I think this is my favorite Queen song for that very reason. Everything, lyrics, music, performances come together so perfectly considering the back story. And that video is just brilliant. Brilliant and poignant. Makes me misty watching it.
The song was about how Freddie wanted everyone to continue moving forward even though he was dying from Bronchiopneumonia which he contracted from having AIDS. It means a lot more when you think about it in that context.
@@DevonDaVinci Definitely a sad meaning, but he made the song so we wouldn't be upset over his passing, so take it for what it's worth. Love the channel btw 👍
May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. Recalling Mercury's performance, May states; "I said, 'Fred, I don't know if this is going to be possible to sing.' And he went, 'I'll fucking do it, darling' - vodka down - and went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal." Wikipedia. Mercury's condition had deteriorated so much they couldn't shoot any new footage for the video and six weeks after the single's release in the UK he died. It's funny to think that the clips from "I want to break free" where they're in drag are what lost Queen a lot of radio play in the US and they didn't tour North America again. The band band remained hugely popular in the rest of the world and their home country in particular. In their final tour in Europe tin the summer of 1986 they played to well over a million people with over 400,000 in the UK alone culminating in their last ever performance with Mercury at Knebworth, England to 120,000 people. I was at that show and the Sunday Wembley show. Epic.
I was going to tell him. Glad you did. The timing of this song along with Freddie being I'll changes the entire meaning for me. If you really open yourself to the experience, I have a feeling the listener can figure out this is a swan song.
The song is written by Dr. Brian May. Actually it is about his divorce and the passing of his father at that time but he admitted that it got another meaning because of Freddies condition.
Every time I listen to this song I cry! 😢 I had the pleasure of seeing Queen in concert in Berlin in the early 80's! Fantastic!!! RIP Freddie, we miss you so much! ❤
the legend goes that Brian May was concerned that Freddie wouldnt manage to sing the song as he was so ill at this point. Freddie propped himself up, said: 'I'll fucking do it, darling', downed a vodka then sung it IN ONE TAKE! If true its an astonishing achievement.
Like a Queen fan for more than 30 years, I´ll recommend you one song "Who wants to live forever", one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. And Thank you for your awesome musical taste and your sincerly reactions, man.
Freddie is by far one of the greatest talents to ever stand on a stage, he had the persona and then the phenomenal voice to give us legendary songs that will always be remembered
The music video is actually a compilation of other Queen videos, it's an overview and tribute to Freddie's career. Have you heard Innuendo? It's my favorite Queen song. Check out Pink Floyd as well. If you're a Queen fan, I'm sure you're going to love their music too. And Pink Floyd is very lenient on copyright, so there's usually no need for pauses. A good place to start is Comfortably Numb Live Pulse.
You invented a new word, Mugicians....I like it because there really are musicians out there that perform magic with their vocals, talent, originality and Freddie Mercury was just that, Magic, he was the best showman and his talent was like no other! Thank you!😊
Having grown up listening to Queen since the late 70's, I cannot hear this song without tearing up. So melancholy yet inspiring. The shirt was not Madonna, it was Marilyn Monroe.
It is telling that Mercury kept recording even as he was dying. He knew he wouldn’t live to see the albums released and the money they made would be of no use to him. He was an artist through and through, and immortalised in his work.
Darren Jones Yeah, I always say that. There aren’t many “artists” who would continue until almost the day they died. “Keep writing me more,” Freddie said. “Release it as long as you can after I’m gone.” It wasn’t about getting followers on Instagram. It was about the music. That last video they did, where he looked sooo sick breaks my heart, but it’s so amazing that he got up and did that. He was so cold, ever under the lights, that he had thermals on. Amazing.
Quite literally Freddie’s swan song. Brings tears to my eyes every time I hear this song. I have no idea how he found the strength to record this and sound as good as he did, given how sick and frail he was at the time. And what’s great about this is you can tell his band mates played and sang their hearts out for him, hear the passion and sadness in their voices and instruments. One of the greatest recordings of all time.
Either Mother Love or A Winter's Tale is his swan song. Not this. A Winter's Tale is the last song to be fully written by Freddie. He co-wrote Mother Love with Brian May and it was the last song he sang. One can argue the A Winter's Tale is Freddie's swan song, and Mother Love is Queen's swan song, because Mother Love is the last Queen song by all four of them, though they released new Queen songs after, but with Freddie's voice from the 80s.
for complex mixes like almost all Queen songs the vocals are split into sections. To think that Freddie sang this song start to finish in one take and that take got on the final product it's naive if not stupid.
Also, 'quite literally' means he sang about swans or he sang like a swan. I don't know the source of the recent spate of misusing the word, literally, but it sounds really uneducated.
Keep in mind, Freddy Mercury was actually dying of Aids when this album was being recorded, this wound up being one of the last songs he managed to complete before his death later that year, and still he can reach those high notes with so much power, that's inhuman
Met Freddie and the whole band in 1976 -- when I was 15 -- never was there a more charming person than Freddie... and Brian .... a long story, but they all went out of their way to make a couple of awkward teenage girls feel appreciated.... in a hotel lunchroom... before we went back to stand in line for the concert... and got a nod & smile from the stage from each... one of my most cherished memories...
I think that was a Marilyn Monroe t-shirt, not Madonna. Hope you continue to do more 70s/80s rock reactions. Also Rage Against the Machine if you decide to include rap/rock ("Wake Up" is perfection).
Freddie is wearing a Marilyn Monroe shirt, BUT, her really was supportive of other artists. He gave great kudos to George Michael and Boy George, he adored Aretha, and his favorite singer was Montserrat Caballé, an opera diva. Just because you love Freddie you may want to watch Montserrat Caballé and Freddie singing a duet of Barcelona, which he co-wrote.
the others members are Roger Taylor in drums and choirs and John Deacon in bass, this videoclip is a montage of others videoclips of them, because Freddie was to sick to shoot.
Devon, Queen are Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor (Drums) and John Deacon (Bass) I love your passion for Queen. Keep reacting to them. Thank You for posting on You Tube. Today, September 5th, is Freddie's Birthday. He would have been 72 years old.
And because of the cross dressing the old farts running MTV at the time actually banned the video in the USA. Would you believe it! The video done by Queen was actually a spoof of the British soap opera Coronation Street - Brian's idea apparently. I so miss Queen!
Please can you react to Mother Love by queen!!!??? This song was the last one that Freddie recorded and he never finished it. The story was that during a recording session, Freddie felt ill and tired, so, he said to the band that he would finish it in the morning...he never did... 😪 the song was finished by Brian May who sung the last verse for Freddie after he passed away. It’s so sad when Brian starts to sing, because you know that Freddie worked until he died on that song! He was an absolute legend and such a fucking brave man!! I mean wow!! What a magnificent human being! That voice! That talent! And that bravery!! R.i.p you Legend! ✨🌟
how many of us could sing out.... dying, with such power...QUEEN ROCKED BACK IN THE DAY...Freddie Mercury was awesome....pretty much a video on all there other videos put together..to honor him..great song thank you for showing it..
You mention that you know two of their names. Dude, being a younger guy and even know that there is a band called Queen or even the Beatles, I applaud you! Thanks for loving music, you ROCK!
I’m so very happy to see so many young men posting reaction videos. I really appreciate that you are digging @Devon. It’s so brilliant watching so many young folks appreciating Queen. As a suggestion, Mother Love is very difficult to listen to. He was very ill by then. He recorded Mother Love over several days due to his weakness. Freddie said he’d come back to record the final verse. He died before he could sing it. Apparently his wish was for Queen to publish everything they had done, so Brian May gives a raw heart wrenching performance on the 3rd verse.... picked up where Freddie left off. Do yourself a favour, Mother Love.
Freddie Mercury - lead singer. Held a Bachelor's in Arts & Graphic Design. Designed Queen's logo. Dr. Brian May, CBE - lead guitar. PhD is Astrophysics. Co-founder of Asteroid Day. Worked on NASA's New Horizon's mission to Pluto. John Deacon - bass gutiar. Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering. Made the Deacy Amp that worked in conjunction with Brian May's Red Special guitar. Roger Taylor - drums. Bachelor's in Biology. Originally studied to be a dentist, but found it "boring" (according to Taylor). Mercury's death hit Deacon the hardest. He performed with Queen only three more times--in 1992, 1993 and 1997--before he retired. The last thing he did was the video for "No One But You (Only The Good Die Young)". He lives in the Puntey district of London with his wife of 40+ years. May stated in a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone that he and Taylor have little contact with Deacon outside of Queen finances.
When i hear this song... I'll cry, because this is the song when Freddie know his time has come and like his trying to tell his friend and fans yo move along even when his gone... It's suck you know when he is your idol but you cannot seing him in real life
Very cool reaction. I totally agree with you. He seems like such a fun guy! It us such a shame he is gone. We are so lucky to have his incredible music forever. His talent is out of this world! Thanks for sharing. I subscribed. ✌🏼🎶👍🏻🎸🎶💕
If you want to see another great music from queen.. see " Innuendo " its like a bohemian rhapsody part 2... superb song and you will not expect what they will do. if you want to see their powerfull performance in everyway in a more rock part , see the live performance in " live at wembley " , the first 2 songs " one vision " and immediatly "tie your mother down".. try to see it in the same video.. because the 2 songs are connected. nice video.
Freddie was literally dying when he wrote and recoded this. He knew he was ill but he never officially disclosed his illness till a day before he actually passed away. This song is a statement, it’s basically his desire to entertain and please his fans despite his heartache at leaving this world and his deteriorating physical condition. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking. The bass player is John Deacon and the drummer is Roger Taylor btw.
The song was written by guitarist Brian May about Freddie Mercury's continuing efforts to perform despite nearing the end of his life. It was released in the UK on October 14, 1991 just six weeks before Freddy died.The shirt at the end is actually Madonna's inspiration, Marilyn Monroe I think.
The fact Freddie sounds THIS DAMN GOOD even though he was apparently too weak to stand for long periods of time during this recording. Sad, but a testament to how great he was.
I love this as a child, years before realizing he had died, and later as an adult knowing how he died. That was when this song started to make me cry. Just the same as David Bowie's Lazarus.
I totally get you! I've loved Queen and Freddie forever and that makes me laugh too. I wish I could've hung out with him. Growing up I went through a huge Michael Jackson phase and to this day I appreciate him and his music.
Whatever you do, don't react to the music video to These are the Days of our Lives (from the same album) - he was in the final stages in his battle with AIDS and very thin and heavily made-up. It's a great song but I literally cry every time I see the video.
I cry too. Brian said it was Freddie's goodbye to us, his fans! I watch it , but it kills me. I am crying now thinking about it. I miss Freddie.It will be his birthday tomorrow 9/5/
I feel your pain Alabaster Soul Traveler however I feel it’s part of the journey of a new fan to take in the greatness as well as the bad. It’s an emotional video but still full of hope for the future. He still has a sparkle behind his eyes. It’s also his farewell to the fans. That last line still gets me every time.
OMG yes. Especially the end where he smiles at the camera and whispers,' I still love you.' That was his way of saying goodbye to his fans. That was confirmed by Brian May.
The Video where Freddy is dressed in Drag, was from the video "I Want to Break Free" from Queen's 1984 album "The Works" the whole band was dressed in Drag. Not to be taken seriously, it was a humorous parady of a British Soap Opera "Coronation Street" it was quite well received outside the US (Where MTV actually banned the video) anyone familiar with British comedy would get the humor here and know that drag is a staple in British comedy it had nothing to do with "wanting to wear women's clothes" it was meant to be fun and funny that's it period. It's interesting to you brought up Michael Jackson, because Freddy and Michael Jackson we're good friends, Michael was a big Queen fan and would always come to Queen shows when they played the Forum in LA. In fact Michael and Freddy recorded several songs together, "State of Shock" and "There Must be More to Life then This" (recorded in 1981 I believe) interesting to hear both singing a duet I must say. Yeah Brian May and Freddy Mercury are well known but all 4 members were equally important and contributed their own style and lead to some huge hits. "Another One Bites the Dust" was written by John Decon the bassist and Roger wrote some huge hits like "A Kind of Magic" and Those Are the Days of Our Lives" This song was mostly written by Brian May who is hands down one of the top 5 greatest Guitarists of all time.
Just wanted to say 'kudos' for the "I don't care if this gets a copyright strike - that means the money goes to queen..." - plus I really like your take on Queen's stuff. Keep it up :)
Great song! One of my favorites from Queen. As to your concern about the video getting blocked, you're pretty safe with Queen songs. They've always been pretty cool with having their music shared with new audiences. I've seen several people react to Queen videos without pausing or cutting the video at all, and I've never heard any stories of it getting blocked. Now, if you ever try to do a Led Zeppelin song, you'll have your work cut out for you. They will block anything that isn't chopped up to smithereens!
you pegged Freddy Mercury exactly ! he was not only the greatest Vocalist in all rock music, but literally one of the last of the Great showman in pop/ rock music .. he entwined an irresistable combination of theater and music that was literally hard to take your eyes and ears off of. This song was ONE of his farewell songs before to his death of Aids...the Three Gods of music are gone...Freddy Mercury the greatest rock singer/ Michael Jackson the King of Pop/ and now Aretha Franklin the goddess of soul ...never again will there be trailblazers like them ...Thank you for appreciating the talent, and for helping keep the Genius of his music alive by sharing it !Keep on makin great videos
I love Queen. But each member was a huge talent. Roger Taylor the drummer has an incredible range vocally too and hits amazingly high notes. Freddie extraordinarily talented but they collectively were amazing.
When I was in nursing school a group of us went to a concert at the Forum. We went to see a relatively new group ( to us) by the name of Queen. They opened with a song called Killer Queen. I fell in love with Freddy Mercury right there. He had it all, the voice of an Angel, charisma and fun. So much fun to watch. He had long hair then it was that long ago. I followed his music over the next 10 years I still have all the LP's and play Night of the Opera at least once a week. When we realized how sick he was we all felt so bad, we knew the outcome. The world lost a real treasure. It was one of the great highlights of my life and I still miss his voice and incredible music. It was the only time Queen played LA (1977) so I feel so lucky to have been there. (Roxanne Alcazar.)
Mercury, the messenger of the gods, nuff said. This was actually written by Dr. Brian May, this was Brian saying farewell to his dear friend Freddie, the show must go on without their lead singer and friend. Freddie's farewell song is "Was it all worth it" from The Miracle album because they didn't think he would live to record another album
As many below have pointed out, this was recorded days before he passed, when HIV and AIDS had completely destroyed his body, they couldn't destroy his voice. The video was compiled and released after he had died. It's worth checking out the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (there are snippets throughout youtube) where the remaining members of the band performed the bands back catalogue with many famous people performing in Freddie's place.
Singers today - I can’t do it I have a bit of a cold Freddie - I have AIDS, oh well let’s do it It says it all when even when he had AIDS, he was better than everyone today and put 20000% more effort into everything he did
Just subscribed coz I like your personal style. In Show Must Go On the video is a compilation of 21 years of concerts and song productions. This song was released about 14 months before Freddie died. He was already drastically losing weight. But he knew the show must go on. And it still is.
Queen was known as Queen. Freddie never wanted the band to be called Freddie Mercury and Queen. If you look up each band member you will find they were all songwriters. RIP our dear Freddie.
This song with the videoclip and "these were the days of our lives" still hurt for me to watch. A queenfan foor all my life and i really enjoy these firsttime reactions.
He was sick. This is about him saying he knows theres nothing left. Hes donr everything he can. And he will continue to fight. Happy birthday Freddie!!! And this video is a montage of his other videos
He wrote this song when he knew he was ill and was going to die.The video is a mish mash of other videos for a lot of their other songs. He's reflecting back over the years and the good times.
This is one of their best albums. This song is the final track on the album. This would be their last real album. The lyrics on this album were written by a guy who knew he was going to die. This whole album has that feel. Innuendo the title track is amazing.
I know he had a wonderful voice but we the brits loved him because he was Freddie, this was his epithath, he was dying, he is and always will be Freddie and him and the boys of queen were and always will be at or near the top of the tree.god bless em all
The song chronicles the effort of Freddie Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life; he was dying from complications due to HIV/AIDS, although his illness had not yet been made public in spite of ongoing media speculation claiming that he was seriously ill. 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. Recalling Mercury's performance, May states; "I said, 'Fred, I don't know if this is going to be possible to sing.' And he went, 'I'll fucking do it, darling' - vodka down - and went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal."
Nice reaction, saw MJ in 87 or 88 in the 'bad' tour - was only 9 or 10, think my parents didn't want to spend 47 quid back then to let me go - but still so many years later it made an impact. Wish I had appreciated queen at the time, only in the last few years have I come round to queen. Keep up the good work.
Queen have never, to my knowledge, been that stringent on copyright, they just wanted people to hear their music. When Mike Meyers included Bohemian Rhapsody in his movie Wayne's World, he actually received an official letter from Queen thanking him for using their song. The only notable exception that comes to mind is Vanilla Ice ripping the sample from Under Pressure and claiming it as his own.
i love the way u react dude...i love QUEEN eversince ...i was in my elementary school way back 70"s until now... im so obseesed with Freddy Mercury esp.when i watch the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody""" My love for Queen and my LOVE for Freedy back to life again ...
Due to Mercury having contracted HIV/AIDS, his health started to rapidly deteriorate; as a result, no new footage of the lead singer was shot. The music video instead consisted of a montage of clips spanning Queen's music videos from 1981 to 1991 (but does not include the ones from before 1981)
