The Legacy of Queen

POLIO FUNDRAISER BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY THE LEGACY OF QUEEN New biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near implosion as Mercury’s lifestyle spins out of control and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid. By Elaine Lipworth ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ tomorrow and complicated personal story and it would be a hit.” of Freddie Mercury, exploring GROUND-BREAKING and Starring Rami Malek in an his relationships with his muse, iconic British rock band uncanny performance as Freddie Mary Austin, who became a Queen have defied the odds, Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody lifelong friend after they split remaining vanguards of music charts Queen’s extraordinary up, and with the men in his life. and pop culture over the story, from the band’s roots as It examines the band’s evolution, decades. Not only does their bright London college students, and later Freddie’s struggle music defy categorisation and to the dazzling heights of with AIDS. Engrossing and break convention; it transcends international stardom, when fantastically entertaining, the generations. Unlike many 70s they filled stadiums across the film relates how the band shook and 80s groups that came and world, including the legendary the music world, rolling out hit went, Queen remain as relevant 1985 performance at Live Aid, after exciting hit, from ‘Killer today as they were then. which was watched by a global Queen’ to ‘Another One Bites “Whenever and wherever audience of 1.9 billion and raised The Dust’, the ingenious and people hear Queen’s music, it’s money for the famine in Ethiopia. operatic ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ instantly recognisable,” says Brian Infused with indelible Queen to the “stomp stomp clap” of Southall, who spent 15 years as songs, the film highlights the their signature anthem ‘We Will head of press, marketing and dynamics of the trailblazing Rock You’. promotion for Queen’s record band, both on and off stage, Perhaps the most striking label, EMI. “You could release and focuses on the moving of those hits was ‘Bohemian | 54 | ISSUE 610 OCTOBER 2018 POLIO FUNDRAISER Rhapsody,’ which appears on anthems. At football games and a silk kimono red shorts and Queen’s album A Night at the boxing matches, in fact every suspenders.” With their bangles Opera and is widely regarded kind of big sporting event, the and scarves and skin-tight jeans as a masterpiece. It has been 43 crowds will burst into ‘We Will and wings under their arms, years since the song rocketed to Rock You’, written by Brian May Freddie and the others “were an the number one spot in the UK, – and then, if your team wins a inspiration to all those bands who going on to become a global hit. game, there is always a refrain of started wearing spandex ... like The song was groundbreaking ‘We Are The Champions’, which Judas Priest and Mötley Crüe.” not only for its operatic Freddie wrote.” “Queen weren’t a passing influences, but also for its length In fact, ‘We Are The Champions’ phenomenon like punk; they (it ran to almost six minutes). was voted the World’s Favorite were a worldwide hit-making Emotive and quite simply one of Song in 2005. And, in 2011, a machine,” says Brian. “Their the most beautiful pop songs of team of scientific researchers influence extends far beyond the era, it was written by Freddie concluded that the song was any one of their songs. Freddie Mercury. Brian Wilson (of the “the catchiest in the history of is certainly the best frontman Beach Boys) describes the song popular music.” “You couldn’t I’ve ever seen, and Queen is as “a fulfilment and an answer calculate writing a song with that unquestionably the best live to a teenage prayer – of artistic kind of appeal,” says Mick. band I have ever seen. “They music”. The making of the It wasn’t only the band’s music deserve a great film! You don’t track is depicted in the movie; and marketing that was unique, make hit records for so long showing how the band spent however. Their electrifying stage and not have people wanting weeks recording hundreds of performances were colourful to know how you did it – they overdubs for their ‘mini opera.’ and wildly flamboyant. Mick want to get the story behind the “Queen were different from remembers Freddie Mercury music – it’s fascinating. Queen anything else going on at that “prancing around the stage in a is one of a handful of bands time,” reflects renowned British leotard in an almost carnivalesque, that has survived the passing journalist and author, Mick Pierrot-style performance.” of time, musical fads, fancies Brown. “Their songs turned into Utterly charismatic, “he also wore and genres.” POLIO FUNDRAISER A special screening of Bohemian Rhapsody is available for Rotary group bookings from Thursday, November 1. All proceeds raised will go towards the End Polio Now campaign. Get your club to book a screening now. ROTARYDOWNUNDER.ORG | 55 |.

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