This is such a fun video. John (bass) wrote this song and it was Roger's (Drums) girlfriend who suggested doing it in drag. The band members are all dressed as characters from a British soap opera called Coronation Street. John said this song was about women wanting to break out of their stereotypical roles but not sure about giving up a lot of the things that they enjoyed about it. This song was released in 1984. It was not well received in the U.S. but did well in the rest of the world. There had been comedy acts where men were dressed as women on TV for years so I don't know why M-Tv banned it but they did.
I’m certain it was *all* MTV’s decision, and perhaps a very small but loud-mouthed minority of jerks making a fuss. The US had plenty of “men in drag” humor in our history too, pre-dating this video. -Milton Berle and Flip Wilson both had drag characters they did on their TV shows. - Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were in drag in the movie “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe. - Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari were in drag, starring in a sitcom called “Bosom Buddies” These are just a few examples. So it was never as simple and pat as “The USA couldn’t handle men in drag” , it was MTV being stupid.
John Deacon wrote this song. It's about the pressures within a marriage. The video was in drag to reference a skit comedy show that was on in Great Brittain at the time. But it still got banned.
The song has NOTHING to do with Freddie's sexuality, it was written by John Deacon about women's liberation movement. The video was a parody of the characters from Coronation Street (British Soap Opera) It was Roger's girlfriend's idea to dress them up in drag. I want to break free was released in 1984. Controversial ? Yes, only in U.S not everyone got the joke.(Europeans have sens of humor) BTW Freddie NEVER publically came out and NEVER wore drag in his private life. Bohemian Rhapsody- no one knows what the song is about ( even his bandmates).
Love your reaction! Try Queen live 1976 Hyde Park You Take My Breath Away. Also It’s A Kind ofMagic, Stone Cold Crazy, Killer Queen, Another One Bites the Dust, Get Down Make Love, Dragon Attack. Any live at Wembley. ❤Freddie RIP. Legend.
Only American music hierarchy rejected it and Queen became unpopular there, hence a lot of their tours took on South America, Europe, Australia etc. Another one bites the dust really popular in America, song again written by John Deacon.
In the UK we are used to seeing men dressed as women in plays etc. At Christmas many families go too see a pantomime play. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty😊, Where the principle woman actors dress as men and men dress as women. This was a send off of a soap in the UK Coronation street.
Well done that man for picking up that this video was done awhile back , and America didn't get the British sense of humour with the " Coronation street " themed video .
Thanks, Slick - this was not controversial at all in Britain - they were portraying characters from a popular soap - called "Coronation Street" - it was only in the US that everyone freaked out... had nothing to do with Freddie or his sexuality - written by bassist John Deacon, in fact... the other "weird" parts of the video were Freddie working with ballet/dance group... nothing extraordinary for him... he was always exploring "art" - check out his work with opera singer Montserrat Caballe (Spain) - they had some beautiful collaborations..
If you want to see each member take the spotlight in a song you could try "Liar", but I suggest that you react to it live. So I think that your choice could be Liar - Live At The Rainbow. It's an amazing performance.
Brian May considers that the video damaged the band's reputation in the USA. At least, until the Bohemian Rhapsody scene in Wayne's World. MTV higher ups considered the video to promote cross dressing and trans sexuality. It was banned which is embarrassing, and a travesty. I remember when I did see it for the first time, and I laughed by butt off!
😂😂😂me too, hilarious, love that English sense of humour, thanks Deaky, thanks Roger's girlfriend! This broke a mould and America shunned it!😂😂look at the great U S of A now😮😮
The whole world appreciated this song, but US decided not to. I am from Brazil and this song is in the top 3 of the most popular of Queen here. Btw, Queen is the most popular band here. John Deacon wrote this one about a woman wanting to break free from the stereotypes society imposes (although some velieve it could have been written about John dealing with pressure). Roger Taylor's then girlfriend suggested they should dress in drag as a tribute to a show called Coronation Street.
Yes, the US pulled the plug on playing it (homophobic fear, oh dear!) and was a factor in Queen opting to never tour here again. Translates into so many meanings...just how they loved it.
Really great reaction but It's so funny watching other countries (especially the US) react to this. They always look gobsmacked😂 It's totally normal over here in the UK! Men dressed as women have been part of our comedy culture forever!
Gotta love Freddie’s skirt & heels 👠👠 Best legs in Rock n Roll! Brian May in curlers, how ironic.🪞 Roger Taylor a school girl 📚& good ol’ Deaky as grumpy Granny 👵 LOL - Yes there was controversy but it was Queen’s BODY LANGUAGE that was actually banned. In fact, Queen was the first band to have a music video banned by MTV. Now that’s ironic! Freddie swore that Queen would never tour America again! The last live show was on Saturday Night Live 1982.
I have no idea what Queen videos you have been watching but all the ones I have seen are great quality. "I Want To Break Free" was released in 1984 and it was the second single from Queen’s 11th studio album "The Works". It was composed by Queen bass guitarist, John Deacon and gained notoriety primarily for its controversial music video which was not well received in the U.S. Cross-dressing by entertainers was widely accepted in the U.K but not in the U.S. Maybe the British acceptance stemmed from the Shakespearian times when no women were allowed to perform on stage and all female parts were men dressed as women or maybe it is just because it tickles the British sense of humor. The video featured the band dressed as the cast of a long-running and very popular British soap opera called Coronation Street and also showed Freddie dancing with members of the Royal Ballet Theatre. Freddie plays a housewife who wants to “break free” from her constraining life. The soap opera parody was entirely missed in the United States, where the video was interpreted as a celebration of transvestism and subsequently banned from MTV, which may have led to the song’s lack of success in the US as compared to the rest of the world. Although music video was often believed to be Freddie’s idea, in an interview with Q magazine in March 2011, Brian stated that "Of course, everybody thinks that it was Freddie’s idea because it looks like something that he would love to do but it actually came from Roger’s girlfriend at the time, strangely enough. It was her idea to pastiche the Coronation Street women." Freddie, although shocked that the others suggested dressing up in drag for the video, doesn’t deny that he was actually dying to dress up in drag, and it was something in the back of his mind.
Brilliant Slick, nice work! Another suggestion would be "Love of my life - live in Wembley" - short, sweet, powerful and breathtaking would sum it up nicely
Queen was a different and versatile group, they did what they wanted regardless of the criticism from the press, although they were harassed all the time. They have a wide variety of music. I recommend you listen to the official version of You take my breath away, where you can appreciate Freddie's voice and his harmonies. He sings the song and also does the choirs. Also 39, written and sung by Brian, beautiful lyrics and melody. Keep looking for songs from the first albums, they are perfect.
In my opinion, the official video for Another One Bites the Dust is phenomenal. It's a performance video, not a story video, but Freddie leaves it all out there. Pure funk. I have a male associate that says he doesn't like watching Freddie perform - I told him to view Freddie's movements as the music funneling through his body. The creativity of Queen knew no boundaries. These four guys were all about the music.
this song was banned from many american radio stations back then which is why they stopped touring in the u. s. and became so famous in the rest of the world.
Che non c'entra un cazzo col pride infatti !!! Voi le polemiche le avete in testa....questo era un video scherzoso su una soap opera britannica....vi sentite tanto trasgressivi oggi 😂😂🤡🤡
Yes they are all dressed as women, Brian May in the pink dressing gown and hair curlers (as if he needs them), Freddie Mercury in the leather skirt (still with moustache), John Deacon (the writer of this song) as the disgruntled looking granny dressed in black, and Roger Taylor (Rogerina) as the schoolgirl (it was his girlfriend's idea that they dress as women). Dressing in drag (as women) was and still is a fairly common thing in the UK (and plenty of other places in the world), and is done for comic effect. The humor completely failed to be seen in 80's America, and the TV channel MTV refused to show it (despite the fact that without Queen and the video they did for Bohemian Rhapsody, MTV probably never would have existed). Just a few suggestions for interesting Queen Videos. "Bicycle Race" ua-cam.com/video/xt0V0_1MS0Q/v-deo.html (just to see your reaction) "Breakthru" ua-cam.com/video/CEjU9KVABao/v-deo.html (for another video no-one could make now, the insurance would be too high) "The Miracle" ua-cam.com/video/2DaY8-Mui0I/v-deo.html (just because I like it) "I'm Going Slightly Mad" ua-cam.com/video/Od6hY_50Dh0/v-deo.html (despite showing an obviously ill Freddie it always brings a smile) Then a few for varied Queen "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" ua-cam.com/video/OU6EyXcFBxA/v-deo.html (for some relaxation) "Brighton Rock" ua-cam.com/video/BUt_7TQCWtU/v-deo.html (for the Guitar solo) "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" ua-cam.com/video/zO6D_BAuYCI/v-deo.html (Rockabilly) "Stone Cold Crazy" ua-cam.com/video/T8Rfb1Jtmic/v-deo.html (Speed Metal) "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" ua-cam.com/video/kqVpk0qxmfA/v-deo.html (Vitriolic diss track) "'39" ua-cam.com/video/kE8kGMfXaFU/v-deo.html (Time travel ballad) "Thank God It's Christmas" ua-cam.com/video/EIfZXSXRsYI/v-deo.html (Queen's only Christmas song) "Sail Away Sweet Sister (To the sister I never had)" ua-cam.com/video/kGXsIt4l1Tg/v-deo.html and "All Dead, All Dead" ua-cam.com/video/l_6AC2u0E4E/v-deo.html (a couple of Brian May's more emotional songs) "White Man" ua-cam.com/video/K0LSuY2TDwE/v-deo.html and "Put Out the Fire" ua-cam.com/video/wN9lfb0rmpc/v-deo.html (for a bit of sociopolitical comment). "The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke" ua-cam.com/video/IGNILpVcgz4/v-deo.html (art appreciation in song, having a copy of Richard Dadd's painting of the same name to hand is recommended) You should never ask "Queenies" for a few suggestions, sometimes we get a bit carried away (there are about 200 Queen tracks, Brian May has produced a couple of solo albums and Roger Taylor has a few more, Freddie produced a terrible solo album as well as the amazing "Barcelona" album with opera singer Montserrat Caballé.
Just because someone dresses up in female clothing doesn't mean they're gay, there's a long history in the UK of men playing female roles, mostly for comic affect, dating back to Shakespearian times where most of the female roles were played by men. This pretty much killed Queens career in the US because they just didn't get it.
This song is from 1984/85 (the follow-up to Radio GaGa) and didn't cause that much controversy. It was seen as comedy. Times were different then and ppl weren't that sensitive as they are now. Also, we knew that Queen, in spite of Mercury's already well known sexual escapades, weren't transvestites. So ppl took it as comedy - also because no deeper meaning was intended by Queen, just a fun video. I know this, because I was around when it came out :) Dressing up like women didn't matter much in a time in which guys wore eyeliner and mascara. What shocked in those days was full nudity as it was 20 years after the sixties and we had already seen the first fully naked woman on TV in 1967. So nothing new there. It may have been shocking in the US (which I think it was) but then again, the US always was like half a century behind from where I lived.
Our generation from like the '60s through the '80s when we say that's the greatest the music that you'll ever listen to now you know why there was no autotune you had to actually sing you played instruments most members played more than one instrument so when there was talent there was actual talents you had to actually sing there was no covering up the voices.
Updated Queen to do list with links (from Queen Offical if possible): Death on two legs: ua-cam.com/video/kqVpk0qxmfA/v-deo.html Stone cold crazy -live at the rainbow ua-cam.com/video/T8Rfb1Jtmic/v-deo.html You Take My Breath away live Hyde Park 1976 ua-cam.com/video/UBBne8R66xo/v-deo.html White Queen Live Hammersmith ua-cam.com/video/f8usNj4x9NA/v-deo.html Killer Queen official video ua-cam.com/video/2ZBtPf7FOoM/v-deo.html Don't Stop me now official video ua-cam.com/video/HgzGwKwLmgM/v-deo.html Somebody to love - Live Montreal ua-cam.com/video/aA2IRoPFIn0/v-deo.html Fat bottom Girls official video ua-cam.com/video/VMnjF1O4eH0/v-deo.html The Miracle official video ua-cam.com/video/2DaY8-Mui0I/v-deo.html Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé ua-cam.com/video/Y1fiOJDXA-E/v-deo.html Dr. Brian May solo Brighton Rock ua-cam.com/video/-m69BrvJNfg/v-deo.html
Men dressing as women on TV is not so... controversial. Check out the works of the comedy group Monty Python who began on British television in the late 1960s. Next Queen song? Bicycle race.
It wasn't even that big a deal in the US like a lot of people will try to make you believe. The controversy over this was was just the suits at MTV having issues because of Freddie's reputation. Not the fans. Milton Berle was famous in the US for dressing as a woman as far back as vaudville. There's a very famous movie called Some Like it Hot where cross dressing is the main plot. The movie Tootsie was in theaters a couple of years before came out. There was even a TV show with a certain Tom Hanks called Bosom Buddies.
Our generation from like the '60s through the '80s when we say that's the greatest the music that you'll ever listen to now you know why there was no autotune you had to actually sing you played instruments most members played more than one instrument so when there was talent there was actual talents you had to actually sing there was no covering up the voices. No auto-tune s*** we cannot stand that s*** and we can tell when there's lip syncing we do not like that s*** at all. By the time the '90s rolled around music started changing and it wasn't the same anymore I think after the '90s is when I stopped listening to regular music and just kept with the oldies as we like to call it
Great choice you have it live version 1986 in whembley great performance was written by deacon the bass player it's about woman liberation not about freddie's being gay freddie's voice is insane and of course brian may kills it with the guitar so great song it's queen they are the best and yes freddie's voice is made in heaven can do every style and he sounds so great musical genius thanks love your reactions
Watch the movie "Some like it hot" with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. Two men dressed as women.. Life was a free place before this new moral stupidity in US!
I think it came out in the late 70s. It's a joke video.Its a skit on the TV programme 'coronation st'. At the time it came out in the UK all us Brits laughed and nobody took offense. I still think it's a great song and video. I'm enjoying your take on it.
Written by John, video concept came from Rogers' partner Debbie. Controversy? Hardly any, most people caught the fun aspect apart from the good people at MTV who wet their collective panties amid an attack of the screaming vapours!
Hey Slick... If you don't like "Liar", here's another one to try... ua-cam.com/video/IeBc-c1Yang/v-deo.html It's "In the Lap of the Gods", and it showcases Roger''s falsetto, which explains why Freddie called him his 'dog whistle'... blessings.
Hey Slick... Love this song... the song that gave "Rogerina" a bad reputation... but gotta love those rollers in Brian's hair... USA didn't care for the video too much though, maybe because nobody explained "Coronation Street" to them (or MTV). Kinda ironic though, the band that gave MTV their first video (BoRhap) was also the first band to get banned on their platform... You asked for it... here it is, a classic Queen song (from way back) that exemplifies ALL the members' talents and abilities perfectly, called "Liar" ua-cam.com/video/oU7rqB9E_0M/v-deo.html Or here's another one that highlights all of their singing abilities and such beautiful harmonies (studio version)... called "Somebody to Love" ua-cam.com/video/kijpcUv-b8M/v-deo.html Enjoy... blessings
It was never made a big deal in the UK being dressed as women ..it was a fun video and pretty obvious that it's about women who want to break free from their dull lives .I find it very strange that there is looks of confusion ..
This has nothing to do with Freddy at all the song was written by Rodger Taylor it was his girlfriend who suggested they dress in Drag they dressed at the characters and a Great Britain television show called Coronation Street has nothing to do with gay has nothing to do with Freddy other than he was in the video as you can see they all are in Drag damn Rodger is a pretty girl
The MTV asked the band to take another video, maybe a simple concert like one, but they said a definite NO, similarly to cutting shorter of Bohemian Rhapsody. Pls, check out the Miracle video: ua-cam.com/video/2DaY8-Mui0I/v-deo.html
he realy ganed in popularity after he came out as gay and had hiv and aids but after he died from it he was mourned all over the uk on a side note the guitarist talks alot at olacers like oxford i belve on philosophy
Exactly, I don’t care if he preferred girls or boys or…goats. I came for the music and his romantic partner of choice has no bearing on his exceptional musical abilities. 33 years since we lost him and I have only ever heard one person come close to doing his music justice, and sorry but I mean Marc Martel NOT Adam Lambert.
If you whant a heavier rock go back to the 70’s Liar, Death on two legs, omg I dont remember all the name of the song eventely not when I shall writhe them down ohhh shame on me!! Well White Queen at Hammersmith -75 is a MUST. Seven seas of rye, Dont stop me now, ohhh acctuly now I dont remember 🤨 so emberresing, but I can say go back to 70’s you whant bee disapointed as you sad you never go wrong with Queen! I have one more Killer Queen from Top of the pop’s. If you whant to have a shock on Freddies voice play Exsersice in free love, and all the song with operadiva Monzerat Caballet, Barcelona, How can I go on 😢 this from -89…..Freddie was preddy sick but he made it, they should sing Barcelona to the opening of summer-OL -92. He told her I’m probebly not here then, and he wasent……this rabbit-hole is big,big……go down in it and a most til Dragon atacc from Montreal -81. Whooo, and a really most, most is Who whants to live forever from Wembley JULY 11 -86, importent it MOST been from july 11 there you really hear the power, glorie and everything in Freddies big voice……that song are made of Brian to the movie Highlander. They had the music til that movie, and that was what was good with that movie…the music….try it snd enjoy with all of us hard-core-fan ❤
1984. This is all the funnier because of Freddie's moustache LMAO. Not controversial anywhere except in America, whose calvinistic, anally retentive roots are always close to the surface. Remember, in the days of Shakespeare men played women's parts in plays and dramas, because women were not expected to act. This song is not about Freddie coming out. It was homage to a British soap opera that's been running since 1960 and that every Brit knows, even if they don't watch it.
this one doesn’t translate well to the US. You’d have to know British soap characters from the era which this is a skit on, characters like Bet Lynch in Coronation Street and how it wasn’t out of the ordinary here to have comedy, theatre or pantomine with drag being used. so it really wasn’t a big deal in the UK and it isn’t about Freddie, he wasn’t bothered about what people thought about him or his life and it wasn’t his idea. so my first reaction to this video, is Freddie’s timing scooting out and then him being dressed up but still with his moustache, so it’s comic and people back then would just see that as Freddie being daft along with the rest of the band.
OMG, you have NO. IDEA. how THRILLED I was to hear…. “Send me links!” ….Honey, I will be sending you links! (Cuz “buried” in the YT algorithms, there exist digitally REMASTERED/upgraded to higher HD, versions of pretty much ANY Queen MV out there, as well as for the performance footage from their concerts.) BTW, there is a not-very-well-known performance of this song that has only been reacted to a couple of times, THAT IS THE BEST, EVERRR…. FREDDIE DRESSED IN DRAG, ONSTAGE. (He did it a handful of times, the year after the MV came out.) There’s footage of a couple performances, but the BEST quality one is: JAPAN IN 1985 (I’ll find/send the link in case you’re interested.)
American UA-camrs are all the same, always picking up on trivialities, pull a face like you're trying to break wind or drinking out of an oversized container.. Just in case you don't know Freddie was gay, hence the name of the band. Yes they are dressed as females.and if you listen to the lyrics you will understand why. The video was made as a piece of artistic licence which Freddy enjoyed doing and also for a bit of fun, for a laugh ha ha ha. PS Queen produced their own extravagant videos, costing a lot more than other bands videos at the time.
It ws recorded in 1983' and written by John Decon.So you got it all wrong - - it could be tight - but it could also be about gender equality???.And I WAS John Deakons song!!! I-m an old hippie of 71 years - from a time when autotune didn't exist -and singing in a choir - without need of something like that - - as it is not nessecaty in classical music - .I hope I have checked you o bit - - it certainly was the intention of Queen take it easy pal- or I will unsubscribe -
This is not a channel for negativity and I’m not here to criticize anyone or any artist. So if you feel the need to unsubscribe please don’t let me stop you 😊-thanks for watching
Where do you get off saying "Their videos are really old, and ... meh"? Sorry, but if you want to command any sense of credibility in what you say, then you have to actually make credible statements. A very sad reflection on your limited understanding.
This is such a fun video. John (bass) wrote this song and it was Roger's (Drums) girlfriend who suggested doing it in drag. The band members are all dressed as characters from a British soap opera called Coronation Street. John said this song was about women wanting to break out of their stereotypical roles but not sure about giving up a lot of the things that they enjoyed about it. This song was released in 1984. It was not well received in the U.S. but did well in the rest of the world. There had been comedy acts where men were dressed as women on TV for years so I don't know why M-Tv banned it but they did.
You actually beat me too it, but couldn't have said it better myself.
I’m certain it was *all* MTV’s decision, and perhaps a very small but loud-mouthed minority of jerks making a fuss.
The US had plenty of “men in drag” humor in our history too, pre-dating this video.
-Milton Berle and Flip Wilson both had drag characters they did on their TV shows.
- Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon were in drag in the movie “Some Like It Hot” with Marilyn Monroe.
- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari were in drag, starring in a sitcom called “Bosom Buddies”
These are just a few examples.
So it was never as simple and pat as “The USA couldn’t handle men in drag” , it was MTV being stupid.
Wow 🥰 beautiful sweet Freddie ❤️ I love this video is so artistic and funny 🤣 liked subscribed 😁
Another one bites the dust.
John Deacon wrote this song. It's about the pressures within a marriage. The video was in drag to reference a skit comedy show that was on in Great Brittain at the time. But it still got banned.
The song has NOTHING to do with Freddie's sexuality, it was written by John Deacon about women's liberation movement. The video was a parody of the characters from Coronation Street (British Soap Opera) It was Roger's girlfriend's idea to dress them up in drag. I want to break free was released in 1984. Controversial ? Yes, only in U.S not everyone got the joke.(Europeans have sens of humor)
BTW Freddie NEVER publically came out and NEVER wore drag in his private life.
Bohemian Rhapsody- no one knows what the song is about ( even his bandmates).
How do you know what Freddie did in private? The whole point of privacy is that the rest of us wouldn't know anything about it.
"how can i go on" by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, PLEASE
Rogerina was The most beautiful "girl" ...❣️
Another one to check show must go on
Lol...surprised? Didn't expect that!
Love your reaction! Try Queen live 1976 Hyde Park You Take My Breath Away. Also It’s A Kind ofMagic, Stone Cold Crazy, Killer Queen, Another One Bites the Dust, Get Down Make Love, Dragon Attack. Any live at Wembley. ❤Freddie RIP. Legend.
Only American music hierarchy rejected it and Queen became unpopular there, hence a lot of their tours took on South America, Europe, Australia etc. Another one bites the dust really popular in America, song again written by John Deacon.
You should check the quality of Barcelona, sung by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe, at La Nit.
In the UK we are used to seeing men dressed as women in plays etc. At Christmas many families go too see a pantomime play. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty😊, Where the principle woman actors dress as men and men dress as women. This was a send off of a soap in the UK Coronation street.
This was a spin-off of a English sitcom called coronation street
Well done that man for picking up that this video was done awhile back , and America didn't get the British sense of humour with the " Coronation street " themed video .
Thanks, Slick - this was not controversial at all in Britain - they were portraying characters from a popular soap - called "Coronation Street" - it was only in the US that everyone freaked out... had nothing to do with Freddie or his sexuality - written by bassist John Deacon, in fact... the other "weird" parts of the video were Freddie working with ballet/dance group... nothing extraordinary for him... he was always exploring "art" - check out his work with opera singer Montserrat Caballe (Spain) - they had some beautiful collaborations..
"I want it all" is a great song by Queen 😁
Yes!!!
If you want to see each member take the spotlight in a song you could try "Liar", but I suggest that you react to it live.
So I think that your choice could be Liar - Live At The Rainbow. It's an amazing performance.
Brian May considers that the video damaged the band's reputation in the USA. At least, until the Bohemian Rhapsody scene in Wayne's World. MTV higher ups considered the video to promote cross dressing and trans sexuality. It was banned which is embarrassing, and a travesty. I remember when I did see it for the first time, and I laughed by butt off!
😂😂😂me too, hilarious, love that English sense of humour, thanks Deaky, thanks Roger's girlfriend! This broke a mould and America shunned it!😂😂look at the great U S of A now😮😮
Best group ever ,greatest voice ever.Still sadly missed .❤ Lovely guys.
Under Pressure ❤
The whole world appreciated this song, but US decided not to.
I am from Brazil and this song is in the top 3 of the most popular of Queen here. Btw, Queen is the most popular band here.
John Deacon wrote this one about a woman wanting to break free from the stereotypes society imposes (although some velieve it could have been written about John dealing with pressure). Roger Taylor's then girlfriend suggested they should dress in drag as a tribute to a show called Coronation Street.
Yes, the US pulled the plug on playing it (homophobic fear, oh dear!) and was a factor in Queen opting to never tour here again. Translates into so many meanings...just how they loved it.
Really great reaction but It's so funny watching other countries (especially the US) react to this. They always look gobsmacked😂 It's totally normal over here in the UK! Men dressed as women have been part of our comedy culture forever!
It was funny to me and I wasn’t bothered, I wasn’t expecting it but I love the sense of humor queen had
I know, anyone from the UK just had a chuckle at this video and thinks it's fun. US-Americans always seem so shocked bless em.
Gotta love Freddie’s skirt & heels 👠👠 Best legs in Rock n Roll! Brian May in curlers, how ironic.🪞 Roger Taylor a school girl 📚& good ol’ Deaky as grumpy Granny 👵 LOL - Yes there was controversy but it was Queen’s BODY LANGUAGE that was actually banned. In fact, Queen was the first band to have a music video banned by MTV. Now that’s ironic! Freddie swore that Queen would never tour America again! The last live show was on Saturday Night Live 1982.
Hello, My Love! lol
@Debra Moore Best legs 🤣. Sure! 😍
@@GinMae Hello Ginny! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🥧
@@debramoore7513 you, too, Love!
The video was actually banned in the US😂
Check out Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe doing "Barcelona".
I have no idea what Queen videos you have been watching but all the ones I have seen are great quality.
"I Want To Break Free" was released in 1984 and it was the second single from Queen’s 11th studio album "The Works". It was composed by Queen bass guitarist, John Deacon and gained notoriety primarily for its controversial music video which was not well received in the U.S. Cross-dressing by entertainers was widely accepted in the U.K but not in the U.S. Maybe the British acceptance stemmed from the Shakespearian times when no women were allowed to perform on stage and all female parts were men dressed as women or maybe it is just because it tickles the British sense of humor.
The video featured the band dressed as the cast of a long-running and very popular British soap opera called Coronation Street and also showed Freddie dancing with members of the Royal Ballet Theatre. Freddie plays a housewife who wants to “break free” from her constraining life. The soap opera parody was entirely missed in the United States, where the video was interpreted as a celebration of transvestism and subsequently banned from MTV, which may have led to the song’s lack of success in the US as compared to the rest of the world.
Although music video was often believed to be Freddie’s idea, in an interview with Q magazine in March 2011, Brian stated that "Of course, everybody thinks that it was Freddie’s idea because it looks like something that he would love to do but it actually came from Roger’s girlfriend at the time, strangely enough. It was her idea to pastiche the Coronation Street women."
Freddie, although shocked that the others suggested dressing up in drag for the video, doesn’t deny that he was actually dying to dress up in drag, and it was something in the back of his mind.
Brilliant Slick, nice work! Another suggestion would be "Love of my life - live in Wembley" - short, sweet, powerful and breathtaking would sum it up nicely
Or same song, Love of my life - Rock in Rio
Oh yes!!! Love this. All of the versions of this us good, but I like tge Rio one best. There's more crowd interacting.
Yes
Queen was a different and versatile group, they did what they wanted regardless of the criticism from the press, although they were harassed all the time. They have a wide variety of music. I recommend you listen to the official version of You take my breath away, where you can appreciate Freddie's voice and his harmonies. He sings the song and also does the choirs. Also 39, written and sung by Brian, beautiful lyrics and melody. Keep looking for songs from the first albums, they are perfect.
Gotta react to white queen live 1975 by queen
Great song!!!
In my opinion, the official video for Another One Bites the Dust is phenomenal. It's a performance video, not a story video, but Freddie leaves it all out there. Pure funk. I have a male associate that says he doesn't like watching Freddie perform - I told him to view Freddie's movements as the music funneling through his body. The creativity of Queen knew no boundaries. These four guys were all about the music.
🤣😅😆😅 Your face..lol..❤❤❤
Lol ❤️
For the liberation of women
Amen...deal with it , I want Your reaction and this is part of it !!!
who wants to live forever is one of my fouvorite queen songs. every queen song from the film highlander is top
Agreed, personally I prefer the official studio video for this particular song from the soundtrack of the movie Highlander
Amen on your comments about Auto tune! You loose something when autotune is used. The Show Must go on!
I agree about auto tune the alleged “artists” who use it ate actually lower than the creatures that lip sync all their performances.
I love your reactions, and by the way you can pause as much as you want, that's what it's all about.
Thank you!
this song was banned from many american radio stations back then which is why they stopped touring in the u. s. and became so famous in the rest of the world.
This is one of my favorite pride songs
Che non c'entra un cazzo col pride infatti !!! Voi le polemiche le avete in testa....questo era un video scherzoso su una soap opera britannica....vi sentite tanto trasgressivi oggi 😂😂🤡🤡
Yes they are all dressed as women, Brian May in the pink dressing gown and hair curlers (as if he needs them), Freddie Mercury in the leather skirt (still with moustache), John Deacon (the writer of this song) as the disgruntled looking granny dressed in black, and Roger Taylor (Rogerina) as the schoolgirl (it was his girlfriend's idea that they dress as women).
Dressing in drag (as women) was and still is a fairly common thing in the UK (and plenty of other places in the world), and is done for comic effect.
The humor completely failed to be seen in 80's America, and the TV channel MTV refused to show it (despite the fact that without Queen and the video they did for Bohemian Rhapsody, MTV probably never would have existed).
Just a few suggestions for interesting Queen Videos.
"Bicycle Race" ua-cam.com/video/xt0V0_1MS0Q/v-deo.html (just to see your reaction)
"Breakthru" ua-cam.com/video/CEjU9KVABao/v-deo.html (for another video no-one could make now, the insurance would be too high)
"The Miracle" ua-cam.com/video/2DaY8-Mui0I/v-deo.html (just because I like it)
"I'm Going Slightly Mad" ua-cam.com/video/Od6hY_50Dh0/v-deo.html (despite showing an obviously ill Freddie it always brings a smile)
Then a few for varied Queen
"Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" ua-cam.com/video/OU6EyXcFBxA/v-deo.html (for some relaxation)
"Brighton Rock" ua-cam.com/video/BUt_7TQCWtU/v-deo.html (for the Guitar solo)
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" ua-cam.com/video/zO6D_BAuYCI/v-deo.html (Rockabilly)
"Stone Cold Crazy" ua-cam.com/video/T8Rfb1Jtmic/v-deo.html (Speed Metal)
"Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)" ua-cam.com/video/kqVpk0qxmfA/v-deo.html (Vitriolic diss track)
"'39" ua-cam.com/video/kE8kGMfXaFU/v-deo.html (Time travel ballad)
"Thank God It's Christmas" ua-cam.com/video/EIfZXSXRsYI/v-deo.html (Queen's only Christmas song)
"Sail Away Sweet Sister (To the sister I never had)" ua-cam.com/video/kGXsIt4l1Tg/v-deo.html and "All Dead, All Dead" ua-cam.com/video/l_6AC2u0E4E/v-deo.html (a couple of Brian May's more emotional songs)
"White Man" ua-cam.com/video/K0LSuY2TDwE/v-deo.html and "Put Out the Fire" ua-cam.com/video/wN9lfb0rmpc/v-deo.html (for a bit of sociopolitical comment).
"The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke" ua-cam.com/video/IGNILpVcgz4/v-deo.html (art appreciation in song, having a copy of Richard Dadd's painting of the same name to hand is recommended)
You should never ask "Queenies" for a few suggestions, sometimes we get a bit carried away (there are about 200 Queen tracks, Brian May has produced a couple of solo albums and Roger Taylor has a few more, Freddie produced a terrible solo album as well as the amazing "Barcelona" album with opera singer Montserrat Caballé.
Innuendo, please ;)
With hope from Ukraine ;)
And whatever will be will be just keep on trying. Keep my fingers crossed
Just because someone dresses up in female clothing doesn't mean they're gay, there's a long history in the UK of men playing female roles, mostly for comic affect, dating back to Shakespearian times where most of the female roles were played by men. This pretty much killed Queens career in the US because they just didn't get it.
Really good reaction, pausing & reacting is part of why we watch, so carry on.
This song is from 1984/85 (the follow-up to Radio GaGa) and didn't cause that much controversy. It was seen as comedy. Times were different then and ppl weren't that sensitive as they are now. Also, we knew that Queen, in spite of Mercury's already well known sexual escapades, weren't transvestites. So ppl took it as comedy - also because no deeper meaning was intended by Queen, just a fun video. I know this, because I was around when it came out :) Dressing up like women didn't matter much in a time in which guys wore eyeliner and mascara. What shocked in those days was full nudity as it was 20 years after the sixties and we had already seen the first fully naked woman on TV in 1967. So nothing new there. It may have been shocking in the US (which I think it was) but then again, the US always was like half a century behind from where I lived.
FREDDIE MURCURY died from Aid's AND HE WAS GAY BUT WHO CARE'S HE WAS A GREAT singer REST in peace FREDDIE YOU WERE A GREAT Singer 😔
Cool Cat….by Queen !!
Our generation from like the '60s through the '80s when we say that's the greatest the music that you'll ever listen to now you know why there was no autotune you had to actually sing you played instruments most members played more than one instrument so when there was talent there was actual talents you had to actually sing there was no covering up the voices.
Updated Queen to do list with links (from Queen Offical if possible):
Death on two legs: ua-cam.com/video/kqVpk0qxmfA/v-deo.html
Stone cold crazy -live at the rainbow ua-cam.com/video/T8Rfb1Jtmic/v-deo.html
You Take My Breath away live Hyde Park 1976 ua-cam.com/video/UBBne8R66xo/v-deo.html
White Queen Live Hammersmith ua-cam.com/video/f8usNj4x9NA/v-deo.html
Killer Queen official video ua-cam.com/video/2ZBtPf7FOoM/v-deo.html
Don't Stop me now official video ua-cam.com/video/HgzGwKwLmgM/v-deo.html
Somebody to love - Live Montreal ua-cam.com/video/aA2IRoPFIn0/v-deo.html
Fat bottom Girls official video ua-cam.com/video/VMnjF1O4eH0/v-deo.html
The Miracle official video ua-cam.com/video/2DaY8-Mui0I/v-deo.html
Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé ua-cam.com/video/Y1fiOJDXA-E/v-deo.html
Dr. Brian May solo Brighton Rock ua-cam.com/video/-m69BrvJNfg/v-deo.html
It came out in the 80's they played it a lot on MTV!
Queen song works
You were saying that picture quality was not good.....is this picture clear enough for you?🤣😂🤣😊
It was controversial and was banned on MTV. it’s an anthem for breaking out of a bad relationship/situation.
Er no, it wasn't controversial all over the world. It was just a bit of fun. Only controversial in the US 😂
Shhh, don’t tell the Americans that they actually aren’t the whole world.
Men dressing as women on TV is not so... controversial. Check out the works of the comedy group Monty Python who began on British television in the late 1960s. Next Queen song? Bicycle race.
Benny Hill did cossdressing too in his show and he started in '55
It wasn't even that big a deal in the US like a lot of people will try to make you believe. The controversy over this was was just the suits at MTV having issues because of Freddie's reputation. Not the fans.
Milton Berle was famous in the US for dressing as a woman as far back as vaudville. There's a very famous movie called Some Like it Hot where cross dressing is the main plot. The movie Tootsie was in theaters a couple of years before came out. There was even a TV show with a certain Tom Hanks called Bosom Buddies.
You should check out I Want It All
Our generation from like the '60s through the '80s when we say that's the greatest the music that you'll ever listen to now you know why there was no autotune you had to actually sing you played instruments most members played more than one instrument so when there was talent there was actual talents you had to actually sing there was no covering up the voices. No auto-tune s*** we cannot stand that s*** and we can tell when there's lip syncing we do not like that s*** at all. By the time the '90s rolled around music started changing and it wasn't the same anymore I think after the '90s is when I stopped listening to regular music and just kept with the oldies as we like to call it
Great choice you have it live version 1986 in whembley great performance was written by deacon the bass player it's about woman liberation not about freddie's being gay freddie's voice is insane and of course brian may kills it with the guitar so great song it's queen they are the best and yes freddie's voice is made in heaven can do every style and he sounds so great musical genius thanks love your reactions
It was not controversial in the UK, we hardly batted an eyelid!
Watch the movie "Some like it hot" with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis. Two men dressed as women..
Life was a free place before this new moral stupidity in US!
Next. Under Pressure
1984
It's called a humiliation ritual. They had to do it.
I think it came out in the late 70s. It's a joke video.Its a skit on the TV programme 'coronation st'. At the time it came out in the UK all us Brits laughed and nobody took offense. I still think it's a great song and video.
I'm enjoying your take on it.
Written by John, video concept came from Rogers' partner Debbie. Controversy? Hardly any, most people caught the fun aspect apart from the good people at MTV who wet their collective panties amid an attack of the screaming vapours!
It wasn't 'controversial' at all in europe, maybe in the US!
Bohemian Rhapsody was NOT his coming out song! It was written in 1975, he was with Mary then!
this song has nothing to do with him Beining gay. it was a spin on a British T.V. program Short Land Street.
1986 ..its a parody of coronation Street
1984
Hey Slick...
If you don't like "Liar", here's another one to try...
ua-cam.com/video/IeBc-c1Yang/v-deo.html
It's "In the Lap of the Gods", and it showcases Roger''s falsetto, which explains why Freddie called him his 'dog whistle'... blessings.
Hey Slick...
Love this song... the song that gave "Rogerina" a bad reputation... but gotta love those rollers in Brian's hair... USA didn't care for the video too much though, maybe because nobody explained "Coronation Street" to them (or MTV). Kinda ironic though, the band that gave MTV their first video (BoRhap) was also the first band to get banned on their platform...
You asked for it... here it is, a classic Queen song (from way back) that exemplifies ALL the members' talents and abilities perfectly, called "Liar"
ua-cam.com/video/oU7rqB9E_0M/v-deo.html
Or here's another one that highlights all of their singing abilities and such beautiful harmonies (studio version)... called "Somebody to Love"
ua-cam.com/video/kijpcUv-b8M/v-deo.html
Enjoy... blessings
It was never made a big deal in the UK being dressed as women ..it was a fun video and pretty obvious that it's about women who want to break free from their dull lives .I find it very strange that there is looks of confusion ..
This has nothing to do with Freddy at all the song was written by Rodger Taylor it was his girlfriend who suggested they dress in Drag they dressed at the characters and a Great Britain television show called Coronation Street has nothing to do with gay has nothing to do with Freddy other than he was in the video as you can see they all are in Drag damn Rodger is a pretty girl
The MTV asked the band to take another video, maybe a simple concert like one, but they said a definite NO, similarly to cutting shorter of Bohemian Rhapsody. Pls, check out the Miracle video: ua-cam.com/video/2DaY8-Mui0I/v-deo.html
he realy ganed in popularity after he came out as gay and had hiv and aids but after he died from it he was mourned all over the uk on a side note the guitarist talks alot at olacers like oxford i belve on philosophy
Exactly, I don’t care if he preferred girls or boys or…goats. I came for the music and his romantic partner of choice has no bearing on his exceptional musical abilities. 33 years since we lost him and I have only ever heard one person come close to doing his music justice, and sorry but I mean Marc Martel NOT Adam Lambert.
Story was this was suggested by Roger girlfriend
If you whant a heavier rock go back to the 70’s Liar, Death on two legs, omg I dont remember all the name of the song eventely not when I shall writhe them down ohhh shame on me!! Well White Queen at Hammersmith -75 is a MUST. Seven seas of rye, Dont stop me now, ohhh acctuly now I dont remember 🤨 so emberresing, but I can say go back to 70’s you whant bee disapointed as you sad you never go wrong with Queen! I have one more Killer Queen from Top of the pop’s. If you whant to have a shock on Freddies voice play Exsersice in free love, and all the song with operadiva Monzerat Caballet, Barcelona, How can I go on 😢 this from -89…..Freddie was preddy sick but he made it, they should sing Barcelona to the opening of summer-OL -92. He told her I’m probebly not here then, and he wasent……this rabbit-hole is big,big……go down in it and a most til Dragon atacc from Montreal -81. Whooo, and a really most, most is Who whants to live forever from Wembley JULY 11 -86, importent it MOST been from july 11 there you really hear the power, glorie and everything in Freddies big voice……that song are made of Brian to the movie Highlander. They had the music til that movie, and that was what was good with that movie…the music….try it snd enjoy with all of us hard-core-fan ❤
1984. This is all the funnier because of Freddie's moustache LMAO. Not controversial anywhere except in America, whose calvinistic, anally retentive roots are always close to the surface. Remember, in the days of Shakespeare men played women's parts in plays and dramas, because women were not expected to act. This song is not about Freddie coming out. It was homage to a British soap opera that's been running since 1960 and that every Brit knows, even if they don't watch it.
this one doesn’t translate well to the US. You’d have to know British soap characters from the era which this is a skit on, characters like Bet Lynch in Coronation Street and how it wasn’t out of the ordinary here to have comedy, theatre or pantomine with drag being used. so it really wasn’t a big deal in the UK and it isn’t about Freddie, he wasn’t bothered about what people thought about him or his life and it wasn’t his idea.
so my first reaction to this video, is Freddie’s timing scooting out and then him being dressed up but still with his moustache, so it’s comic and people back then would just see that as Freddie being daft along with the rest of the band.
Omg no one knows what bohemian rhapsody was about. Watch interviews even the other guys say it.
OMG, you have NO. IDEA. how THRILLED I was to hear….
“Send me links!”
….Honey, I will be sending you links!
(Cuz “buried” in the YT algorithms, there exist digitally REMASTERED/upgraded to higher HD, versions of pretty much ANY Queen MV out there, as well as for the performance footage from their concerts.)
BTW, there is a not-very-well-known performance of this song that has only been reacted to a couple of times, THAT IS THE BEST, EVERRR…. FREDDIE DRESSED IN DRAG, ONSTAGE. (He did it a handful of times, the year after the MV came out.) There’s footage of a couple performances, but the BEST quality one is:
JAPAN IN 1985
(I’ll find/send the link in case you’re interested.)
And so, just see "bicycle race" (r2lT4oE4DxE).....
This didn’t go down well in the US when it was released in 1984. The US was the only country to find it controversial. Lighten up US. It’s a parody.
American UA-camrs are all the same, always picking up on trivialities, pull a face like you're trying to break wind or drinking out of an oversized container.. Just in case you don't know Freddie was gay, hence the name of the band. Yes they are dressed as females.and if you listen to the lyrics you will understand why. The video was made as a piece of artistic licence which Freddy enjoyed doing and also for a bit of fun, for a laugh ha ha ha. PS Queen produced their own extravagant videos, costing a lot more than other bands videos at the time.
That’s a bit racist. Why are you watching American reaction videos?
It ws recorded in 1983' and written by John Decon.So you got it all wrong - - it could be tight - but it could also be about gender equality???.And I WAS John Deakons song!!! I-m an old hippie of 71 years - from a time when autotune didn't exist -and singing in a choir - without need of something like that - - as it is not nessecaty in classical music - .I hope I have checked you o bit - - it certainly was the intention of Queen take it easy pal- or I will unsubscribe -
This is not a channel for negativity and I’m not here to criticize anyone or any artist. So if you feel the need to unsubscribe please don’t let me stop you 😊-thanks for watching
You can wear guns but not swear end dress in drag. It ruined the market for Queen - and you.!
Where do you get off saying "Their videos are really old, and ... meh"? Sorry, but if you want to command any sense of credibility in what you say, then you have to actually make credible statements. A very sad reflection on your limited understanding.
You are very very very sensitive get over it sunshine.
It was never controversial, guys have been dressing up as women forever, especially in British television 😆