Thanks, GF - this is such a great song (written by bassist John Deacon).. and a fantastic video.. misunderstood by many... Freddie didn't even write it... and it had nothing to do with his "sexuality" .. the characters were based on a popular Brit "soap opera".. and everyone had great fun with it... lol
I give you credit for resisting to interpret the song as referring to Freddie's sexuality. The song was written by the bassist John Deacon, who was notoriously shy, but wrote some big hits including Another One Bites the Dust. Since all four members of the band wrote songs, the general rule was that the person who wrote the song had the final say as to its ultimate recording, and in this case Deacon was adamant that he did not want an electric guitar solo in the song. The trumpet sounding solo is actually a synthesizer riff developed by the recording session pianist Fred Mandel If there is any interpretation to the lyrics it's probably along the lines you suggest. This is definitely one of the most pop oriented songs, Which was sort of the direction of their music in the mid to -late '80s. Although people assumed that it was Freddie's decision to have the band dress up and drag, it wasn't. The characters in the video are actually inspired by the British working-class soap opera show called The East Enders. People like to talk about how the video was "banned" on MTV, But it's not like MTV played all videos of all music genres anyways. Also, by this time, Queen's popularity in the US had been declining since 1989 for and had largely faded. The resurgent popularity of Queen in the United States is really a more modern phenomenon that has occurred in the last 20 years or so
Queen is the biggest rabbit hole you will ever enter. So many sounds, so many genres, so many brilliant songs that only Queen fans have heard. Most people know Queen from the hits but those hits are just the tip of a massive iceberg of musical genius. Four amazing musicians who have all written No1 hits and with Freddie they had a front man with a stage presence and voice that was, and still is, second to none.
See the Art Deco illustrator George Barbier's drawings of the ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky for the inspiration of the costumes in Freddie's ballet sequence.
The song was a homage (tongue-in-cheek, for sure) to a popular soap operate in the UK, "Coronation Street" - depending where you read it, the idea to wear drag was either from Roger Taylor (drummer) or his girlfriend, because it would be funny. Drag in the UK isn't considered a big deal, especially for comedy (Benny Hill, Monty Python, etc.). Freddie apparently volunteered to shave his mustache, but they told him to keep it because it would be funnier that way. The song was a women's empowerment/liberation anthem of sorts. Too many read into it that it was some statement on Freddie's sexuality -ignoring that Freddie had already been out for a while, and it wasn't even written by him. America did not get it. MTV refused to play this on the station.
I know that Roger says these are characters from Coronation Street, but for me it feels more like Monty Python....just a bit of fun. When this video was made Freddie was spending a lot of time at the ballet club.
It was only a problem in America. In the UK drag has been around for many years especially in comedy. Think Monty Python, the Goodies and all that followed
HEY Honey, THANK YOU for reacting to Queen & Freddie! If you do more reactions to Queen/Freddie’s solo work in the future, I PROMISE I’ll be back with bells on!
BTW, there’s nothing better than Freddie performing LIVE… There’s a fantastic/HILARIOUS live performance of “I Want To Break Free” in 1985 at JAPAN. FREDDIE DRESSED IN DRAG ONSTAGE.😅
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Thanks, GF - this is such a great song (written by bassist John Deacon).. and a fantastic video.. misunderstood by many... Freddie didn't even write it... and it had nothing to do with his "sexuality" .. the characters were based on a popular Brit "soap opera".. and everyone had great fun with it... lol
I give you credit for resisting to interpret the song as referring to Freddie's sexuality. The song was written by the bassist John Deacon, who was notoriously shy, but wrote some big hits including Another One Bites the Dust.
Since all four members of the band wrote songs, the general rule was that the person who wrote the song had the final say as to its ultimate recording, and in this case Deacon was adamant that he did not want an electric guitar solo in the song. The trumpet sounding solo is actually a synthesizer riff developed by the recording session pianist Fred Mandel
If there is any interpretation to the lyrics it's probably along the lines you suggest. This is definitely one of the most pop oriented songs, Which was sort of the direction of their music in the mid to -late '80s.
Although people assumed that it was Freddie's decision to have the band dress up and drag, it wasn't. The characters in the video are actually inspired by the British working-class soap opera show called The East Enders.
People like to talk about how the video was "banned" on MTV, But it's not like MTV played all videos of all music genres anyways. Also, by this time, Queen's popularity in the US had been declining since 1989 for and had largely faded.
The resurgent popularity of Queen in the United States is really a more modern phenomenon that has occurred in the last 20 years or so
Queen is the biggest rabbit hole you will ever enter. So many sounds, so many genres, so many brilliant songs that only Queen fans have heard. Most people know Queen from the hits but those hits are just the tip of a massive iceberg of musical genius. Four amazing musicians who have all written No1 hits and with Freddie they had a front man with a stage presence and voice that was, and still is, second to none.
MORE QUEEN! 👑 🔥😊
Miss you Freddie!!! 😢
See the Art Deco illustrator George Barbier's drawings of the ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky for the inspiration of the costumes in Freddie's ballet sequence.
Jem welcome to the greatest band ever
The song was a homage (tongue-in-cheek, for sure) to a popular soap operate in the UK, "Coronation Street" - depending where you read it, the idea to wear drag was either from Roger Taylor (drummer) or his girlfriend, because it would be funny. Drag in the UK isn't considered a big deal, especially for comedy (Benny Hill, Monty Python, etc.).
Freddie apparently volunteered to shave his mustache, but they told him to keep it because it would be funnier that way.
The song was a women's empowerment/liberation anthem of sorts. Too many read into it that it was some statement on Freddie's sexuality -ignoring that Freddie had already been out for a while, and it wasn't even written by him.
America did not get it. MTV refused to play this on the station.
I know that Roger says these are characters from Coronation Street, but for me it feels more like Monty Python....just a bit of fun. When this video was made Freddie was spending a lot of time at the ballet club.
Nice 2 see you back
It was only a problem in America. In the UK drag has been around for many years especially in comedy. Think Monty Python, the Goodies and all that followed
Freedie Mercury doesn't sing in his songs but he shouts in all his songs.
HEY Honey,
THANK YOU for reacting to Queen & Freddie!
If you do more reactions to Queen/Freddie’s solo work in the future, I PROMISE I’ll be back with bells on!
More Queen please
Après midi du faun - De Bussey.
For the middle part, Freddie shaved off his mustache...
BTW, there’s nothing better than Freddie performing LIVE…
There’s a fantastic/HILARIOUS live performance of “I Want To Break Free” in 1985 at JAPAN.
FREDDIE DRESSED IN DRAG ONSTAGE.😅
Queen live aid
Remember the movie had lots of inaccuracies, lots of lies.
It's called cinematic license, you will find all film biopics use it.
first lol
This video killed Queen in America.