My weekly half-assed research usually involves reading the Wikipedia entries for that week's artist, that week's song, and the album it came from--in addition to listening to said tune several times over. All told it generally takes a half hour to forty-five minutes, depending on whether a particular week's artist has an epic history. But this week--hoo-boy, let me tell you--it's only a slight exaggeration to say that there are people who did less research on their dissertation....
Since their inception in 1970, there have been so many articles and books written about Queen by writers much better than me that there's really little use in trying to recap their prodigious history. While I am not among those who believe they belong in the upper echelon of rock and roll superstars, there are plenty of folks more knowledgeable than I who can point to over 250 million records sold, numerous highly successful world tours, their making the music video that literally paved the way for MTV, their historic appearance at Live Aid in 1984, and their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as proof they belong. For their career, Queen has released 15 albums (with seven number one LP's in their native U.K. compared to one here in the States, a reflection of their greater popularity in their homeland), and 72 singles I (with four #1's U.K. Singles Charts, and three here in America). Despite the passing of legendary frontman Freddie Mercury in 1991, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor (bassist John Deacon retired in 1997) continue to record and tour as Queen + (Insert Singer Here) with different lead singers and fans across the world have helped them to remain a very successful band.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" (much to the chagrin of their record company) was the first single released from what many believe to be their best album, A Night at the Opera. The song would reach #1 in the U.K. and #9 in the U.S. on its initial release; it would hit #1 a second time in Great Britain after the death of Freddie Mercury, and #2 in the U.S. after its being featured in the movie Wayne's World (gee, I wonder whose priorities are just a touch fucked up....). The album was #1 in the U.K. and #4 in America.
Fun Fact: The music video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" has over 1.5 billion views on YouTube, and it is the oldest song to have over a billion views.
I was sixteen when "Bohemian Rhapsody" was released, and it was unlike any song that had come before it, and forty-three years later it's unlike any song that has come since. It had only been a little more than a year since rock and roll had begun its procession into my bones, and the wonder with which I listened to it every time it came on the radio (or the rare occasions when I could watch the then unheard-of music video on television) was the wonder of the world when the sun first comes up each morning. There have been many days--and many wonderful songs that have also left me awestruck--since then, and through them all "Bohemian Rhapsody" remains one of rock and roll's truly magical moments.
Lyric Sheet: "Is this the real life?/Is this just fantasy?/Caught in a landslide/No escape from reality..."
Enjoy:
Republican = Traitor
Peace,
emaycee
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