a fading dream

31 May 1984 – Freddie recorded early versions of ‘Made In Heaven’ and ‘Foolin’ Around’ at MusicLand Studios, Germany with Reinhold Mack

In the early version of ‘𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧,’ there are some notable vocal parts that aren't finished or fully fleshed out yet and some interesting lyric differences. Even though this version is in the early stages, it’s very nice. Freddie’s vocals are beautiful , full of emotion as usual, quite superb. You definitely can hear which direction the song is heading.

This song is more heartfelt and profound than Freddie’s more frivolous tracks. He certainly accepted his natural-born status as a true romantic. The final version of ‘Made In Heaven’ was in a style more familiar to Queen fans.

Freddie enjoyed recording in Munich as he always said that he loved the freedom offered by the city, joking that it was perfect “apart from the fact that everyone speaks German!” 😁

Freddie ended up gifting this beautiful song to his godson, Freddie Mack: "My godfather dedicated the song 'Made In Heaven to me'. Every time I hear it, I am overcome with emotion.” ♥️

Early version https://youtu.be/FUbMXejx7Ag?si=oSwZ5WcFLSS9N1IP

The track ‘𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧‘ 𝐀𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝‘ is still a work in progress. An interesting find from the archives was this earlier version of ‘Foolin’ Around.’

While some lines were later altered, it featured a completely new introductory verse as well as real drums (a drum-machine appears only on the album version), and is certainly worth listening to. https://youtu.be/HBe1cFIu40k?si=61RTRnPlMTUx8cJi

Queen as Text Posts (12/?)

Superqueen edition

Freddie Mercury + immortality, hypnosis

Brian May + time travel, projection

John Deacon + teleportation, invulnerability

"I love the fact that I can make people happy, in any form. Even if it’s just half an hour of their lives, if I can make them feel lucky or make them feel good, or bring a smile to a sour face, that to me is worthwhile"

— Freddie Mercury

Pic: Queen Live Performance! Freddie Mercury on stage - Oakland, CA, USA, Oakland Coliseum Arena, September 7, 1982

'Hot Space Tour'

“They tell me that I can’t play the guitar, and I wholeheartedly agree, I tell you.“ 

Brian in the background, giggling: "That’s right!”. 

Freddie: “I only know four fucking chords on this thing, and I’m going to try and include them in this next song. Are you ready?”

*cracks knuckles*

Based on everything Brian has said, it seems as if Harold had a certain idea of what he wanted his son to be, namely a traditional patriarch (the husband, the father, the head of the family) with an academic education. This is the role that Harold himself had (For instance, Brian has talked about Harold not allowing his wife to obtain a driver's license), and he wanted Brian to follow in his footsteps. This isn't uncommon, of course, but it evidently was a lot of pressure for Brian to shoulder, especially as an only child.

Brian has talked at length about Harold disapproving of his putting aside his education to focus on Queen - disapproving to the point where he refused to speak to him for a long time! And economic insecurity wasn't the issue here. The problem was, as Brian has said, that Harold himself had been "forced" to give up his musical dreams to settle down with his family. So, basically, he just resented Brian for being able to follow a dream he himself had to lay to rest. I think this is incredibly messed up. As a parent, you should want your child to achieve their dreams instead of actively blaming them for trying. (It's also worth noting that this might be the reason why Brian didn't fully consider his musical career a "worthy job" until he was in his fucking fifties/sixties!)

There's also the issue of marriage. I think there's enough evidence to suggest that Brian wouldn't have married his first wife if he hadn't been eager to please his father. He said in an interview with Howard Stern (while talking about his first marriage) that he felt he'd tried to "live the dreams of his parents" instead of doing "what he actually wanted to do," and that says it all, I think. The values imposed on him by his father kept him from living the life he really wanted for himself.

And then, of course, I have to be controversial and say that Brian has expressed feelings of shame related to "issues with" his "heterosexuality" that I can't help thinking are also connected to the way he was raised and the values he's internalized. I mean, there's a tape of Brian in his late fifties openly stating that he sees beauty "not only in women (...) in things I've been insulated from in the past," heavily implying that he's been prevented from recognizing his own attraction to men, specifically because of or by something. So there's also that.

This might have been sent four (4) years ago, I'm not quite sure. I took a break from writing for Queen for a while, but I'm back and hotter than ever. This is sad and it's gay, but I think I missed the mark on sweet. I think I missed the mark pretty wide lol. Bittersweet, maybe. Definitely.

CW for alcohol use and some post-breakup self-flagellation

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"I can't look."