Freddie Mercury lead singer diploma in Graphic Arts and Design, Sir Dr Brian May lead guitar PHD in Astrophysics, Roger Taylor drums degree in Biology after changing from Dentistry, John Deacon bass guitar First Class Honours degree in Electronics all four are multi instrumentalists all four inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame all four wrote number one hits ❤ there you have Queen one AMAZING band love them ❤ x
It’s amazing how evenly spread amongst the band their greatest songs are in terms of who wrote them. Doesn’t happen in most bands where the strongest ego takes control, usually causing tension that ends the banf. If it wasn’t for Freddie’s death, I imagine Queen would have lasted decades longer, even with their solo projects.
I saw this video back in the 80's, the only thing that angried me was that, as a female, Roger Taylor was prettier than me.🤣🤣 As always artist in the 80's were open to do the weirdest things on videos. that's why they were fun, and British bands always inserted their own social aspects in their videos. But the American market not always liked it. I remember the American market censoring the black-face minstrel from one of the Culture Club videos.
Oddly enough, one of the few places where Americans have historically accepted cross-dressing was in the military... from the American Civil War through WW2, soldiers dressed in drag and performed for each other. I think they got it from their British bros.
The song is largely known for its music video for which all the band members dressed in drag, a concept proposed by drummer Roger Taylor, which parodied the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The second part of the video included a composition rehearsed and performed with the Royal Ballet and choreographed by Wayne Eagling. Whereas the parody was acclaimed in the United Kingdom, where cross-dressing is a popular trope in British comedy,[3] it caused controversy in the United States.[4] wikipedia
@@9ofdiamonds350yeah sorry to burst ur bubble but the lyrics to AKOM are literally just referencing the Character in the Highlander Film in which the song was written for, albeit Freddie did rework AKOM whilst Rog was Away making it a more Four on the Floor beat type song, especially when u listen to the original 1985 Demo Version/Highlander Mix Version
@@9ofdiamonds350and also don’t comment a comment like this amongst the Queen Bootleg Community if u find urself there as they’d probably go on an even Worse Tangent 😂😂😂 they’d be pulling Facts out of nowhere that even I’d feel Dumb for not knowing 😅😂
British comedy is LOADED with cross - dressing!!! Has been forever!! If you can get British humor, it's awesome. Monty Python is ridiculously funny, and the "Britcoms" on PBS are hilarious 😆 "Sheridan! How nice of you to ring Mummy!"❤😂
Yes, and Pantomime (men dressing as "Dames") has been going strong for 300 years. 😳 And of course in Shakespearean times boys played the female parts, as women were not allowed to. This current obsession with Drag is so.. Old. . All done decades and centuries ago. In Britain nothing "edgy" about it. Youngsters now should ask their grandads if they have Pink Satin jumpsuits from 1970s in the attic. 🤣 This video was standing up for how women were constrained by Family life (Coronation Street soap) miners who were having their coal mines closed and losing their jobs. And for.. Gay people. So many levels. And all done decades ago.
The middle part of the video that is dark was the band showing support for the miners in the UK at the time. They were involved in a long strike. Those with the miners hats on were members of their fan club. This song was written by John Deacon (bassist) about woman back in that time that wanted more independence but didn’t want to give up everything in their lives to achieve that, hence the pastiche to the woman characters of Coronation Street. The ballet part is the London Ballet. Freddie did a performance with them and wanted to use them.
So there's also a lesser reviewed track that is a total banger. It had the misfortune of being overshadowed by We Are the Champions and We Will Rock You. It was on the same album. Try listening to It's Late. Quintessential Queen track.
You should check out Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Monserrat Caballe (opera singer). The harmonies are magnificent. Who'd have thought rock and opera would be great together!
Well, there is the whole operatic section of Bohemian Rasphody, I mean the album it is from is called Night at the Opera :D One of the reasons the label didn't like that single.
This was written by the bass player John,about liberation in particular womens equality . Through the open door is the characters fantasy world,yes its Freddie in the silver leatard. The figures with the lights on is a nod to the miners strike which was going on at that time. M.T.V banned the video fearing it would corrupt the youth of America. In England this drag dressing goes back to Shakespeare's time. Many assume it is about Freddie's speciality but it wasnt written by him and John was happily married with then 4 children.
Freddie did a solo version of The platters Great Pretender. It definitely is a must to listen to. I would also suggest Barcelona he did solo with Montserrat Bella. It's definitely a great piece and shows his operatic range. Freddie was never afraid to try something new.
This was written by John as a women's lib anthem. He's the most traditional Queen member... still married to "his best friend" The extras were Queen fan club members (not the dancers - the one's with the headlamps). They were included several times (Radio Gaga, Friends Will be Friends, You're my Best Friend)
Yeah, Americans don't get a lot of British humour & can't be expected to understand some of the pop culture like Coronation Street (Corrie). But yeah, Brits love a good drag queen, we've had & grown up with them all through our beloved TV shows & imported a few too - looking at you Dame Edna!! ❤
I've always wanted to see British soap operas because the American ones are so boring but I can't find them anywhere where I don't have to pay for them 😂
@@RobGabany1976 Use vpn to sign into UK TV stations online sites. They'll often have shows on those but you need to "live" there to access, hence the vpn.
I just hope you read the comments in this section. I can say this much, I am glad the Queen band members did not take themselves too seriously, they had fun making some of those music videos. Queen's Bass guitarist John Deacon wrote this song, all the band members dressed in drag parodying a British television soap opera, this was suggested by the bands' drummer Roger Taylor. It can be interpreted in many ways I imagine; it may have some political undertones and particularly as an anthem against oppression, breaking free from a world that is materialistic, dishonest, wicked. I am sure your other subscribers by now have provided with you with explanations of how this song came to be. I am glad you liked the song. Perhaps read the other comments and do a bit of research on your own about the video. Peace. ☮
The whole BAND is in drag. There is a popular British TV show called Coronation Street- and the band embers dressed up like the characters on the show- but all as women
I remember house sitting for a friend who was 10 years older than me and had all of Queens albums. I started listening and listened to all of them. They were just amazing, I was just a little young to have caught their popularity but I caught up!
Do Somebody to Love live at Montreal 1981 and also the studio version. They are different but the live one is one of their best performances. Some real rockers to react to: Now I’m Here, Under Pressure live at Wembley 1986. Tie Your Mother Down live at Wembley July 12th 1986 (watch the audience). Dragon Attack, Keep Yourself Alive live at Montreal 1981. White Queen live at Hammersmith Odeon 1975.
You really need to do Somebody to Love live in Montreal, a performance that showcases each band members talents especially the great drumming and backing vocals from Roger Taylor. Of course not forgetting the amazing Freddie and his absolute stage presence
My 74 year old dad is a HUGE Queen fan and has been since I was kid (probably longer than I've been alive). This was the first song I ever heard from Queen and my 2nd song was "Radio Ga Ga." At 46 years old I'm still a huge Queen fan.
Thank you Sheila: "This was written by the bass player John,about liberation in particular womens equality . Through the open door is the characters fantasy world,yes its Freddie in the silver leatard. The figures with the lights on is a nod to the miners strike which was going on at that time. M.T.V banned the video fearing it would corrupt the youth of America. In England this drag dressing goes back to Shakespeare's time. Many assume it is about Freddie's specialty but it wasn't written by him and John was happily married with then 4 children."
The hit is the male perspective on the emancipation of women, which was still a major social issue in the mid-80s. The song was written by the band's bassist, John Deacon. In the very striking video for the hit, you can see the band members of Queen in drag outfits - especially Freddie Mercury vacuuming. A parody of the soap opera "Coronation Street", which was very popular in England in the 80s. Freddie Mercury even wanted to shave off his moustache for the video, but the director of the video, David Mallet, stopped him: "That's the funny thing! You with a moustache and drag outfit doing housework." The hit was stylistically rather untypical for Queen, but it still became one of their most successful songs. In the late 80s, it became the anthem of the South African liberation movement - Nelson Mandela was still in prison at the time. In 1992, Lisa Stansfield performed the hit at the tribute concert after Freddie Mercury's death. She sang it in Wembley Stadium with curlers in her hair and a vacuum cleaner in her hand - as a reference to the video. The hit made it to number 4 in the German charts, but it flopped in the USA, partly because MTV didn't play the video there. Roger Taylor from Queen is still annoyed by this today: At that time, MTV only ever showed Whitesnake, and another Whitesnake video. And Whitesnake again. Men in women's clothing weren't rocky enough for them. Unfortunately, this had an impact on Queen's success in America, because many of the following singles weren't played there either. Queen lost the market there with "I Want To Break Free".
Freddie was bi. No one cared until he died of AIDS. The drag characters parodied the British soap Opera Coronation Street. John Deacon, the bassist, wrote this song.
Excerpt from a German magazine (@FOCUS) from October 20, 2013: >> While the British tabloid press followed him at every turn in London, Mercury was able to lead a normal life in Munich. “Here he could be who he wanted to be. Nobody was hanging on to his pants. In Munich, he could disappear, walk around the city undetected, visit the relevant saunas at night without the press ever finding out. He really liked that.” The singer bought an apartment on Holzplatz and found not only a new home and a new favorite dish (roast pork with dumplings) in Munich, but also the love of his life: Winfried Kirchberger. “His great love was Winnie,” says Ambacher. The Queen singer threw roses through the window of the “Sebastianseck” landlord, gave him a limousine in front of the pub door and gave him an apartment in Pestalozzistraße. “They were together for a long time,” emphasizes the 62-year-old and immediately brushes aside the rumour that Austrian actress Barbara Valentin was Mercury's great love. “Freddie was gay. Valentin was his bosom friend, his companion. Nothing more ...”
This killed Queen in America. It was the 80s and when this video was released in the USA everyone went crazy, and not in a good way. They didn’t get it. It’s actually based on a long running soap opera series called Coronation Street in the UK. It’s still going now and started in the 60s. Everyone thought it was Freddie’s idea to dress in drag, but it was the drummer Roger Taylor’s idea, he plays the schoolgirl in the video. But I do agree with you that the video takes away from the song. The lyrics are so good but I always think of the video when I hear it. In fact, every time I hoover (vacuum) I sing this song, the leather mini skirt and stockings are long these days 😂😂😂 but I still sing it!
Yep. They lost America - basically because the then older generation thought it was degenerate. MTV banned it and that pissed off Freddie so they never played USA again. This song did hit the top 10 around the world. BP - British humor is very different from American humor. It was done as a take on Coronation Street but Monty Python also did humor in drag. It's an English thing. Though, Yale does a drag comedy as well and has for decades. The original video had the drag throughout and it included only the band members.
Not sure about that, I was 14 and a hard core jock and I loved all of Queens albums to include this one, I was also a music head though my stereo and or walk man was always on. My teachers even let me keep it on in class but that was probably because it kept the noise out for me.
Plenty of us got it just fine. I mean, we grew up watching Bugs Bunny, The Stooges, Monty Python, and MASH, so we *absolutely* knew that men dressed up as women was funny.
@@themightybuzzard3088 Some did, but Brian May himself said it in the Queen Documentary, Days Of Our Lives, that they were doing good in America until this video came out, and after that……. Nothing. They never recovered from the reaction to this video.
@@michelle88960 Yeah, that would be the same ones who thought Dungeons and Dragons and rock music in general were going to make the kids insane Satan worshipers. They're also why I had to drink 3.2% beer or drive to Texas until after 2000 and couldn't go to school dances because we weren't allowed to have them. You know, assholes.
The American television channel MTV originally boycotted the video, while its sister channel VH1 first broadcast it in 1991. MTV has constantly boycotted videos. There were some real philistines at work back then... 🤨 The song reached number 1 in the charts in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Austria, number 3 in the UK and number 4 in Germany.
Don't you think all those mums out there with the daily grind of feeding, washing and ironing for those kids that do nothing want to break free. I can tell you yes they do.
Another great hit from the 80's by famous British singer ROD STEWART and the song SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK this dude is a really one of the greatest singer of all time
Of all the Queen songs "A Kind of Magic" is probably my favorite song. largely because of Brains guitar work. I would put Brian up against any guitarist ever.
This song hit their popularity in the US purely because they were in drag. Freddie was blamed for it but it was apparently Brian who suggested it. The ultra conservative US couldn't deal with them in drag and didn't understand the concept as it apes Coronation Street which I don't believe was shown in the US so the reference was missed. They never played a US venue again after this.
You are one of the few reactors that didn’t comment on the pretty girl in the skirt (Roger) haha! Some actually realize it before the end of the video and the look that comes over their face is priceless!
The beginning of the video is based on a popular TV soap show Coronation Street. In a interview when asked about dressing up Freddie said the boys ran into there frocks faster than he did with a wicked funny smile on his face. He was also in the Royal Ballet. This was used in commercial during Covid.
The song was taken from The Works album. There was a theme through the album of Freedom. Hammer To Fall was about the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall. Machines was a look to the future with machines taking over. Radio GaGa was about the fall of radio in the MTV age. Is This The World We Created was another nod to the cold war and end of the Soviet Union. Incidentally the people with torches on their hard hats and the people doing the clapping during Radio GaGa are all members of the Queen fan club.
Everything from Queen was major superiorly great! This was a take from a British soap opera Coronation Street. It did not go well in America. That is British Royal Ballet that was dancing with Freddie. Such a fire song though. You really need to listen to Somebody to Love live at Montreal.
he bought a big mansion and he had 4 cats who each got a room he had difficulty with relationships In 1987 he was diagnosed with AIDS he died of complications of the disease at the age of 45. In 1992 the movie Bohemian Rhapsody is soooo good
MOST AMERICANS DIDN'T GET BRITISH HUMOR , THE CROSS DRESSING WAS DRUMMER ROGER TAYLORS IDEA , IT'S A PARODY ON A BRITISH TV SHOW CALLED CORONATION STREET.. MOST THINK ITS ABOUT COMING OUT , IT ISN'T...
I’m glad that everyone has explained to you about the drag portion……LOL. The video begins much the same as the British soap opera that it is making fun of…..it was supposed to be funny……the British aren’t as uptight about men in drag as Americans. And yes …I agree that the videos can be distracting from the song…..You really should see Freddie sing this song live on stage ….. it truly is amazing……most all of their songs are better performed live than the studio releases. Please react to “Save Me” ….live Montreal 1981. But I think that you would really like some of their earlier videos like “Liar” live at Rainbow 1974….or “White Queen” live at Hammersmith Odeon 1975…. I am looking forward to more of your honest Queen reactions. Thank you.
They were immitating the characters in a popular British sit-com of the time called Coronation Street. The song was written by John Deacon the Bass player , and was about women trying to break free of the role of being house wife.
Yes. That is Freddie without the mustache. This song is whatever you want it to mean. Back in day we jus loved it if we understood it or not. Actually we didn’t understand most of the songs then. 😆
You have to look at who he is dressed as. My take from it is that he is dressed as the female lead of a household. There is him (milf) her young blonde daughter, grandmother who is still living with them and either older daughter or her sister. All women with no men in the picture and either Mercury or Mays characters are the bread winners to keep the roof above them. I want to break free to me sounds like they cry of a woman who could still fall in love and settle, but she has work, housework and to earn money never finding the time to 'break free'. I acknowledge that some of the characters in this video were revolved around a soap in the UK called Coronation Street which has run since the 60s. However, from and outsider with no knowledge of this show, my breakdown above is near as.
the video is about a tv soap Coronation Street, the longest running soap on the planet. At the time you will always see the women cooking tea, cleaning the house etc on the soap.
Not all of us. A long time ago, I noticed the band were reading the newspaper and thinking, “if they made that today, I wonder if they would use the newspaper and magazines, or a cell phone which the hides what they are reading?” This question is followed by, “Nah. The band always had their fans, they would use paper.” This was as close to a love song Queen ever did. Right?
So many good songs start with earlier years with March of the black queen, Lair, killer queen, seven seas of rye, white queen, brighton rock and so many more.
Wasn't Roger Taylor gorgeous dressed as the schoolgirl? He's just gorgeous. I love Brian May's guitar in this song (& in 'Mother Love', in particular, too). 👍🙂❤🎵🏴💙🇬🇧🎵💜🤔🖖
I want to begin by saying how I am really liking your channel and how you are analyzing different songs. Having said that, I can understand some of your confusion in regards to the video in relation to the song that is really good. To understand where this was coming from, this song was originally made in 1984, which was about roughly 3 years after the launch MTV of (Music Television - which was LITERALLY 24 hours a day of music videos.) During this time, the music industry was going through so much change from purely radio to becoming a video medium, and there were a lot of experimenting going on, especially with trying to put together a story in music video form. Queen, which was originally named Smile, would often play in “hole in the wall” venues in a crowd, stuff like that. It wasn’t until the mid 80s that Queen really really took off into superstardom with a different medium that began with Live Aid. Getting back to this particular video, the song was top-notch and I absolutely loved it. The video while it was good, seem to have some loose ends that were still there and I could never quite figure it out either. Their videos did become better over time while the music remained top notch and timeless.
Mother's Finest - Baby Love !!!! Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime !!!! The Clash - The Guns of Brixton !!!! Ted Nugent - Writing on the Wall !!!! The Knife - Silent Shout !!!! The Vibrators - Keep it Clean !!!! Babylon Zoo - Spaceman !!!! Ace of Base - All that She Wants !!!! Brother Dege - Too Old to Die Young !!!! Eddy Grant - Living on the Frontline !!!! Praying Mantis - Dream On !!!! The Kinks - (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman !!!! Kingdom Come - Mad Queen !!!!´ Climax Blues Band - Couldn't Get It Right !!!! Molly Hatchet - Fall of the Peacemaker !!!! Ana Johnson - We Are !!!! Blackfoot - Fox Chase !!!! Steelheart - We All Die Young !!!! The Bevis Frond - Superseded (from the WDR Rockpalast 2004 gig) !!!! Point Blank - Uncle Ned !!!! Mahogany Rush - Requiem for a Sinner !!!!
@Black Pegasus - You should watch the movie that was in the theaters - Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (about Freddie and the band Queen, from start to finish) - Doors - The Doors - Elton John - Rocket Man - Def Leppard - Hysteria to name a few really Great Movies!
I always thought the video was about how women were oppressed by domesticity in the 70s and 80s. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids and being imprisoned by that life. They couldn't have their own lives because they were entrapped by taking care of men and kids. That's just my take on it.
Freddie Mercury lead singer diploma in Graphic Arts and Design, Sir Dr Brian May lead guitar PHD in Astrophysics, Roger Taylor drums degree in Biology after changing from Dentistry, John Deacon bass guitar First Class Honours degree in Electronics all four are multi instrumentalists all four inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame all four wrote number one hits ❤ there you have Queen one AMAZING band love them ❤ x
It’s amazing how evenly spread amongst the band their greatest songs are in terms of who wrote them. Doesn’t happen in most bands where the strongest ego takes control, usually causing tension that ends the banf. If it wasn’t for Freddie’s death, I imagine Queen would have lasted decades longer, even with their solo projects.
Yes most people aren't aware of the credentials these great musicians had...talented AND intelligent..a rarity these days!
I saw this video back in the 80's, the only thing that angried me was that, as a female, Roger Taylor was prettier than me.🤣🤣
As always artist in the 80's were open to do the weirdest things on videos. that's why they were fun, and British bands always inserted their own social aspects in their videos. But the American market not always liked it.
I remember the American market censoring the black-face minstrel from one of the Culture Club videos.
Oddly enough, one of the few places where Americans have historically accepted cross-dressing was in the military... from the American Civil War through WW2, soldiers dressed in drag and performed for each other. I think they got it from their British bros.
Brits in drag is as English as it gets! Music hall theater was full of men in drag.
Yes Roger looks real good
Queen has THREE greatest hits albums, if that tells you anything.
One of them being the best selling album of all time in the UK 👏👏
Them and Billy Joel.
The song is largely known for its music video for which all the band members dressed in drag, a concept proposed by drummer Roger Taylor, which parodied the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The second part of the video included a composition rehearsed and performed with the Royal Ballet and choreographed by Wayne Eagling. Whereas the parody was acclaimed in the United Kingdom, where cross-dressing is a popular trope in British comedy,[3] it caused controversy in the United States.[4] wikipedia
For me the video goes from mundane to dream. The teasmaid and Coronation Street opening not understood by America its so British.
I think the ballet part is based on Nijinsky's version of Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.
@@9ofdiamonds350yeah sorry to burst ur bubble but the lyrics to AKOM are literally just referencing the Character in the Highlander Film in which the song was written for, albeit Freddie did rework AKOM whilst Rog was Away making it a more Four on the Floor beat type song, especially when u listen to the original 1985 Demo Version/Highlander Mix Version
@@9ofdiamonds350and also don’t comment a comment like this amongst the Queen Bootleg Community if u find urself there as they’d probably go on an even Worse Tangent 😂😂😂 they’d be pulling Facts out of nowhere that even I’d feel Dumb for not knowing 😅😂
Crikey, it's not that deep!@@9ofdiamonds350
British comedy is LOADED with cross - dressing!!! Has been forever!! If you can get British humor, it's awesome. Monty Python is ridiculously funny, and the "Britcoms" on PBS are hilarious 😆
"Sheridan! How nice of you to ring Mummy!"❤😂
Yes, and Pantomime (men dressing as "Dames") has been going strong for 300 years. 😳 And of course in Shakespearean times boys played the female parts, as women were not allowed to.
This current obsession with Drag is so.. Old. . All done decades and centuries ago. In Britain nothing "edgy" about it.
Youngsters now should ask their grandads if they have Pink Satin jumpsuits from 1970s in the attic. 🤣
This video was standing up for how women were constrained by Family life (Coronation Street soap) miners who were having their coal mines closed and losing their jobs. And for.. Gay people. So many levels. And all done decades ago.
I love Mrs Bucket (it's pronounced Bou-quet, dear) 😂
The middle part of the video that is dark was the band showing support for the miners in the UK at the time. They were involved in a long strike. Those with the miners hats on were members of their fan club. This song was written by John Deacon (bassist) about woman back in that time that wanted more independence but didn’t want to give up everything in their lives to achieve that, hence the pastiche to the woman characters of Coronation Street. The ballet part is the London Ballet. Freddie did a performance with them and wanted to use them.
Thank you for the miner explanation. Aussie here and I never got the reference.
So there's also a lesser reviewed track that is a total banger. It had the misfortune of being overshadowed by We Are the Champions and We Will Rock You. It was on the same album. Try listening to It's Late. Quintessential Queen track.
@@444dkm great track!
@@Mikey-DiLo one of my faves. Plus with fewer other reactors using it, Black P will likely get a few more subscribers.
We had Coronation Street here on Australian television. It was easy to understand the concept.
Barely anyone in the UK battered an eyelid when this video came out. America however...
Which was weird considering Bob Hope, Milton Berle, Johnny Carson, Flip Wilson, Harvey Corman, Dom Deluise all donning drag.
@@blkluv100 also some like it hot
As always.... land of the "free"
69 likes Nice
You should check out Barcelona by Freddie Mercury and Monserrat Caballe (opera singer). The harmonies are magnificent. Who'd have thought rock and opera would be great together!
Well, there is the whole operatic section of Bohemian Rasphody, I mean the album it is from is called Night at the Opera :D One of the reasons the label didn't like that single.
Somebody to love is a must!
yes!. The live version in montreal!
the Live in Montreal !
One of my faves!
yes that one or the 1982 milton keynes version, and or the studio version!
Killer Queen too!
This was written by the bass player John,about liberation in particular womens equality . Through the open door is the characters fantasy world,yes its Freddie in the silver leatard.
The figures with the lights on is a nod to the miners strike which was going on at that time.
M.T.V banned the video fearing it would corrupt the youth of America. In England this drag dressing goes back to Shakespeare's time. Many assume it is about Freddie's speciality but it wasnt written by him and John was happily married with then 4 children.
I absolutely love Queen. Show Must Go On is Freddie's best performance in my opinion
Freddie did a solo version of The platters Great Pretender. It definitely is a must to listen to. I would also suggest Barcelona he did solo with Montserrat Bella. It's definitely a great piece and shows his operatic range. Freddie was never afraid to try something new.
An absolute must! Better than anybody on this song!!
This was written by John as a women's lib anthem. He's the most traditional Queen member... still married to "his best friend"
The extras were Queen fan club members (not the dancers - the one's with the headlamps). They were included several times (Radio Gaga, Friends Will be Friends, You're my Best Friend)
Yeah, Americans don't get a lot of British humour & can't be expected to understand some of the pop culture like Coronation Street (Corrie). But yeah, Brits love a good drag queen, we've had & grown up with them all through our beloved TV shows & imported a few too - looking at you Dame Edna!! ❤
I've always wanted to see British soap operas because the American ones are so boring but I can't find them anywhere where I don't have to pay for them 😂
@RobGabany1976 I think the UK ones are super boring hahaha. Brits do comedy shows well though!
@@RobGabany1976 Use vpn to sign into UK TV stations online sites. They'll often have shows on those but you need to "live" there to access, hence the vpn.
I just hope you read the comments in this section. I can say this much, I am glad the Queen band members did not take themselves too seriously, they had fun making some of those music videos. Queen's Bass guitarist John Deacon wrote this song, all the band members dressed in drag parodying a British television soap opera, this was suggested by the bands' drummer Roger Taylor. It can be interpreted in many ways I imagine; it may have some political undertones and particularly as an anthem against oppression, breaking free from a world that is materialistic, dishonest, wicked. I am sure your other subscribers by now have provided with you with explanations of how this song came to be. I am glad you liked the song. Perhaps read the other comments and do a bit of research on your own about the video. Peace. ☮
Yes BP you need to react to 'somebody to love' live in Montreal 1981. ❤
It's a Teasmadw an alarm clock that makes a cup of tea to wake you up with a truly British concept
This is my absolute favorite Queen song. Always has been. It's so good
You got to do 'Somebody to Love"
Radio Ga Ga is my favorite of them,but i love every their song.🎶♥️
The whole BAND is in drag. There is a popular British TV show called Coronation Street- and the band embers dressed up like the characters on the show- but all as women
I remember house sitting for a friend who was 10 years older than me and had all of Queens albums. I started listening and listened to all of them. They were just amazing, I was just a little young to have caught their popularity but I caught up!
Do Somebody to Love live at Montreal 1981 and also the studio version. They are different but the live one is one of their best performances. Some real rockers to react to: Now I’m Here, Under Pressure live at Wembley 1986. Tie Your Mother Down live at Wembley July 12th 1986 (watch the audience). Dragon Attack, Keep Yourself Alive live at Montreal 1981. White Queen live at Hammersmith Odeon 1975.
Somebody to Love is my favorite Queen performance to watch live in Montreal.
Somebody to Love is ICONIC. You definitely have to hear it now.
everything Queen did was 'DOPE' =)
You really need to do Somebody to Love live in Montreal, a performance that showcases each band members talents especially the great drumming and backing vocals from Roger Taylor. Of course not forgetting the amazing Freddie and his absolute stage presence
Another great song from "Highlander" is "Who Wants to Live Forever".
Maybe couple that with their title cut for Flash Gordon!
My 74 year old dad is a HUGE Queen fan and has been since I was kid (probably longer than I've been alive). This was the first song I ever heard from Queen and my 2nd song was "Radio Ga Ga." At 46 years old I'm still a huge Queen fan.
Thank you Sheila: "This was written by the bass player John,about liberation in particular womens equality . Through the open door is the characters fantasy world,yes its Freddie in the silver leatard.
The figures with the lights on is a nod to the miners strike which was going on at that time.
M.T.V banned the video fearing it would corrupt the youth of America. In England this drag dressing goes back to Shakespeare's time. Many assume it is about Freddie's specialty but it wasn't written by him and John was happily married with then 4 children."
The Bass player John Deacon wrote the song. He wrote alot of their hits
Queen is one of those bands where each member has written a worldwide hit.
It’s a spoof of a soap opera “Coronation Street” that’s very popular in UK.
Still runs to this day!!
Queens bicycle race is totally gonna blow ur mind lol it needs to be the video. 😅😅😅. From rose in Oxford england ❤️ ❤❤
One of my favorite Queen songs!!!! This video is a MUST!!!!
Might as well pair it with Fat Bottomed Girls since they reference each other in their respective songs
@@cmoeller3 exactly!!
i strongly recommend:
- somebody to Love (Live from 1981 Montreal)
- love of my Life
and of course
- These Are The Days Of Our Lives
Killer Queen, Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race. So many great songs from Queen
Some of the best music came from Queen.
Dude. It is QUEEN!!
The hit is the male perspective on the emancipation of women, which was still a major social issue in the mid-80s. The song was written by the band's bassist, John Deacon. In the very striking video for the hit, you can see the band members of Queen in drag outfits - especially Freddie Mercury vacuuming. A parody of the soap opera "Coronation Street", which was very popular in England in the 80s. Freddie Mercury even wanted to shave off his moustache for the video, but the director of the video, David Mallet, stopped him: "That's the funny thing! You with a moustache and drag outfit doing housework." The hit was stylistically rather untypical for Queen, but it still became one of their most successful songs. In the late 80s, it became the anthem of the South African liberation movement - Nelson Mandela was still in prison at the time. In 1992, Lisa Stansfield performed the hit at the tribute concert after Freddie Mercury's death. She sang it in Wembley Stadium with curlers in her hair and a vacuum cleaner in her hand - as a reference to the video. The hit made it to number 4 in the German charts, but it flopped in the USA, partly because MTV didn't play the video there. Roger Taylor from Queen is still annoyed by this today:
At that time, MTV only ever showed Whitesnake, and another Whitesnake video. And Whitesnake again. Men in women's clothing weren't rocky enough for them. Unfortunately, this had an impact on Queen's success in America, because many of the following singles weren't played there either. Queen lost the market there with "I Want To Break Free".
Freddie was bi. No one cared until he died of AIDS.
The drag characters parodied the British soap
Opera Coronation Street.
John Deacon, the bassist, wrote this song.
It was a big deal in the UK where the press hounded him. It wasn't a big deal in the US because media mostly ignored Queen and didn't get it.
Excerpt from a German magazine (@FOCUS) from October 20, 2013:
>> While the British tabloid press followed him at every turn in London, Mercury was able to lead a normal life in Munich. “Here he could be who he wanted to be. Nobody was hanging on to his pants. In Munich, he could disappear, walk around the city undetected, visit the relevant saunas at night without the press ever finding out. He really liked that.” The singer bought an apartment on Holzplatz and found not only a new home and a new favorite dish (roast pork with dumplings) in Munich, but also the love of his life: Winfried Kirchberger.
“His great love was Winnie,” says Ambacher. The Queen singer threw roses through the window of the “Sebastianseck” landlord, gave him a limousine in front of the pub door and gave him an apartment in Pestalozzistraße. “They were together for a long time,” emphasizes the 62-year-old and immediately brushes aside the rumour that Austrian actress Barbara Valentin was Mercury's great love. “Freddie was gay. Valentin was his bosom friend, his companion. Nothing more ...”
This killed Queen in America. It was the 80s and when this video was released in the USA everyone went crazy, and not in a good way. They didn’t get it. It’s actually based on a long running soap opera series called Coronation Street in the UK. It’s still going now and started in the 60s.
Everyone thought it was Freddie’s idea to dress in drag, but it was the drummer Roger Taylor’s idea, he plays the schoolgirl in the video.
But I do agree with you that the video takes away from the song. The lyrics are so good but I always think of the video when I hear it.
In fact, every time I hoover (vacuum) I sing this song, the leather mini skirt and stockings are long these days 😂😂😂 but I still sing it!
Yep. They lost America - basically because the then older generation thought it was degenerate.
MTV banned it and that pissed off Freddie so they never played USA again.
This song did hit the top 10 around the world.
BP - British humor is very different from American humor. It was done as a take on Coronation Street but Monty Python also did humor in drag. It's an English thing. Though, Yale does a drag comedy as well and has for decades.
The original video had the drag throughout and it included only the band members.
Not sure about that, I was 14 and a hard core jock and I loved all of Queens albums to include this one, I was also a music head though my stereo and or walk man was always on. My teachers even let me keep it on in class but that was probably because it kept the noise out for me.
Plenty of us got it just fine. I mean, we grew up watching Bugs Bunny, The Stooges, Monty Python, and MASH, so we *absolutely* knew that men dressed up as women was funny.
@@themightybuzzard3088 Some did, but Brian May himself said it in the Queen Documentary, Days Of Our Lives, that they were doing good in America until this video came out, and after that……. Nothing. They never recovered from the reaction to this video.
@@michelle88960 Yeah, that would be the same ones who thought Dungeons and Dragons and rock music in general were going to make the kids insane Satan worshipers. They're also why I had to drink 3.2% beer or drive to Texas until after 2000 and couldn't go to school dances because we weren't allowed to have them. You know, assholes.
That is not a teapot that is a Teas Maid an alarm clock tea maker lol only us Brits 🤣🤣
The American television channel MTV originally boycotted the video, while its sister channel VH1 first broadcast it in 1991.
MTV has constantly boycotted videos.
There were some real philistines at work back then... 🤨
The song reached number 1 in the charts in Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands and Austria, number 3 in the UK and number 4 in Germany.
I think this is my favourite Queen song
Love this fun video. We split our sides when this was first shown. Women identified with the sentiment.😊
Don't you think all those mums out there with the daily grind of feeding, washing and ironing for those kids that do nothing want to break free. I can tell you yes they do.
It's about breaking free from the hum drum life and letting people drag you down
"drag" you down? is that a pun? 🤣
Hammer To Fall. A banger.
I heard that music video stations in the USA refused to air the video when it first came out due to the dressing in drag
Another great hit from the 80's by famous British singer ROD STEWART and the song SOME GUYS HAVE ALL THE LUCK this dude is a really one of the greatest singer of all time
“Somebody to love “ in my opinion, is the best one
Of all the Queen songs "A Kind of Magic" is probably my favorite song. largely because of Brains guitar work. I would put Brian up against any guitarist ever.
This song hit their popularity in the US purely because they were in drag. Freddie was blamed for it but it was apparently Brian who suggested it.
The ultra conservative US couldn't deal with them in drag and didn't understand the concept as it apes Coronation Street which I don't believe was shown in the US so the reference was missed. They never played a US venue again after this.
Love of my life is my fav but all their songs are so awsome .
Out of context the video definitely is distracting 😂😂 your face though was priceless 😂❤️🔥✌🏻🫶🏻
You are one of the few reactors that didn’t comment on the pretty girl in the skirt (Roger) haha! Some actually realize it before the end of the video and the look that comes over their face is priceless!
The beginning of the video is based on a popular TV soap show Coronation Street. In a interview when asked about dressing up Freddie said the boys ran into there frocks faster than he did with a wicked funny smile on his face. He was also in the Royal Ballet. This was used in commercial during Covid.
Somebody to Love is awesome
You need to react to These Are the Days of Our Lives. It was the last video he did before he died.
😭 A beautiful song. Video is so difficult to watch. But all the more powerful during AIDS.
This and " Radio Gaga" are my favourite Queen songs ever so happy to see you reacting to these true legends in the history of music to date! ❤
The Best… QUEEN ❤️🥹
A lot of Americans just don't get English Comedy?!
Não existe voz como dele única no mundo lenda lenda ficou na história ❤❤❤😢
An iconic performance to watch is Somebody to Love from their Montreal concert in 1981
You definitely need to do live version of Sombody To Love
The song was taken from The Works album. There was a theme through the album of Freedom. Hammer To Fall was about the fall of the Soviet Union and the Berlin Wall. Machines was a look to the future with machines taking over. Radio GaGa was about the fall of radio in the MTV age. Is This The World We Created was another nod to the cold war and end of the Soviet Union.
Incidentally the people with torches on their hard hats and the people doing the clapping during Radio GaGa are all members of the Queen fan club.
Somebody to Love live in Montreal
Everything from Queen was major superiorly great! This was a take from a British soap opera Coronation Street. It did not go well in America. That is British Royal Ballet that was dancing with Freddie. Such a fire song though. You really need to listen to Somebody to Love live at Montreal.
I love that you love Queen, ❤️
he bought a big mansion and he had 4 cats who each got a room
he had difficulty with relationships
In 1987 he was diagnosed with AIDS
he died of complications of the disease at the age of 45. In 1992
the movie
Bohemian Rhapsody
is soooo good
MOST AMERICANS DIDN'T GET BRITISH HUMOR , THE CROSS DRESSING WAS DRUMMER ROGER TAYLORS IDEA , IT'S A PARODY ON A BRITISH TV SHOW CALLED CORONATION STREET.. MOST THINK ITS ABOUT COMING OUT , IT ISN'T...
It was an anthem for anyone to break free from their life to a new phase in life. For me it was travelling the world and not doing the easy thing.
I’m glad that everyone has explained to you about the drag portion……LOL. The video begins much the same as the British soap opera that it is making fun of…..it was supposed to be funny……the British aren’t as uptight about men in drag as Americans. And yes …I agree that the videos can be distracting from the song…..You really should see Freddie sing this song live on stage ….. it truly is amazing……most all of their songs are better performed live than the studio releases. Please react to “Save Me” ….live Montreal 1981. But I think that you would really like some of their earlier videos like “Liar” live at Rainbow 1974….or “White Queen” live at Hammersmith Odeon 1975…. I am looking forward to more of your honest Queen reactions. Thank you.
React to queen somebody to love live montreal 1981
R.I.P FREDDIE WE MISS YOU
"Killer Queen" was another of their biggest hits. Also "Somebody to Love" is Queen's Original. Been covered alooooooot.
Somebody to Love live in Montreal 81 is the best Queen live performance
They were immitating the characters in a popular British sit-com of the time called Coronation Street. The song was written by John Deacon the Bass player , and was about women trying to break free of the role of being house wife.
Yes. That is Freddie without the mustache. This song is whatever you want it to mean. Back in day we jus loved it if we understood it or not. Actually we didn’t understand most of the songs then. 😆
I don't dislike the video but completely agree that the song's greatness is overshadowed by it. IWTBF is best heard without the visual. Thanks!
You have to look at who he is dressed as. My take from it is that he is dressed as the female lead of a household. There is him (milf) her young blonde daughter, grandmother who is still living with them and either older daughter or her sister. All women with no men in the picture and either Mercury or Mays characters are the bread winners to keep the roof above them. I want to break free to me sounds like they cry of a woman who could still fall in love and settle, but she has work, housework and to earn money never finding the time to 'break free'.
I acknowledge that some of the characters in this video were revolved around a soap in the UK called Coronation Street which has run since the 60s. However, from and outsider with no knowledge of this show, my breakdown above is near as.
Great song, great band, great reaction!
You have to do "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love".. another classic.
the video is about a tv soap Coronation Street, the longest running soap on the planet. At the time you will always see the women cooking tea, cleaning the house etc on the soap.
funniest part is the whole band is in drag & you only notice Freddie
Not all of us. A long time ago, I noticed the band were reading the newspaper and thinking, “if they made that today, I wonder if they would use the newspaper and magazines, or a cell phone which the hides what they are reading?” This question is followed by, “Nah. The band always had their fans, they would use paper.”
This was as close to a love song Queen ever did. Right?
So many good songs start with earlier years with March of the black queen, Lair, killer queen, seven seas of rye, white queen, brighton rock and so many more.
I believe this song was used in a commercial for a pickup truck a few years ago (Dodge Ram, maybe?). Yes, “Somebody to Love” is a good one.
Watch "I want to Break Free" live from Budapest 1986 Best version/performance. Freddie at his naughty best.
Wasn't Roger Taylor gorgeous dressed as the schoolgirl? He's just gorgeous.
I love Brian May's guitar in this song (& in 'Mother Love', in particular, too).
👍🙂❤🎵🏴💙🇬🇧🎵💜🤔🖖
I want to begin by saying how I am really liking your channel and how you are analyzing different songs.
Having said that, I can understand some of your confusion in regards to the video in relation to the song that is really good.
To understand where this was coming from, this song was originally made in 1984, which was about roughly 3 years after the launch MTV of (Music Television - which was LITERALLY 24 hours a day of music videos.)
During this time, the music industry was going through so much change from purely radio to becoming a video medium, and there were a lot of experimenting going on, especially with trying to put together a story in music video form.
Queen, which was originally named Smile, would often play in “hole in the wall” venues in a crowd, stuff like that. It wasn’t until the mid 80s that Queen really really took off into superstardom with a different medium that began with Live Aid.
Getting back to this particular video, the song was top-notch and I absolutely loved it. The video while it was good, seem to have some loose ends that were still there and I could never quite figure it out either.
Their videos did become better over time while the music remained top notch and timeless.
You have to do: "Spread your wings". A VERY underrated Queen song.
One of my favourites of theirs!
Mother's Finest - Baby Love !!!!
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime !!!!
The Clash - The Guns of Brixton !!!!
Ted Nugent - Writing on the Wall !!!!
The Knife - Silent Shout !!!!
The Vibrators - Keep it Clean !!!!
Babylon Zoo - Spaceman !!!!
Ace of Base - All that She Wants !!!!
Brother Dege - Too Old to Die Young !!!!
Eddy Grant - Living on the Frontline !!!!
Praying Mantis - Dream On !!!!
The Kinks - (Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman !!!!
Kingdom Come - Mad Queen !!!!´
Climax Blues Band - Couldn't Get It Right !!!!
Molly Hatchet - Fall of the Peacemaker !!!!
Ana Johnson - We Are !!!!
Blackfoot - Fox Chase !!!!
Steelheart - We All Die Young !!!!
The Bevis Frond - Superseded (from the WDR Rockpalast 2004 gig) !!!!
Point Blank - Uncle Ned !!!!
Mahogany Rush - Requiem for a Sinner !!!!
He was the greatest rock fronten ever. Do Live Aid to see his power
There’s not always symbolism in music video. Sometimes it’s just supposed to be fun or chocking.
Great memories of being in the fan club, you got to attend video shoots, I was some where in the mass of lights.
@Black Pegasus - You should watch the movie that was in the theaters
- Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (about Freddie and the band Queen, from start to finish)
- Doors - The Doors
- Elton John - Rocket Man
- Def Leppard - Hysteria
to name a few really Great Movies!
Would love your reaction to “Radio Ga-Ga”.
Also… with 80’s videos, there is often very little connection between the video and the song.
I always thought the video was about how women were oppressed by domesticity in the 70s and 80s. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of kids and being imprisoned by that life. They couldn't have their own lives because they were entrapped by taking care of men and kids. That's just my take on it.
It's a Parody of coronation street a British soap opera. the Alarm clock is a tea making alarm clock lol
It's a teasmaid. Very important piece of equipment in 80s UK.😁
Brian.May and.his father made Brian's first guitar, the red special
This was a "spoof" on an English soap opera called " Coranation Street"...each band member played a different character from the soap.
The house you see, with the flying ducks on the wall, is based on a very popular British soap opera called Coronation Street.