Queen
A Night at the Opera

THE REVIEW

"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