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Off the Record

The Muppets Got It Right: Ten Great Freddie Mercury and Queen Moments

By Randall Roberts, Wednesday, Nov. 25 2009 @ 12:30PM
Comments (8)
Categories:

Every once in a while something happens that brings a band back to the surface, makes us reevaluate them and prompts us to scratch our heads and wonder, "Why now?" Take Queen. Their influence is all over Adam Lambert's new album, from the production and layered vocals to Lambert's slicked-back leather-boy look. This week the Muppets' version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" went wonderfully viral. The entire emo movement looks, in hindsight, like one big Queen ripoff. And then there's the publication of the definitive Queen biography, which West Coast Sound's Siran Babayan wrote about last week.

Critics have long lambasted Queen. The Rolling Stone and Creem mag posses were notoriously dismissive of the British band's output during the band's heyday, even though the four-piece were one of the only of the 1970s glam movement to actually cross over and achieve international fame.


About ten years ago the Flaming Lips gigged Lollapalooza, and one of their encores was a remarkable version of "Under Pressure." The performance single-handedly prompted us to reconsider the brow-beaten Rolling Stone mag opinion that Queen were disposable. We've never looked back.


This version is amazing for any number of reasons, but we included it because of those short-shorts!


While skinny butts were all the rage in the 1970s, Queen stepped up and shouted for all to hear: "Fat bottomed girls you make the rockin' world go round."


Genius pop single that highlights the strength and dexterity of Freddie Mercury's voice.


One of the great Queen songs, Mercury's pop sensibilities mesh beautifully with his chrome-toned throat.


A lesser-known Queen song with a typically brilliant structure that wends and roams all over the place without seeming at all self-indulgent.


Frickin' weird video that Adam Lambert would be smart to steal from, fashion-wise.


One of our favorite Queen songs, one so tender and honest that even the jaded among us can't help but sing along.


Evidence of genius: This a capella version of "Killer Queen." Could someone remix this with a hip hop beat already?


Pure beauty. Nuff said.


Here's this because you should watch it.

Tags:

Freddie Mercury, Queen, the Muppets
Comments (8) Write Comment
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More About:

  • Queen (Band)
  • Freddie Mercury
  • Adam Lambert
  • Siran Babayan
  • The Flaming Lips

Comments (8)

judy kay wilson-synar says:

I bathe in Queen every day of my life. I enjoyed your 10 picks. One hundred years from now there will be more university courses taught on subject of the Maestro and his Music than there are now taught on the subject of Mozart. Now, that some time has passed, the world seems to be catching up to the Genius of Mercury. You didnt ask, but my fav live performance is Somebody To Love at The Bowl...

http://www.youtube.com/user/jkws#p/f/6/aduNahDPjBA

Good to see Queen in the news. Nice to have Adam Lambert in our lives. Maybe Music will make a return.
ciao
jk

Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 25 2009 @ 2:26PM
Jacee78 says:

Love Queen. Always thought Freddie was a genius as far back as Queen I and all the way through to the sad end with Made in Heaven. Sheer class and brilliant vocals with a stage presence that I doubt will ever be rivaled. He has a way of making you feel every word he's singing.

Love STL at the Bowl, too, jkws, however, I can't wait for Adam Lambert to be OUT of our lives. Never liked his voice, and now I'm just tired of hearing about him. My only musical hope for the future is Muse (another Queen-influenced band).

But anyway, Queen has a lot of gems yet to be found my the masses. Hopefully people start checking their stuff out (Queen II is BRILLIANT!)

Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 25 2009 @ 7:00PM
Sithmarauder says:

You know what they say, "You Don't Know What You Have Until It Gone". Well America lost out on one of the greatests classic rock bands of our time and the greatest frontman of our time. I never understood why America passed them up. I was lucky to see them 6 times at Madison Square Garden. My favorite performance was their very first appearance at the garden to promote A Day at the Races. I thought they were brilliant. My favorite live vocal performance is Somebody To Love from the Motreal DVD. I thought Freddie was in to vocal form.

Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 26 2009 @ 7:15PM
Anonymous says:

I think those were decent pics. I would have included "The Show Must Go On" instead of the weird "I'm Going Slightly Mad". It was one of Freddie's last vocal performances and the lyrics that were written for him/about him by Brian May are awesome. Check it out people:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ADh8Fs3YdU

Posted On: Friday, Nov. 27 2009 @ 9:26AM
RMJ says:

For some reason the videos aren't popping up for me. Could someone write out a list of what they are?

Posted On: Tuesday, Dec. 1 2009 @ 9:22AM
Diamond says:

Queen = über rad.

You ever wonder where May got his amazing sound? Rory Gallagher.

"So these couple of kids come up, who's me and my mate, and say 'How do you get your sound Mr. Gallagher?' and he sits and tells us. So I owe Rory Gallagher my sound."

—Brian May (Queen)

Posted On: Tuesday, Dec. 1 2009 @ 2:34PM
camilla and marc says:

Hello admin, I must admit that today is my first time I visit here. However, I have found so many interesting thing in your blog and I really love that. Keep up the good work!

Posted On: Saturday, Dec. 12 2009 @ 3:01PM
Dawood says:

Touching!!
Here I've tried to collect all notable tributes paid to Freddie Mercury by famous peers: http://www.tributespaid.com/tributes-to/freddie-mercury

Posted On: Sunday, Dec. 20 2009 @ 4:38AM

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