In early 1967, The Beatles had been free from their previously hectic touring schedule for six months and were busily burrowing away in Abbey Road Studios in pursuit of their […]
Queen‘s reign at the top of the pop-rock podium is seemingly never-ending. The band, comprised of the magical frontman Freddie Mercury, the astrophysicist Brian May on guitar, the unstoppable John […]
Along with carrying rock and pop music to unprecedented heights throughout the 1960s, The Beatles achieved the kind of commercial success that their contemporaries could only dream of. Even Elvis […]
Brian May finds himself in an enviable position. A true Renaissance man, while he might be more known for his recent ecological efforts and PhD in astrophysics, he’s also a […]
Looking back, The Beatles could have been called The Chameleons because of how much they evolved. They began by writing short, sweet pop songs, then explored new styles as they […]
Freddie Mercury became a legendary frontman for Queen because of his powerful voice and amazing stage presence. He was incredibly talented and could entertain audiences in a way that many […]
For all of the accolades brought their way, The Beatles never presented themselves as egotistical maniacs. Compared to every other artist that seems to have their head expand to twice […]
When discussing the glam rock surge of the 1970s, names like David Bowie and T. Rex often come up. The very fact that the Queen is not immediately thought of […]
On June 23rd, 1966, The Beatles embarked on their last-ever global tour. They’d just finished recording their latest studio album, a kaleidoscopic progression through the future of rock and pop […]
![The 1980s saw iconic rock band Queen continuing their enjoyment of the successes of the previous years. The release of three quintessential Queen albums – A Night at the Opera, News of the World, and The Game – solidified their place as a major driving force in the musical zeitgeist, with songs like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ significantly transforming labels’ attitudes towards the possibilities of radio play for decades to come. After releasing the iconic Flash Gordon soundtrack in 1980, the band’s legendary frontman Freddie Mercury experienced a desire for something different, something that took his and Queen’s artistry to the next level and challenged audience expectations. 1982’s Hot Space would arrive as a result of this urge, although its sound seemed to divert too abruptly from Queen’s familiar and well-loved foundation for many fans, particularly those in the UK. At its crux, Hot Space leans heavily into disco influences. Mercury, as mentioned in the book Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words, expressed his desire for the album to be inspired by another of the band’s dance hits, ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, while also possessing greater musical coherence compared to their previous releases. However, although many fans welcomed the new direction, Mercury grew frustrated at how fans in England responded to it. “In this case, with Hot Space, I think it is a big risk, and the public have been torn between two,” Mercury explained. “I hope the Americans will see it as something new because the other side of the spectrum is that England just totally ignored it. It was obviously not their cup of tea. So, they just rejected it totally.” The album’s second single, ‘Body Language’, represented the band’s newfound desire to supercharge their talent for crafting funky dance beats. While ‘Body Language’ garnered some attention across America, its lukewarm response in England irritated Mercury. “I’m extremely upset — outraged, in fact,” he admitted. “I just think they could have given it a chance. I mean, I know ‘Body Language’ was the first one of its kind from us, but it met with such disapproval in England. God!” Adding, “If they think that because of that situation, I’m going to send leave back and come out with a rehash of ‘[Bohemian] Rhapsody’, they’re mistaken,” he said. Adding: “There’s no way I’m going to see that. But I’m glad that the Americans have seen that side of it.” Although ‘Body Language’ proved to be more successful in the US than in the UK, it still didn’t achieve the same level of success as Queen’s earlier, more popular hits like ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’. Perhaps it was the album’s abrupt departure from their usual style, unfortunate timing, or even Brian May’s less prominent role in ‘Body Language’ that left fans perplexed. Regardless, its allure lies precisely in its status as a genuine hidden treasure.](https://solidsoft4.xyz/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Freddie-Mercury-Queen-Singer-Frontman-Musician-Far-Out-Magazine-F-1024x768-4.webp)
The 1980s saw iconic rock band Queen continuing their enjoyment of the successes of the previous years. The release of three quintessential Queen albums – A Night at the Opera, […]