I’ve always though of this song as Races’ answer to Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s not the showstopper that comes a few songs down, but it’s different, and better. Starting and stopping semi-fitfully, it’s a song made for the broadway stage, not rock and roll. Forget the 3/4 time waltz tempo, which in and of itself could render it “uncool”, the song explodes in the mid section because, well, Queen are a rock band.
Make no mistake, though, this is a piece of eclectic glam rock, supported by money and ego and hubris and talent.
When it turns in on itself for it’s most baroque section, Brian is right there with a killer solo that bridges the 19th and the 20th centuries.
When it crumbles into itself and Freddie turns into a German accented cabaret mc it only gets weirder and more sublime.
Definitely a tune that would turn off headbangers and leave rockers scratching their heads, but, for the rest of us, it’s sublime.
Grade: A+
– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
