Comments on: Caught in a landslide, No escape from reality

Caught in a landslide, No escape from reality

zarq — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:14:16 -0800

The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody: Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. (From BBC Three.) Oh, and...

Queen: Original Video, In concert at Live Aid. Other live performances: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Here's the Wayne's World scene that's mentioned in the documentary, mixed with footage from the video. Wikipedia provides additional background. Many artists have covered Bohemian Rhapsody over the years, and some of those are available online: * Queen, Elton John and Axl Rose at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. * P!nk 1, 2 (Funhouse Tour, where she's also been covering other songs, like I Touch Myself, Highway to Hell and Hey Jude.) * The Muppets (Previously on MeFi) * Phish (It's badly off-key in spots) * The Flaming Lips * Faye Wong (crappy quality) Lesser Knowns * Mnozil Brass * Constantine Maroulis (Former American Idol contestant) * The Braids * Hayseed Dixie * The Ten Tenors * Edgar Cruz * Jake Shimabukuro * Sing Live Unconventional Renditions * Rockabye Baby (website) Their We are the Champions is better, IMO. * Old School Computer Remix (Previously on Mefi) * The Kleptones (33 different cover versions in one song). * Direct link to MP3 for download. (Previously on Mefi) * Weird Al, Bohemian Polka Horrors * Kellie Pickler (Former American Idol Contestant) * Rick Miller (Celebrity Impersonations) We Will Rock You The Queen Jukebox Musical (yes, there was one) would play Bohemian Rhapsody after the curtain call. The curtains would close, and a question would appear: Do You Want Bohemian Rhapsody? Oh.... Alright Then. WWRY: 1, 2 and the cast at West End Live, here. (at 8:15) Audio Only * Audio Ogg Vorbis file: Bohemian Rhapsody (live at Milton Keynes Bowl, 1982) * YouTube: Rolf Harris Other The song was also used in a Mountain Dew commercial.

By: drjimmy11

drjimmy11 — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:18:27 -0800

Zero Wing Rhapsody.

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:18:27 -0800

Fuzzbox's a-capella version can (allegedly) be heard here.

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:21:04 -0800

Oh my fucking god. This. is. the. best. thing. in. the. known. universe! Excuse me while I roll around on the floor as if I were Ann-Margret and this post were baked beans. I miss Freddie, one of the world's loveliest human persons

By: swift

swift — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:26:06 -0800

We're not worthy!

By: salishsea

salishsea — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:31:54 -0800

zarq...a deep bow of thanks to you for this....my favourite childhood band. What a trove to trawl! I'll be caught in this landslide with no escape to reality.

By: contessa

contessa — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:40:43 -0800

Certain records must always, always be played at full volume. This is one of them. zarq, magnificent post!

By: ReeMonster

ReeMonster — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:48:21 -0800

I like how he takes the time to mention the Phish cover is "BADLY out of tune." As if it needed to be mentioned! I thought it was common sense.

By: zarq

zarq — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:48:51 -0800

Thank you, everyone!! Enjoy. :) BTW, Pink's cover is surprisingly great. She truly does it justice. There are quite a few videos of her version on YouTube from folks who have seen her on tour. I had a hell of a lot of fun listening to them all when putting this FPP together.

By: l33tpolicywonk

l33tpolicywonk — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:51:11 -0800

Favorite it and (don't) move on.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:59:00 -0800

Bad News, complete with kazoo part.

By: zarq

zarq — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:59:29 -0800

Also, in case anyone is interested, their performance at Live Aid was actually a medley of Bohemian Rhapsody and Radio Ga Ga. The quality of this clip isn't as good as the one in the FPP.

By: salishsea

salishsea — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:01:12 -0800

And now - oh dear - Rick Miller's - uh - work, is really very well described as a horror. Going to wach my ears out with Lysol now.

By: l33tpolicywonk

l33tpolicywonk — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:01:19 -0800

Dictionaraoke (mp3)

By: Senor Cardgage

Senor Cardgage — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:06:08 -0800

I dont have too much interest in the topic (thats for context, not a gripe at all) but god damn this is an ironclad FPP. Just wanted to say "Cheers!" to you for doing the homework and puttin it well over the back wall.

By: l33tpolicywonk

l33tpolicywonk — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:07:04 -0800

While the Kleptones link includes an a cappella song which its creator describes as being by "Rockapella," this is almost surely not the case - it sounds like it has far more than Rockapella's four members in it, and the vocalists sound nothing like them. My guess is this was one of many a cappella songs floating around KaZaa or Napster in the good old days that was misattributed to Rockapella.

By: fish tick

fish tick — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:35:45 -0800

Hibernian Rhapsody.

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:35:58 -0800

Beelzebub has a fav'rite set aside for thee.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:48:37 -0800

Bismillah

By: Ike_Arumba

Ike_Arumba — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:03:56 -0800

The list of greatest popular music singers of all time starts like this: 1. Sam Cooke 2. Freddie Mercury (at least in my book).

By: Seekerofsplendor

Seekerofsplendor — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:09:06 -0800

The list of greatest popular music singers of all time starts like this: 1. Sam Cooke 2. Freddie Mercury I agree big time, as far as the rock era, anyway. After that I'd say: 3. Paul McCartney 4. Marvin Gaye

By: ibmcginty

ibmcginty — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:17:53 -0800

Yes, yes, yes!!! This is how it is done. Thanks for this great post.

By: Ruki

Ruki — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:19:23 -0800

I'm in that demographic that cannot help but recreate that Wayne's World scene every time I hear this song in the car. Also, my eight year old daughter's favorite song in the world is Don't Stop Me Now. She's over the moon for Freddie Mercury. (She also recently shocked my mom when she started randomly talking about how great Sam Cooke is.) Oh, she makes me so proud!

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:25:17 -0800

Holy fucking shit. Well, I guess we don't ever need to do one of these again. Nice work, zarq.

By: Dormant Gorilla

Dormant Gorilla — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:25:44 -0800

Bohemian Rhapsody came on in this bar about two months ago, where I was sitting with ten people, two of whom were from Finland, one from Mexico, two English, one Japanese, the rest Americans ranging in age from 23 to 41, and when it got to the "duh-DAH" part, we all simultaneously did the Wayne's World head-tilt-arm-fling. For a few minutes after this moment, I think we all felt at one with the universe and had true hope for humanity. Honestly, it was beautiful.

By: John Shaft

John Shaft — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:03:00 -0800

Bad News, complete with kazoo part. Album produced by Brian May.

By: Afroblanco

Afroblanco — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:22:26 -0800

1. Sam Cooke 2. Freddie Mercury (at least in my book). Be my friend.

By: ReWayne

ReWayne — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:41:48 -0800

Bluehemian Grasspody

By: lysistrata

lysistrata — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:43:06 -0800

This post deserves about a thousand more favorites Thank you!

By: dchase

dchase — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:59:50 -0800

Album produced by Brian May. You mean Astrophysicist Brian May.

By: KathrynT

KathrynT — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:05:43 -0800

fucking HELL ASS BALLS DAMMIT YES.

By: wheelieman

wheelieman — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:21:34 -0800

Ok wayyyyy out of season here, but this has to be the best parody out there.

By: i_have_a_computer

i_have_a_computer — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:37:10 -0800

Wow! Great post, and great memories. I was such an obsessive Queen fan back in the day (while all the other kids listened to Kiss).

By: motdiem2

motdiem2 — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:19:47 -0800

thank you zarq
i miss freddie too

By: hurdy gurdy girl

hurdy gurdy girl — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:29:16 -0800

Excellent, excellent post. I LOVE Queen and I love Bohemian Rhapsody especially. It's one of those songs that brings on karaoke demon possession in me and I absolutely must sing along.

By: Spatch

Spatch — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:35:28 -0800

Fucking awesome. (When Rock Band started releasing Queen songs as DLC last year I created little Wayne and Garth rocker avatars in the happy hopes that Bohemian Rhapsody would eventually come and I could rock out most excellently. Still waiting, unfortunately, but at least Garth is awesome on drums when you play The Who.)

By: zarq

zarq — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:14:42 -0800

Ok wayyyyy out of season here, but this has to be the best parody out there. That's awesome. Thank you for adding it! I did a cursory search on MeMusic to for covers, but didn't come up with any. Was hoping someone had covered it... and this is a great parody! :) "Raising cain, raising hell, please do not give me coal!" Hilarious. :D

By: pivotal

pivotal — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:33:03 -0800

I can't remember how old I was, but I had this sudden urge to put Live Magic (with the fold out cover shiwing the huge crowd scene) on the turntable. I found out about 3 hours later that Freddie had died. The opening bars of Hammer to Fall. Oh yeah.

By: vbfg

vbfg — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:12:23 -0800

Can't we just skip the bollocks and get to the rocking bit?

By: seanmpuckett

seanmpuckett — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:12:32 -0800

It's odd ... yesterday morning as I was plugging my MacBook in at the studio to start work for the day I thought to myself, "Bohemian Rhapsody, now there's a song that's sure to have a story. I should check wiki to see if they have anything." But by the time I'd got back from making breakfast, the thought was gone. I guess we were tuned into the same thing. Has it really been 19 years that Freddy's been gone... Thanks, zarq.

By: vbfg

vbfg — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:17:45 -0800

http://imgur.com/sEg82.jpg

By: Trochanter

Trochanter — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:34:32 -0800

Has there been a rift with Jon Deacon? Plus, I guess I might as well say it: I know it's stupid, but I find these lyrics prescient. It seems like they foreshadow Freddie's death from AIDS.

By: harujion

harujion — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:59:38 -0800

This post = a Friday evening well spent. Thank you! (And this reminded me again how sad I was to fall in love with Queen only to find out that Freddy Mercury had just died. I still feel like I miss him.)

By: immlass

immlass — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:13:59 -0800

ReWayne, that bluegrass cover is fabulous! I wish I could find a copy of the documentary because I'd love to watch it on the TV in a single chunk.

By: kmz

kmz — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:19:26 -0800

Queen was my first favorite rock band, mostly due to my Highlander obsession when I was a kid (first movie and TV show only, of course). Freddie Mercury was just so fucking fantastic. The first modern music CDs I ever bought were Queen's Greatest Hits I&II and Savage Garden's first CD (shut up, it's really catchy and I was an emo teen in high school). Those greatest hits CDs and A Kind of Magic are still some of my favorite albums.

By: Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey

Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:32:02 -0800

Brilliant post, bro. \m/

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:58:01 -0800

When I was in 7th grade I burned my cousin's "best of queen" cd, but I was afraid my classmates would think me listening to a band called "Queen" was gay. I still have my copy enigmatically labeled only as "Q" . . . just for me . . . no one will ever know . . .

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:37:11 -0800

3. Paul McCartney 4. Marvin Gaye Strike that, reverse it, and put Aretha Franklin, Jackie Wilson, Otis Redding, and Neil Finn above McCartney.

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:10:48 -0800

Damn, that Pink cover is good.

By: Kskomsvold

Kskomsvold — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:28:34 -0800

Thanks for the post. "Night at The Opera" was the album that got me into Queen and from there on, I was a Phan4Lyf. When I was 14, I even drew a picture of Freddie and sent it to the Queen Fan Club. Never heard anything back but whatever. They were my oasis during my messed up adolecence. Every album release would mean at least a week of sheer bliss in my life. They sort of lost me at "Jazz" though.

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:29:57 -0800

Four octave range, unbelievable.

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:35:50 -0800

Has there been a rift with Jon Deacon? No. John just firmly believes that without Freddie, there is no Queen. He participated in the Concert for Life and in the recording of "No-One But You" and then retired from music. He'd joined Queen when he was 19 years old, so he'd been touring and recording for most of his adult life. He's a very wealthy man (as are all the members of Queen) so he doesn't have to work. He also has a wife and six chilren that he didn't get much time to spend with before.

By: Trochanter

Trochanter — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:11:31 -0800

Thanks for the info. Just wondered why he didn't show up for the nostalgia. Maybe he had a feeling for how lame that TV show was going to be. There. I tried not to snark for two days, but I had to say it. Plus, Queen was best before they got big. Queen II forever!

By: KathrynT

KathrynT — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:37:32 -0800

OK, having now listened to manymany of the covers, I have to say that my three favorites are Pink (and yes, see folks? you can TOO actually sing at a concert, theatrics don't require that you lipsync), the brass octet, and the ukelele. The uke cover in particular has such an amazing blend of unexpectedness and musicality, and is so brilliantly arranged and performed, that it may well make it into my regular listening rotation.

By: peep

peep — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 10:38:58 -0800

Oh this is so awesome. Can someone download this post to DVD and mail it to me? Thanks zarq! /had a cat named Freddie Mercury

By: TooFewShoes

TooFewShoes — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:24:37 -0800

I really liked the bit when they pulled the pieces apart and I got to hear it all separately. It was so awesome how really great the parts sounded by themselves. "I've lost another Galileo..."

By: sidereal

sidereal — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:02:40 -0800

Man, MetaFilter is AWESOME this week.

By: Oriole Adams

Oriole Adams — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:15:29 -0800

One more sorta "behind the scenes" BoRhap anecdote.... Back in those days when singles were picked from albums and released on vinyl, every single had an A and a B side. Thanks to the royalty laws of that era, the writer(s) of the song on the B side shared equally in the royalties earned by the writer(s) of the A (or "hit") side. Roger Taylor's "I'm in Love with My Car" was on the B-side of the original BoRhap, and when it soared into the stratosphere sales-wise, Roger earned just as much money as Freddie. Brian and John felt the tiniest twinge of "hey, we played on these songs, too" envy, which went on to fester further when, say, John's "Another One Bites the Dust" went platinum and Freddie's "Don't Try Suicide" was on the B-side. (For the first half-dozen or so albums the band had abided by Freddie's philosophy that "whoever wrote the words wrote the song, darling.") But all four band members put in the same amount of hours to every track, so eventually the uneven distribution of royalties led to the band's decision to credit every song, no matter who was the principal composer, to "Queen."

By: spartacusroosevelt

spartacusroosevelt — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:31:15 -0800

The BBC doc is interesting and well done, but I can't help but watch it and think "This is why punk happened."

By: Herodios

Herodios — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:05:41 -0800

I'm surprised no one called out the California Guitar Trio (of Crafty Guitarists).

By: Greg_Ace

Greg_Ace — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:15:54 -0800

Did anyone else notice...on Part 3, right around the 3:18 mark, as the music winds down and you hear Freddie's "Oo-ooh yeah, oo-ooh yeah" fading out and the sound of the next (pastoral, studio grounds) fading in, a perfect little "mooOO" as if the cow was contributing its own part to the song. I LOL'd.

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:10:06 -0800

Just read today on the "Not Always Right" web site, a site where clerks can write in with stories about crazy customers -- There was some shop somewhere where periodically a local woman would come in and lecture the staff about being heathens or some such. She was a fairlly harmless local loon, and the staff would sort of just let her prattle on until she ran out of steam and left. But one day when a clerk was in there alone, and she came in and was doing her thing and he was just sort of nodding and letting her go on, suddenly he heard her say, "Beelzebub has a devil for you!" He just grinned, and then sang: "For meeeeee, for meeeeeee, For MEEEEEEEEEEE!" And then proceeded to play air guitar and headbang until she ran out, confused.

By: zabuni

zabuni — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 09:58:13 -0800

A little late, but Leiji Matsumoto (of Captain Harlock and Interstella 555 fame), animated a music video of the song. Link

By: Cygnet

Cygnet — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:48:59 -0800

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who misses Freddie. No, really. At least Brian May is going strong. He's my favorite oddball nerd musician. I admired his guitar solo in Killer Queen so much I arranged it so I can play all 3 parts on my violin at once.

By: seanmpuckett

seanmpuckett — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:18:06 -0800

Cygnet: youtube or it didn't happen.

By: ocherdraco

ocherdraco — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:03:13 -0800

Is it just me, or is that Pink vocal autotuned? (Don't get me wrong: I proudly support a woman who can perform like that, particularly when she's doing it in a captain's hat and a pasty.)

By: ocherdraco

ocherdraco — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:03:48 -0800

Also, Brian May looks like Isaac Newton. Coincidence?

By: EmpressCallipygos

EmpressCallipygos — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:50:13 -0800

I FOUND it! Presenting a Spiderman/Bohemian Rhapsody crossover which someone came up with over on Livejournal shortly after the news broke that someone was creating a SPIDERMAN rock musical. Someone heard U2 was tackling the music and thought they'd try their own hand. I have been looking for this since this FPP began and have only just now found it.

By: Zenabi

Zenabi — Sat, 08 May 2010 06:26:01 -0800

The documentary is a load of tripe. Badly produced tripe. The song, on the other other hand, is magic.

By: ZsigE

ZsigE — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:42:32 -0800

Just found this post rather late, but it isn't really complete without a girl in a Fender T-shirt doing an adorably enthusiastic American Sign Language version of the song.