Hatton Influences: Part VI: Queen
There’s only so many ways I can tell you that I’m a fan of showmen. I’m a fan of those types of people that go out in the middle of a crowd and stand apart. The type that the crowds tend to form around instead of the other way around. Almost every single person I’ve listed has distinguished themselves in their field (as far as I’m concerned.)
Why should music be any different?
I don’t remember which one of my siblings owned Queen’s Greatest Hits. At least one of them did. So when the recraze of Queen happened in the early 90s with the rerelease of Bohemian Rhapsody due to the popularity of Wayne’s World, it wasn’t altogether unfamiliar. Shortly thereafter I went and bought my own copy of their Greatest Hits (and ‘Classic’) and knew half the songs already. I went Queen crazy. Within a few years I owned all of the albums, knew their entire discography, and could sing as many B-sides as I could hits.
Freddie Mercury was a showman, if not a touch flamboyant. (Silver jumpsuits, who didn’t know, really?) Add in Bryan May’s frenetic guitar riffs and once again, I was hooked by another set of folks who help define eras. Now, whether or not you agree that Queen was an era defining band or not is actually completely secondary to the fact that they did. (See what I did there?) Distinct guitar, a singer with a voice that ranged from rocking to operatic, and stage presence that even watching on old videos carries with it a certain electricity.
To this day, when I’m in a horrendous mood, even with my ever expanding musical tastes, I can still throw in Stone Cold Crazy and feel awakened, Seven Seas of Rhye and feel empowered, or Who Wants To Live Forever and find myself introspective and reflective. If that can’t qualify as a major influence on my life, what can?
“Listen all you people, come gather round
I gotta get me a game plan, gotta shake you to the ground
Just give me what I know is mine,
People do you hear me, just give me the sign.”
Have you been reading my MySpace page? Queen is my very favorite band (with BFS coming in close second, of course). Has been since I was little. My parents got me hooked.
Where were you when I was looking for a friend?
I’m waiting for the Deadpool post 🙂
“Fat Bottom Girls”…. My theme song! Good to know that quality music can withstand the tests of time
So, Hatton:
Queen & Paul Rodgers. Thumbs up, or thumbs down?
100% pure comfort food music. 🙂
I’m sorta wondering what Loki did to get into court ^_^
OH My God (sorry God)
my fav sond is: Is this the world we created makes me wanna weep everytime. Queen is just so much more than we will rock you…It is also…I’m in love with my car…it has the word automolove in it…how cool is that !!!
But Jim, can any grown man ever utter the words “Scaramouch, Scaramouch will you do the fandango?” and not feel the slightest bit emasculated? Listening to “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the equivalent of drinking a cosmopolitan – super duper fresh and fruity, and likely to give you the high 5!