"The Show Must Go On" is credited as a Queen composition but it was mainly written by Brian May. The song chronicles the effort of Freddie continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life. The song’s theme is driven by the probability it would be Freddie Mercury’s “finale” When the band recorded the song in 1990, Freddie's condition had deteriorated to the point that Brian had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. Brian told a feeble Freddie not to over-exert himself during a session for the final track’s vocals, intimating he wasn’t up to the challenge. According to Queen lore, a frustrated Freddie responded by slamming a shot, or two, of vodka, saying, “I’ll fucking do it, darling”. Brian recalled Freddie’s performance, "He went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal" After listening to John Deacon and Roger Taylor playing the chord sequence that later on would be the basis for almost the entire song, Brian sat down with Freddie Mercury and the two of them decided the theme of the song and wrote some lyrics. Brian wrote down the rest of the words as well as the melody and added a bridge with a chord sequence inspired by Pachelbel's Canon. Brian was convinced the song's title was too predictable and offered to change it, but Freddie refused. The lyrics are full of allusions, metaphors, and other figures of speech, making it somewhat difficult to understand. Thinly disguised tragedy ahead is announced. In the end, the text refers to the determination, the furious desire to live ("I have to find the will to carry on with the show") despite vanishing strength ("inside my heart is breaking, my make-up may be flaking"). As Jim Hutton, Freddie's partner for the last 6 years of his life. said in 1994, "To me, the most autobiographical line was: 'My make-up may be flaking but my smile still stays on'. That was true. No matter how ill Freddie felt, he never grumbled to anyone or sought sympathy of any kind. It was his battle, no one else's, and he always wore a brave face against the ever-increasing odds against him." "The Show Must Go On" was included in the "Innuendo" album. The “Innuendo” recording sessions were completed by November 1990; the album was released in February 1991. After those sessions, Freddie continued to record studio vocals as much as his health would allow. He loved his work; or rather, he passionately loved making music, and had always tried to keep his personal life private. Freddie passed away on November 24, 1991, and the show has very much gone on …
The video for The Show Must Go On is a compilation of their other music videos and concert footage, etc. When they recorded The Show Must Go On, Freddie was too sick to make a video so they created this compilation video
You need to hear No One but You recorded by the 3 remaining members after Freddie died. It is such a great video. John left after recording it and never returned.
The Show Must Go On song played at the end of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie during the credits along with Don't Stop Me Now. The very last vocal track that Freddie recorded in the studio is for the song "Mother Love". Freddie got too tired to continue and said he'd be back to complete the last verse but never was able to and passed away. Brian came back after Freddie had been gone awhile and finished the very last verse to complete the song. It's a beautiful song and despite Freddie being at the very end of his life his voice was still incredibly beautiful even if it wasn't as quite full sounding as when he was healthy. The Queen Official Lyric Video for Mother Love is a must listen. RIP Freddie.
Thank you for giving us a beautifully genuine reaction. You did Freddie & Queen a huge honor by delving into the history and meaning of the track. It’s up to you all to keep their legacy alive by making honest reactions and not doing it just for more subscribers. I appreciate your genuine affection and interest to continue with their music with love. ✌🏽❤👑
Yes, there is a whole bunch more Queen that you have not reacted to. Thank you so much for reacting to this song. This is a very emotional song, for me at least. Knowing that there is not much time left for Freddie. You might want to give "It's Late" a listen and also "The Prophet's Song". Neither of these were high on the charts but they are hidden gems.
This song was credited to Queen but mostly written by Brian. The song chronicles the effort of Freddie continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life, although his diagnosis with HIV/AIDS had not yet been made public! This song is featured in numerous vocal competitions, namely American Idol & The Voice! It’s like the contestants are proving that they can sing that difficult song!! IMO, “there can only be one” 👉 Freddie Mercury! 💛⭐️💛⭐️✨
Freddie was so brave and faced his illness head on, always pushed himself to continue making as much music as possible for his fans until he just couldn't get on his feet and get himself into the studio anymore. He would have been 77 years old on September 5th, and he's so so missed.
Need to watch the Queen documentary on how Queen came together up to Freddie's death, words from Brian, Roger, Mary Austin and friends DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Yes … Freddie commands attention 🥰 Not his fault that he is the Most Amazing Performer who ever lived 😂✌🏼 Thank you for your great reaction🌹 It’s crazy how Freddie’s voice was even better at the end of his life. I miss him so much ☺️💛
There is an interview w Brian May th-cam.com/users/shortsyZQGV0u3agE where he says the video of I Want to Break Free was a pastiche of Coronation Day, A British soap opera. It wasn't just rock stars in drag. But the rest of the world wouldn't get that.
You can't get to deep with Queen fans aka us QUEENIES ps yesterday was freddies birthday and today they started auctioning his items off..so emotional 😭
Freddie was very sick at recording this song, but he didn't stop and singing and making music kept him alive a little longer. If you want to know more about the band and Freddie pls, forget the movie and watch the documentaries, like Days Of Our Lives. I loved the movie, it led me to the Queen's music and Freddie. But when I started to dig myself into the several books, interviews, documentaries I learned, that the real Freddie Mercury was very different to the depicted one. He was a kind, generous, caring, loving and funny guy, never an autocrat. According to Brian and Roger Freddie was the peacemaker in the band. He loved having a good time with friends and he wasn't as lonely as in the movie.
Thanks for a great reaction. This is a brilliant composition credited to Queen...tho I believe it was written by Brian. The orchestration is impeccable, Brian slays his guitar solo and Freddie's voice is as passionate and powerful as I have ever heard. This album, INNUENDO, is a testament to this band who were known for their HUGE stadium tours through 1986 and, yet, they did not tour for the FIVE years between the end of the Magic Tour and Freddie's passing. I think that some other bands would have disbanded over that time. But, while they did some solo work, they came back to work together as one unit. They stuck together like the true friends they were - and became even closer while closing ranks to protect Freddie from the scandalous press - and continued to compose and produce what imo are some of the most AMAZING songs of their career. Listen to "Bijou" - it is a masterpiece - Brian's guitar soars and Freddie's voice is the bijou...the little jewel.
What year did Freddie Mercury sing The Show Must Go On? 1991 Mercury was so ill when the band recorded the song in 1990 that May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991 in promotion for the Greatest Hits II album, just six weeks before Mercury died. Did Freddie Mercury ever perform The Show Must Go On live? Queen - The Show Must Go On (Live) - TH-cam We know he never performed this song live, as he recorded weeks before he died (amazing that he was able to do this incredible recording being so ill, the vocals are perfect) but you did an amazing compilation video, if I didn't know better, and know all these clips, I would believe this was live, well done...... GREAT REACTION DREW, THANKS....
I'm 66 so I was around when Queen started. Unless you were into buying albums you did not hear alot of their music on American radio. It makes me so mad that it took me to my 60's to hear their early music .
It didn’t chart here because at the beginning of the 90’s American music has really changed to the beginnings of grunge. Rap was really evolving to more mainstream too. Kids weren’t waiting for the new Queen stuff to come out. I was but I had just graduated college so what I liked wasn’t what the teens were listening to anymore. That whole Innuendo album is fantastic, though. RIP, Freddie. I literally cried when he passed so don’t think twice at getting emotional. It’s natural to grieve for that big of a talent. And for all the music we got robbed of that he would have made if he didn’t die.
"You don't fool me" has an epic solo. Brian's solo track "Resurrection" is a guitar extravaganza. Freddies last track was "Mother Love", he did not finish it.
Brian said he wrote this song with Freddie in mind. His vision was of a sad clown who painted a big smile on his face to go out and entertain his audience. Of course, Freddie never complained and really wanted to perform until the very end but Brian is a very empathetic guy it seems so he was sort of putting himself in Freddie's position and imagining how he must have felt inside. The movie was not a documentary, they took license in changing the order of events and other things in order to keep things moving at a pace a movie needs to go. Some things were omitted and some things were embellished but both Brian and Roger felt that the movie did a fair job of projecting Freddie.
Freddy was very sick when Bryan was preparing the recording. They propose to Roger to sing, but Freddy took a shut of vodka and did the song in one take.
Unbelievable how wonderful his voice was dispite being so so ill, oh how I love that man ❤. We're so lucky to have the vast catalogue of work live & otherwise. Thank you for reacting to this one x
When Freddie was getting too sick to do concerts any more, he told the group he wanted to keep recording as much as he could and asked them to bring him songs. Evidently they were pulling unfinished songs from old notebooks and scraps of paper in drawers. So although most of these final songs were originally intended to be about something else, he puts such feeling into them that I somehow relate them all to his life in those last couple of years, the high and low points.
The Bohemian Rhapsody movie was apparently already long enough! To get a really good in-depth showing, the movie would have been three times longer than war and Peace!!!!!!!!!! But, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!!😺😺😺 You should also go and listen to the song Brighton Rock! It's got a Brian guitar solo that is ABSOLUTELY ICONIC!!!!!!!!!! He expanded it quite a bit in live versions, but this one on the record pretty much tells the story of his genius in using an echo device! Building up three part harmonies, playing against himself! TOTALLY AWESOME! And, you are once again COMPLETELY RIGHT about Brian... Always absolutely truthful, even if it's embarrassing! He is, after all, Sir Dr Brian May! An astrophysicist with a PhD, a knight of the realm, and.. again ... He IS Brian May!!!!!!!!!! Queen, unfortunately lost their US appeal when they released hot space! Brian said it did very well in the rest of the world, but they lost their American audience because of it!
Unbelievably Freddie did this IN ONE TAKE! He was weak and so sick… Brian offered to rewrite it so it would be easier for Freddie to sing, but in true Freddie fashion he downed some vodka and nailed it in one take. 💛 The world lost an amazing man when Freddie passed
As popular as Queen is now, it’s hard for people who weren’t around at the time to realize that by the late 80s/early 90s, Queen wasn’t that big in America anymore. It was a combination of things. The albums they put out in the 80s just weren’t as big as their earlier albums, to start with. In America, the video for “I Want To Break Free,” where the band are dressed in drag and based off of a British TV show, confused a lot of Americans and turned some people off, as drag as humor was big in the UK, but in America you had a lot of homophobia. Queen had also stopped touring in America. Their last US show was in 1982. By the late 80s the Queen catalog wasn’t even available in America anymore. Eventually, Queen signed a deal with Hollywood Records and Innuendo was their first release on the label, and Hollywood also reissued Queen’s back catalog in America for the first time in several years. Freddie died in November 1991, and that brought some attention back to the band. What really brought Queen back to popularity in America, though, was the inclusion of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the movie Wayne’s World in 1992. A whole new generation of people (including myself, I was in high school at the time) were exposed to Queen, sadly after Freddie was already gone. To capitalize on the sudden surge in interest from the movie, they put out Classic Queen, a greatest hits album of sorts that had a couple of their 70s classics, but mostly songs from their 80s albums and Innuendo. So until the resurgence in the early 90s, Queen was a band who was hugely popular in the 70s but whose popularity had waned significantly in the US for the reasons I mentioned.
You've reacted to a LOT of Queen music, granted, but there is so much more. As you know, they do almost all genres. I think you would get a kick out of The Miracle video. Great concept, great song. And for something completely different, '39. Use the official video and you can hear Brian lead. "You're My Best Friend" was a huge hit, a sweet song written by John. Wanna hear the first thrash metal song before that was even a thing? Stone Cold Crazy. Metallica did a cover and even metalheads say Freddie did it better.
They did the compliation because Freddie could not be filed as he was too sick. But this song was Freddie's mantra.....no matter what...the show must go on....he was true to his music! He was so dedicated ❤❤❤❤
Mother love was the last song Freddie sang, he was sick and said he would come back and sing it but he got pneumonia and died. Brian sang the last verse to finish it and it was so good, its hard to tell who is singing.
A very heartfelt reaction to a very emit song if Brian imagining what poor Freddie was got through, during this last stage if his illness, Absolut knowing his fate. Its heartbreaking but I guess it gives the song such authenticity, especially in his voice. Please react to MADe IN HEAveN
In July 2020, Queen became the third band (after the Beatles and Pink Floyd) to feature on a series of UK postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail. Celine Dion recorded a studio version of Queen's "The Show Must Go On" and released it as a digital single on 20 May 2016. The track features Lindsey Stirling on violin. Also from that Wikipedia page.
This song comes with a compilation of videos as Freddie was so ill when he recorded this song. He could hardly stand but his voice was as powerful as ever and he tried to record songs for as long as he could. There will never be another Freddie.
You’d love Freddie’s solo song under his name “In My Defense”. Brian has a great version of his own -Too Much Love Will Kill You- (he wrote it and let Queen have it, where Freddie sang it under Queen) but Brian also recorded it under his own name, just gorgeous.Roger has two songs under his name (solo) that he wrote about Freddie, OLD FRIENDS and SAY ITS NOT TRUE. Freddie recorded MOTHER LOVE at the end of his life too, it’ll break your heart. I think Brian had to sing the last verse because Freddie passed away before he could finish it. Then there’s Queens song THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES, the last video Freddie was in, and a goodbye to his fans. Also a must hear, NO ONE BUT YOU (ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG), Queen’s song for Freddie after he passed away. I LOVE Queen, and Freddie….I’ll never tire of his voice, ever. Been a fan since the inception of Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody is still my fav song if all time. Have you ever heard of YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY? Freddie’s voice (live) will knock you over.
Thanks, MMB.. the video is a compilation of past live shows and other videos... they never performed it live... Freddie was not able.. the voice was there... Brian wrote it, and told Freddie that "I don't know if you will be able to sing this..." but Freddie downed a shot of vodka and responded "I'll fucking do it, Darling.." and, according to Brian.. "just lacerated that vocal...".. p.s. Freddie's birthday is Sept. 5.. I always think of him...
Such an amazing track Brian & Freddie were a true collaborative force. You’re not reading too much into it my friend. If you want to watch something about them again I recommend the days of our lives. Definitely one of the best documentaries about them. Just really good, from their early years to current. Lots of Brian & Roger input too.
Freddie was very sick when this was cut and released. That is why u only see Freddie in other scenes. Brian wrote this for the reason to keep going after Freddie died.
Alot of people think this is Freddie's goodbye song, it's not. That song is "was it all worth it" on the album "The Miracle" because they didn't think Freddie could be able to record another album. This song was Brian May's song, about how he was trying to go on after Freddie's death he was so sick and frail when it came time to record this song the band didn't think he could do it. But in true Freddie fashion he tossed back a vodka and said "i'll fucking do it darling" and nailed the song in one take. A spooky thing happened to Freddie, the sicker he got the more powerful his voice became. The reason the video is a mash up of other videos is Freddie was far far too sick to be in another music video.
The movie is a Biopic. Timelines are distorted, characterizations & events are dramatized and some made up shit that never happened is thrown in for dramatic effect.. Watch one of many Queen documentaries and stop referencing the movie as fact. . Vent over, whew, this is an amazing vocal from Freddie .Brian worried that he wouldn’t be able to hit the high notes but Freddie swigged a nice drink of vodka and said , I’ll fucking do it , darling! And he did!👑
The show must go on was written I think by Brian and maybe Freddy, but Freddy was really sick when he recorded it and Brian was like we don’t have to do it. We can do something else and he’s like now he took a shot couple shots of vodka with his drink think it’s like it And Brian said he needs like OK and he laid it down in one track. The thing is is that went Friday first hurts Penn state was like I want to work right whatever you want me to sing I will lay down with me Traxxas you want and you can use whatever you want so This was kind of his therapy so it’s sad but it’s also I think it’s nice whenever you can enjoy your life doing what you love and he definitely did it so yeah there’s a lot more shit to even from that last year of his life. They worked a lot, so yeah, check them out because they also seen a lot of fun doing those videos.
In Catholicism, a Siren is an Angel that speaks for God. They are known as the voice of God because nobody can hear the actual voice of God and live. I think you nailed it when you said his voice is like a Siren that you have to listen to.
To properly answer your question: watch the Fritz Lang film Metropolis. It’s a classic, pioneer in avant-garde cinema and major influence in later film (especially SF). Then react to the Queen music video Radio Gaga. Must be the music video. Consider it a twofer. 😊
It may be hard for people who did not live through the times to understand why Queen's later hits did so poorly in the US. It is the fallout over one of their videos which was not understood in the conservative cooperate culture of the time. Many consider the video for Bohemian Rhapsody to be the first true music video which opened the floodgates for all the videos which followed and spawned MTV. This is why it is so ironic that MTV then banned the playing of the video for "I Want to Break Free." This fun and funny video parodying the British TV show "Coronation Street" went completely over the heads of the conservative influencers of the day. They just did not understand the tradition of men dressing as women in British humor. MTV told Queen to make another video for the song or MTV would not play it. If you think Queen said "shove it!" you've got it right. Queen adopted the attitude that they were appreciated in virtually every other country than the US, so they would just ignore the US market. They never toured in the US again and their US sales numbers reflected this mutual distaste. Those of us who lived in the time of Queen, are so glad that we now live in a time when Queen's talents and legacy are appreciated and respected.
ETA I want to ask you a question. Black guys love Queen. What is the draw, the connection that you feel? Freddie would be thrilled to know how much his music has touched the people.
I absolutely loved your reaction to this great song ……to Freddie and the band. Please don’t ever stop reacting to Queen……there is so much more. The movie was not factually correct….. made Freddie look like a jerk half the time, it didn’t show his personality and great sense of humor. The time lines were way off too ….. Freddie wasn’t even diagnosed until April 1987. You should watch and maybe react to some of the many interviews they did over all of the years. Thanks again for a great reaction ……More Queen please. 💕
Please checkout my cousin, Timothy Drake ..he has a Queen cover band in Holland...he's been on Mexican and Italian idol...he's worth a total listen...the show must go on 😉
A lot of Queen fans were disappointed with the movie. But as Brian May said "It's not a documentary". I understand that, but IMO, the film makers made unnecessary and ridiculous changes to history.
You are right there is a lot more of queen you are you have to go down the Queen rabbit hole, but another thing is that the movie for artistic whatever can I made Freddy sound like he was like this is a egotistically asshole, but from everybody else, he was very sweet. He’s a perfectionist, but he himself said he would usually try to change things and then try to get the band to to change it. Whoever wrote the song no the thing is, I don’t if you really want to learn about them don’t look at the movie look at the menu documentaries out there. I got some of the few interviews that credit did and then you’ll get a better idea about quit I just have to say that because I get tired of people referencing that movie when it’s not factual because one thing I hear all the time is that day that Freddie was kind of mean to John Deacon, and it wasn’t true. He took him on the swings, and he was the person he fought with the most was prey, but he respected him and just brought him a note. Thank you.
If the movie 'Bohemian rhapsody' had all the details of Queen's career, it would be way too long... The filmmakers decided to 'condense' the events between 1970 and 1985 (the Live Aid show) and added a few bits that were fantasy... Freddie had a band in the 60's, but it was a failure. He did become friends w/ the band Smile, and guitarist Brian May was the one who introduced him to his girlfriend Mary Austin. Bassist John Deacon was not the first bass player who joined Queen the first year... They left out the part where their US tour in 1974 was canceled after Brian May contracted hepatitis... he needed treatment and Queen took a break. The record executive (played by Mike Myers, who made Queen famous again in America w/ his 1992 movie "Wayne's World") was fictional... What he was saying in the meeting was kinda the nature of the music business in Britain back then, and that was the system Queen were up against... The band recorded 'We will rock you' in 1977 before Freddie cut off his hair and grew a mustache in 1980. There were moments depicted that happened after Live Aid in '85... Freddie being diagnosed w/ AIDS in 1987 and then telling the band the news... His ex-boyfriend/ ex-manager outing Freddie's sexuality in a TV interview. Freddie was struggling w/ AIDS between 1987 until his death in 1991... he insisted that Queen record new music and make music videos, even though he was unable to tour or perform live... The 1989 music video for 'I want it all' showed how limited Freddie was in his mobility. Queen completed 2 new albums - 'The Miracle' (1989) and 'Innuendo' (1991)... By the last year, Freddie was thin and frail - he appeared on his last music video 'These are the days of our lives'... and it looked like he was saying 'goodbye'... The videos for 'Innuendo' and 'The show must go on' were made using old footage... Freddie also recorded vocals that were completed after his death in 1991. In 1992, the movie "Wayne's World" featured Queen's 'Bohemian rhapsody'... and it gave Queen another hit in the US in a decade, despite the band being world famous... Jim Beach (Queen's manager) said he moved Queen's catalog to Hollywood Records in 1991 and the US label expected to make money after several years. But after "Wayne's World"... Queen's catalog started to sell in America again and they were making a profit 2 years after the release of 'Innuendo'. After the release of the final Queen album 'Made in Heaven' in 1995, bassist John Deacon announced he was retiring from music... the death of Freddie Mercury had affected him the most and he couldn't carry on in music without his bandmate.
I agree about the movie, though it was also quite factually incorrect. Putting 20 years of a band’s life together, great hits and history is almost impossible. There are documentaries and interviews. Freddie wasn’t as callous as the movie made him out to be and that angered me. And all the members had solo careers alongside and after Freddie’s death, all except John Deacon, the bassist. And yes, their songs are everywhere in movies and commercials. I miss and love Freddie and I hate all covers of their songs.
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How many people so close to death, do you know that can belt out a tune like this.?
"The Show Must Go On" is credited as a Queen composition but it was mainly written by Brian May. The song chronicles the effort of Freddie continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life. The song’s theme is driven by the probability it would be Freddie Mercury’s “finale”
When the band recorded the song in 1990, Freddie's condition had deteriorated to the point that Brian had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. Brian told a feeble Freddie not to over-exert himself during a session for the final track’s vocals, intimating he wasn’t up to the challenge. According to Queen lore, a frustrated Freddie responded by slamming a shot, or two, of vodka, saying, “I’ll fucking do it, darling”. Brian recalled Freddie’s performance, "He went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal"
After listening to John Deacon and Roger Taylor playing the chord sequence that later on would be the basis for almost the entire song, Brian sat down with Freddie Mercury and the two of them decided the theme of the song and wrote some lyrics. Brian wrote down the rest of the words as well as the melody and added a bridge with a chord sequence inspired by Pachelbel's Canon. Brian was convinced the song's title was too predictable and offered to change it, but Freddie refused.
The lyrics are full of allusions, metaphors, and other figures of speech, making it somewhat difficult to understand. Thinly disguised tragedy ahead is announced. In the end, the text refers to the determination, the furious desire to live ("I have to find the will to carry on with the show") despite vanishing strength ("inside my heart is breaking, my make-up may be flaking").
As Jim Hutton, Freddie's partner for the last 6 years of his life. said in 1994, "To me, the most autobiographical line was: 'My make-up may be flaking but my smile still stays on'. That was true. No matter how ill Freddie felt, he never grumbled to anyone or sought sympathy of any kind. It was his battle, no one else's, and he always wore a brave face against the ever-increasing odds against him."
"The Show Must Go On" was included in the "Innuendo" album. The “Innuendo” recording sessions were completed by November 1990; the album was released in February 1991. After those sessions, Freddie continued to record studio vocals as much as his health would allow. He loved his work; or rather, he passionately loved making music, and had always tried to keep his personal life private.
Freddie passed away on November 24, 1991, and the show has very much gone on …
'i'll face it with a grin, i'm never giving in. On with the show' god damn.
Listen I was 13 when he passed.... I was in shock for a week, I could not believe it !
This song was on the end credits
This song was featured at the end of the movie credits.
The video for The Show Must Go On is a compilation of their other music videos and concert footage, etc. When they recorded The Show Must Go On, Freddie was too sick to make a video so they created this compilation video
You need to hear No One but You recorded by the 3 remaining members after Freddie died. It is such a great video. John left after recording it and never returned.
I cry every time. 😢
The Show Must Go On song played at the end of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie during the credits along with Don't Stop Me Now. The very last vocal track that Freddie recorded in the studio is for the song "Mother Love". Freddie got too tired to continue and said he'd be back to complete the last verse but never was able to and passed away. Brian came back after Freddie had been gone awhile and finished the very last verse to complete the song. It's a beautiful song and despite Freddie being at the very end of his life his voice was still incredibly beautiful even if it wasn't as quite full sounding as when he was healthy. The Queen Official Lyric Video for Mother Love is a must listen. RIP Freddie.
Brian May shows he can really shred with any rock guitarist out there. So talented.
Thank you for giving us a beautifully genuine reaction. You did Freddie & Queen a huge honor by delving into the history and meaning of the track.
It’s up to you all to keep their legacy alive by making honest reactions and not doing it just for more subscribers. I appreciate your genuine affection and interest to continue with their music with love.
✌🏽❤👑
Yes, there is a whole bunch more Queen that you have not reacted to. Thank you so much for reacting to this song. This is a very emotional song, for me at least. Knowing that there is not much time left for Freddie. You might want to give "It's Late" a listen and also "The Prophet's Song". Neither of these were high on the charts but they are hidden gems.
This song was credited to Queen but mostly written by Brian. The song chronicles the effort of Freddie continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life, although his diagnosis with HIV/AIDS had not yet been made public! This song is featured in numerous vocal competitions, namely American Idol & The Voice! It’s like the contestants are proving that they can sing that difficult song!! IMO, “there can only be one” 👉 Freddie Mercury! 💛⭐️💛⭐️✨
Queen has over 200 songs for you to hear. Lots of magnificent songs to hear.
Freddie was so brave and faced his illness head on, always pushed himself to continue making as much music as possible for his fans until he just couldn't get on his feet and get himself into the studio anymore. He would have been 77 years old on September 5th, and he's so so missed.
the song...The Miracle is a lovely video, you should watch it, its vert uplifting.
Queens catalog is huge. You need to take a deep dive into the queen rabbit hole.
Queen was the best band EVER, and Freddie was a magical being. Awesome reaction too.
The video of Queen in drag is called I want to break free
"In My Defense " off of Freddie's Album ! Think you'd Like❤
Need to watch the Queen documentary on how Queen came together up to Freddie's death, words from Brian, Roger, Mary Austin and friends DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Yes … Freddie commands attention 🥰 Not his fault that he is the Most Amazing Performer who ever lived 😂✌🏼 Thank you for your great reaction🌹 It’s crazy how Freddie’s voice was even better at the end of his life. I miss him so much ☺️💛
This song always reminds me of how sick Freddie truly was..yet he continued making music and videos for his fans. RIP Freddie and thank you.❤
There is an interview w Brian May th-cam.com/users/shortsyZQGV0u3agE where he says the video of I Want to Break Free was a pastiche of Coronation Day, A British soap opera. It wasn't just rock stars in drag. But the rest of the world wouldn't get that.
You can't get to deep with Queen fans aka us QUEENIES ps yesterday was freddies birthday and today they started auctioning his items off..so emotional 😭
Freddie was very sick at recording this song, but he didn't stop and singing and making music kept him alive a little longer.
If you want to know more about the band and Freddie pls, forget the movie and watch the documentaries, like Days Of Our Lives.
I loved the movie, it led me to the Queen's music and Freddie. But when I started to dig myself into the several books, interviews, documentaries I learned, that the real Freddie Mercury was very different to the depicted one. He was a kind, generous, caring, loving and funny guy, never an autocrat. According to Brian and Roger Freddie was the peacemaker in the band. He loved having a good time with friends and he wasn't as lonely as in the movie.
Freddie knew that Innuendo Album was his swan song. The strength of his voice was unbelievable, no autotune required.
Thanks for a great reaction. This is a brilliant composition credited to Queen...tho I believe it was written by Brian. The orchestration is impeccable, Brian slays his guitar solo and Freddie's voice is as passionate and powerful as I have ever heard. This album, INNUENDO, is a testament to this band who were known for their HUGE stadium tours through 1986 and, yet, they did not tour for the FIVE years between the end of the Magic Tour and Freddie's passing. I think that some other bands would have disbanded over that time. But, while they did some solo work, they came back to work together as one unit. They stuck together like the true friends they were - and became even closer while closing ranks to protect Freddie from the scandalous press - and continued to compose and produce what imo are some of the most AMAZING songs of their career. Listen to "Bijou" - it is a masterpiece - Brian's guitar soars and Freddie's voice is the bijou...the little jewel.
The Show Must Go On ... and it does! *thanks
What year did Freddie Mercury sing The Show Must Go On?
1991
Mercury was so ill when the band recorded the song in 1990 that May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. It was released as a single in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991 in promotion for the Greatest Hits II album, just six weeks before Mercury died. Did Freddie Mercury ever perform The Show Must Go On live?
Queen - The Show Must Go On (Live) - TH-cam
We know he never performed this song live, as he recorded weeks before he died (amazing that he was able to do this incredible recording being so ill, the vocals are perfect) but you did an amazing compilation video, if I didn't know better, and know all these clips, I would believe this was live, well done...... GREAT REACTION DREW, THANKS....
I'm 66 so I was around when Queen started. Unless you were into buying albums you did not hear alot of their music on American radio. It makes me so mad that it took me to my 60's to hear their early music .
It didn’t chart here because at the beginning of the 90’s American music has really changed to the beginnings of grunge. Rap was really evolving to more mainstream too. Kids weren’t waiting for the new Queen stuff to come out. I was but I had just graduated college so what I liked wasn’t what the teens were listening to anymore. That whole Innuendo album is fantastic, though.
RIP, Freddie. I literally cried when he passed so don’t think twice at getting emotional. It’s natural to grieve for that big of a talent. And for all the music we got robbed of that he would have made if he didn’t die.
"You don't fool me" has an epic solo. Brian's solo track "Resurrection" is a guitar extravaganza. Freddies last track was "Mother Love", he did not finish it.
That song was on the air for months while Freddie just died... We were in high school, full of emotions.
Brian said he wrote this song with Freddie in mind. His vision was of a sad clown who painted a big smile on his face to go out and entertain his audience. Of course, Freddie never complained and really wanted to perform until the very end but Brian is a very empathetic guy it seems so he was sort of putting himself in Freddie's position and imagining how he must have felt inside. The movie was not a documentary, they took license in changing the order of events and other things in order to keep things moving at a pace a movie needs to go. Some things were omitted and some things were embellished but both Brian and Roger felt that the movie did a fair job of projecting Freddie.
Freddy was very sick when Bryan was preparing the recording. They propose to Roger to sing, but Freddy took a shut of vodka and did the song in one take.
Unbelievable how wonderful his voice was dispite being so so ill, oh how I love that man ❤. We're so lucky to have the vast catalogue of work live & otherwise.
Thank you for reacting to this one x
The Show did go on and on and on.................
When Freddie was getting too sick to do concerts any more, he told the group he wanted to keep recording as much as he could and asked them to bring him songs. Evidently they were pulling unfinished songs from old notebooks and scraps of paper in drawers. So although most of these final songs were originally intended to be about something else, he puts such feeling into them that I somehow relate them all to his life in those last couple of years, the high and low points.
The Bohemian Rhapsody movie was apparently already long enough! To get a really good in-depth showing, the movie would have been three times longer than war and Peace!!!!!!!!!! But, I WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!!😺😺😺 You should also go and listen to the song Brighton Rock! It's got a Brian guitar solo that is ABSOLUTELY ICONIC!!!!!!!!!! He expanded it quite a bit in live versions, but this one on the record pretty much tells the story of his genius in using an echo device! Building up three part harmonies, playing against himself! TOTALLY AWESOME! And, you are once again COMPLETELY RIGHT about Brian... Always absolutely truthful, even if it's embarrassing! He is, after all, Sir Dr Brian May! An astrophysicist with a PhD, a knight of the realm, and.. again ... He IS Brian May!!!!!!!!!! Queen, unfortunately lost their US appeal when they released hot space! Brian said it did very well in the rest of the world, but they lost their American audience because of it!
You should review the live performance of Who Wants to Live Forever from their concert in Budapest.
Unbelievably Freddie did this IN ONE TAKE! He was weak and so sick… Brian offered to rewrite it so it would be easier for Freddie to sing, but in true Freddie fashion he downed some vodka and nailed it in one take. 💛 The world lost an amazing man when Freddie passed
I love how in depth you go and into your thoughts and feelings Respst and Thanks
He did it from a wheelchair just 1 take it was the last full song He sung half of the last 1 but they had to finish it... Dad just a few weeks later
As popular as Queen is now, it’s hard for people who weren’t around at the time to realize that by the late 80s/early 90s, Queen wasn’t that big in America anymore. It was a combination of things. The albums they put out in the 80s just weren’t as big as their earlier albums, to start with. In America, the video for “I Want To Break Free,” where the band are dressed in drag and based off of a British TV show, confused a lot of Americans and turned some people off, as drag as humor was big in the UK, but in America you had a lot of homophobia. Queen had also stopped touring in America. Their last US show was in 1982. By the late 80s the Queen catalog wasn’t even available in America anymore. Eventually, Queen signed a deal with Hollywood Records and Innuendo was their first release on the label, and Hollywood also reissued Queen’s back catalog in America for the first time in several years. Freddie died in November 1991, and that brought some attention back to the band.
What really brought Queen back to popularity in America, though, was the inclusion of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the movie Wayne’s World in 1992. A whole new generation of people (including myself, I was in high school at the time) were exposed to Queen, sadly after Freddie was already gone. To capitalize on the sudden surge in interest from the movie, they put out Classic Queen, a greatest hits album of sorts that had a couple of their 70s classics, but mostly songs from their 80s albums and Innuendo. So until the resurgence in the early 90s, Queen was a band who was hugely popular in the 70s but whose popularity had waned significantly in the US for the reasons I mentioned.
You've reacted to a LOT of Queen music, granted, but there is so much more. As you know, they do almost all genres. I think you would get a kick out of The Miracle video. Great concept, great song. And for something completely different, '39. Use the official video and you can hear Brian lead. "You're My Best Friend" was a huge hit, a sweet song written by John. Wanna hear the first thrash metal song before that was even a thing? Stone Cold Crazy. Metallica did a cover and even metalheads say Freddie did it better.
They did the compliation because Freddie could not be filed as he was too sick. But this song was Freddie's mantra.....no matter what...the show must go on....he was true to his music! He was so dedicated ❤❤❤❤
This is a hard one.
Even harder, Queen’s last video - Days of our Lives
Mother love was the last song Freddie sang, he was sick and said he would come back and sing it but he got pneumonia and died. Brian sang the last verse to finish it and it was so good, its hard to tell who is singing.
A very heartfelt reaction to a very emit song if Brian imagining what poor Freddie was got through, during this last stage if his illness, Absolut knowing his fate. Its heartbreaking but I guess it gives the song such authenticity, especially in his voice. Please react to MADe IN HEAveN
The song with the band in drag is called "I Want to Break Free".
And if I'm not mistaken, John Deacon wrote " I want to break free" .... shy retiring John😅
In July 2020, Queen became the third band (after the Beatles and Pink Floyd) to feature on a series of UK postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail. Celine Dion recorded a studio version of Queen's "The Show Must Go On" and released it as a digital single on 20 May 2016. The track features Lindsey Stirling on violin. Also from that Wikipedia page.
listen to and watch all the documentaries about queen. Thats how you get all the background material
This song comes with a compilation of videos as Freddie was so ill when he recorded this song. He could hardly stand but his voice was as powerful as ever and he tried to record songs for as long as he could. There will never be another Freddie.
your emotional, we the fans are all emotional which indicates how you/we have engaged with them.
oh yes, brian has got phenomenal solos, just listen further to their huge catalogue. he‘s often voted as one of the best guitarists.
You’d love Freddie’s solo song under his name “In My Defense”. Brian has a great version of his own -Too Much Love Will Kill You- (he wrote it and let Queen have it, where Freddie sang it under Queen) but Brian also recorded it under his own name, just gorgeous.Roger has two songs under his name (solo) that he wrote about Freddie, OLD FRIENDS and SAY ITS NOT TRUE. Freddie recorded MOTHER LOVE at the end of his life too, it’ll break your heart. I think Brian had to sing the last verse because Freddie passed away before he could finish it. Then there’s Queens song THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES, the last video Freddie was in, and a goodbye to his fans. Also a must hear, NO ONE BUT YOU (ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG), Queen’s song for Freddie after he passed away. I LOVE Queen, and Freddie….I’ll never tire of his voice, ever. Been a fan since the inception of Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody is still my fav song if all time. Have you ever heard of YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY? Freddie’s voice (live) will knock you over.
Thanks, MMB.. the video is a compilation of past live shows and other videos... they never performed it live... Freddie was not able.. the voice was there... Brian wrote it, and told Freddie that "I don't know if you will be able to sing this..." but Freddie downed a shot of vodka and responded "I'll fucking do it, Darling.." and, according to Brian.. "just lacerated that vocal...".. p.s. Freddie's birthday is Sept. 5.. I always think of him...
I, too, think of Freddie on his special day...I'm so grateful to him for the many gifts he gave to all of us.
You can see the movie documentary of the show must go on parts 1 & 2 on you tube. You’ll learn a lot! Very very good. Make sure you watch them.
Queen's real treasures lie in the deep-cuts, not the Big Hits (great as those are).
This is actually the official video for this song. They were reprising some of their previous videos through the years as part of this song.
He was very sick when he did this song... Only few month songs relesed he died, he was barelly standing, he record it in 1
Queen had a lot of hits but dig deep for the buried treasures!
Such an amazing track Brian & Freddie were a true collaborative force.
You’re not reading too much into it my friend.
If you want to watch something about them again I recommend the days of our lives. Definitely one of the best documentaries about them. Just really good, from their early years to current. Lots of Brian & Roger input too.
Freddie was very sick when this was cut and released. That is why u only see Freddie in other scenes. Brian wrote this for the reason to keep going after Freddie died.
I cried when I heard this, I knew the end was close
At the end of the movie this was played in full while the credits were running. 1st time i have ever sat through all the credits in a theatre.
To hear a softer more poignant side of Freddie , Please listen to Those were the days of our lives , it's lovely and will make you emotional
You should watch them live at Hammersmith odeon back in the 70s great video you'll see Queen and its youngest and best
always jump in quick when it's Queen
Alot of people think this is Freddie's goodbye song, it's not. That song is "was it all worth it" on the album "The Miracle" because they didn't think Freddie could be able to record another album. This song was Brian May's song, about how he was trying to go on after Freddie's death
he was so sick and frail when it came time to record this song the band didn't think he could do it. But in true Freddie fashion he tossed back a vodka and said "i'll fucking do it darling" and nailed the song in one take.
A spooky thing happened to Freddie, the sicker he got the more powerful his voice became. The reason the video is a mash up of other videos is Freddie was far far too sick to be in another music video.
The videos I spotted were, I Want To Break Free, Radio Gaga, Headlong, and Innuendo. Please watch the video for Innuendo.
They played this song on the end credits
The movie is a Biopic. Timelines are distorted, characterizations & events are dramatized and some made up shit that never happened is thrown in for dramatic effect.. Watch one of many Queen documentaries and stop referencing the movie as fact. .
Vent over, whew, this is an amazing vocal from Freddie .Brian worried that he wouldn’t be able to hit the high notes but Freddie swigged a nice drink of vodka and said , I’ll fucking do it , darling! And he did!👑
Your reactions are the BEST❤
The show must go on was written I think by Brian and maybe Freddy, but Freddy was really sick when he recorded it and Brian was like we don’t have to do it. We can do something else and he’s like now he took a shot couple shots of vodka with his drink think it’s like it And Brian said he needs like OK and he laid it down in one track. The thing is is that went Friday first hurts Penn state was like I want to work right whatever you want me to sing I will lay down with me Traxxas you want and you can use whatever you want so This was kind of his therapy so it’s sad but it’s also I think it’s nice whenever you can enjoy your life doing what you love and he definitely did it so yeah there’s a lot more shit to even from that last year of his life. They worked a lot, so yeah, check them out because they also seen a lot of fun doing those videos.
Lo❤ thanks for your reaction 😊
In Catholicism, a Siren is an Angel that speaks for God. They are known as the voice of God because nobody can hear the actual voice of God and live. I think you nailed it when you said his voice is like a Siren that you have to listen to.
To properly answer your question: watch the Fritz Lang film Metropolis. It’s a classic, pioneer in avant-garde cinema and major influence in later film (especially SF). Then react to the Queen music video Radio Gaga. Must be the music video. Consider it a twofer. 😊
RESPECT PT. REACȚIA DV.👍
Queen is pretty strict with banning TH-cam videos containing there music over
Copyright
It may be hard for people who did not live through the times to understand why Queen's later hits did so poorly in the US. It is the fallout over one of their videos which was not understood in the conservative cooperate culture of the time.
Many consider the video for Bohemian Rhapsody to be the first true music video which opened the floodgates for all the videos which followed and spawned MTV. This is why it is so ironic that MTV then banned the playing of the video for "I Want to Break Free." This fun and funny video parodying the British TV show "Coronation Street" went completely over the heads of the conservative influencers of the day. They just did not understand the tradition of men dressing as women in British humor.
MTV told Queen to make another video for the song or MTV would not play it. If you think Queen said "shove it!" you've got it right. Queen adopted the attitude that they were appreciated in virtually every other country than the US, so they would just ignore the US market. They never toured in the US again and their US sales numbers reflected this mutual distaste.
Those of us who lived in the time of Queen, are so glad that we now live in a time when Queen's talents and legacy are appreciated and respected.
ETA I want to ask you a question. Black guys love Queen. What is the draw, the connection that you feel? Freddie would be thrilled to know how much his music has touched the people.
I absolutely loved your reaction to this great song ……to Freddie and the band. Please don’t ever stop reacting to Queen……there is so much more.
The movie was not factually correct….. made Freddie look like a jerk half the time, it didn’t show his personality and great sense of humor. The time lines were way off too ….. Freddie wasn’t even diagnosed until April 1987. You should watch and maybe react to some of the many interviews they did over all of the years. Thanks again for a great reaction ……More Queen please. 💕
The penguin part is from I’m going slightly mad
Please checkout my cousin, Timothy Drake ..he has a Queen cover band in Holland...he's been on Mexican and Italian idol...he's worth a total listen...the show must go on 😉
A lot of Queen fans were disappointed with the movie. But as Brian May said "It's not a documentary". I understand that, but IMO, the film makers made unnecessary and ridiculous changes to history.
And then freddy died !!!😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢❤❤
Amezing...
please react to a lap of the gods by queen!! rogers voice is amazing in it i think u would love it!
You are right there is a lot more of queen you are you have to go down the Queen rabbit hole, but another thing is that the movie for artistic whatever can I made Freddy sound like he was like this is a egotistically asshole, but from everybody else, he was very sweet. He’s a perfectionist, but he himself said he would usually try to change things and then try to get the band to to change it. Whoever wrote the song no the thing is, I don’t if you really want to learn about them don’t look at the movie look at the menu documentaries out there. I got some of the few interviews that credit did and then you’ll get a better idea about quit I just have to say that because I get tired of people referencing that movie when it’s not factual because one thing I hear all the time is that day that Freddie was kind of mean to John Deacon, and it wasn’t true. He took him on the swings, and he was the person he fought with the most was prey, but he respected him and just brought him a note. Thank you.
Freddie was much more than the movie. he was a far greater man, and the actor did ok, but it was nothing compared to the real deal.
If the movie 'Bohemian rhapsody' had all the details of Queen's career, it would be way too long... The filmmakers decided to 'condense' the events between 1970 and 1985 (the Live Aid show) and added a few bits that were fantasy... Freddie had a band in the 60's, but it was a failure. He did become friends w/ the band Smile, and guitarist Brian May was the one who introduced him to his girlfriend Mary Austin.
Bassist John Deacon was not the first bass player who joined Queen the first year... They left out the part where their US tour in 1974 was canceled after Brian May contracted hepatitis... he needed treatment and Queen took a break.
The record executive (played by Mike Myers, who made Queen famous again in America w/ his 1992 movie "Wayne's World") was fictional... What he was saying in the meeting was kinda the nature of the music business in Britain back then, and that was the system Queen were up against... The band recorded 'We will rock you' in 1977 before Freddie cut off his hair and grew a mustache in 1980.
There were moments depicted that happened after Live Aid in '85... Freddie being diagnosed w/ AIDS in 1987 and then telling the band the news... His ex-boyfriend/ ex-manager outing Freddie's sexuality in a TV interview.
Freddie was struggling w/ AIDS between 1987 until his death in 1991... he insisted that Queen record new music and make music videos, even though he was unable to tour or perform live... The 1989 music video for 'I want it all' showed how limited Freddie was in his mobility. Queen completed 2 new albums - 'The Miracle' (1989) and 'Innuendo' (1991)... By the last year, Freddie was thin and frail - he appeared on his last music video 'These are the days of our lives'... and it looked like he was saying 'goodbye'... The videos for 'Innuendo' and 'The show must go on' were made using old footage... Freddie also recorded vocals that were completed after his death in 1991.
In 1992, the movie "Wayne's World" featured Queen's 'Bohemian rhapsody'... and it gave Queen another hit in the US in a decade, despite the band being world famous... Jim Beach (Queen's manager) said he moved Queen's catalog to Hollywood Records in 1991 and the US label expected to make money after several years. But after "Wayne's World"... Queen's catalog started to sell in America again and they were making a profit 2 years after the release of 'Innuendo'.
After the release of the final Queen album 'Made in Heaven' in 1995, bassist John Deacon announced he was retiring from music... the death of Freddie Mercury had affected him the most and he couldn't carry on in music without his bandmate.
Queen stopped charting in the US after their video for "I Want to Break Free" due to rampant homophobia.
This song was recorded near the end of Freddie's life. He was too ill to do a video.
Have you reacted to ride the wild wind yet
Filmed
Could you review Too Much Love Will Kill you - Brian May
I agree about the movie, though it was also quite factually incorrect. Putting 20 years of a band’s life together, great hits and history is almost impossible. There are documentaries and interviews. Freddie wasn’t as callous as the movie made him out to be and that angered me. And all the members had solo careers alongside and after Freddie’s death, all except John Deacon, the bassist. And yes, their songs are everywhere in movies and commercials. I miss and love Freddie and I hate all covers of their songs.
1992