Bohemian Rhapsody

[Dan]

I hadn't really considered this song for a long time. I was a fan of Wayne's World back when it was popular, and, as such, I listened to the song way too many times when I was a kid.

However, when I saw the Flaming Lips a couple weeks ago, they played Bohemian Rhapsody and I really think it may be one of the better songs ever written.

I had never thought about it really, but the song is perfect for a live venue because it's all build-up. It starts out so slow, then gradually gets louder, and maybe it was just because I was up front and there was already a whole lot of energy and whatnot going through the crowd, but when it finally got to the big heavy guitar riff, it was like the greatest release/jam-out I've ever seen live.

So, yeah, good song.

 

[Semper Fi]

It is a good song, but it's just sort of wierd. Along the lines of wierd songs are Hemispheres and 2112 by Rush.

 

[The ClayTaurus]

I hadn't really considered this song for a long time. I was a fan of Wayne's World back when it was popular, and, as such, I listened to the song way too many times when I was a kid.

However, when I saw the Flaming Lips a couple weeks ago, they played Bohemian Rhapsody and I really think it may be one of the better songs ever written.

I had never thought about it really, but the song is perfect for a live venue because it's all build-up. It starts out so slow, then gradually gets louder, and maybe it was just because I was up front and there was already a whole lot of energy and whatnot going through the crowd, but when it finally got to the big heavy guitar riff, it was like the greatest release/jam-out I've ever seen live.

So, yeah, good song.

Freddie Mercury was a genius, for sure.

 

[Dan]

It is a good song, but it's just sort of wierd.

That it is. I'm not really sure what the song is about. Is it literally about a guy about to be executed for killing a man? The only thing that kinda throws me off is the line "Put a gun against his head/Pulled MY trigger now he's dead." For some reason, that 'my' makes me think he's not just talking about a guy that shot another guy in the head. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[KarlMarx]

That it is. I'm not really sure what the song is about. Is it literally about a guy about to be executed for killing a man? The only thing that kinda throws me off is the line "Put a gun against his head/Pulled MY trigger now he's dead." For some reason, that 'my' makes me think he's not just talking about a guy that shot another guy in the head. Maybe I'm wrong.

Considering that Freddie Mercury died of AIDS, someone must have shot their head in him.... Freddie Mercury was weird and really, really gay....

I remember when Queen played on Saturday Night Live... my wife remarked... "Gee you can't tell that he's gay!" .... Freddie Mercury looked like something out of a gay porn flick...

anyway....

I think "Bohemian Rhapsody" can be explained very easily....

Back in those days, bands were all coming out with either 20 or 30 minute epic songs or just very long involved works in general that went on for over an hour, some examples.... Iron Butterfly with "Inna Gada Da Vida", The Who with "Tommy",Yes with "Tales from Topographic Oceans", Jethro Tull with "Thick as a Brick", the list is a long one. In addition, many of them had lyrics that didn't make any sense at all or were so abstract as to be little more than drug addled drivel.... but they had a big market amongst us impressionable and gullible teens!

Also, some of the musicians at the time fancied themselves as the latest incarnation of Beethoven or another great composer. Rick Wakeman of Yes released some solo projects that were very orchestral, e.g. "The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth" and Emerson, Lake and Palmer adapted Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" to drum, bass and keyboards with a rock beat

Oh, and another thing, Queen went through a phase where they named their albums after Marx Brothers films, i.e. "Night at the Opera" and "Day at the Races".... I've always wondered why.....