Bohemian Rhapsody (Nik's Piks: The Music, The Passion, The Queen)

I finally saw Bohemian Rhapsody last night and took a powerful trip down memory lane. The film depicts the rise of one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, Queen, and the genius behind their uniqueness, lead singer Freddie Mercury. It culminates with their performance at what was dubbed a "super concert," Live Aid.  I was 16 and remember vividly the excitement of the time, but also very specifically the anticipation of Queen's reunion.  

Fans of the band's music, and music lovers of all ages, will get chills watching this film - witnessing 70,000 people in Wembley Stadium singing along with the band and clapping their hands in unison was enough to have moviegoers mesmerized. In 1985, Live Aid was televised simultaneously all over the world with bands playing in multiple arenas. When all was said and done, an estimated one billion people watched the 16-hour concert. But it was Queen's 20-minute performance that rocked the world. It truly was a pivotal moment in music history, and also the beginning of the end for this era. And, filmmakers captured it all to near perfection. I'll admit Rami Malek almost makes a better Freddie Mercury than Freddie Mercury did - yes, his performance was THAT good.

Watch Official Trailer

The other dominating headline of this time was the frenzy caused by the AIDS epidemic that took so many lives - including at least one family friend. I think what affected me the most watching Bohemian Rhapsody was the Live Aid scene and Mercury's passionate performance - reveling in what he loved the most - performing and entertaining - even while knowing he had just been given a death sentence. 

You do not necessarily have to love the music of Queen to enjoy the film, remember I loved the film about Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Love and Mercy, and do not particularly like their music - but you do need to appreciate genius! Mercury's story is beautifully told. The connection he had with his audiences is probably still unsurpassed, and his love of music and performing emanated from every pore of his body. Bohemian Rhapsody demonstrates that Queen's music is timeless and lives on even to this day. Looking back, I can't help but reminisce about a generation of musicians who stood for more than their own image, when they actually believed they could change the world - and many did.


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