Bohemian Rhapsody Review - Queen's Rise and Rise to Stardoms
Enough artists have proven that where you come from does not matter. Instead, what determines your life trajectory is the choices that you make. Freddie Mercury's life was a culmination of all his choices that continue to serve as an inspiration to other budding artists. And the film Bohemian Rhapsody encapsulates his journey quite memorably.
The Untold Story of Freddie Mercury and Queen's Rise to Fame
The movie follows the life of Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara, and his rise to fame, as follows:
From Airport Baggage Handler to Rock Legend - Freddie's Humble Start
Farrokh Bulsara is like any other baggage handler at Heathrow Airport. He's working a job that pays him enough to settle his bills, but he has much bigger dreams. As a man from a conservative family, his dream to pursue a career in music did not receive much support. But he does not let that deter him, and he keeps the hope alive.
One night, he's at a gig where Brian May and Roger Taylor are due to play. However, the lead singer of their band, Smile, is up and leaves. Farrokh realizes the opportunity in front of him and dazzles the other members with his voice. So impressed are they that they invite him to more gigs. Soon enough, Farrokh decides to embrace the name Freddie Mercury, such that everything about him starts embodying this character.
The Making of Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody
Smile later changes to Queen and takes on Jean Deacon as a bassist. With a complete lineup, they work on various sounds, incorporating elements from various genres, including rock and opera. The experimentation pays off, and they sign a deal that allows them to kick things off. "Killer Queen," one of their songs, becomes a hit, and their popularity starts growing. In their first big gig, Freddie's amazing personality comes to light. Not only is he gifted with incredible vocals, but he also has a stage command - these elements serve as a prelude to the greatness that is to come.
Unwilling to confine himself to the norms, Freddie plays around with sounds, and the band soon works on Bohemian Rhapsody. It takes a lot of experimentation with layered vocals, different song structures, and operatic harmonies. In the end, the band comes up with a track that lasts a whole six minutes. It is a work of art, but the record label pushes back on it, citing that no radio will play it. Queen decides to take the song to a DJ, Kenny Everett, who plays it so much that it becomes an instant hit, thereby proving the record label wrong.
The queen started making waves globally, and people cannot wait to hear what they will work on next. Brian soon comes up with an idea for a song that will allow fans to participate. With a combination of stomping and clapping, the band comes up with the legendary "We Will Rock You", which soon becomes yet another hit.
Behind the Spotlight - Freddie's Struggles with Fame and Identity
As Freddie's music career takes off, he engages Mary, his longtime girlfriend. But the more popular the band becomes and the more he pushes his artistic boundaries, the more open he becomes about finding himself. And in the process, he starts exploring his sexuality.
Freddie's personal life takes a turn for the worse over time as fame goes to his head. He's now a global star living large. What's more, his manager, Paul Prenter, pits him against his bandmates. Freddie starts paying less attention to his relationships and instead focuses on living for the moment. He finally opens up to Mary about his attraction to men, and the two call off their engagement while remaining friends. And with that tie gone, Freddie does not have much else keeping him grounded. Deeper, he sinks into a life of partying, and his relationship with his bandmates becomes worse.
The Band Reunion
Eventually, Freddie decides to leave Queen, feeling that he can do better alone and eager to see what he can achieve by himself. But this stint does not last long as he soon realizes just how much the band means to him. He makes amends with the team, and they gear up for a huge performance. During this prep time, Freddie receives the news that he has AIDS. However, he chooses to keep this news to himself before their upcoming gig.
The highly anticipated event takes place at Live Aid. Having come a long way from their first performance, the band cannot believe just how big a following they have amassed. Putting their best foot forward at Wembley Stadium, they perform songs such as "Radio Ga Ga," "We Are the Champions," "Hammer to Fall," and "Bohemian Rhapsody." As the crowd goes wild and sings along, Freddie's presence and vocal skills shine through, creating one of the most electrifying moments in rock history. The performance serves as a fitting celebration of the band's reunion and Freddie's legacy. After all, he was once an outsider struggling to make a name for himself. And now, here he is, having accomplished fame, created a mark in music history, and found a family that would accept him through his ups and downs.