September 5th: The Day Freddie Mercury was Born

Ready Freddie

Freddie Mercury: he was the life and soul of the party, a leotard-loving moustache-wearing frontman of rock band Queen, and a devoted musician oozing with talent. Also went by the names of Farrokh Bulsara; (200 degrees that's why they call me...) Mr. Fahrenheit; and the ultimate Killer Queen. With Freddie, flamboyance was an understatement and to this day, he is still one of the world's greatest entertainers. This year he would have celebrated his 66th birthday (for all you math-phobics out there, that means he was born September 5th 1946)!
   But what a year it has been for Mr. Mercury, even posthumously. The London 2012 Opening and Closing ceremonies dedicated a large part to the genius of Queen's musical repertoire, most notably Bohemian Rhapsody, the worldwide phenomenon. It was a fantastic yet poignant moment to see the late Freddie Mercury captivate the audience in a way that made it impossible to resist singing along with him, just like his true performances of the past. One of the best showmen in history, Freddie had the rare skill of successfully controlling and playing along with the crowd, thus completely winning them over to his side. The way he would command himself on stage with such flair and showiness made him a spectacle to watch...and he could sing! Freddie's voice is now iconic. The originality of his tone and his unique qualities are up there with the voices of Michael Jackson; Elton John; Whitney Houston; etc. 
   A role-model for many, Freddie seemed to live his life to the full, but his death was tragic for friends, family and fans alike. Mercury's suffering in the last few years of his life didn't stop him continuing, despite his fateful illness. As Queen would have it, "The Show Must Go On", and this led to Freddie's hauntingly moving and final offering to music, These Are The Days of Our Lives. Since his death in 1991, tributes have poured in constantly honouring his masterful work, for example, the We Will Rock You West-End show; the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert; the statue in Montreux, Switzerland; the most recent Queen & Paul Rodgers tour; and the countless covers of Queen's masses of hits.
   Writing this blog-post has triggered me to resume my Queen obsession, which means I have to listen to Greatest Hits 1, 2 and 3 and maybe the Live at Wembley DVD, at the very least. I have no choice, music this amazing needs to be listened to. So on Freddie Mercury's 66th birthday, pay your respects to the late superstar by letting him entertain you. HE WILL, HE WILL, ROCK YOU!