‘Mama, oh oh (anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die
Sometimes wish I'd never been born at all.’
I do not remember exactly why, but as a teenager I was obsessed with these words. And the song, obviously.
I finally got to watch ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ last night, which I found quite unremarkable. However, this is not about the movie, but about the music. People my generation as well as the younger ones we were raised with this song. It’s in our DNA by now. It just is, just like the sky just is, just like the sun.
Yet, watching the movie it hit me what an extraordinary song it is and especially how groundbreaking it was at the time. The movie even flashes on screen the terrible reviews it received at the time of its release in 1975. And then went on to be considered the best song of all times. To this day, it still sends shivers down our spine. Is it because we can all somehow relate to the song? Even if you’re in a good place today, you must have had a bad point in your life, some time when you were so down life was a burden.
In many music tops, Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is locked in fierce battle for the top spot with Nirvana’s ‘Smells like teen spirit’. Another song full of despair. Sometimes the lyrics are hard to make out, but there’s no mistaking the pain in Kurt Cobain’s screams. It tears at your heart, just as much as Freddie’s hurt.
Sad songs endure far better than feel-good ones. Maybe it has to do with how our brains are wired.
“Some people do have a more positive outlook, but almost everyone remembers negative things more strongly and in more detail.”
Speaking of old music, just have a look at the mythical rivalry between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. ‘Love Me Do’ might have sounded revolutionary to a post-war generation, but basically no one sings such songs today. You won’t find one teenager singing his lungs out ‘please, love me do’. Instead, I have a strong feeling many generations have cried their hearts out along with Mick Jagger, although they’d never been in love with the beautiful Angie or even with a woman. It doesn’t matter, pain and heartbreak are the same.
Disclaimer: Tops listing singers like Britney Spears or Adele have been totally ignored in the making of this post, as that doesn’t qualify as music in my book.
One of the reasons I didn't particularly like the movie is that it focused little on the larger-than-life musical genius Freddie deserves to be remembered as. I don't care about his weakness or his mistakes, those were only relevant to those who knew him in person.
