20 years since the death of Freddie Mercury, Cllr Mark Cole from Cardigan still marvels at the magnitude of his talent...
"I was 9 years old when I came across the music of Queen, and that after Freddie Mercury's death in 1991. They had re-released Bohemian Rhapsody at Christmas-time and it went to No.1 for the second time. This was the first time that I had heard this odd, long song. It was totally different to everything else that I had heard before.
"I like a range of music. everything from Classical to the Beatles to Oasis to Sinatra to Pulp. But to me, Queen are at the top of the pile.
"I remember going to Blackpool in 2000 for a YFC convention and I came across Queen's Greatest Hits II in HMV there...buying it and realising that the band had so much more music than I realised - on the radio they tend to only play songs such as 'Don't Stop Me Now' but the band have so many more wonderful songs.
"As the words from Radio Ga Ga say: "Our music changes through the years". Between 1971 and 1991, Queen showed how to change with the times. Madonna is a different example of an artiste who has changed with the times in the 1980s and 1990s.
"I like all of Queen's music, but I get pulled more towards their later stuff in the late 1980s and early 1990s
"Like the music, Queen's videos were so different and unique. For the song 'The Miracle' (1989), four children act as the members of the band and at the end, Freddie and the band members appear and join the child actors to sing in the video. It's brilliant. In the video for 'Breakthru' (1989), the band are on the train The Miracle Express and it attracts the attention instantly.
"I have read many books about Freddie and the band. He knew from 1987 that he was HIV+, but he carried on to record songs. It's clear in 'The Show Must Go On' , the final song on the final album, that he was saying thank you to his fans: "Inside my heart is breaking, my make-up may be flaking, but my smile still stays on" - here was a man who was facing death in a heroic manner.
"At the beginning of the year I saw The King's Speech. I studied history in University and I love it. I enjoy biopics that revolve around real everyday life. I enjoy going to gigs and I have seen Elton John, Billy Joel, Kenny Rogers, Madness and the Manics. But the best band that I have seen were Madness in the CIA in Cardiff. They were incredible, giving a great performance.
"I often consider how much of a shame it is that I was too young to see Freddie live. But I have seen Queen with Paul Rogers, so I have seen the Guitarist Brian May and the Drummer Roger Taylor live at least, and they were fantastic.
"In their final album before Freddie died, Innuendo, there's a song called 'I'm Going Slightly Mad' - at times in life, particularly when you're a Councillor, you feel as if you're hitting your head against a brick wall. It's a comfort to listen to this song and know that other people feel the same".
I remember when the Seven Seas of Rye came out, which basically means, I remember ALL of their stuff from my teenage years onwards.
ReplyDeleteI was 16 and in hospital for an op and the hospital radio came around asking for music requests.
I asked for and they played the Number 1 song of the time.... Bohemian Rhapsody.......
Freddie's death was like the death of a close relative and I remember Ann and I burst into tears when the news came through.
A sad loss, but Queen's music today is as fresh as it was in the 70's, 80's and 90's...
Thanks for the translation, Mark
Not a problem Andrew. I can readily share your sentiments.
ReplyDeleteFreddie was a superstar but also a very generous person. His songs and memories live on. We regularly see alot of people visiting his previous house in Kensington. Here are some pictures from Freddie's 20th Anniversary - http://kendalbrooke.com/2011/11/freddiemercuryanniversary/
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