This video strikes really hard not only to Queen funs but to everyone with a heart.
Knowing that Freddie almost always had a character and concept in mind its hard to believe that his "way out" would come unintentionally. So this video exept of heartbreaking is also essential.
The body language,look, energy and expressions he is adopting are again a new vehicle to say something that is in-between the lines.By (painfully) trying to recreate the old energetic self in this new fragile diseased body he undelines that the Mercury concept of all these years was not something that had to do (just) with youth or narcissism or external strenght or even health and well-being! Altough to some people the Mercury facade appeared superficialthe philosophy and drive was coming from a very deep core.And it was all about determination.
Lets not forget that Mercury was the persona that shy man Farrokh Bulsara progresivelly invented to survive and blossom. If that persona/alter ego could stay alive in the face of death what it means is that the persona was as real as the real person or the person underneath.The collision was so deep that nothing could set the two apart and now there was a proof.
I think Freddie wanted the world to know it.It was a life-time bet.No regrets.
On another level Mercury by obviously embodying death he lets more of the spirit to surface.
Together with the heavy make-up and lighting he becomes something like acorpse full of life.That could easily appear just macabre but somehow he manages to go beyond that. His playfull deep and reasuring look to the camera lets us know he still has things under control.There is no agony although he appears fully aware of the condition."My spirit is beyond my body and beyond my death" is what it comes out.
So Freddie Mercury towards the end becomes an idea, an ubstuct concept beyond the material biological side of the man and the musician.Iconic may be the right word.Even the heavy concept of martyr comes to mind.
And i think Freddie was to some level conscious about those analogies.
At the end of the day what it stays is that the physical demise and inevitable death will not steal the essence.And this video made that promise.
thomasquinn 32989 wrote:
Wow. That was all over the place, somewhat disturbingly eulogistic and posted four times. I gather you were rather pleased with the video?
It was posted four times by mistake, believe me.Yes i do like the video but obviously it goes beyond. I find Freddie's way out (not only by this video) created a platform where heavy issues re-introduced in a "creative" way.
I find Stelios' posts are almost always interesting and I appreciate the thought going into them. On a basic level I think Freddie just wanted to keep working. But he must have had some reason for not disguising and in fact emphasising his physical frailty at that time.