In 1978, Freddie Mercury wrote a song called Mustapha.
It appeared as the first track on their album, Jazz and was launched as a single in 1979.
Here’s the song …
When it was released, no one battered an eyelid.
No one.
Maybe it’s because it was a different time then … or maybe it’s because people knew Freddie’s heritage was not from England … but I was wondering what would happen if Queen released that single today.
Would the right-wing press claim they were supporting terrorism?
Would the Christian community say they were turning their back on their home nations [supposed] religion?
Would Muslim groups accuse them of trying to profit from their belief system?
I honestly don’t know, but judging what happened to the Dixie Chicks when then called out George W Bush, I bet it wouldn’t be something that went un-noticed like it did way back in 1978 … such is the love the media have for hyping-up paranoia regarding anything to do with religion, nationalism and multiculturalism.
And yes, I know what the music critics would say – and yes, I know it would be the same thing they said in 1978 – so you can keep your opinions to yourself, thank you very much.
Filed under: Queen
It’s 35 years today, since I first saw you play live.
You’ve given me nights of entertainment I’ll always remember and treasure.
Moments that literally will remain with me till the day I die.
But please … no more.
Not because I don’t love you.
But because I do.
Like Halley’s comet, sometimes an event comes round that demands to be recorded and reacted to.
Today is the recording of that event.
Tomorrow may be the reaction to it.
Well, it will be if the person in question bothers to write about the experience on their blog … because this blog is currently closed so I won’t be writing any more, even if this post proves the word ‘closed’ is very ambiguous where I am concerned.
What am I talking about?
Well today, this man …
… is going to be seeing this band …
… tonight in Leeds.
Yes, that really is Northern Planner [sorry, I just can’t get use to the whole shortened, ‘Northern’ moniker] and yes that really is Queen [or half of them, with a bloke from American Idol].
It’s like Chairman Mao meeting George Bush.
Or Margret Thatcher meeting Arthur Scargill.
Or Sonic The Hedgehog meeting Mario.
It’s a potentially explosive combination – or at least a brain raping one – and I am happily the reason it’s all going to happen.
You see a few months ago I mentioned on Twitter that Queen were going to be playing in Leeds when Northern sarcastically said if I got him tickets, he’d go.
So I did.
And he is.
With his wife.
Hahahahahahaha.
Northern utterly loathes Queen.
He loathes them as much as I despise The Smiths
And while the band he is going to see is not the ‘real Queen’, it’s as close as he’ll ever come to it and I am excited because while he might loathe the band, hate everything they stand for and generally be the most miserable bastard in the place … I have a feeling that being part of a crowd that is loudly enjoying and physically engaging in the spectacle, might overwhelm his cynicism and give him a night he enjoys.
And if not, it will at least give him a night he’ll always remember.
I’ve written about the power of crowds before. Unlike being the only sober person in a room of drunks, this is different. You find you want to join in. You feel swept up in the emotion of the moment. You start smiling and having a good time … even if you never thought that would be possible.
So I’m interested to see what happens tonight with Northern.
I’m not expecting him to suddenly love Queen just like I don’t like the Smiths despite finding Morrissey less of a dick as I always suspected he was, but maybe – just maybe – he will find himself having had a good night out with the missus and if that happens, that will make me happy because not only will I always have that on him, he is a good man and I’m glad I could do something nice for him and his wife.
Even if it was all done with the intent of evil.
We’ll see I suppose … though I must admit the best outcome for me is if he hates himself for having a good night out at a Queen concert.
Even if it’s not really Queen and it’s hard not to have fun at any concert.
Unless it’s something like One Direction.
Jesus, just typing that makes me ill.
Oh, and as I haven’t really written anything for the past 2 months, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas, New Year, Birthday etc etc. See, the rest has made me nice. Sort-of.
Even though none of you really care, the baby is good, the family is good and fatherhood is brilliant … though that is only my opinion and others may see things rather differently. Especially a little boy that experiences more drama when I change his nappy than the feelings he went through when he came into this World.
And with that, sit back and watch this … knowing Northern will be experiencing a slightly diluted – but much louder – version of this in a few hours.
Don’t forget to check his blog in the morning to see what went down.
I’ll be waiting with baited breath because if he loved it or if he hated it, it’s all a win:win for me.
[Cue: Evil Laugh]
And with that, I hope all is well and see you around.
Probably.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Childhood, Comment, Culture, Emotion, Empathy, Entertainment, Music, Perspective, Queen
So a while back I went to see Queen with Adam Lambert.
The last time I saw them, Queen were made up of the original four.
It was also the last time the original 4 would ever play live together.
Of course at the time, I didn’t know that was going to be the case – though rumor says Freddie did, even if the rest of the band weren’t yet aware – however despite only 50% of the band being on stage, it was still exhilarating to watch.
It was also a bit weird … because rather than see them in Europe, it was in China.
And rather than see them with my best mate Paul … it was with my wife [and a bunch of Wieden folk]
That might not seem that strange to you, but it was mental for me because the situation was the absolute opposite of that mad summer in 1986 where my parents, reluctantly, let me follow them on their tour.
I must admit, when I walked into the venue, I was nervous for the band.
This was the first time they had ever played China and the venue – an 18,000 seater – was only 10% full.
Of course I knew people would come in as the lights went down and if they really hadn’t sold many tickets, they’d have cancelled the show … but I felt some kind of responsibility given I was a fan from England living in China and wanting their first impression of this amazing country to be a good one.
Of course I shouldn’t have worried because as the lights went down, the stadium was packed – to the seats high, high, high in the rafters – and that made the whole night even more wonderful and emotional for me.
The band was brilliant.
The sound was brilliant.
The lights were brilliant.
And Mr Lambert was brilliant.
Sure, he is no Freddie, but he is an amazing singer with perfect levels of campness that did the songs, the show and Freddie … incredible justice.
But the real reason it was emotional was because the moment they hit the stage, they momentarily transported me back to being 16 … where I was on the cusp of entering a life full of adventure and possibilities.
Of course I hope I still have a lot more adventures and possibilities to come [more of that in a few months] but that doesn’t change the fact these concerts represent significant bookends of my life.
One where I was about to start my journey. One where I am its midpoint.
And I don’t mind admitting that when they came on stage, I found myself crying.
I know, it’s pathetic, but it was less about seeing a band that I love with all my heart [though it has a bit to do with that] and more a reminder that despite all the wonderful and sad things that have happened in my life over the past 30+ years, they were still there.
My friends.
My confidents.
My escape.
To paraphrase the great Bill Shankly, some say music isn’t a matter of life or death.
They’re right, it’s way more important than that.