About the mustache, Freddie offered to shave it but everybody thought it would be funnier with it. The whole thing was just done for a laugh and dressing up was suggested by Roger's then Girlfriend, not Freddie. This had nothing at all to do with Freddie's bi/gay nature. The start with the women was a take-off on the long-running UK soap opera, Coronation street. John Deacon wrote the song and it was about women's liberation and being stuck in a mundane existence.
I wonder if MrLBoyd realized that the hottest one in the video was Roger Taylor :D I caught his face when Taylor popped that cute smile, but I think he stopped himself from wondering if that was drag or not?
the usa dont get british humour at all this really cost queen in america their popularity dropped like a stone and like you can hear this guy really doesn't get it either its nothing to do with being gay the group loved the soap coronation st thats it pure and simple its a laugh a joke why do tanks always get things so wrong
Others have already mentioned most of this, but the song was actually written by Bassist John Deacon and the drag idea came from drummer Roger Taylor. Your interpretation does make sense when viewed through a more modern lens, but at the time it really had nothing to do with Freddie's sexuality. Drag is a common and popular trope in British comedy (see Monty Python), and that part of the video was actually a parody of a tv show. Thus, it was a big hit with British fans. The uptight Americans on the other hand, not so much. It did go on to be a bit of an anthem for oppressed people in a variety of circumstances, primarily women looking to break out of tradition gender roles.
I’m wondering if Elton John’s Poor Cow, which was never a single or got a video to my knowledge, ever caused a stir in the UK. When i was listening through that album, that song just jumped up and smacked me in the face! I still think it’s one of the most powerful songs he’s done, especially for a non single: th-cam.com/video/_SxPDXoDVw8/w-d-xo.html
I had no idea of how uptight Americans were until my dad was stationed in England in 1975 and I watched an episode of Benny Hill. I lived in England from ages 10 to 13, so I have to thank the Brits for the exposure at the right age that made me an American who isn't uptight... and who loves Queen.
This song/video has NOTHING to do with Freddie's sexuality !!! John Deacon (bass player)wrote this from the male perspective of the women's liberation movement. It was Roger's (drummer) girlfriend's idea to dress them up in drag. Video was a parody of the characters from Coronation Street Freddie NEVER publically came out and NEVER wore drag in his private life.
Yes, WT! thanks for this -- lol - once again, you have saved me from a tiresome, didactic diatribe! (okay, I'm too tired to get any more alliterations with a "d")
I get really frustrated by everyone assuming that Freddie wrote all the Queen songs, and all Queen songs were about his personal life! This song was written by bassist John Deacon who was married with several children.
@@janettesinclair6279 Thank you! I get upset that people think every song written by Queen is somehow about Freddie coming out. I don't know of another band that had to make so many disclaimers about the meaning of their lyrics.
Queen was my mom’s fav band. She passed away unexpectedly last year and now I get sad when I hear queen. My mom loved Freddie Mercury. For LGBTQ+ ppl like my mom who came out in pre 2000’s, visible gay icons like Freddie were everything to them. Even non gay stars who just supported LGBTQ+ rights became gay icons.
This funny video was shot in May 1984, but the MTV banned it, because of dressing the whole band into drag which idea came from Roger's girlfriend. As a result, Queen lost a significant market share in the US and they never returned there for touring. The story is based on a British soap opera the Coronation Street.
It wasn't completely banned on MTV, but eventually they decided to only play at certain hours (late). I remember staying up to see the video because it had been "announced" by VJ what time it would it be playing - I wasn't a major Queen fan, I just wanted to see what the big deal was.
I wonder when MTV relaxed that rule. I remember seeign RHCP's My Friends video on MTV in the 90s, though ironically the band seems to have banned that one themselves.
Hi there, nice guess, but the song was nothing to do with Freddie's sexuality,God knows!😉 infact the song was written by their Bass Guitar player John Deacon, and the Drag section of the Video was a Parody from the British soap opera Coronation Street was an idea of Dominique Beyrand girlfriend of their Drummer Roger Taylor at that time. Freddie keep the mustache on that Drag part to add the whole joke , but unfortunately MTV was so sensitive in the 80's that they didn't want to play the video with men dressing up in that, so they banned the Video in America. But life still goes on for Freddie and the boys, . there's so much more to discover . Keep rockin with Queen🤟🏻
While Freddie didn't ever deny being gay, he didn't admit it either, because he basically just didn't feel that it was anyone else's business and felt that his sexual orientation had nothing to do with his music. At the point when this video came out, I think the prevailing idea was that Freddie was bisexual because he had relationships before with females. Later it was presumed by many that Freddie was indeed gay when he married a male. The other members of the band have confirmed that Freddie was indeed gay when he passed but that earlier, he had relationships with only women. The band did not confirm Freddie's homosexuality until after his death because they didn't feel it was anybody's business and not their place to speak out about their friend and bandmate. That was Freddie's business and up to him to decide what he chose to tell the press. The band members always respected and protected each other's privacy.
That's not quite right Freddie never officially came out as gay or bi mainly as he fully believed it would kill the band (not a unreasonable thought during the 70s and 80s), while he was never going to hide it he wasn't going to risk anything by confirming it. As far as if Freddie was gay or bi that's a question we will never get a true answer to ( yes the rest of the members of queen are pretty open minded but pretty much everyone who knew Freddie grew up in the period where bi didn't really exist you where either gay or straight there wasn't really a middle ground so yes I take their word with a grain of salt) though if he was infact bi he preferred men more then likely.and doesn't matter anyway.
This song talks about someone who feels trapped in their relationship and wants to ‘break free’ of their lover. Although it was originally intended to be a male perspective of the women’s liberation movement, it was then taken on as somewhat of an anthem for one’s own personal freedom for person who finds his/herself in a situation where they feel repressed and want to ‘break free’ of their circumstances and show the real person that they are. The idea of dressing up in the video was suggested by Roger Taylor,featuring the band dressed up in drag-with Freddie as a housewife, Roger Taylor as a young school girl, Brain May as a housewife, and John Deacon as a grandmother. Echoing the song’s lyrics, all of them want to ‘break free’ of their lives. Roger Taylor said, “We had done some really serious, epic videos in the past, and we just thought we’d have some fun. We wanted people to know that we didn’t take ourselves too seriously, that we could still laugh at ourselves. I think we proved that”. In an interview with Q magazine March 2011, Bryan May was asked whether each band member’s character in the video was an accurate reflection of their personalities? He answered:”Of Course! Everybody thinks that 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.”
the opening and drag parts are based off Coronation Street and the odd dance number is based off Nijinsky's Afternoon of a Faun. Love this song. And keeping the mustache when you do drag is called "gender fuck"
Is this the best written or most successful queen song? No. Is it one of my favs? Definitely. Why? Simply because it brings pure joy to my heart every single time I listen to it. A good song to brighten a day, even just a little :)
Every song by Queen is the ducks guts! FAIRDINKUM, just start from their first album. And yes, WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER is another fantabulous one! Keep up the good work mate!
This video was a PARODY of Coronation street ( UK soap opera) and has nothing to do with FREDDIE MERCURY ! He was willing to shave his mustache for a drag part, but the director disagreed. Anyway, he did it for a ballet part.
I remember when this came out on MTV. There really wasn't too much shock, it was more like "There goes Freddie again... always being over the top". We thought it was pretty funny video. There really wasn't much discussion at the time about sexual identity or discovery of it. We just wanted good music and cool videos. Great reaction!
Freddie was someone who express oneself a lot on his songs,for me was one of the best trait of him as artist,the fans could easyly track how freddie was feeling each time he made a song.
The issue with the video had more to do with a culture difference. Dressing in drag is part of British comedy, not so much in the US at the time. It was well received in Britain as good fun as intended. Song was about female oppression👍
I don't think it was about cultural differences. This was strictly the suits at MTV over-reacting to Freddie's reputation which was often savaged in UK newspapers at the time. That continued right up to his death.. Dressing in drag has always been popular in US comedy too. There are tons of examples of this. It was huge in Vaudville . People like Milton Berle made a long career where he often did that. There are classic movies like Some Like it Hot where it drives the plot. At the time of I want to break Free, Tootsie had already been in theaters and home video. There was also a TV show playing on the ABC network called Bosom Buddies just a couple of years earlier. It starred a then, unknown, Tom Hanks where he and Peter Scolari as admen dressed up as women to get a cheaper apartment in a big city..
Shaving off Freddie’s infamous moustache? How very dare you???? 😂😂😂 Cross dressing with the moustache made it so much funnier. I don’t think this was his coming out story. I don’t think he ever officially came out. There was no need to.
Having grown up listening to Queen, many of their songs pissed off many adults. Absolutely loved Freddie. As to why they dressed up as women it was their way of spoofing the status quo with women being delegated to the homemaker role. Love your channel ❤️
It’s about a woman wanting to leave her husband and she’s done with being a domestic slave . Nothing to do with him being gay . That’s what I always thought .
The second part of the video was done with members of the Royal Ballet. Freddie had done an appearance with them in which he actually danced (well, was carried around the stage) while singing Bohemian Rhapsody. I suggest you react to that. It is available on TH-cam. In the case of this video, the reference is to Rudolf Nureyev's ballet performance "Apre Midi de la Faun". Freddie loved the ballet.
Freddie never ever really 'came out' but that said he did not ever hide his lifestyle. And he only said he had AIDS literally the day before he died. IF you want to see something totally moving and amazing that shows the depth of what a performer he was check out Queen's final video "These Are the Days of Our Lives". I cry every single time I watch it. One thing you have to remember about Freddie Mercury is that he loved poking fun at the establishment. LOL A consumate performer!!!!
Love your energy and mannerisms Mr.Lloyd! You do reaction videos right! Starting at 3:50 when the wall falls I remembered what was next and then saw your whole body change made me pop a blood vessel!! They better not demonize you 😢
dressing in women's clothing for comedy is a VERY British thing. It dates back YEARS, a group that did it to wonderful effect was the comedy trope, "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
LOL If Freddie keeping his Moustache while wearing women's clothes has you shook I'd love to see your reaction to Conchita Wurst singing "Rise Like A Phoenix" at Eurovision 2014. You should react to the song anyway because it is quite beautiful.
There is a long accepted tradition in England for comedians to dress in drag. If you think of an well known British comedian, he has done drag for the humor aspect at some point. So this music video wasn't particularly shocking in England, it just made people laugh. In America on the other hand... Yeah, they absolutely flipped out.
Jon Deacon (bassist) actually wrote this song and Roger Taylor (drummer) came up with the idea for this video clip. Just for once Fred really had nothing to do but to show up 😂
People in the UK didn't see it as corrupting anyone, it was just a great song and an hilarious much loved video. Obviously, it was a different story in the US. Cross dressing has been a part of British culture for a long time, from Shakespear, down to music hall to modern comedy shows and blue collar workers in local fair parades.
I can't remember anyone being pissed off at this song. Queen was able to get away with a lot, simply by being Queen. They just did them. They never sought to offend or shock their audience. They just did what they do and it just became expected of them. Either you were a fan or you were not. Either way they put on a show, and respected their art.
Freddy Mercury never denied he was gay - that is why he is never really going to die. His honesty shines through is talent. His music will live forever.
this song was forbitten in US that time because the band wore women clothes - in Europe it was a no 1 hit in almost all countries - Queen was the best band I know
I'm not on your patrion and I don't have the extra scrat h to donate at the moment. But I love your content, I don't you'll see this but if there are others who do donate to this channel. I have couple songs I think k everyone would love to see his reactions 1. From Eminem "till I collapse ". Maybe one of his greatest songs ever. 2. Queen 1981 live from Montreal "somebody to love" including the several minutes after the songwhere he interacts with the crowd.
m I want to break free is Deacon saying he wants out. Another of his song was spread your wings (and fly away). The man wanted out for a long time. At some show Deacon threw his bass guitar. And he never got in touch with the remaining members of Queen. That says a lot...well now he's free at last.
The video is a parody. It has NOTHING to do with Freddie being gay. It's about a British soap opera. The song was not written nor was the suggestion for the video done by Freddie. Also Queen official does not block
Kind of late to the party on this one, but I feel I should mention; this was the mid 80's. Generally speaking the question of one's sexuality wasn't asked; there were very few openly gay performers at the time, because it was generally assumed that those who were gay would never admit to it. As such, though it might seem hard to believe these days, the 80s was a time where Freddie Mercury, Elton John and George Michael were all straight as an arrow as far as the public was concerned.
This song is a nursery rhyme compared to the untalented trash we hear today!! MTV banned this video …. Look at the videos today in comparison!! 😳😳 If you want straight forward lyrics check out Queen’s live performance of GET DOWN MAKE LOVE in Montreal 1981. Then do SOMEBODY TO LOVE for perfection! 😁
It's nothing to do with coming out at all. Its about A married woman stuck in a mundane life wishing for better. Which is why he's comically dressed as a woman.
This music video was embraced openly in the UK, Australia etc. There wasn't the heavy discussion about morality from the puritanicals that I can remember. All in a bit of fun.
I got a very strong Monty python vibe from the band members in drag. In a lot of pythons performances they play the role of the opposite gender and in no way trying to disguise their masculinity. It’s so hilarious. I feel like it’s very British thing. Love it and the message
As mentioned by some one else, no, it wasn't about Freddi. However, this video brought them a lot of speculation, and condemnation. The world never KNEW Freddi was Bi. but there were a lot of rumors, and people asking. Watch the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody" you'll learn a lot!! well worth it :)
Funny I see you as a grown man not much younger than me and am bewildered that you weren’t around to know queen. One the other hand I think of my 30 year old as a kid. However my daughter knows all of the 70’s & 80’s greatest hits word for word. Sorry for the double standards she will always be my baby girl
Queen kind of lost their following in the US after this video was released. They didn't get it back until their appearance at Live-Aid, & their album, 'A Kind of Magic', was released. Though there were some in the US that still refused to embrace them again, just because of Freddie's sexuality.
This was written by their bassist, John Deacon. It was supposed to be a male perspective on the women's liberation movement. The video more clearly illustrates that idea.. It was only later that people applied the "coming out" perspective.
About the mustache, Freddie offered to shave it but everybody thought it would be funnier with it. The whole thing was just done for a laugh and dressing up was suggested by Roger's then Girlfriend, not Freddie. This had nothing at all to do with Freddie's bi/gay nature. The start with the women was a take-off on the long-running UK soap opera, Coronation street. John Deacon wrote the song and it was about women's liberation and being stuck in a mundane existence.
Hey, if Cesar Romero kept his, why not Freddie?
Freddie does NOT need to conform!
I wonder if MrLBoyd realized that the hottest one in the video was Roger Taylor :D I caught his face when Taylor popped that cute smile, but I think he stopped himself from wondering if that was drag or not?
the usa dont get british humour at all this really cost queen in america their popularity dropped like a stone and like you can hear this guy really doesn't get it either its nothing to do with being gay the group loved the soap coronation st thats it pure and simple its a laugh a joke why do tanks always get things so wrong
Freddie Mercury's moustache was not your average moustache. You don't shave that marvel off for a music video.
Lol...but he shaved it for the ballet part. That is so funny to me
Others have already mentioned most of this, but the song was actually written by Bassist John Deacon and the drag idea came from drummer Roger Taylor. Your interpretation does make sense when viewed through a more modern lens, but at the time it really had nothing to do with Freddie's sexuality. Drag is a common and popular trope in British comedy (see Monty Python), and that part of the video was actually a parody of a tv show. Thus, it was a big hit with British fans. The uptight Americans on the other hand, not so much. It did go on to be a bit of an anthem for oppressed people in a variety of circumstances, primarily women looking to break out of tradition gender roles.
I’m wondering if Elton John’s Poor Cow, which was never a single or got a video to my knowledge, ever caused a stir in the UK. When i was listening through that album, that song just jumped up and smacked me in the face! I still think it’s one of the most powerful songs he’s done, especially for a non single: th-cam.com/video/_SxPDXoDVw8/w-d-xo.html
The video was a parody of Coronation Street.
I had no idea of how uptight Americans were until my dad was stationed in England in 1975 and I watched an episode of Benny Hill. I lived in England from ages 10 to 13, so I have to thank the Brits for the exposure at the right age that made me an American who isn't uptight... and who loves Queen.
This song/video has NOTHING to do with Freddie's sexuality !!!
John Deacon (bass player)wrote this from the male perspective of the women's liberation movement.
It was Roger's (drummer) girlfriend's idea to dress them up in drag. Video was a parody of the characters from Coronation Street
Freddie NEVER publically came out and NEVER wore drag in his private life.
Yes, WT! thanks for this -- lol - once again, you have saved me from a tiresome, didactic diatribe! (okay, I'm too tired to get any more alliterations with a "d")
RIGHT?? Thank you … I’m with GinMae on this, too!
@@debramoore7513 Thanks, my friend!
I get really frustrated by everyone assuming that Freddie wrote all the Queen songs, and all Queen songs were about his personal life! This song was written by bassist John Deacon who was married with several children.
@@janettesinclair6279 Thank you! I get upset that people think every song written by Queen is somehow about Freddie coming out. I don't know of another band that had to make so many disclaimers about the meaning of their lyrics.
Queen was my mom’s fav band. She passed away unexpectedly last year and now I get sad when I hear queen. My mom loved Freddie Mercury. For LGBTQ+ ppl like my mom who came out in pre 2000’s, visible gay icons like Freddie were everything to them. Even non gay stars who just supported LGBTQ+ rights became gay icons.
Sorry about your mom 🥺🌹 My mom passed away in 2018 from Alzheimer’s! She too, was a Queen fan! 👑👑
As long as you live, she lives on. Embrace the music for the joy of her living.
This is Queen doing whatever they wanted to
You would love Queen Who wants to live forever from the highlander soundtrack
Especially live 🥰 ❤️Freddie❤️
Or.. the Highlander Soundtrack by Queen.
This funny video was shot in May 1984, but the MTV banned it, because of dressing the whole band into drag which idea came from Roger's girlfriend. As a result, Queen lost a significant market share in the US and they never returned there for touring. The story is based on a British soap opera the Coronation Street.
I did not know that. Thanks for the info.
It wasn't completely banned on MTV, but eventually they decided to only play at certain hours (late). I remember staying up to see the video because it had been "announced" by VJ what time it would it be playing - I wasn't a major Queen fan, I just wanted to see what the big deal was.
I wonder when MTV relaxed that rule. I remember seeign RHCP's My Friends video on MTV in the 90s, though ironically the band seems to have banned that one themselves.
This was all in fun, and I would let my child watch this. AND it was NOT about him coming out at all! Please read the comments below.
I still adore Freddie and Queen, lol!
They wore dresses for comedy effect. The mustache makes it funnier.
ohhh that made ,y day .. your face as freddie rolled in rocking a leather skirt ... lol
Hey Hey friend. Good to see you back. By the by - Queen has SO MUCH MUSIC to love... "I'm Going Slightly Mad" and "Killer Queen" are fun ones.
Hi there, nice guess, but the song was nothing to do with Freddie's sexuality,God knows!😉 infact the song was written by their Bass Guitar player John Deacon, and the Drag section of the Video was a Parody from the British soap opera Coronation Street was an idea of Dominique Beyrand girlfriend of their Drummer Roger Taylor at that time. Freddie keep the mustache on that Drag part to add the whole joke , but unfortunately MTV was so sensitive in the 80's that they didn't want to play the video with men dressing up in that, so they banned the Video in America. But life still goes on for Freddie and the boys, .
there's so much more to discover . Keep rockin with Queen🤟🏻
👏👏👏👏👏👏👑👑👑💥💥💥💥
@@irinichotou470 👋🏻💛🤵🏻👑😊🤘🏻💛💛💛💛
BRAVO 🏆👏👏👏👏
@@debramoore7513 🤗xoxo👑
The live version of Love of my Life is breathtaking. Freddie had the most amazing vocal ability ever.
While Freddie didn't ever deny being gay, he didn't admit it either, because he basically just didn't feel that it was anyone else's business and felt that his sexual orientation had nothing to do with his music. At the point when this video came out, I think the prevailing idea was that Freddie was bisexual because he had relationships before with females. Later it was presumed by many that Freddie was indeed gay when he married a male. The other members of the band have confirmed that Freddie was indeed gay when he passed but that earlier, he had relationships with only women. The band did not confirm Freddie's homosexuality until after his death because they didn't feel it was anybody's business and not their place to speak out about their friend and bandmate. That was Freddie's business and up to him to decide what he chose to tell the press. The band members always respected and protected each other's privacy.
That's not quite right Freddie never officially came out as gay or bi mainly as he fully believed it would kill the band (not a unreasonable thought during the 70s and 80s), while he was never going to hide it he wasn't going to risk anything by confirming it. As far as if Freddie was gay or bi that's a question we will never get a true answer to ( yes the rest of the members of queen are pretty open minded but pretty much everyone who knew Freddie grew up in the period where bi didn't really exist you where either gay or straight there wasn't really a middle ground so yes I take their word with a grain of salt) though if he was infact bi he preferred men more then likely.and doesn't matter anyway.
@@duogemstone At one point, actually, when Freddie was asked if he was gay, his reply was "Oh yes, Darling, I am gay as a daffodil"
Freddie had a great since of humor. You can tell him and the whole band enjoyed making this video.
Esp. Rogerina.
Love queen. Lots of great songs
This song rocks by the way. Love it! Such a classic!
You have amazing days, and enjoy them thoroughly, too - you are so worthy of it! So young and open-minded - I just love it! 1000 thanks!
This song talks about someone who feels trapped in their relationship and wants to ‘break free’ of their lover. Although it was originally intended to be a male perspective of the women’s liberation movement, it was then taken on as somewhat of an anthem for one’s own personal freedom for person who finds his/herself in a situation where they feel repressed and want to ‘break free’ of their circumstances and show the real person that they are. The idea of dressing up in the video was suggested by Roger Taylor,featuring the band dressed up in drag-with Freddie as a housewife, Roger Taylor as a young school girl, Brain May as a housewife, and John Deacon as a grandmother. Echoing the song’s lyrics, all of them want to ‘break free’ of their lives. Roger Taylor said, “We had done some really serious, epic videos in the past, and we just thought we’d have some fun. We wanted people to know that we didn’t take ourselves too seriously, that we could still laugh at ourselves. I think we proved that”. In an interview with Q magazine March 2011, Bryan May was asked whether each band member’s character in the video was an accurate reflection of their personalities? He answered:”Of Course! Everybody thinks that 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.”
OMG! I died laughing when you talked about shaving your mustache if you were going to wear a dress.
😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️
Thank you and shout out to whoever requested this video. Seeing your facial reaction in the beginning was life.
the opening and drag parts are based off Coronation Street and the odd dance number is based off Nijinsky's Afternoon of a Faun. Love this song. And keeping the mustache when you do drag is called "gender fuck"
Is this the best written or most successful queen song? No. Is it one of my favs? Definitely. Why? Simply because it brings pure joy to my heart every single time I listen to it. A good song to brighten a day, even just a little :)
Your reactions are life, man! Your channel just gets better and better!
I love how people watching for the 1st time can't hide their reaction 😂🤣🤣
I wants to break free song Music video is based on classic characters from coronation Street
Every song by Queen is the ducks guts! FAIRDINKUM, just start from their first album.
And yes, WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER is another fantabulous one!
Keep up the good work mate!
This video was a PARODY of Coronation street ( UK soap opera) and has nothing to do with FREDDIE MERCURY !
He was willing to shave his mustache for a drag part, but the director disagreed. Anyway, he did it for a ballet part.
First time? Wow. Thats such a Masterpiece...so old...😊
a song way ahead of it's time for sure.
My personal favourite queen songs are all from the highlander soundtrack all classics
YESSSS please do!
That’s what’s funny. Keeping his mustache. It’s so funny. It’s not about being gay. It’s a take off on a British sitcom. It wasn’t even his idea.
I remember when this came out on MTV. There really wasn't too much shock, it was more like "There goes Freddie again... always being over the top". We thought it was pretty funny video. There really wasn't much discussion at the time about sexual identity or discovery of it. We just wanted good music and cool videos. Great reaction!
Saw "QUEEN" as a warm up band at the Long Beach Auditorium, they brought the house down ('70's) got see them after they went big too.
Freddie was someone who express oneself a lot on his songs,for me was one of the best trait of him as artist,the fans could easyly track how freddie was feeling each time he made a song.
The issue with the video had more to do with a culture difference. Dressing in drag is part of British comedy, not so much in the US at the time. It was well received in Britain as good fun as intended. Song was about female oppression👍
We had Flip/Geraldine Wilson
I don't think it was about cultural differences. This was strictly the suits at MTV over-reacting to Freddie's reputation which was often savaged in UK newspapers at the time. That continued right up to his death..
Dressing in drag has always been popular in US comedy too. There are tons of examples of this. It was huge in Vaudville . People like Milton Berle made a long career where he often did that. There are classic movies like Some Like it Hot where it drives the plot.
At the time of I want to break Free, Tootsie had already been in theaters and home video.
There was also a TV show playing on the ABC network called Bosom Buddies just a couple of years earlier. It starred a then, unknown, Tom Hanks where he and Peter Scolari as admen dressed up as women to get a cheaper apartment in a big city..
At first, the video was banned on MTV ... well TV in general ... thankfully, we've come a long way since the early 80's
Shaving off Freddie’s infamous moustache? How very dare you???? 😂😂😂 Cross dressing with the moustache made it so much funnier.
I don’t think this was his coming out story. I don’t think he ever officially came out. There was no need to.
Its meant to be camp. The UK has a different reaction. Dressing in drag was not Freddie's idea. However using the London Royal Ballet was.
If no one else has said it, all the women were the band members haha. This video annoyed a lot of people at the time. I loved it.
Having grown up listening to Queen, many of their songs pissed off many adults. Absolutely loved Freddie. As to why they dressed up as women it was their way of spoofing the status quo with women being delegated to the homemaker role. Love your channel ❤️
Anything by Queen is welcome. I enjoy your uncomfortable "Well then"s lol
Seems we’re on a Queen roll, so it’s gotta be Fat Bottom Girls next, please!
It’s about a woman wanting to leave her husband and she’s done with being a domestic slave . Nothing to do with him being gay . That’s what I always thought .
The second part of the video was done with members of the Royal Ballet. Freddie had done an appearance with them in which he actually danced (well, was carried around the stage) while singing Bohemian Rhapsody. I suggest you react to that. It is available on TH-cam. In the case of this video, the reference is to Rudolf Nureyev's ballet performance "Apre Midi de la Faun". Freddie loved the ballet.
You might like Barcelona which Freddie wrote and sang with the Spanish opera singer, Montserrat Caballe, it’s lovely!
Outstanding singing voice.
Freddy Mercury is so good that no one is in that klass.
Outstanding singing 😊😊😊
One of my fav Queen songs
So many Queen songs that can top this.
Freddie never ever really 'came out' but that said he did not ever hide his lifestyle. And he only said he had AIDS literally the day before he died. IF you want to see something totally moving and amazing that shows the depth of what a performer he was check out Queen's final video "These Are the Days of Our Lives". I cry every single time I watch it. One thing you have to remember about Freddie Mercury is that he loved poking fun at the establishment. LOL A consumate performer!!!!
Love your energy and mannerisms Mr.Lloyd! You do reaction videos right! Starting at 3:50 when the wall falls I remembered what was next and then saw your whole body change made me pop a blood vessel!!
They better not demonize you 😢
May be to understand this song has to know Queen and Freddie.. this song is beautiful....
~90% of Songs recorded in this world are not about the person who sings them.
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dressing in women's clothing for comedy is a VERY British thing. It dates back YEARS, a group that did it to wonderful effect was the comedy trope, "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
Another one bites the dust is awesome
I've fallen in love... I've fallen in love for the first time and this time I know it's for real.
please try queen on live aid... thats arguablly best performance of any band ever enjoy
God bless the people who suggested this listen. I just came off of the Bohemian Rhapsody reaction.
LOL If Freddie keeping his Moustache while wearing women's clothes has you shook I'd love to see your reaction to Conchita Wurst singing "Rise Like A Phoenix" at Eurovision 2014. You should react to the song anyway because it is quite beautiful.
Love this guys voice.
Yes MTV WOULDNT PLAY IT because they didn’t get the British sitcom joke.
There is a long accepted tradition in England for comedians to dress in drag. If you think of an well known British comedian, he has done drag for the humor aspect at some point. So this music video wasn't particularly shocking in England, it just made people laugh. In America on the other hand... Yeah, they absolutely flipped out.
That’s been the thing for 100’s of years on stage
Jon Deacon (bassist) actually wrote this song and Roger Taylor (drummer) came up with the idea for this video clip. Just for once Fred really had nothing to do but to show up 😂
Damn, your camera quality is perfect!
People in the UK didn't see it as corrupting anyone, it was just a great song and an hilarious much loved video. Obviously, it was a different story in the US. Cross dressing has been a part of British culture for a long time, from Shakespear, down to music hall to modern comedy shows and blue collar workers in local fair parades.
Nice, maybe one day i'll have it in me to break free but not for now. Thanks for the reaction.
I can't remember anyone being pissed off at this song. Queen was able to get away with a lot, simply by being Queen. They just did them. They never sought to offend or shock their audience. They just did what they do and it just became expected of them. Either you were a fan or you were not. Either way they put on a show, and respected their art.
Freddy Mercury never denied he was gay - that is why he is never really going to die. His honesty shines through is talent. His music will live forever.
this song was forbitten in US that time because the band wore women clothes - in Europe it was a no 1 hit in almost all countries - Queen was the best band I know
I'm not on your patrion and I don't have the extra scrat h to donate at the moment. But I love your content, I don't you'll see this but if there are others who do donate to this channel. I have couple songs I think k everyone would love to see his reactions 1. From Eminem "till I collapse ". Maybe one of his greatest songs ever. 2. Queen 1981 live from Montreal "somebody to love" including the several minutes after the songwhere he interacts with the crowd.
Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Cabellá - Barcelona - Freddie Mercury on an Operatic number
Late 70s as I recall . caused barely a ripple in my town , great song .
Your First reaction and face expression was Just 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
More Queen. Then I will subscribe. Try Someone to love. Montreal
m I want to break free is Deacon saying he wants out. Another of his song was spread your wings (and fly away). The man wanted out for a long time. At some show Deacon threw his bass guitar. And he never got in touch with the remaining members of Queen. That says a lot...well now he's free at last.
Love it.
In a documentary I learned that he almost did shave his mustache and decided to keep it for the video because it was so ridiculous.
He was so very funny!
It's so funny that the moustache is gone for the ballet portion, and not the drag. Too cute!
The Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays this is part of history. i dont like mondays. part one and two. Brenda Spencer
This was actually banned on MTV. Oh how times have changed.
The video is a parody. It has NOTHING to do with Freddie being gay. It's about a British soap opera. The song was not written nor was the suggestion for the video done by Freddie. Also Queen official does not block
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YESSSS 👏👏👏👏
I kept getting British sitcom/Monty Python vibes.
Freddie king of rock
Kind of late to the party on this one, but I feel I should mention; this was the mid 80's. Generally speaking the question of one's sexuality wasn't asked; there were very few openly gay performers at the time, because it was generally assumed that those who were gay would never admit to it.
As such, though it might seem hard to believe these days, the 80s was a time where Freddie Mercury, Elton John and George Michael were all straight as an arrow as far as the public was concerned.
This song is a nursery rhyme compared to the untalented trash we hear today!! MTV banned this video …. Look at the videos today in comparison!! 😳😳 If you want straight forward lyrics check out Queen’s live performance of GET DOWN MAKE LOVE in Montreal 1981. Then do SOMEBODY TO LOVE for perfection! 😁
Queens to.
E Gk has the story right. I love this song and this video. Thank you.
It's nothing to do with coming out at all. Its about A married woman stuck in a mundane life wishing for better. Which is why he's comically dressed as a woman.
Yes & a nod to the British TV Show Coronation Street!
Freddie had a beautiful soul but the time that he came out in was not very accepting...such a beautiful and tortured soul...RIP
This music video was embraced openly in the UK, Australia etc. There wasn't the heavy discussion about morality from the puritanicals that I can remember. All in a bit of fun.
I got a very strong Monty python vibe from the band members in drag. In a lot of pythons performances they play the role of the opposite gender and in no way trying to disguise their masculinity. It’s so hilarious. I feel like it’s very British thing. Love it and the message
Freddie never came out. Whether or not people knew, or suspected at the time, he never officially said the words.
By the way. The video was Brian May's idea, not Freddie's. Keep the mustache, Freddie!
As mentioned by some one else, no, it wasn't about Freddi. However, this video brought them a lot of speculation, and condemnation. The world never KNEW Freddi was Bi. but there were a lot of rumors, and people asking. Watch the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody" you'll learn a lot!! well worth it :)
Funny I see you as a grown man not much younger than me and am bewildered that you weren’t around to know queen. One the other hand I think of my 30 year old as a kid. However my daughter knows all of the 70’s & 80’s greatest hits word for word. Sorry for the double standards she will always be my baby girl
Queen kind of lost their following in the US after this video was released. They didn't get it back until their appearance at Live-Aid, & their album, 'A Kind of Magic', was released. Though there were some in the US that still refused to embrace them again, just because of Freddie's sexuality.
Queen didn't sell big (Platinum I mean) again in the US until Wayne's World in 1992.
@@stevenbootes1979 Oh? I thought A Kind of Magic sold decently.
Queen sold big in Another bites the dust! I want to break free was not about Freddie it was written by John Deacon the Bass guitar player.
Freddie didn’t want to do this video. It was an FU to the media.
Hi MrLboyd how are you? And good choice that song is good
This video was banned from mtv back in the day. How things have changed.
This was written by their bassist, John Deacon. It was supposed to be a male perspective on the women's liberation movement. The video more clearly illustrates that idea.. It was only later that people applied the "coming out" perspective.
This was released in 1984.