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Rating: "A night at the opera", absolute masterpiece, an international monument to Glam Rock. An album that isn't even fair to call just that, as it is not a collection of songs, but of works of art. With a not too far-fetched comparison, we could define it as the Louvre, with its paintings, its sculptures, and its Mona Lisa at the end: "Bohemian Rhapsody".
It won't be easy for me to describe it all, but considering myself a fan of Queen, I couldn't help but review what is still today one of the most awarded records at all levels.
It starts with a touch of Hard Rock, with "Death On Two Legs", and with what will become one of the most famous piano riffs. Perhaps I haven't grasped the true meaning of this song, which talks about "death on two legs", which wears out, which should be in jail. Among the notes, you can hear all of Mercury's anger, which enormously emphasizes the entire piece.
From Hard Rock, we find ourselves catapulted into a strange yet sweet retro atmosphere, with "Lazing On Sunday". A song certainly not rich in meaning, although "loafing on Sunday" takes us into something surreal, which in simple words I can only define as "strange".
After this leap backward, we find harder music, with a very theatrical Roger Taylor on vocals, with decent vocal abilities, and who feels at ease with a rhythmic, catchy piece that describes his car.
Already in these first three songs, in fact, we find Mercury's and Queen's general eccentricity.
In crude terms, we can say that "they start one way and end another", but perhaps it's precisely this quirkiness not only musically but also with the actual lyrics that makes each song a work of art. If the drummer sings, the guitarist always remains the guitarist and the Special Red, along with Brian May, make "I'm In Love With My Car" still a great piece.
Track number 4 is a classic of the band: "You're My Best Friend", recently used as the soundtrack of a film with Jennifer Aniston, brings us back to the classic Queen song. The queen in all her splendor talks to us about love, with classic canons that never bore but paradoxically make each piece unique. Nothing else to say to describe a worldwide success that speaks better for itself when put in the player.
If up to this point you had any doubts about the album's objective beauty, from "'39" to the end, we all understand the great capabilities of this band. Precisely with "'39" we can appreciate Brian May's good vocal abilities, as he describes these Volunteers of thirty-nine as heroes, as men who set out on these ships without ever fearing, and who returning home bring good news of this new world. Like in many Queen songs, here we must not stop at the literal text but read between the lines to understand what these volunteers and the mother's tears when they return home represent. In this beautiful song, the Red special is somewhat overshadowed, as the acoustic guitar perfectly frames May's sweet yet perhaps a bit weak voice.
Among the choirs, however, Freddie makes his presence known advancing with his famous high notes.
The alternation of Hard Rock and Glam continues, in fact, at song number 6 we find "Sweet Lady", which starts with a nice electric riff and heralds a great track. Expectations are not disappointed, and Freddie presents us with the "Sweet Lady". This sweet lady who seems to be like a burden, who oppresses, who won't let you breathe, but who is encouraged in the end to believe she has what she wants.
Half the album already seems a masterpiece, but there are still other songs to listen to and by this point, one certainly does not want to stop.
07: "Seaside Rendezvous". Another leap backward, with an atmosphere that I could define as "Chaplin-esque", and everyone at the beach. A "cheerful little song", not demanding, very catchy, with Mercury's usual vocal games, allowing us to savor every note. To these characteristics is added the "strange" music, outside the "real" standards, indeed without the classic May solo, except for a strange draft at the beginning with an almost comic effect. Still, the album's level is not lowered, but "Seaside Rendezvous" gives us a break, allowing us to relax.
We return to earth, and here a breeze announces the beautiful suite of "A Night at The Opera": the prophet's song. "The Prophet's Song", is a kind of warning, telling us of a "catastrophe" and that the only solution to avoid it is love. Here he speaks to the children, saying the only road is love, and it is still possible to take it. To contribute to the "gloomy atmosphere" of this hypothetical apocalypse, Brian May joins the almost monotonous choruses of Mercury, when he wants to "make himself heard by the people". What seem like vocal exercises are alternated with the choruses and finally a melancholic final guitar solo, in full style with the song's theme which eventually finds Mercury's voice again, concluding as the song began: wind and classical guitar. Beautiful suite, both musically and thematically.
After a little more than eight minutes here's another song that made history: sweet, delicate... simply splendid and perfect. I can't find other adjectives that do justice and describe as deserved "Love Of My Life". A piano accompanied by an acoustic guitar, a very sweet riff, and the same sweet voice of Freddie that begins to sing like the most delicate of instruments. A song also poignant when asking the love of his life not to leave, because he doesn't know what this means for him. More piano, but now with the Red Special, and the voice gives way to a classic but touching solo, after having said "I still love you". Once the solo is over the song slowly "falls asleep", with the initial piano riff.
Finished "Love Of My Life", here's "Good Company". The guitar introduces us to this strange story of the good companies that leave the protagonist only with disappointment. We end with a banjo, I believe, that encourages to take the good companies. It’s not a very significant piece, but the general level of the album does not decline.
At the end here's the eleventh track, the Song that talks about freedom, the Song that represents Queen all over the world, a masterpiece, our Mona Lisa. Here are the classic choruses questioning whether all this is true or not, "open your eyes, look up to the sky and see...", impossible to comment on. But now the piano accompanies what will be defined as one of the most beautiful voices in the entire world. Here’s this boy talking to the mother, saying he doesn't want to die but resigning because it's too late now, and bidding farewell to all, because he has to go. The farewell to the mother, and here comes Brian May with a memorable solo, intense, short but simply splendid. Here then the comedy with "Scaramouche", "Galileo" and "Bismillah", and the boy continuing to say he is a poor man. After a high note, however, here’s the drums and here the Red Special starts, accompanied by a suddenly harder Freddie and... Hard Rock. A few seconds are enough, though, and the final plug takes us back home after a beautiful journey.
The song is over, and... there's nothing left to do. We have listened to one of the best songs the human mind has ever written, perfect in every way... a unique and simply unforgettable experience.
After this musical apotheosis, a definitive touch to understand where Queen comes from with "God Save The Queen", and unfortunately like all good things, even "A night At The Opera" ends too soon.
We got to know the great vocal and instrumental abilities of one of the greatest, most productive, and qualitative Rock Bands that have graced the stages and filled the stadiums of the world, making millions of people fall in love, or simply providing good times to the many who for years have followed (and I hope will continue to follow) the deeds of the messenger of the gods and companions.
It's been about a year now that I’ve been listening to the queen, and this will remain the most beautiful album of all time.
As in my other reviews on Queen, the final word goes to John Deacon, who even if behind the scenes, has his share to do, and it is he who writes with Mercury "You're My Best Friend".
A small tribute to a band that always manages to change my mood.
Simply Thank You
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...) (03:45)
You suck my blood like a leech
You break the law and you preach
Screw my brain till it hurts
You've taken all my money - and you want more!
Misguided old mule
With your pigheaded rules
With your narrow-minded cronies who are fools of the first division
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart,
Death on two legs
You never had a heart...of your own
Kill-joy, Bad guy,
Big-talking small fry
You're just an old barrow-boy
Have you found a new toy to replace me,
Can you face me?
But now you can kiss my ass goodbye
Feel good, are you satisfied
Do you feel like suicide (I think you should)
Is your conscience all right
Does it plague you at night
Do you feel good - Feel good!
Talk like a big business tycoon,
But you're just a hot-air balloon,
So no one gives you a damn,
You're just an overgrown school-boy
Let me tan your hide.
A dog with disease,
You're the King of the 'sleaze'
Put your money where your mouth is Mr. Know-all,
Was the fin on your back part of the deal...shark!
Death on two legs
You're tearing me apart
Death on two legs
You never had a heart of your own,
(You never did, right from the start)
Insane, you should be put inside,
You're a sewer-rat decaying in a cesspool of pride
Should be made unemployed
Then make yourself null-and-void,
Make me feel good
I feel good!
02 Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon (01:09)
I go out to work on Monday morning
Tuesday I go off to honeymoon
I'll be back again before it's time for sunny-down,
I'll be lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
Bicycling on every Wednesday evening
Thursday I go waltzing to the Zoo
I come from London town, I'm just an ordinary guy,
Fridays I go painting in the Louvre
I'm bound to be proposing on a Saturday night
(There he goes again)
I'll be lazing on a Sunday
Lazing on a Sunday
Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon
04 You're My Best Friend (02:54)
Ooo, you make me live
Whatever this world can give to me
It's you, you're all I see
Ooo, you make me live now honey
Ooo, you make me live
You're the best friend that I ever had
I've been with you such a long time
You're my sunshine
And I want you to know that my feelings are true
I really love you
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
I've been wandering 'round
But I still came back to you
In rain or shine you've stood by me girl
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
Whenever this world is cruel to me
I got you to help me forgive
Ooo, you make me live now honey
Ooo, you make me live
You're the first one when things turn out bad
You know I'll never be lonely
You're my only one
And I love the things
I really love the things that you do
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
I'm happy, happy at home
You're my best friend
You're my best friend
Ooo, you make me live
You, you're my best friend
05 '39 (03:33)
In the year of '39 assembled here the Volunteers
In the days when the lands were few
Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn
The sweetest sight ever seen.
And the night followed day
And the story tellers say
That the score brave souls inside
For many a lonely day sailed across the milky seas
Ne'er looked back, never feared, never cried.
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew.
In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue
The Volunteers came home that day
And they bring good news of a world so newly born
Though their hearts so heavily weigh
For the earth is old and grey, little darlin' we'll away
But my love this cannot be
For so many years have gone though I'm older but a year
Your mother's eyes from your eyes cry to me.
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand
In the land that our grandchildren knew.
Don't you hear my call though you're many years away
Don't you hear me calling you
All your letters in the sand cannot heal me like your hand
For my life
Still ahead
Pity Me.
06 Sweet Lady (04:06)
You call me up and treat me like a dog
You call me up and tear me up inside
You’ve got me on a lead
Oooh you bring me down
You shout around
You don’t believe that I’m alone
Ohh you don't believe me
Sweet lady
Sweet lady
Sweet lady...Stay sweet.
You say
"You call me up and feed me all the lines
"You call me sweet like I’m some kind of cheese
"Waiting on the shelf
"You eat me up
"You hold me down
"I’m just a fool to make you a home, you really do me
"And you say
"Sweet lady
"Sweet lady
"Sweet lady...Stay sweet"
Stay now
My sweet lady
Though it seems like we wait forever
Stay sweet baby
Believe and we’ve got everything we need.
07 Seaside Rendezvous (02:18)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Seaside - whenever you stroll along with me I'm merely contemplating what
you feel inside meanwhile I ask you to be my Clementine -
You say you will if you could but you can't - I love you madly -
Let my imagination run away with you gladly -
A brand new angle - highly commendable - Seaside Rendezvous -
I feel so romantic - can we do it again
Can we do it again sometime,
Fantastic, c'est la vie mesdames et messieurs
And at the peak of the season, the
Mediterranean -, this time of year, it's so fashionable.
I feel like dancing - in the rain,
Can I have a volunteer -
Dancing - what a damn jolly good idea -
It's such a jollification - as a matter of fact, so tres charmant my dear -
Underneath the moonlight - together we'll sail across the sea -
Reminiscing every night - Meantime - I ask you to be my Valentine
You say you have to tell your daddy if you can - I'll be your Valentino -
We'll ride upon an omnibus and then the casino -
Get a new facial - start a sensational -
Seaside Rendezvous - so adorable,
Seaside Rendezvous -
Seaside Rendezvous -
08 The Prophet's Song (08:23)
Oh Oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning
The seer he said
Beware the storm that gathers here
Listen to the wise man.
I dreamed I saw on a moonlit stair
Spreading his hands on the multitude there
A man who cried for a love gone stale
And ice cold hearts of charity bare.
I watched as fear took the old men's gaze
Hopes of the young in troubled graves
I see no day, I heard him say
So grey is the face of every mortal.
Oh Oh people on the earth
Listen to the warning
The prophet he said
For soon the cold of night will fall
Summoned by your own hand.
Oh Oh children of the land
Quicken to the new life
Take my hand
Fly and find the new green bough
Return like the white dove.
He told of death as a bone white haze
Taking the lost and the unloved babe
Late too late all the wretches run
These kings of beasts now counting their days.
From mother's love is the son estranged
Married his own his precious gain
The earth will shake in two will break
And death all around will be your dow'ry
Oh Oh people of the earth
Listen to the warning the seer he said
For those who hear and mark my words
Listen to the good plan.
Oh Oh - and two by two my human zoo
They'll be
Running for to come
Running for to come
Out of the rain
Flee for your life
Who heed me not, let all your treasure make you
Fear for your life
Deceive you not the fires of hell will take you
Should death await you.
Oh Oh people can you hear me?
Oh People can you hear me?
And now I know, and now I know
And now I know, and now I know
And now I know, that you can hear me
The Earth will shake and two will break...
The Earth will shake and two will break...
The Earth will shake and two will break...
And now I know, and now I know...
And now I know, and now I know...
And now I know, and now I know...
And now I know, and now I know...
Listen to the wise, listen to the wise
Listen to the wise, listen to the wise man
Come here, Aye you
Come here, Aye you
Come here.....
Listen to the man, listen to the man
Listen to the man, listen to the man
Man......
God give you grace to purge this place
And peace all around may be your fortune.
Oh Oh children of the land
Love is still the answer, take my hand
The vision fades, a voice I hear
"Listen to the Madman!"
But still I fear and still I dare not
Laugh at the Madman.
10 Bohemian Rhapsody (05:57)
Is this the real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality.
Open your eyes,
Look up to the skies and see.
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go, little high, little low,
Any way the wind blows, doesn't really matter to me,
To me
Mama, just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head,
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun,
But now I’ve gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooh,
Didn’t mean to make you cry.
If I’m not back again this time tomorrow,
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters.
Too late, my time has come,
Sends shivers down my spine
Body’s aching all the time,
Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooh, (any way the wind blows)
I don’t want to die,
I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all
I see a little silhouetto of a man,
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening me
Galileo - Galileo
Galileo - Galileo
Galileo - Figaro
Magnifico - ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come, easy go,
Will you let me go?
Bismillah! No! We will not let you go! - Let him go!
Bismillah! We will not let you go! - Let him go!
Bismillah! We will not let you go! - Let me go!
Will not let you go! - Let me go!
Will not let you go! - Let me go, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Mama Mia, Mama Mia, Mama Mia, let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me!
So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?
So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Ooh baby, can’t do this to me baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here
Ooh yeah
Ooh yeah
Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters,
Nothing really matters to me
Any way the wind blows
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Other reviews
By 2Torri
Upon the first listen, you will be completely captivated by the genius of these 4 people.
This album contains the most beautiful song a human being has ever created, I am referring to Bohemian Rhapsody.
By Torre Ste
There are no adjectives to describe the ultimate rock opera!
Bohemian Rhapsody? I can’t find other words to describe it, as to understand what is being talked about one must simply listen to it.
By PIXELID
Bohemian Rhapsody disrupts all known musical standards in no time and quickly reaches the top of almost every global chart.
When someone else makes a song that approaches the spectacularity of Bohemian Rhapsody, we can talk.
By Walterstarman1
"'A Night at the Opera' with 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is the explicit manifesto of how music escapes classifications."
"I thank God for appointing Freddie Mercury to give us the most beautiful song ever… Bohemian Rhapsody."
By ledeep
The album is colorful of many genres, ranging from Scott Joplin’s Rag-Time style to powerful hard rock to psychedelic oriental melodies.
Bohemian Rhapsody musically is one of the most complex in the history of rock and represents the first example of rock opera.
