the probe and collect samples. Another cool thing about him is that together with his father they hand built his guitar from wood taken from an ancient castle's fireplace mantle. Pretty f'in' cool! Thanks for your reaction.
Yes! Brian is a genius!
@@DebraHarter Definitely! I think I can safely say he is the only PhD rocking out on a homemade guitar in the history of rock!
Not to mention it was pretty much the first real music video. They never own that enough, but their wanting to not mime this on Top of the Pops pretty much cemented the genre!! There is nothing they didn't top the industry on IMHO
@ellenw391 Agree! I can't even think of anything else to compare this rock opera masterpiece to. It stands alone in my view.
Not to mention a knight of the realm!!! Dr Sir Brian May.
Freddy rarely talks about meaning. He believes listeners should have room to create their own interpretations. You're an example of that in practice. Peace brother
Definitely the lyrics of this song are open to interpretation! It was clear that these lyrics were dark.
A real musical masterpiece.!
Had to pause when you started talking about those who've served.
My son was in Iraq for a year and in Afghanistan almost a year in the Army.
My Dad was a lifer in the Air Force, one cousin is a sniper in the Green Beret (we aren't even allowed to know where he is!!), and Uncles in the Navy & Army.
While I was a "Blue Star" Mom...I was just PRAYING that I wouldn't become a "Gold Star" Mom!
Each letter from Jonathan was priceless...and scary. Unfortunately he returned with mental health issues. That's the heartbreak. He's never told me what he did or saw during either deployment.
Comment 2: just a couple suggestions if you come across a person in the military! If you are ahead of them in a line for coffee or something, BUY THEIR ORDER!! Same thing if you see them in a restaurant!! They aren't paid as much as you think, especially considering what's asked of them!!
On flights: If you are in 1st class & see somebody in coach that's in the military, TRADE SEATS!!!! They spend HOURS & HOURS in airports going across the world! A little extra leg room and a bit of pampering is MASSIVELY appreciated!!
If you happen to just see somebody in uniform... please....go thank them for their service and shake their hand!!
You can pay their movie tickets, etc., and something even that small goes a long way to encourage them!!
The biggest pop music masterpiece there will ever be.
there will never ever be another band like Queen..
Brian May’s guitar playing is just outstanding!
Agreed, It's really fkn mesmerising
He also has a PHD in astrophysics.
On an interview with Rick Beato, asked Brian May - the guitarist- about the meaning of Bohemian Rhapsody. Brian mentioned that Freddy never really talked about the meaning of Bohemian Rhapsody and he was glad he never did. Leaves it open to interpretation for everyone.
Yes. That was a great interview.
Hello, fellow subscriber. 🙂
"i don't wanna die. I sometimes wish id never been born at all.." My favoite lines of this masterpiece
He went through all the stages of grief: Shock/disbelief; Denial; Guilt/bargaining; Sadness/regret; Anger; Acceptance and Hope.
He was coming out to the world. That was a huge deal back in the day!
I agree.
He also changed his name he was no longer Farrokh Bulsara he was now Freddie Mercury abandoning his family name therefore he killed a man
@@davidtullis2810 A lot of singers/actors change their name. So NOT uncommon!
This song is a masterpiece.
R.I.P FREDDIE WE MISS YOU
Western nc here 👋. My world has been turned upside down, just got cell phone service back today. Needed a moment away from the disaster around me. Thanks for some Queen today, took me away and as always you made me smile thru my tears. Chimney Rock NC is gone! It doesnt exist anymore. As many other small mtn towns. Keep us in your prayers out there, we need all of them. Country folks WILL survive, we are living proof in these mtns! Its sad but beautful, people helping people, neighbors checking on each other, sharing what you have with one another, food, gas for generators, water. We will get thru this together. ❤
I'm so sorry for all of you over there affected by Helene. You are continuously in our thoughts and prayers for the help and support you all need. 🙏🙏
God bless you all.
That makes sense in relation to this song. His use of both the words Bismillah, from Arabic, literally: in the name of God, the merciful and compassionate. And Beelzebu. (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) the chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell. Both speak to the inner battle and his thought of not being born at all may relate to why would God have created him as he is if he can’t live that life. I believe he is of Persian descent. Beautiful religion of the mystics.
God bless you and your's ❤😢
May the force be with you, western nc.
Freddie had a long-time girlfriend Mary whom he really loved, and she stood by him for most of his career and fame.
Girlfriend? Thought he was gay?
@@sandrasmith7091 Bisexual more on gay spectrum. She didnt cope with him being open relationship. So they broke up. But remind like his eternal platonic love until the last day. He dedicated her the love of my life.
I remember when he passed the news said he left his entire estate to Mary.
@@RobGabany1976 He also left her his ashes. She is the only one who knows where they are.
Who you love and who you're attracted to aren't always the same.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a masterpiece from Queen & Freddie was the ultimate showman. Queen was and is so epic!
This song was operatic experience.
Brian Mays guitar!
❤❤
The art of making great songs and music is to create a narrative within the lyrics so that the listener can interpret the song to relate to whatever they have desired the meaning of the song to be..
exactly! and Freddie and Queen were true artists❤
I have friends who, when you ask them "hey, what are you looking at?" "What do you see?", reply with "I see a little silhouette of man". Too funny. That line might last forever.
He was so gifted. I miss Freddie. RIP BP You really should watch the Green Day concert where the audience sings this song.
The whole of Queen are Gifted musicians ❤
I think that Queen are the only band that all four members wrote three or more Number 1 records
This video was made for the programme Top of the Pops because they were unable to appear. It blew our minds. People can sing it word for word to this day.
I remember it being shown on The Midnight Special, back when "promo clips" (as music videos were called then) were something that only Big Stars could afford to make. The first thing I noticed was that the shadowy poses of the four guys were a re-creation of the cover shot for Queen II.
I could be wrong, but musicians on Top of the Pops lip synced/mimed their songs & I suspect Queen wouldn't do that, therefore the reason for sending the video. Respect for their decision to do so.
@@CharCanuck14 they definately had tour commitments, they had appeared on TOTP before, Dont know if after and they stuck with vids / films - esp with the rise of MTV and so on
@CharCanuck14 You're not wrong but only half right. There were live performers in TOTPS, but eventually TOPTS stopped allowing live performances as it was a nightmare for the sound engineer who had to deal with different sound levels each performer every 3 munites which was also causing issues for the performers. If you want a perfect example of this check out "Human resource - Dominator ( TOTP 19/12/1991), It's one of the worst performances ever and also ironic.
@@pippo-1073 Thank you for the info pippo 👍and greetings from Canada
i became a fan in 1973 so ive been listening to Queen for 52 years and its still fresh and i never tire of listening to Queen. I absolutely adore them and ive never known them give less than 100%. All talented musician playing multiple instruments, highly educated, especially Brian who is Dr Brian May and has a PHD in Astrophysics doing work for NASA. There intelligence shows in their songs and they are deep, very deep.
Many people believe this song is about Freddie coming to terms with his sexuality and accepting who he truly was. When he says “I just killed a man” I believe he means that he killed the man he used to be, the straight man he’s been pretending to be. The man his parents wanted him to be. When he says “Mama didn’t mean to make you cry” because his family was religious and maybe he couldn’t be the son they wanted. “Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to go and leave you all behind and face the truth” In the middle section they sing “Bismillah will you let me go, no we will not let you go, let him go.” Bismillah is arabic for In the name of god. Then he says “So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye.” In his Zoroastrian religion, there was a time when people would be stoned to death and being gay would be a sin. The last lines “Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me.” I believe is him giving permission to everyone to be their true self and love whoever they want because it doesn’t matter. “ Anyway the wind blows.” Listen to the lyrics again and see if you agree.
I've always thought it was stages of grief. His history is interesting.
"Galileo" was a nod to guitarist Sir Brian May who earben an astrophysics doctorate and was part of the Osuris-rex NASA team that landed on an astroid and collected the first asteroid samples. He helped guide and land the Mars Rover too. He also (I believe) did that using stereoscopy (as an enthusiast of that particilar type of 3D photography).
And he was on the team with Neil De Grasse Tyson to help determine that Pluto is a dwarf planet. He’s ENORMOUSLY well-respected in the scientific community. So he’s a REAL rocket scientist, who happens to also play music.
Yes. 68 here. What a gift to have been there in this particular era. Best music ever.
This song is Queen’s masterpiece.
*Is one of queen's masterpieces
This entire album is
Do you realise how much respect I have for you?
You are a very respectable person. There are people who are responding to this song and treating it like a joke.
You have taken the time to listen to it. Thank you for a great video. Stay safe.
This song is so freaking intricate! It’s always amazed me. Even again today.
If you haven’t seen the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, you need to.
I am so happy I am old now! Because I got to see them live in 1979 at Madison square garden! A cherished memory, 20, 000 people literally shaking the building. I've seen many great, legendary bands and artists, Queens concert topped them all. I still have the concert program from that night. One of my treasures!!!
Thats so dope. I can't say I'm not jealous. I've seen a lot of the greats (Elton John, Rolling Stone's, Prince, etc) but it was far later into their respective careers, not in their primes like you got to see. Hold on to that program, it'll be worth a lot some day.
@@Whitesquall123
I'd never sell that memory
Lol
My 4 1/2 year old grandson loves queen. There is nothing better than him singing “We Will Rock You” or “We Are The Champions”. He was listening to this song until his mother listened to the words and didn’t think it was appropriate for him. My favorites are “Fat Bottom Girls” and “Bicycle”.
His very last video was so awe-inspiring and heartbreaking. It took everything he had to make that video. Take a minute to watch "These Are The Times of Our Lives."
His last album, Made In Heaven, was a goodbye letter to the world, in my opinion.
I look forward to the day you react to Barcelona ,..Freddie and Monserrat ,you will be overwhelmed without a doubt🌺
Agreed
What an amazing performance
Was going to say exactly the same about his Barcelona song x
It was amazing and so impressive, Barcelona!
been listening to this song for about 50 years and this is the first time ive heard it in stereo. marvelous. thank you.
Freddie Mercury said he wanted to bring Opera to the masses, and with this song he did that. They laid down so many voice tracks to get exactly the right sound that Freddie Mercury envisioned, they almost wore out the tape it was being recorded onto. He was a perfectionist with this, this was his masterpiece.
The song is off the album “Night at the Opera”. It was definitely meant to be operatic.
My late father was in Vietnam war, and he never talked about people he had to take out. He had nightmares for years after the war 'cause it was so horrific. This war didn't even need to happen, neither do other wars.. People just are too greedy for power in this world. 😢
It doesn't matter what it means. It only matters what it means to you.
Freddie began writing this years before it was recorded. He was coming face to face with the fact he was gay. It was utterly unacceptable in his time and he also knew how his family would feel about it. He was torn to shreds by the realization. I will always believe this song came out of his struggle to accept himself from a perspective alien to his upbringing and his past.
That is exactly what I read. That this is describing his struggle with being gay and who he was supposed to be in society. It's a metaphor.
Me too 🙂
This makes a lot sense
No, I have to disagree. At this time, being gay was not the atrocity of 20 years before. And, he never actually did come out, if you will. As a person who was around at the time can tell you, being gay was just not a big deal. Everyone will make up their own stories about the meaning of the song, seems pretty apparent to me, but that's the beauty of it.
I was thinking about this and it would make sense. He was so confused sexually, just like a lot of singers in this time period, Elton John, George Michael, Boy George, etc. They were afraid to come out and most would've kept their secret had it not been for Aids. I think Elton John founded a foundation for Aids.
Freddie was working on three very different songs when he had the inspiration to combine them into this epic masterpiece. The section that deals with killing a man was originally part of what was going to be called "The Cowboy Song". Even the other band members never knew what the song was about. When asked, they would just shake their heads and say "That's Freddie's baby". After his death his mother was asked if she liked the song. She said yes, she did, but hearing his voice say "mama" made her cry.
Just before Christmas 1975. When we first heard and saw this it was a gamechanger, music was never the same again and Freddie and the boys led from the front. Four great musicians led by the best frontman of any band ever.
Watching this music video when it originally came out in the UK is literally one of my first ever memories as an infant. It scared the living shit out of me!!!
“Who wants to live forever?”
The whole 'soundtrack' to Highlander is great but Who Wants To Live Forever and Princes of the Universe are perfect. (I watched the TV show too)
@@AngB517
Yes me too. That was one of those shows that I didn’t realize existed until it was already on the air for a while. But once I found it I had to watch it!
@@kristophergoordman7225 it was on USA network where I was. Now I believe it is on Hulu. Duncan was awesome!!!
@@kristophergoordman7225the tv show was a Canadian Paris production. I think Canada had it on air before the States did. There was a spin off of the tv show called Raven.
Someone told me that the theme for Highlander was written in the back of a limo during a car ride to an event. They are remaking Highlander with Henry Cavill and they are using the original soundtrack in the new movie
Back in the day, they had to do what they called "reading between the lines" so it could get airplay. A lot of songs were written like that. Some artists were clever that the same lyrics took on different meanings for different people, too.
Freddie said he had 3 songs he hadn’t finished so he brought them together in this song.
Untrue
I’m 63 years old and I can tell you this you are watching a musical masterpiece
50yrs later and people still care about others preference on who they love, you would think we would have progressed.
Every creature in nature picks out differences from perceived normalcy. If you are, or choose to be different, it is natural that others would notice the difference.
Man, I miss Freddie Mercury so much! He was loved by millions. 👑
The album is called A Night at the Opera
This song is like a roller coaster, a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns
I read in comment's about the song played before green day concert
The crowd started to sing it and greeb day waited before going on stage
As the crowd was singing it in time with the recording
Its bloody amazing and you really need to watch how even when gone the effect still lives on RIP
Cheers mate 🦘🇦🇺👍
That’s a great analogy BP interesting that’s why I like your channel so much. You opened my mind to other interpretations of music and certain songs thanks bud. Appreciate it. Keep up the good work, man. We enjoy it. Now, let’s finish listening thank you.
I’ve been listening to this song since the mid 70s and this is hard to understand as the Bible is I guess I’m just not quite smart enough to figure it out
This is one of the most mysterious songs ever. There are speculations about the real meaning of the lyrics, but it remains Freddie's secret forever.
I saw them do this live and it was incredible!
Everyone discusses the music, the lyrics. Can we take a moment and talk about the visuals?
Just such an epic feast for the eyes. Wow.
This song is consistently voted the UKs favourite song, even after all these years. Its still spine tingling. Thanks for sharing the video xx
Great reaction, as always. Freddie never really let anyone know what Bo Rhap was really about as he always wanted everyone to have their own interpretation/meaning individually to themselves. However, it has been widely speculated that it was him coming to terms with his own sexuality and the unfairness this brought back in the day (70's) and was him killing off the earlier man and becoming someone who decided to be truthful to himself about who he was. He was a lovely human being, compassionate and had an annate ability. What is accepted via the band was that Bo Rhap was three songs that Freddie had wrote (initially referred to as the Cowboy song) that he couldn't finish so he put them all together which then gave birth to the infamous Bohemian Rhapsody which roughly means (Bohemian: "in a context of poverty, hunger, appreciation of friendship, idealization of art and contempt for money" and Rhapsody: "free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour, and tonality" which is everything that Bo Rhap stands for. Hope this helps. Stay safe from Manchester UK
I was going to talk about this on my comment, but instead, I will state that BP's acknowledgment of double or triple entendres/meanings is precisely what the song is. It is truly Metal's version of a rap song in many ways. However, I prefer Freddie's idea that it is a real Opera, an operatic moment that can be surmised any way a listener decides to interpret it as many in Opera often do.
BP, you should really check out The Charismatic Voice's interpretation of this piece as an actual Opera singer and vocal researcher/coach. It's incredible.
That is exactly what I thought of when it came out that he was basically gay but truly bi-sexual. (Mary)
@@barbkennedy9382 I don’t think sexual orientation matters in any debate or forum about Freddie, whether he was heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual the point of it all was that he couldn’t be true to himself because of the persecution, ridicule and all the taboo that was around in the 60’s and 70’s in particular. He couldn’t even tell his own parents, although his mother eventually cottoned on that Jim was more than a gardener at Garden Lodge as that is what Freddie kept telling her when she kept asking, for the fear of breaking their hearts as especially in the Zoroastrian faith it was considered some sort of sin. He kept his mum and dad completely separate to the rock star life he had and was even Farrokh when he went to visit his parents. RIP Freddie you beautiful complex man
@@jo_jolambrini6775 Ss, you misunderstand, I agreed but maybe overexplained. I am 67 and enjoyed Freddie in person and I didn't care what orientation he possessed. I loved him and the band period. And still do. The 70s and 80s was my youth.
@@barbkennedy9382 I’m 55 and had my first ever Queen experience when I was at Live Aid in 1985 when I was 16 years old. I then saw them the following year in July 1986 and then Freddie’s last ever LIVE performance at Knebworth in August 1986 when there were 150,000 of us in the crowd and Queen flew over us in helicopters. I’ve loved them/him ever since. The 80’s for me was the best period but even then the whole sexual orientation debacle was still present, poor Fred (as Brian used to call him)
The movie, named after this song, shows the process of recording this song. It really is a great movie that shows Queen from beginning to end.
To show how truly iconic this song is check out Green Day live at Hyde Park crowd singing this whilst waiting for them to come on set
Yes, the crowd singing this song facing an empty stage was so moving.
I didn't realize Green Day playing this song pre concert was a thing! A video of Green Day's fans singing along to this at their concert in San Diego, 28 Sept 2024 was posted on twitter the next day! First thing I thought of was Black Pegasus and Krizz Kaliko reactions to audiences singing along!
@@ahmcguffin The story I heard was that Green Day was playing BoRap at Hyde Park just until they were ready to go onstage. But when they realized the entire audience was singing, they refused to on go until the song was over. After that, Green Day began doing this all the time.
I've said this before: I like YOUR capacity for introspection. I agree with everything that you said about interpretation and perception. Just in case, I wanted to mention that the guitar solo is courtesy of Queen's lead guitar, Dr. Brian May, PhD. He's an astrophysicist and philanthropist. I admire the man.
written by Freddie though , which surprised me but Brian said Freddie played or sang all the notes to them that he wanted in the song
@micheleparadis2808
Wouldn’t that be Sir Doctor Brian May, PhD.? He should have ALL of his earned titles listed.
I was 17 when this album came out. Went out and bought it and wore it out LOL. I remember thinking how innovative it was to style the whole album as if it was an opera. A Night At The Opera. Awesome.
8:41 that man playing the solo is an astrophysicist that has worked with NASA. The guitar he's playing, named Red Special, is either the one he and his father made when he was a teen, or a replica of it.
anton chekhov says the role of the artist is not to answer questions but to ask them.
This is one of the most beautifully composed and arranged songs ever made especially considering the limited technology available to all bands in the early 70s. Do yourself a favor and listen to "Inside the Rhapsody'" - Brian May and Roger Taylor give background about the song and then Brian dissects the Rhapsody while sitting at the huge console they used to tape and then mix this masterpiece.
Just for some context, here's some info for you:
Freddie Mercury - named Farrokh Bulsara at birth - was born in Zanzibar (an island off the east coast of Africa) to Indian (Parsi) parents who practiced a very old and very strict religion. His parents sent Freddie far away to India at 8 years old to attend a British run boarding school. He missed his parents, his younger sister and everything he knew but he did receive a wonderful classical education. (I hear that sadness, that longing in some of his music.) When revolution broke out in Zanzibar, the family relocated to a suburb of London, England. Freddie had finished boarding school by then - a gangly and very shy 16 year old who was thrust into an urban, modern environment culturally foreign to him. I can only imagine how he felt ... can you? He then entered college where he studied art and design. (Several years later, Freddie designed Queen's logo and was largely responsible for Queen's stage presence.) But his first love was music. While he was completing his college studies, he met Tim Staffell who was studying photography at the same college as Freddie. Tim introduced Freddie to Roger Taylor who was in college studying biology. Both Tim (a singer) and Roger (a drummer) had joined a band started by a fellow college student, Brian May, a guitarist who was studying physics. (Brian eventually earned his Phd in astrophysics.) That band was called "Smile". While Freddie joined some other bands, he always hung around with Tim, Roger and Brian and, when Tim decided to leave Smile to pursue a career in photography, Freddie became the lead singer for "Smile". At first, the band did small gigs mostly to college crowds. They searched for quite awhile for a bass player and finally found John Deacon who had received his certificate in electronics and who was a perfect fit for the band. So here were 4 educated young guys with innate musical talent but who had not received much, if any, classical musical training and who had very limited knowledge of the music industry. But they had a VISION. And they were not afraid of hard work. And they were perfectionists who could write diverse, interesting, complex music. And 3 of their voices (Freddie, Brian and Roger) CREATED BEAUTIFUL HARMONIES. And Freddie somehow persuaded them to change their name to QUEEN. And Freddie changed his last name to MERCURY. And the rest, as they say, is HISTORY!!
During the early years, and way before his enormous success, Freddie met Mary Austin who was born to parents who were both deaf. Mary was his first - and maybe his only - complete love. They lived together for about 7 years prior to his telling her that he was gay. While they never lived together after that, Mary was ALWAYS by his side through his entire career and life experiences. Mary was the only person he trusted explicitly - he gave her control over his business finances. In almost every photo of the band in all the countries they visited while on tour, Mary is always present. And she stayed by his side throughout his long battle with AIDS and was one of the people - along with his partner of 6 years, Jim Hutton - who cared for him the day he passed in 1991 at age 45. Freddie bequeathed the bulk of his estate to Mary including a huge portion of his share of Queen revenue as well as his beautiful home in London - Garden Lodge - which she had helped him decorate and which he loved. Mary is the ONLY person who knows where Freddie's remains are buried - it is a secret she says she will take to her grave. Mary took good care of Garden Lodge until very recently when, due to her age, she decided to sell the home and then sell most of its contents at a huge Sotheby's auction. A preview of the auction - fine art, sculpture, furnishings, Freddie's stage clothing - was taped for all of us to see on RUclips and other platforms. Freddie had exquisite taste. We expected that of course because Freddie Mercury was exquisite!
A rhapsody is a free-form piece of music that takes different tunes and strings them together to tell a story. Freddie Mercury had three pieces of separate music he had been working on and stitched them together. The story tells of a young man emotionally opining about having ruined his life by taking the life of another. The more operatic section portrays his trial, perhaps a metaphor for internal demons, where he is condemned, then the piece concludes with his rebellious defiance to his fate.
This is also one of the best songs to test a new sound system, as it rotates from all speakers
I'm 64 yrs old and man back in the day Queen was my favorite band. Saw them live in concert twice back in the 70's in Boston, MA. Such incredible memories of those days with these songs.
I'm a bit stunned that you haven't reacted to this already! What a treat to see this video for the first time! I'm envious. I went to the Queen concert in Montreal, on Nov 24, 1981. By far the best 5000-mile round trip I ever drove!
I was at that concert, too!!! Wasn't it THE most perfect concert ever?? I'll never forget it! If I could see Queen once more LIVE in their prime, I would definitely drive at least the 1000 mile round trip I made that November in 1981.
I’m sixty three. This takes me back to high school! I think 90% of the kids in HS knew every word of this song.
When you mentioned part of it was comical, the 1st time we heard it on the radio and we heard “oh mama Mia mama Mia” we laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe! I heard that Freddie liked opera music and this song was a tribute to opera
Was so lucky to see Queen live. Once for 8 bucks, the other time I crashed the show for free. The one I crashed, had Billy Squire as the guestband. Insane concert experience.
Pretty cool night!❤
I grew up in very early 70's to Queen & ever since. They've been a part of my entire memorable life.
When the band went to their manager with this song he said NO WAY! Too long ,too different wont work, blah, blah, blah...I think they fired him . Mercury and that band fought for it and you see its probably the most popular song of theirs ...EVER! Its beautiful, Freddy was indeed a visionary!
Not only is it likely one of their most popular songs, it's probably one of the most popular songs ever. By any band or group.
They'd already got rid of their manager Norman Sheffield before recording the album. The first track on it, Death on 2 legs is about him. He ripped them off, buying a new Rolls while they got virtually nothing.
They stayed with his replacement John Reed (recommended to them by Elton John) for 3 years , he would have been their manager when this came out.
thank you to the late radio dj Mr kenny Everett for being friends with freddie and playing his and queen's masterpiece❤ rip Freddie and Kenny🤍💚
Queen (Brian May) played on top of Buckingham Palace for one of Queen Elizabeth’s celebrations. Later when she met him, Brian said Queen was hilarious when introduced as she said”oh, you are that young man who played on top of my roof! The last Jubilee before Queen’s death, QElizabeth is having tea with”Paddington Bear”. Her butler tells her concert about to start, and she lifts up her priceless teaspoon and begins to do the rock beat “we will rock you” by tapping tea spoon against her teacup. The Queens Band picks up beat with drums and then up pops Queen with Adam Lambert as lead singer. Wonderful show ! Worth your time to watch. Queen Elizabeth kept it a secret from her family. Catherine, Princess of Wales has her children just having a blast watching “granny” before Queen the band began show. Think Queen played for and on behalf of Queen Elizabeth charities several times. Good music is truly unifying.
It is said that while Freddie was sick the drummer did all the high notes for him; he has a slightly greater high note range.
The Beautiful Roger Taylor.
There are a lot of Queen songs that you'll hear people say is about Freddy's struggle to come out, but often you'll find that the song in question is written by another band member.
He was coming out, and the man he killed was his old self. It was hard. He was in love with Mary, yet he had feelings for others. He was coming to terms with his bisexuality. When he died, he left everything to Mary. Watch the movie.
Yes, this was always my reading of this amazing song, a realisation of self.
Yes! I agree with your interpretation!
I fell in love with Queen the very first time I heard “Killer Queen” as a teenager in the 70’s. What a wonderful magical voice Freddie had and the band as a whole are amazing. Just brilliant writhers. Love your reactions, thank for sharing.
I LOVE this song and this band so much. They are one of the reasons I survived some really bad times. For me, I take it as the stages of grief, the stages of mental health, the struggle of just trying to be me in a world who wanted me to be someone else.
Princes of the universe has been one of my favorite songs since I saw Highlander in the 80s, they do some amazing movie soundtracks
I saw Queen in concert on July 31, 1982, in front row seats to the stage. It was mind-blowing!! I was so shocked when I learned Freddie Mercury was part Indian. My former daughter-in-law is from Mumbai and was shocked too, LOL. All the band members of Queen had University degrees. Pretty impressive.
Queen’s performance at the Live Aid at Wembley 1985 is iconic. Freddie had the whole audience on the palm of his hand singing along.
BTW two Queen compositions that are sporting anthems - “We will Rock You” and “We are the Champions”.
I was 8 years old when this song came out. And I was very into music even then. And at 8 years old, I knew this song was ahead of its time.
The meaning is quite clear . . . to me. Freddie Mercury's genius implores one to listen and listen even more as emotion from not only words but tone and rhythm etc. play a huge role in the understanding of this masterpiece.
You mentioned this song reminds you of an Opera . The name of the album is called “A Night At The Opera”
Fact - Freddie told the DJs that the length of the song, nearly 6 minutes, 1:17 would allow them time to go to the bathroom, since most songs were 2.5 to 3 minutes long. He included Galileo as a reference to Brian’s astrophysicist degree, there was something that referenced to Roger, and of course a salute to John Deacon. It’s just a fun song from an album that was released in October 1975 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA.
Rare confluence of talent and passion and inspiration with these men...
In an interview when asked about the song, Freddie answered that he had three songs that he couldn’t finish, so he combined them.
One of the greatest songs of all time and I have listened to great music for 50 years. An endless classic.
As an almost teenager, this was my introduction to Queen. I never looked back. I have my Ready Freddie Go playlist that I often run to, but Queen wasn't only Freddie. That said, I still miss him 😢. I think you should react to Barcelona. It's magical ✨️
The technical aspects of how they recorded this (on tape) are amazing! There’s an interview with Brian May where he describes it. Roger Taylor’s high notes are phenomenal!
In all the times I have listened to this song, the idea of it being a young man at war killing for the first time never crossed my mind. Thank you for something to think about.
He wrote this song after learning that he has AIDS. So, from a purely philosophical perspective, he was responsible for killing someone by passing that deadly virus to someone else, and he had his own death sentence looming because of it as well. It is a very profound song.
"essentially, interpretation is yours"
Exactly 👍
Just as Joni Mitchell wrote in her song "Blue" (from the album "Blue", 1971):
"Blue, *songs are like tattoos* ... "
"Hey Blue, there is a song for you
Ink on a pin
Underneath the skin
An *empty space to fill in* ..."
I really enjoy listening to you try to extract meaning from songs. It's what art is there for, so dont get in your head about going on a tangent. To me, that's what a true reaction is. Not just, "That's tight, playlist, Im out." Take pride that you actually have the mind to go there, and not many other reactors do. Some do really good musical breakdowns, but I like to get into mind of the music itself. That's where the magic happens.
It’s a masterpiece for sure. Not many can compare.
What’s also evident from this video is that Freddie had dramatic flare from the start.
If you’re interested in a queen doc, these are the days of our lives is the one fans will tell you to watch.
Pink did a live version in Australia where she & her band were not afraid of the harmonies and performed the entire song live.
Well worth checking out
If you want to see a good documentary about Queen not just Freddie Days of our Lives is a good one ❤ I remember when this first came out it was amazing & still is to me I still have the single I bought at the time x
I still know every word,note,and tones in this song since 1975……we used to smoke weed on the beaches in So.Cal. And blast this in the car…….great memories…ty for the memories again……..
"Love of my Life" by Queen is a great tune.
I agree with the person who said that he “rarely talked about the meaning of this song”, but given where we are and what’s going on today ,I think it’s more powerful for people to understand what was going on in his head. The song's about Freddie coming out as gay. The firstpart if the song he wrote to his mom. "Momma just killed a man." He knew what his mom would think if he came out as gay. As the whole family was religious, he thought she would mourn the death of the son she gave birth to, and that her son would be dead if he came to her (as the whole family would ). "Momma life has just begun and now... throw it all away" was about everything he's worked for up until the his time will be gone! his friends, his band, his small group of fans, but most but most importantly his dreams! This song was was written in 1973/4, hadn't been much more than 10 years since they had change being gay as a “mental illness”, men like him where grown into “ insane asylums”. Second part " thunderbolts and lightning very very frightening me” was him playing out his worst fears about coming out. then his defiance kicked in."So you think you can spit in my eye."…… And then, in the end, "nothing matters, anyone can see nothing really matters to me. And realizing he doesn’t have a choice., he has be himself, and whatever happens will happen.
How do I know? I was there.
Bohemian Rhapsody, was released in 1975 on the album "A Night at the Opera" which gives a hint as to the musical genre. Freddie Mercury was a huge fan of opera so this song was written as an operatic suite consisting of five distinct parts: an acapella intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock section, and a reflective coda. Generally it is classified as rock-and-roll, but specifically as a "rock opera" and "progressive rock." Truth is, labeling any Queen song, or Queen the band, is next to impossible!
"Bohemian" describes an unconventional, artistic style with freedom and individuality as key elements. "Rhapsody" in musical composition refers to a single work comprised of episodic, diverse pieces arranged into a free-flowing structure designed to heighten emotions. This song came to be because Freddie had pieces of songs he never completed, so he put them together, each section totally different yet masterfully blended into a truly epic masterpiece. It is the band's magnum opus, and is unanimously considered one of the best songs ever written.
As for the meaning of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Freddie was purposefully vague. As with most of the greatest songs, the lyrics are written to be poetic and mysterious. Are they literal or figurative? As separate pieces initially, should the song have a singular meaning? Who knows! The meaning is open to interpretation for each listener to decide, based on how the music and lyrics touched them. You will read comments claiming the song's meaning, but the fact is, the entire band has never stating a specific meaning AND has been firm that there isn't one, or if Freddie DID have a specific interpretation, he never shared it. Any assertion of the meaning pertaining to Freddie's sexuality are speculative and because certain groups WANT that to be the meaning.
Sharon, great explanation! The only hints we ever got were 1. Brian called the first part Freddie's cowboy song and 2. Freddie just loved the sound of the words Beelzebub and scaramouche. You're right, Freddie left it to us to figure out what it means to us! To me, it's Freddie's genius!
So true, every word!
Don't overthink it. Just listen.
i agree. Early on Pegasus was definitely hunting Wabbits that inhabited the windmills of his own mind. Those of us who are familiar with the song figured the lightbulb would flash eventually.
He DID listen. Just watch.