How do you think his Indian origins and early oriental up-bringing have influenced him personality or music wise?
I could say that in terms of character it must had an input on the colorful expression of emotion, discipline and the graces of dignity and generosity as highly respected. Also a value system that celebrates family-ties and a very "human" representation of the shelf.
I find in his music a close relathionsip with melodrama ( Bollywood overtones?) and a row passion tamperament a bit rare for the Western standards . There is also an extereme admiration of melody and vocal phrasing wich captures music colors and harmonies in- between the notes or semitones. I think that listening to Lata Mangeshkar ( reportedly he did as a teen) or other indian music must have left a special signature in his technique and taste. Songs like Melancholy blues, Mustafa or even the exotic aroma of Horns of Doom are presenting an inspiration coming from a very different, not U.K., background.
Now i am beeing perhaps too "inventive" here but i also see an admiration of the male identity wich is mostly found in extremely Patriarcy societies as those of Zanzibar and Bombay. This admiration of the (supposed) male superiority is embodied bouth in the adaptation of archetypicaly male gestures, physic and the moustache growth , but also in his sexual taste in men. Not just males but the macho-man/daddy type as a constant reminder of the "phalic value system" of his early culture wich celebrates man in "all his glory".
These words are said with respect and with no-intetion to offend any of Freddie's sensibilities and/or preferences.
I think you are reading ethnic origins into what are really personal traits. I'm sure you didn't mean it like this, but it is very similar to the way race-thinkers operated in the early 20th century, and that gives it a foul aftertaste for me.
Music is a supremely personal way of expression. What you are hearing is Freddie exposing his personality, not his ethnic heritage.
If his supposed Indian roots were important to him, he would have alluded to them. For instance, there is no trace of Indian musical structure or harmony in any of Queen's music. Freddie was, first and foremost, British, as are many people in the commonwealth.
I alway thought that the only Mercury's song that could be influenced by the Indian music is Great King Rat, which rhythm seems to be untypical for any of European music.
I don't really hear Indian influence in Queen or Freddie's solo music. His music is theatrical, but I doubt that its a sign of his ethnicity, most of Queen were theatrical and the rest of them were born British. And many Indian musicians aren't particularly theatrical -- and i really think it's a stretch to say that his being gay was because of coming from a patriarchal society... if anything, i would think a 'typical' Indian background would encourage marriage and children.
You CAN see his cultural background represented in things such as his funeral. And maybe his respect for his family, etc.
Oh, also, he never 'officially' came out to his family, which indicates that being attracted to men was not really expected, or associated with mainstream masculinity in his cultural background.
No offense intended, just my thoughts. :)
ole-the-first wrote: I alway thought that the only Mercury's song that could be influenced by the Indian music is Great King Rat, which rhythm seems to be untypical for any of European music.
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Or Mustapha with the "salam aleikum" and "aleikum salam" lines... in zanzibar "salam aleikum" (it's an arabic greeting but freddie could has hear it) is a "greeting" wich means "peace be upon you" or something like that... it's a kind of "Hello" and "aleikum salam" (at the end of the song) a kind of "goodbye"...
marvinp01 wrote: Did he know his native language? Was he bilingual???
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I've heard that his native language was gujarti, but I'm not sure. And yes, he was bilingual.
There must obviously be a stong influence in there somewhere given he spent his formative years in places that were a hell of a lot different to suburban London, regardless of the British colonial influence on them. His upbringing is another thing that adds, along with his natural personality traits, to him being so completely different.
ole-the-first wrote: marvinp01 wrote: Did he know his native language? Was he bilingual???
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I've heard that his native language was gujarti, but I'm not sure. And yes, he was bilingual.
Freddie spoke Gujarati? Coooollll... i kinda met a guy online and he speaks Gujarati :D