Hello everybody,
I'm Laura from Spain. I can't say that my English is very bad but being a spaniard I've never understood what the title of my favorite song mean. It doesn't have a translation (I think)
But can anybody help me?
Thank you so much.
I can't wait to see Queen + Paul Rodgers in Madrid on the 1st April.
Bohemian-somebody, often a writer or an artist, who does not live according to the conventions of society.
Rhapsody-music a composition that is often irregular in form, emotional in effect, and improvisational in nature.
And there you have it! ;)
Well yes, individually I can more or less guess what they mean. But what about when you put them together? Does this title have coherence at all?
Maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Anyway thank you very much for answering
The title isn't as much about the song as it is Freddie; He was somebody, a writer and artist, who did not live according to the conventions of society, and his music were compositions that were often irregular in form, emotional in effect, and improvisational in nature.
From one of my earlier postings:
(Try using the search button...) link
Bohemian is usually used more as a "State of mind" than a country, defined as: link
"A person with artistic or literary interests who disregards conventional standards of behavior".
"A restless vagabond; -- originally, an idle stroller or gypsy (as in France) thought to have come from Bohemia; in later times often applied to an adventurer in art or literature, of irregular, unconventional habits, questionable tastes, or free morals. [Modern]
Note: In this sense from the French boh['e]mien, a gypsy; also, a person of irregular habits."
Rhapsody: Exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing. A literary work written in an impassioned or exalted style. A state of elated bliss; ecstasy.
Music. A usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.
Therefore as a rough translation of the title "Bohemian Rhapsody" means:
An epic, exalted, excessively enthusiastic musical expression of irregular form that incorporates improvisation suitable for uninterrupted recitation - about an adventurer of irregular, unconventional habits, questionable tastes, or free morals.
I feel that "Bo Rhap" is more figurative than literal, (but still abiding by the above definitions) - and still swear that it encompasses the personal feelings and emotions of Freddie at that time, and although criticised in the past (I know that Freddie did NOT literally kill anyone), because it is written in the first persona, is a true personal story in a very real but metaphorical sense.
Now I accept that this is my opinion - but given that "Bohemain" and "Rhapsody" are found in the title only, and that the words are not used in elsewhere in the song itself...