Playlist:
Queen. “Killer Queen” from Sheer Heart Attack. EMI Records: 1974.
Queen. “Bohemian Rhapsody” from A Night at the Opera. EMI Records: 1975.
Queen. “Love of My Life” from A Night at the Opera. EMI Records: 1975.
Barry Ryan. “Eloise” from Barry Ryan Sings Paul Ryan. MGM Records: 1968.
THE YELLOW MONKEY. “I don’t know” from 9999. Warner Music Japan: 2019.
VK Blanka. “Slave of Love” from Slave of Love. Avex Entertainment: 2016.
Queen Bee. “Fire” from Fire (Full Edition) - EP. Sony Music Entertainment (Japan): 2019.
Queen.  “Bohemian Rhapsody (Live Aid)” from Bohemian Rhapsody (The Original Soundtrack). Hollywood Records and Virgin EMI: 2018.

Listening Guide:
In 1985, in front of 72,000 people at Wembley Stadium in London, a British band made the entire audience and over 1.5 billion viewers go wild. A man in a white shirt and jeans with a mustache struck a few chords on the piano and began his performance.

Around fifty years ago, an extraordinarily innovative genre-blending six-minute-long song, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, caused a huge stir in the music world. This song is a symbol of uniqueness and innovation in both genre and theme. Its groundbreaking structure and fusion of multiple genres have left the audience jaw-dropping, challenged traditional songwriting conventions, and have completely changed how people perceive rock music. Freddie Mercury’s unique upbringing and emotional experiences also significantly contributed to the uniqueness of this song. You might wonder if there are any other songs, aside from those by Queen in the album A Night at the Opera, worthy of being in the same playlist with it. I also once doubted, but the answer is certainly yes. 

From 1968 to 2019, musicians all over the world have never stopped innovating. Each song in this playlist either emphasizes distinctive compositional styles, reveals inner struggles and journeys of self-discovery, or conveys their complex emotions as Freddie Mercury did in “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Also, you may expect to see how these artists who obviously live in completely different times influence or are influenced by one another. This interplay between generations adds depth to the musical landscape, revealing the creativity that spans decades and connects diverse voices. This playlist features songs by Queen along with other songs that have a unique connection to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, including British and Japanese rock music. It also features one of the most impactful live versions of the song. Let’s explore the creativity of artists across the world and look deep into their inner thoughts. 


Starting with “Killer Queen” by Queen, this song marks the first style change of Queen from more heavy metal and rock to an innovative theatrical style.  The recording of this song features elaborate four-part harmonies and multi-track recording, which were also applied to the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” later in an elaborated level. Much like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Killer Queen” reveals Freddie Mercury’s ability to blend intricate musical techniques with bold, theatrical expression, reflecting his inner struggles to balance his personal identity with his public image. The complexity of these songs reflects the emotional depth Freddie Mercury experienced as he navigated the turmoil within himself.


Then, we have our theme song directly after “Killer Queen”. In this way, you can directly experience the evolution of Queen’s sound. This connection highlights how the band expertly blended complex arrangements and storytelling, making the song unreplicable. As you listen, you can feel the intricate techniques of both tracks which show Queen’s artistic journey and their endless pursuit of musical innovation. These songs also reflect Freddie Mercury’s own inner struggles, as he sought to express his personal conflicts through increasingly complex and bold compositions. The shifting musical styles represent his desire to break free from conventional boundaries and explore new areas of both self-expression and musicality.


The next song, “Love of My Life”, features the internal struggles of Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of Queen who wrote both songs. While “Bohemian Rhapsody” explores themes of  liberation for those embracing non-traditional lifestyles, “Love of My Life” conveys a poignant sense of longing and heartbreak. So when you listen to these two songs, please focus on their lyrics and try to find out Freddie Mercury’s inner thoughts. The song "Love of My Life", according to Winahyu (2019), expresses Freddie Mercury’s longing for normal love back, which means his heterosexual love with Mary Austin, even though Freddie Mercury’s sexuality has caused their separation. For instance, the line "You've broken my heart / And now you leave me" reflects Freddie Mercury’s feelings of abandonment and heartache after separating with Mary Austin. 


Similar ideas of love and devotion are expressed in our fourth song, “Eloise” by Barry Ryan. The most notable part of this song is its huge change in emotions between verses and the somehow operatic elements of the vocal. Barry Ryan and Freddie Mercury both enhanced the emotion of their songs by using dynamic vocal techniques and complex arrangements that convey the intensity of their understanding of love. Another reason I chose this song is that Freddie Mercury was actually inspired  by the length and the operatic elements of this song and he relied on the precedent of “Eloise”’s six-minute length to counter EMI Records’ hesitance in releasing “Bohemian Rhapsody”.


While being influenced, “Bohemian Rhapsody” has also left a huge impact on other artists. Across the world in Japan, the band THE YELLOW MONKEY, formed in 1988, has been greatly influenced by Queen. One of their most representative songs over their thirty-plus years of work is “I Don’t Know”. The distinctive guitar riff and bass line represent the band’s unique innovation. More importantly, the lyrics explore the idea that in moments of confusion, one should not go with the flow, but instead seek out what truly matters to them and embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.


The next song is “Slave of Love” by VK Blanka. Like Freddie Mercury, this artiest likes to compose with piano. Listen carefully to the piano-based composition of this song and the heart-resonating lyrics written from personal experience, you can feel his deep expression of emotions. This echoes with the complex and delicate emotional world shown by Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”. This exploration of inner struggle and the desire for love makes the two songs connect in music and theme. The vulnerability in Blanka's lyrics, such as "I just want to be set free" and "while casually playing the part of myself / I’m always searching for traces of you", reflects his inner conflicts of longing to be freed from love while still being reluctant to let go of the traces of his lover. This somehow mirrors Freddie Mercury's emotional depth, further strengthening the parallel between their artistic expressions.


The next song is "Fire" by Queen Bee. Although this song may sound completely different from “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the complex structure, rich vocal skills, and impactful energy of this song are undoubtedly tied with it. If you listen closely, you'll find that, like “Bohemian Rhapsody”, this song also transitions from intensity to calm at the end, echoing with the beginning. To draw an analogy, the way this song blends sharp and complex electronic sounds and fast rap with traditional Japanese melodies creates an effect similar to the operatic section of “Bohemian Rhapsody”.


Finally, we have the Live Aid version of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. According to Gavin Edwards, Jon Pareles, Jim Farber, Wesley Morris (2018), this performance is especially special as it addresses Freddie Mercury's commanding stage performance, flamboyant fashion, and the emotional power of Queen's music. The reason I didn’t place it first is that this iconic performance serves as a powerful culmination of everything that makes the song legendary. At the time the song was performed, you may notice that Freddie Mercury's voice was really hoarse due to his disease. However, this did not affect the heat he brought to the audience.  In front of 72,000 people, Freddie Mercury's presence and vocal delivery elevated the song to new heights. The reason this version becomes one of the most iconic live performances is that it includes the essence of live music—raw emotion, audience engagement, and the magic of a shared experience. Just as Iain Blair describes, “with the audience all singing along, you’re getting this great celebration of Queen’s music and how inspiring they were live. That’s why the Live Aid section is so pivotal to their story” (2018). By placing it at the end, we celebrate not just the song itself, but also its unforgettable impact. 

After the crowd of 72,000 audience members sang along to “We Are the Champions”, Queen’s legendary Live Aid performance came to a close. They left an atmosphere of unity and triumph echoed long after the final notes faded away. This moment marked the end of a spectacular set and solidified Queen’s legacy in rock history. Reflecting on this playlist, we can see how each song not only stands alone but also contributes to a broader narrative of creativity, influence, and emotional expression in music history. This journey through sound ultimately invites us to appreciate the timeless nature of these connections and the enduring impact of Queen’s work.