Freddy Mercury, was born a Parsi, in India (Calcutta was it? ). His name at birth was Farrokh Bulsara. He was the vocalist of Queen, and had a voice that would move you to spellbound paralysis very quickly. One sentence, and you would drop everything else you were doing, or thinking of, and listen. I speak in the past tense, because I am talking about live performances, rather than studio album. (In Studio Albums, even Mark Knopfler’s voice sounds good..) And Freddy Mercury died of Aids (Was it in 1992? Not sure..)
Great personalities are either immortalised by the reminiscences of their admirers who build huge fan bases like the deadheads, tullies, etc, or by premature sudden death causing enormous grieving and controversy. Mercury belonged to the latter group. His announcement that he had AIDS came a day before his death.
I’m not going to give a Queen biography or a discography here, since there are 10, 000 webpages for that. Let me try instead, to describe what made this band special for me.
I first heard Bohemian Rhapsody in the movie ’’English August’’ and the tune struck me deep, with its pathos, and its rapidly changing melodies and chord patterns. The next time I had a diskman on hand, I put on some Queen and sat listening quietly, after switching off all the lights. I had just had a discussion with a friend on subjective realities, and perspective frameworks, and illusory knowledge. What followed next, was a moment which sealed my permanent loyalty to the band. In the darkness, voices merged to say ’’Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality!! Open your eyes!! Look up to the skies... and SEE!!! ’’
Very trippy, as a matter of fact.
When we discover a better means of communication, perhaps I might be able to convey what an impression the music left.
Have you ever felt music? A friend once told me ’’do not hear the music. Be the music’’
But you need very good headphones for that ;)
Mercury’s voice was not a ’’deep sonorous resonant’’ voice. Instead, it was full of emotion. The kind that was most suitable for creative music, instead of technical music.
As a rock band, Queen had the obligatory theatrics, and bizzare tales. They threw a celebration party once, where they had hundred naked girls ride bicycles. (The bicycles were rented, and the company refused to take them back after knowing what they were used for. They were persuaded to take them back, only after changing the seats!)
Brian May was the lead guitarist, and needless to say, compliment Mercury perfectly. May has some pretty darn good solos which were eclipsed, shall we say, by the stage personality that Mercury was.
Love of My Life, a love song sung live by Mercury with just an accoustic guitar for accompanyment, is in a league of its own. You will never listen to Ronan Keating sing love songs again. That I can promise.
I suggest if you want to start listening to Queen, get ’’greatest hits’’ and put it on for a few days. It takes a few days for you to appreciate the music. (It lasts for years)