A-Z Challenge: Queen

Sure, Queen may be a cliche band to use for the letter Q, but let's face it, our options are somewhat limited here.  Besides, they were a talented band and their songs endure.

I saw this on Facebook a while back, and it's a great representation of the difference in talent we see from true artists and manufactured hits:

Freddy Mercury had a lot going for him.  His voice, piano playing and composition, lyrics...It's been said that he had an opportunity to correct his overbite but he didn't because he thought it could put his vocal range at risk.

Freddie Mercury died of AIDS, and he hid his ailment for along time, finally admitting to it on his deathbed.  Now I'm not sure if he was hiding the affliction and the stigma associated with the disease, or just his homosexuality in general, but a few months back I watched a Queen concert on cable, and by mid-way through it Freddie had stripped down to a pair of white Daisy Duke shorts, a red scarf, and a sailor's hat, and proceeded to prance around the stage as he sang.  So if it's the latter, I am astounded at the state of denial the public (and / or Freddie) must have been in. 

Don't get me wrong, I don't have any issues with him living his life the way he chose...it's just that he could have a a rainbow with the words "I'm Gay!" written across it tattooed across his chest and it would not have made the fact any more obvious. 

And for the record, that concert was awesome.  The drum solo included both the drum kit and a set of timpani, and the band cleared the stage for the operatic middle section of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and then came back on for the jam-out at the end.  Not only were Queen awesome musicians and songwriters, but they really knew how to stage a show.

And Brian May holds a Ph.D. in astro-physics.  So add wicked-smart to talented in his case.

Your move, Beyonce...