Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
Because I used Bohemian Rhapsody for my Battle of the Bands post (CLICK HERE to see the post and vote if you like), I think it prudent to post a version of the song with the lyrics. For years, I wasn't sure what the heck Queen was singing.
Thank you, God, for sending someone other than Al Gore to invent the internet so we can look up lyrics.
I read online, perhaps on all-knowing Wikipedia, that as Queen became increasingly successful, Freddie Mercury played the piano less, although he was a proficient pianist. The reason: He was afraid he'd make a mistake. He preferred strutting around the stage to rouse (not arouse) the audience.
I've never feared making mistakes on the piano, but I've never had thousands of people cheering me on. Perhaps now is a good time to start. Yay me!
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
My motto as an editor: Authors are the authority on their work. I'm a full-service editor. For a reasonable fee, I'm your writing coach from the first suggested revision to the correction of the final typo.
The music is great but the lyrics are so very sad. Just a murderer who wants to run away, cries to his mama, doesn't want to die even though he keeps saying nothing really matters to him. I read the lyrics years ago and it changed how I felt about the song when I knew what the words were. That has happened to me before with songs.
ReplyDeleteI don't take the lyrics seriously: Can you do the fandango?
DeleteNo. Wish I could.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFOcR-8M45s
If I could, then I would fandango with you.
DeleteI can see where he was coming from. I get scared I'm going to screw up some things so I would rather just not do them to avoid the failure. It's not exactly a good thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't send out much writing to publications because I hate the rejection.
DeleteYou and Sherry can perform a duet!
ReplyDeleteI can picture it now. Oh, yes. Sherry, get ready.
DeleteFreddie Mercury is, in my opinion, one of, if not THE best rock singers ever. That said, a lyricist he was not. Bohemian Rhapsody is a series of nonsense phrases. I'm sure there's some interpretation about going from talking about killing a man to giving a shout out to Galileo that somehow makes sense, but my guess is that there was a lot of drugs and it was just fun syllables to sing. Also, THAT said, it still makes more sense than the multiple songs sung by gross dudes about how much they want to have sex with 17 year olds.
ReplyDeleteA lot of lyrics make no sense. Quite a few Beck songs come to mind.
DeleteGood morning, dear Janie Junebug!
ReplyDeleteUpdate: Tipper Gore and her watchdog group have placed a Parental Advisory Sticker on Shady Dell Music & Memories. Enter at your own risk!
I followed the lyrics of "Bohemian Rhapsody" with great interest but never found the words "I'm too sexy for my shirt" which, I think, were only on the longer album version.
Happy Wednesday, dear Janie!
Freddie was too sexy for his shirt, and so are you.
DeleteI imagine the scrutiny he was under once he was famous scared him away from it. If he'd played poorly one night, it probably would have made news! It's worse now that we have social media to capture those mistakes and share them with the world.
ReplyDeleteWe can't go out in public without fearing that someone will video us doing something stupid.
DeleteOh, he aroused the audience too!
ReplyDeleteTrue. He looked good without that shirt.
DeleteHi, Janie,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you don't fear the piano... CHEERS! That kind of pressure can certainly debilitate a person, but if we are given such a talent, we need to share it regardless of a mistake... NO ONE is perfect...
I have other debilitating fears, but not the piano.
DeleteDon't tell anyone, but I happen to be the only person on earth who doesn't care for that song. Whenever it comes on, everyone around me gets all peppy and I'm controlling my eyeroll and muttering to myself, "Man, I hate that song." But I can't tell them that because then they get mad at me.
ReplyDeleteFreddy was a pretty good strutter. I think he made the right choice.
I like the way he played the piano--with a flourish. You can hate the song, and I won't get mad at you. I'll just make fun of you.
DeleteI love that song!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine having thousands of people cheering me on or screaming at me. I could see me running from a mob though. With me, it could happen.
I love applause, but I don't want to be chased.
DeleteI'm afraid of making mistakes, too, because I have many people who listen to me perform. But I just have to suck it up and deal with it. (I find eating a banana before a performance helps.) :)
ReplyDeleteOkay. I'll bite. What does the banana do?
DeleteOne of my favourite songs
ReplyDeleteIt's so catchy.
DeleteI love this song and would have loved to see Freddie Mercury Live! That guy on the right looks like a very pretty girl:)
ReplyDeleteYes, he does look pretty. I like to watch clips from Live Aid. I wish I'd been there.
DeletePiano recitals scared me to death.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time my mother heard that song. She was unimpressed.
I like it.
I was never afraid of recitals. I am bold. I don't think my mother ever heard Bohemian Rhapsody. She would have said it was crap.
DeleteJust got home from my daughter's last orchestra concert at the jr high and they played Bohemian Rhapsody!!!
ReplyDeleteThey played Bohemian Rhapsody at Favorite Young Man's final concert in 1998. FYM conducted.
DeleteAn increase in success made him fear making a mistake. Seems normal, and good to know insecurity hits us all, no matter the fame. He could have easily let all that get to his head. Sad he cut down though. Either way, great song!
ReplyDeleteHe seems to play with such strength and confidence. I have a light touch. People probably wouldn't notice if I made a mistake.
Delete