When the idea crossed my mind to review the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack, my first thought was, “I am nuts” and to be honest… I still think I am. With the release of the award winning film documenting the lives of Queen and Feddie Mercury’s humble beginnings, the highs, and the lows, it is introducing a whole new generation to the legend that is Queen, and my thought is “who on earth am I to attempt to put this album in perspective to that generation?” I have been a fan of the legend for as long as I can remember and of the story so I guess that qualifies me… here we go.
If you have ever listened to anything by Queen, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon’s lyrics can seem a bit unorthodox, but it is that type of lyric that drew and continues to draw people to them. For reasons unknown, certain songs, melodies, lyrics strike a chord and you end up sitting back, pondering life, the world, and your uncertain place in that world. Queen, as a collective, has always been keen on the idea of letting their audience interpret the meaning behind their songs. That tends to the beauty with them and their music, you decide how you feel, think, and live for each song.
The soundtrack houses many of their classics from their various albums and each song elicits some type of impactful emotion at certain scenes in the film. For instance, in one scene, Freddie, played by Academy Award winner Rami Malek, begins to see the news of AIDS spreading across the globe and discovers his own diagnosis as the song “Who Wants to Live Forever” begins to play. The choice of song was perfectly poignant in this moment. As Freddie sees the horrific images on the screen the lyrics, “There’s no time for us/There’s no place for us/What is this thing that builds our dreams/Yet slips away from us?” echoes the emotions it seems that Freddie is feeling. Then in a stroke of creative brilliance, as Freddie looks at himself in a mirror the song continues with, “Who wants to live forever?/ Who wants to live forever?” The careful timing, that I would assume was so purposeful in that moment, seems to reflect that moment in Freddie’s life perfectly.
Bohemian Rhapsody (the film) is what it is because of the music that is woven through it. The words of Queen. The melodies of Queen. The emotions of Queen. The passion of Queen. In the film when asked about who Queen is, what sets them apart, Freddie said it best, “We’re four misfits who don’t belong together, we’re playing for other misfits. They’re the outcasts right at the back of the room. We’re pretty sure they don’t belong either. We belong to them.” That is Queen, that is what their music represents, the misfits and the music that brings us together.
While you can get the album through streaming services, such as Amazon Music, iTunes, and Apple Music, I would highly recommend splurging on the vinyl and sitting in the nostalgia of listening to the needle and the crackle of how it was meant to be heard.
Music In My Lyrics 