FEATURE:
Living on My Own
Freddie Mercury at Seventy-Five: Will We Get a Biopic/Documentary About the Legend?
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ON 5th September…
it will be the seventy-fifth birthday of Freddie Mercury. We lost the iconic lead of Queen in 1991. I have done a few features about his legacy and best performances. I wonder whether Mercury would still be recording were he still alive. Certainly, he would have enjoyed many more years with Queen. Maybe he would have recorded some solo albums and done some collaborations. One can read about Mercury and get a sense of the man. Many know that, whilst he was an extrovert and showman on stage and record, he was shier and quieter away from the spotlight. Many artists have this dichotomy. Like they are unleashed and become someone else when they are performing. I am interested regarding Mercury being portrayed on the screen. This Wikipedia article lists the posthumous screen representations:
“The 2018 biographical film Bohemian Rhapsody was, at its release, the highest-grossing musical biographical film of all time. Mercury was portrayed by Rami Malek, who received the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor, for his performance. While the film received mixed reviews and contained historical inaccuracies, it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama.
Mercury appeared as a supporting character in the BBC television drama Best Possible Taste: The Kenny Everett Story, first broadcast in October 2012. He was portrayed by actor James Floyd. He was played by actor John Blunt in The Freddie Mercury Story: Who Wants to Live Forever, first broadcast in the UK on Channel 5 in November 2016. Although the programme was criticised for focusing on Mercury's love life and sexuality, Blunt's performance and likeness to the singer did receive praise.
In 2018, David Avery portrayed Mercury in the Urban Myths comedy series in an episode focusing on the antics backstage at Live Aid, and Kayvan Novak portrayed Mercury in an episode titled "The Sex Pistols vs. Bill Grundy". He was also portrayed by Eric McCormack (as the character Will Truman) on Will & Grace in the October 2018 episode titled "Tex and the City".
Freddie Mercury has often been represented on stage and screen in the context of Queen. Whilst the Bohemian Rhapsody film provided an insight into the more private Mercury (and the relationship with his parents), there were some creative licenses and a sense of his private life being watered down a lot. Not to say that there should be something warts-and-all, though it would be good to watch a documentary where we get to learn about Mercury’s musical inspirations and what it was like growing up. I am fascinated about the early days with Queen and this very special and powerful lead captivating crowds. Most people associate Mercury with being a phenomenal singer. I think a lot of people underrate his songwriting ability. He could be touching, romantic, silly, fantastical or pompous. Compare a song like Love of My Life (from A Night at the Opera) or the delightfully whimsical Bicycle Race (from Jazz). Mercury has exceptional range! He was quite a complex figure and, whilst he was not free from drama, I feel there is so much to unearth and love. I would like to know more about his friendship with Kenny Everitt and what it was like recording his solo album, 1985’s Mr. Bad Guy (where the hit, Living on My Own, is from). As we look ahead to what would have been the master’s seventy-fifth birthday, I am sure there will be projects and plans. Maybe new books are being written. I am not sure whether a follow-up to Bohemian Rhapsody will happen any day soon. There is still this huge appreciation and fascination for one of the greatest artists who has ever lived. To me, there are few voices as incredible as Mercury’s. He was the ultimate frontman. Whilst some are not keen on Queen, I really like them and have always felt Mercury’s tracks (the ones he wrote) were the most exceptional (one could write an entire piece on the genius of Bohemian Rhapsody!). Even though this year marks thirty years since we lost Mercury, with the wonderful music out in the world, it is…
VERY much like he is still with us.