This song was written by Brian about a time in his life when he was suffering heartbreak and severe depression. He loved his wife but also loved a girlfriend (who has been his wife now for many years). His marriage broke up, and he couldn’t live with his children. He had “too much love” - for both his wife and his girlfriend. He couldn’t choose. He became very depressed and sought treatment in the US at a facility. Listen to his words … “Too much love will kill you If you can't make up your mind Torn between the lover (his girlfriend) and the love you leave behind (his wife). Mmm, how would it be if you were standing in my shoes? Can't you see that it's impossible to choose No, there's no making sense of it Every way I go I'm bound to lose”
Awwwww man!! Brian’s version is emotional cuz it comes from his own experiences … Brian is Queen’s storyteller!! Freddie invites us to fantasy worlds. John unveils his inner most thoughts. And Roger stays true to Rock n Roll. 🤘🤘 Great reaction!
Brian is an only child. He likely spent more time in his own head than many can imagine (I know I have) and well .... he will have angsted over this song for a long time before it was "perfect" to tell the story he told.
@@yanlizligim9298 He wrote it with the above people mentioned, So you are only half right ! Worth pointing out though ! The lyrics are from Brian , reflecting a dark period in his life ,so the original comment is very valid !
I agree. Maybe it was simply the fact that Brian's version was out first. The "Back to the Light" album where this was on came out in 1992, one year after Freddie's death. "Made in Heaven" which features Freddies version of this song came out in '95. But this should also teach us something about the genesis of songs. Just because a song ends up on a particular album does not mean it was written for it. Sometimes songs can be gestating for years until they get released. This one is such a song. When it came it out it was all too easy to mistake it as a direct reaction to Freddies death among other things. But considering that Freddie himself recorded it as well, shows that it was not about his death at all.
The really deep thing about this song - I think - is that the lyrics can have a different meaning for different people, depending on your perspective and your own life experiences. Brian has made no secret of the fact that he sometimes (still) struggles with depression. Everyone will tell you he was (OBVIOUSLY) severely depressed at this time… He actually checked himself into a psychiatric facility in The States for awhile, to get help for it. During an interview I watched w him (from around 2010, I think?) the interviewer brought this up and said something like “But then you got better”. Brian corrected her and said (about having clinical depression) : “You never get better, you just learn how to deal with it.” I REALLY APPRECIATE Brian’s openness about his own struggles/experiences… letting other folks with similar issues know that it’s FINE to talk openly about being depressed and that it’s nothing to be ashamed about.💕 (I’ve had clinical depression for almost 30 years… I guess I feel grateful to him, for his own openness in talking about it.)
Ok, I didn't even know that Brian had written that one, so was surprised at first to hear him sing it. I love that video. Brian May is one of the most beautiful and greatest human beings on this earth, he is in my heart forever.
It was a very bad time for Brian, the separation from his first wife and therefore he would not see his children as he would like, the death of his father and Freddie dying led him to a terrible depression that, according to him, he even thought of ending his life, it's heartbreaking to watch him sing. I really like your reactions and I'm always waiting for the next one, speaking of Brian, could you react to another song by him? It's called 39
Brian has always been the most varied in emotions with his songs. He can go from this, or the song about his child hood cat (all dead all dead) to Tie your mother down, fat bottomed girls, or something heavy. When you hear him speak (and I have met him) he is deep, intellegent, and can be a little bit cheeky. As he's aged, he understands his emotions, and I think writing songs like this helped him get there
Maybe not John! 87 Roger started his own band the cross and was lead singer i think they ended in 92? Brian stated his own band 92 and was lead singer, two albums and toured both
I like this Version a lot. Brian made me play the Guitar once, even I cannot play anymore due to a Stroke. Right Arm is dead since then. And I understand how Brian felt. His Father died and his Love fell apart and Freddie died. In roughly the same Time my Parents died, my Girlfriend died in a Motorbike Accident and Freddie died. I also lived through seven Years of Depression and was suicidal like him. But going through all this it made me also harder and fearless. And I learned your Life is a god-given Present and throwing it away breaks that Bond. I think Brian knows this too now.
Now try Roger's version of this!! Only joking he didn't do a version . Yes as far as I know that's Brian and his dad,etc in the footage , taken from old home movies . Thank you for doing this ,been looking forward to it !!
The one thing about Queen, and not selling Freddie short at all....but everyone of the band members on their own are amazingly talented singers/songwriters. Was one in a billion that they came together when they did. Almost makes you think that there has to be a higher power out there really when things like Queen happen. Just maybe anyway
Such an incredibly personal song, written at a time when Brian was going through so much. The Queen version with Freddie on vocals is powerful, but for me, Brian's version is so much more, he rips your heart out of your chest and tears it to shreds.
This song got me through tough times when Freddie sang it but Brian’s version blew me away. He has sang lead before but this is the first time I heard him like this
When you read the back stories to each of Queen's songs, the songs become much more personal and emotional. They poured their hearts into their music and we were allowed to understand each of them and what drove them to create some of the best music on the planet. They invited us into their lives and their hearts. Thank you, Freddie, John, Brian and Roger for all you have given us.
My heart was beating out of my chest too girl. I lived parts of this video also. My little boy died during surgery that was intended to rebuild his heart. Instead my heart was torn from my body. I'd loved him so much the only thing left was GRIEF & RAGE for anyone & everyone that tried to reach me. Then my mom and my twin brother were lost before I could apologize for lashing out at them during the rage stage of grieving my son. I know they both forgave me but I cannot forgive myself. I can HEAR the self- recrimination in how this was sung because it's sung with the guilt I see in the mirror every day. Crying thru the video actually helped me let go of a little bit of that guilt. Thank you and Thank God for you my sister I hope you're feeling chills Sis. Almighty God took some time today to use YOU to teach me to forgive myself with the tinyest nudge of His power. Stay safe my Sister ... Once more ... Thank you
Beautiful reaction and i LOVE LOVE LOVE your hair ... anyway to business. Brian wrote this to reflect what he was going through at the time. He was happily married with three children but then fell in love with another woman (who he has been married to for over 20 years now and is one of our UK national TV treasures) and this song is all about his emotions he was feeling as he sings "Too much love will kill you If you can't make up your mind, torn between the lover and the love you leave behind, you're headed for disaster 'cause you never read the signs" and finally "Too much love will kill you, can't you see that it's impossible to choose, there's no making sense of it, every way I go I'm bound to lose" and the profound line "You're the victim of your crime". Brian battled with his emotions and that he was failing as a husband and a father. He is such a legendary songwriter and sings it beautifully, as does Freddie of course. Brian actually wrote it with Freddie's voice in mind but Freddie urged him to give it a go and hey presto !!! Yes it was Brian in the beginning at the beach with his beloved mother and father. He and his father actually made the "Red Special" (Brian's electric guitar) and it is priceless to Brian as he has since lost his father and treasures it. It was made from old pieces lying around their house at the time, the wood from an old mantelpiece and the whammy bar from an old knitting needle of his mum's etc etc. Obviously the cake piece of a bride + groom was obviously to symbolise his wedding and that he was married at the time. Keep up the good work and keep the Queen coming. Stay safe from Manchester, UK RIP dahling Freddie you beautiful Persian Poppinjay x x x x
Mia.. There are 2 things that touch everyone. A real laughter and real tears. Kids do it without filtering but the older you get the harder it is to do either. Please stay just the way you are Mia, you are the real thing. Huggz
First of all: Yes the old video's u saw r he and his family. The second (by the way i reachered that) Brian (the brain) May wrote that song withtin 15 minutes in the backseat of a cab (that's y i call him "the brain"), and third: this song he wrote was dedicaded to a former love. I like Freddie, but to my opionon, Brian's version is more personal/emotional. U can feel, what he feels. Best regards from Germany! And: i like ur reactions! Btw: as u also react on "the miracle": yes, the little actor who plays Freddie is always the same!
Such a beautiful song. He sings it with so much feeling & from the heart. Was sad time for him, but Iso thankful he came through it alright. The video is priceless. Sad to see his hurt in the video & through his voice. 🥰🖤🎸
Beautiful and heartbreaking. I love this song it is so honest and touching, Brian's pain is palpable. I am not sure on the photos some do look like Brian's family and one of the people in the first picture looks like his first wife Chrissie. The lady touching the toe of the baby looks like Brian's mom and perhaps the man it the water is Brian's dad, but both were older than they would have been when Brian was a baby, so perhaps they are grandparents. The child building the sand castles could be Brian, those long thighs and upper arms really are clues but his children inherited Brian's long legs and arms so again, I am not certain. All the footage looks pretty old and the little boy in the beginning looks like Brian did when he was little. So whether or not the movies are of his family, I have never read one way or the other. The hardest part of this video for me is just a quick flash. After he sets the bridal cake topper he walks past what appears to be a kitchen and on the refrigerator door is a child's drawing that says Daddy. That brings tears to my eyes every time. Thank you for doing this song. Brian has another song called Nothing But Blue that he wrote about Freddie, oddly enough on the night before Freddie died. It is a beautiful song and there is something about the guitar solo in that song that always makes me cry.
I Bet My Top Dollar You’re Right . The Footage Has To Be Of Him As A Child . You Pointed Out Several Great Clues . & Wow , Yeah I Have To Check That Out 🥺 Such A Sad Time To Write A Song . Thank You For Your Clarification & Feedback 🙂
Wow. Another one of their hidden gems. The whole group was extremely talented. We the people really appreciate your videos. I just lost a family member to a terrible accident and your videos help me through the day. From the bottom of my heart thank you.
Omg Curren , I Send My Condolences To You & Your Family . I’m Sorry To Hear That .. I’m Happy Your Able To Find Joy w In My Reactions , I Appreciate Your Support 🙂
I am so so glad you reacted to this - and what a lovely reaction, too. Of course I adore Freddie and his version, but this is Brian's song and the emotions he projects are true and his alone. At one point I swear you can see the tears in his eyes. Thanks so much for all your great reactions. Love from a Brit living in Spain.
Hi Lovely Lady, The little boy is actually Brian May himself, this is the original version of the song, it was released in 1992 and is from Brian's debut solo album, Back to the Light, both versions of this song are amazing, Brian is now 75 years old and still performing today with Roger Taylor as Queen, with Adam Lambert on vocals!! 😀 😀 RIP, Freddie 🙏 🙏
Wow , I Can’t Believe That Brian & Roger Are Still Performing To This Current Day ! AMAZING, I’m Lost For Words . & Thank You For This Feedback , I Appreciate It .
@@DoIttMiaaaa You're very welcome, Miaaa!! 😀 😀, It's Freddie's birthday in 2 weeks, on September 5th, he would have turned 76 😀 😀 I was brought up listening to Queen, I'm 50 now and still listen to them today 😀 😀
Beautiful reaction, I think the emotion you were feeling was his pain. The passion in his voice tells you this was him singing about how sad and broken he was. Beautiful reaction to a song I love 💕
Hey there Mia, I'm in the same state as you over this one! I just watched your other reaction on the same song, but this one was dedicated to Freddie, if that wasn't sad enough, now Brian is using his own childhood experience and memories to this amazing song. I've been a Queen fan for over 45 years and I still can't get over just how beautiful Brian voice is. This is perfection IMO! and so was your reaction to it.💞
This song breaks my heart every time! Written by Brian who was going through a marriage break up & all the associated guilt of falling in love with somebody else!
You've seen how it looks from Brian's perspective, it's his lyrics, his song and his feelings. The song is used as a tribute to Freddie and it is not like that since Freddie also sings it. Very good reaction 👌✨
That was a good reaction to that song. It is a very poignant ballad with huge meaning. You should also react to Brian May's song Business. It is powerful and quite diverse.
I love this version better than the one they recorded with Freddie for the Made in Heaven album; especially how he sang it at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert back in ‘92.
I like Brian's and Freddie's versions equally. The song takes on a different meaning depending on who is singing it. With Brian because of his failed marriage, with Freddie because he was deadly ill when he sang it.
Brian wrote and recorded it before Freddie had a version, and yes that's a small Brian with his parents on a beach, not sure who the others are as he was an only child, could possibly have been cousins, but he was torn between his then wife and his wife now, he didn't want too hurt anyone, and he's very open about how he's fought with his own mental health issues throughout his life and I have a feeling that might have been his first guitar he was playing, the one most associated with him nowadays The Red Special he built with his dad in the early 60's and it's made from things from around the home, such as table, mantlepiece, buttons, knitting equipment from his mum, it took him and his dad a couple of years making it
@@babooshka7601It's a long story but it was written by Brian first for his solo album .He showed it to the band for their feedback, Freddie started to sing it and Brian decided it should be a Queen song. It was going to go on the Queen album "The Miracle " but for some sort of legal reason ( I'm not sure ) it didn't make the cut. later Brian put it on his album (Back to the light) 😅 phew!!! It has always been Brian's song originally.
@@paulr6881 The first recorded version is by Queen. So it really doesn't matter if Brian intended it for his solo cd. But I must say I prefer Brian's version.
@@babooshka7601 As far as I know Brian recorded a version before ,not officially but a demo, I may be wrong. you are quite right in what you say though. I to prefer Brian's version so we are both on the same page👍
@@babooshka7601 I think you are right. I thought Brian recorded a version but I can't find a link or source . Every search I do says Queen recorded it first .
Brian has suffered from depression off and on during his life... Could you do a Freddie solo MADE IN HEAVEN, his voice is heavenly in this one...he hits alot of high notes and being very introsepective
Brian May amazing guitarist and singer one of the greatest ever! 🎸🎤 Another amazing singer and guitarist you needs reacts to is (Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - World of Denial).
Miaaaa.i have never seen this version of this song sung fully by Brian May,thank you so much,still love the Freddie version tho. But this was written because Brian had left his wife that he did love for British actor Anita Dobson.
I didn’t know him now I do 😃 I like he was truthful in his song 🎵 and it was Sincere your definitely excitement !!! No doubt with all the different genres it’s a vibe !!! And songs for my playlist lol
I think this is the saddest song that I have ever heard. I can't think of another more moving. Especially the Freddie Mercury version because he was singing it knowing that he was dying.
Brian told Freddie that this was written about his divorce at the time but Freddie knew it was written for him...its pretty obvious when you read the words.. each verse more heartbreaking than the 1 before. And Too Much Love killed him in the end....
You really should watch the highlander film to see where queens music fits the soundtrack of same eg who wants to live forever is a great example it is a decent film too.
i know that Brian May is a great guitarist but i didn't know what a great singer he is and i have the QUEEN CD called MADE in HEAVEN and FREDDIE MURCURY Sings this song but Brian May Sings this BETTER
Thanks! Brian is so dramatic and beautiful... he was my first rock "love" - I still even now love "geriatric Brian".. he is so talented... I hope you will listen to a solo song he did some time ago, but just came out with the video a few months ago..."In another world" - he had the opportunity to visit Tenerife, Canary Islands in Spain - b/c, of course, he is a PhD Astrophyiscist, and they have a world-class observatory-- such a talent, and a beautiful person, as well ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rJI_CkHJ9Z0.html
Just wanted to share with you the news that Brian has received a knighthood from King Charles in the New Year's Honours list! Dr Sir Brian Harold May, CBE, BSc, PhD. What a man!
Hiya how's you doing? Hope your well. I know this is a year old reaction. But when I seen this ot was very emotional for me as Brian sang a song called. Sail away sweet sister. It was played at my dad's funeral. Would it be possible for you 2 do a reaction to it plz? I'll be very grateful. Just to make you away this is just as emotional. Thnkyou my dear ♥️ xx
Brian was torn between his first wife, Chrissy, and his new love, Anita. You never know what goes on in any relationship, but he and Anita seem happy now.
I love both versions love brian so much but freddie had a stronger voice you can feel it in your bones but of course brian may is so great thanks for your reaction
This song has a totally different vibe depending on who sings it. Brian is emotional, and hurt, and vulnerable, and you love him for it. Freddie? Even though the song was not about his HIV, you are sad he is gone.
Hi. Could you plz react 2 a couple of songs fir me plz? One is freddie Mercury. ( She blows hot and cold ) and the other is Brian May( sail away sweet sister ). Thnkyou so much
Brian did NOT write this song “for” Freddie… it was originally written by Brian (co-written, really with an outside collaboration) for his own solo album. However, as the members of Queen often did, Brian showed his band mates the song in The Miracle recording sessions. Freddie tried singing it, and they all loved that - so it *was* going to become a Queen song on the Miracle album, but they ran into trouble determining how to share songwriting co-credit/royalties with the outside songwriter, as the band agreed all songs on The Miracle and Innuendo would be credited to the group as a whole (4 equal shares). And so they shelved the Freddie version until such a time that the legalities could be addressed… Meanwhile, with Freddie’s hearty encouragement, Brian still worked on recording his solo album version. This is why the song appeared on Brian’s Back to the Light album AND (after ironing out songwriting agreements) the Freddie-vocals/ Queen arrangement version on Made in Heaven album.
