Legacies Left Behind

Written by Gabby MasonPhotograph from Bohemian Rhapsody I grew up in between stacks of CDs, now-antiquated discs. I would sit on the living room floor, organizing them by album cover, favorite band, alphabetically; ABBA, Bee Gees, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Queen, REO Speedwagon, Styx. Dark winter nights were kept at bay in the warm glow of the kitchen, Queen songs blasting while we washed dishes, shaking soapy hands out to play a drum solo with wooden spoons. As I grew older, though, I wrinkled my nose at these impromptu kitchen concerts, instead turning up the “iHeart Radio Top Hits” on my iPod Nano to drown out the noise of my dad’s “oldies.” As CDs were left behind, I dismissed the music that came on them as well. Last week, I was reminded of my informal musical education when I saw the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I was shocked I knew every song, and was even more surprised that my friends who hadn’t grown up listening to Queen knew the songs as well, revealing the ubiquity of Queen’s music almost fifty years later. Songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Are The Champions,” “Somebody to Love,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “We Will Rock You” are iconic, still played at parties, bars, in department stores, and on the radio. The movie, despite receiving mediocre reviews, was a “feel-good” movie. Though I had a nostalgic attachment to the music and band, messages about defying the odds and pursuing artistic passion were clear to all, regardless of any prior knowledge about Queen. The love for music and performance was well-conveyed, with electric energy surrounding people who weren’t afraid to experiment with new sounds, ultimately changing the path of music forever. For anyone who has an appreciation for history, art, or music, I would recommend this movie, a celebration of artists who came before us. The lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, died in 1991 from bronchopneumonia as a complication of AIDS, but his legacy still lives on in his music, as depicted in this movie. As I listen to Queen now, I am left with a deeper message, one of legacy, about the power of art and the ability we have to influence the world even once we are gone.