A retired business owner, my passions are cooking, photography and eating. I use all three of these when I write for recipeyum.com.au which is on HubGarden
Event: -
Wowing the Audience with Queen
What can I say about this iconic band? Words just cannot describe how much I enjoy Queen's songs and watching them perform and the next best thing is going to one of "their" live shows.
Even though there is no Freddie Mercury, I was so looking forward to attending this event! I have all the CDs, a few videos and he is one of the few artists that I love to turn the music up very loud and just sit and chill to as his unique voice wafts through the room.
Freddie Mercury was just ao talented and a wonderful performer. He came across as very flamboyant, however, in private life, he was actually shy. He seemed to thrive and relish the adoration he received from the crowds he was performing for.
Image: Denis Bourez from France - Madame Tussauds, LondonUploaded by SunOfErat, CC BY 2.0,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30316871
Freddie Mercury was my idol for many years (and still is!) and he had a talent who was both diverse and fascinating - he wrote his own brilliant music and I love the way he entertained. I loved his movements and just loved to watch him. He even has several full size statues built of him, one in England and one in Lake Geneva, Switzerland!
Most of his songs are very "catchy" and he was just a true champion.
The - Show Queen It's A Kinda Magic Australian Tour 2017 However, this article is not really about Freddie per se, and no one can replace Freddie, however Giles Taylor managed to perform Freddie Mercury's songs very well.
Opening of the show
Giles Taylor has a brilliant voice and the whole audience was really "rocking" to the songs - he interacted very well with the audience and even came down a few times while singing and walked through the theatre.
Of course, Giles Taylor would know he has huge "boots to fill" when impersonating an icon such as Freddie Mercury, and to this end, he has done a sterling job. His movements, even the way he holds his head, is very much like Freddie did.
Typical Freddie Mercury pose
The costumes worn throughout the show are the same as Freddie wore, making the performances seem quite "real". Here is a video made several years ago that will give you some idea of the It's A Kinda Magic performance.
This tribute show is endorsed by Freddie Mercury's personal assistant, and biographer, Peter Freestone, and so the small nuances that were known to Peter, have come through in the show by Giles Taylor.
Songs Performed There were 24 songs performed during this 2½ hour performance (with a 20-minute interval) and these songs included:
It's a Kind of Magic
Radio Ga Ga
Same outfit as Freddie wore
Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
Killer Queen
Somebody to Love
We Are the Champions
Bicycle Race
Another One Bites the Dust
Another one bites the dust
Play the Game
Don't Stop Me Now
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
I Want to Break Free
Tie Your Mother Down
I Want It All
It's a Hard Life
You're My Best Friend
Under Pressure (originally sung with David Bowie)
We Will Rock You
Made in Heaven
Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy
Seven Seas of Rhye
On drums was Kyle Thompson with a guitarist, Richie Baker, and the band excelled in the effort and music churned out by them, including several solo pieces.
A stunning moment in the concert!
There was a long encore during which they sang We Are the Champions, which is possibly one of Queen's best-known songs, and which was performed brilliantly.
Parting outfit!
Merchandise
There was Queen merchandise available including t-shirts, programmes, and of course that renown moustache which added some humour for the audience!
Queen merchandise - moustaches!
Conclusion
Although it was NOT Freddie, this type of show will help keep Freddie's name alive. I saw it at the Astor in Mt Lawley and it will be touring throughout Australia over the coming weeks.
Perth show
Gone but not forgotten by millions
Ticket for Queen
Freddie Mercury died on the evening of 24th November 1991, aged just 45, at his home in Kensington, UK, just over 24 hours after issuing a statement about his illness.