This is a general question about the early 80's in New York.
You mentioned how free and hedonistic the feeling was during those times. Of course New York is a huge city with millions of people but did you hear some funny stories about coincidents in those gay clubs? You know, obviously there were people from all walks of life there and some were in the closet. I just think it would be pretty funny if some guys were queuing to some glory hole room and behind you in the line was your bank manager, neighbour or co-worker. "Oh, hello, you come here too?"
I reckon everyone was equal in those places. Some high class lawyer would be in the same sauna department as the janitor or security guard from the same law firm? It would be interesting to see them in the elevator next Monday at the office. Would there be any smalltalk.
There have been legendary stories about some of those dark rooms. Is it really true there were these rooms were some guys were tied and chained and then some 15 men would take their turn in hammering them? I mean who can pull that through? You are a health care professional. Is it really possible to have a lifestyle like that? I know hemorrhoids can be painful, but fifteen big johnsons per night sounds just unreal.
Hey RBoulain,
As far as I know, "Barcelona" did not become the expected theme of the Olympics as Freddie told us it would be. If people love
the song and continue to play it, even today, my point is that it was not considered the theme song of the Barcelona Olympics
which Freddie thought it would be. Do you think otherwise? Was the song played DURING the Olympics? I do not know.
Rainbow and Katydyd,
Wonderful to read both of your responses. Truly, this is where great people who love Freddie can come together.
I am so proud.
Hi Flash Elephant,
As I have said, I never witnessed Freddie being attracted to "dark rooms." I, personally hated the "free for all" atmosphere of dark rooms.
I believe Freddie felt the same way.
Thor, are you familiar with the show 'Nurse Jackie'? The whole series is on Netflix now but it was originally on Showtime. Anyway, I'm a fan of the show and it focuses on a nurse who is great at her job but battles with a prescription drug addiction herself in a busy hospital in NY. A drama-dy. There is another nurse on the show named Thor who is a gay man that happens to be in the hospital when an older gentleman is brought in. Thor spends the episode finding out all these really interesting things about the man. Mainly that he had been brave enough to come out of the closet during the 60s and 70s and that he found love and survived "the plaque" that was going through new york in the 80s. He has a touching moment with the guy and is by his side when he passes away (sort of a spoiler, I know, but sorry!) He has this great talk with him before he leaves about being a rolemodel for him as a younger gay man and such. Of course it made me think of you! I couldn't find it on YouTube to post for you, so I'm recording it myself to show you (please don't come after me, Showtime!). I'll post a link when it's finished. I think the work you've done over the years is incredible and it takes a whole lotta heart to be able to do it. I'm also one of those young LGBT people who look up to guys like you, Lee and Freddie for putting yourselves out there (totally out or not) at a time when it just wasn't so accepted. It's because of guys like you that people like me can be more open about who we love. Be back with the link soon.
Hi Katydyd5,
Apart from these QueenZone fans, I personally don't know anyone else who is a big Freddie fan. Actually, one of the biggest Freddie fans I met was in a store checkout line a few months ago. I happened to be wearing a tee shirt from the Queen + concert I attended this summer. (Yes, it PAINS me that I never saw Freddie perform, but I figured if I wanted to see even half of Queen, I better jump on this chance now. Doubt they will tour again.) The lady asked about the show. It turns out she had seen Queen in Connecticut sometime in the late 70's. It was when Freddie was wearing his leotard and threw roses into the crowd. I'm paraphrasing now, but she basically said when he was on stage you couldn't take your eyes off him....that he was a mesmerizing performer! I was so jealous!
My mother constantly gets all these links to stories about about Queen on her cell phone, many of them about Brian May and the current Queen tour. She always forwards them to my email. Bless her! I Don't have a Smart Phone or I-Phone or anything like it. I have a Tracfone that I only use it for phone calls and an occasional text, so I'm rather a techno-dolt. Besides someone coming right out and saying "Rainbow61, I sent you a PM", I don't know how I would know that. If anyone has ever sent one and I didn't respond, I apologize. Now you know why. Sorry, I have no idea what the buddy icon is for either.
My mother, who is 76, is not a Queen fan, but I have sent her numerous videos of Queen performing. She has watched them all and admitted she thought Freddie was one of the best performer/singers she had ever seen. She also thought the Live Aid show was phenomenal. My younger brother recently admitted that he used to sneak into my bedroom when I wasn't there and listen to my records including my Queen albums!
Thor, the Barcelona song was used for the Olympics as I remember hearing it a lot at that time. I just googled it to confirm in case my memory was lying to me, for I was only 6 in 1992 and my memory is hazy...
After its second peak in popularity, it went back to 2 in the charts in 3 countries, 1992.
[QUOTE] [b]thundergod wrote:[/b]
Hi Flash Elephant,
As I have said, I never witnessed Freddie being attracted to "dark rooms." I, personally hated the "free for all" atmosphere of dark rooms.
I believe Freddie felt the same way.[/QUOTE]
Also I swear Peter Freestone said at one point that he wasn't into the real kinky stuff, but he did like to wear all the leathery costumes!
All these witness accounts are kind of extinguishing all the rumours about Freddie being some real dark, seedy, sleazy perv, which is good.
Hi again Thor.
I checked it and found this:
'There were two main musical themes for the 1992 Games. The first one was "Barcelona", a classical crossover song composed five years earlier by Freddie Mercury and Mike Moran; Mercury was an admirer of lyric soprano Montserrat Caballé, both recorded the official theme as a duet. Due to Mercury's death eight months earlier, the duo was unable to perform the song together during the opening ceremony. A recording of the song instead played over a travelogue of the city at the start of the opening ceremony, seconds before the official countdown'.
I had to check because I was so sure I saw Montserrat singing it with Freddie on the screen.
So we can proudly say Freddie did it :)
Rainbow61, I ran into a fan in a checkout line too! We Will Rock You/We are the Champions happened to be playing on the store sound system. I don't know what I was doing but I noticed her looking at me and I said, "Be glad I'm not singing along!" She laughed and said, "I will if you will!" I love quick encounters like that.
I understand that you think you are a techno-dolt : ) but you might consider Facebook. My family is scattered all over so that's why I originally joined but now I really enjoy it. There are an amazing amount of Freddie/Queen pages that have lots of pictures, videos and articles. Much of it isn't new to me anymore, but every once in a while a real gem pops up. There is the usual fighting over trivial stuff, but I never engage and basically scroll right past all of it to get to the good stuff. I particularly enjoy the behind-the-scenes videos and interviews.
I do have a life, but this is a great way to spend my free time. : )
Rainbow61 and Katydyd5 (Btw, my mum and aunt both grew up reading and loving some books called 'What Katy did' 'What Katy did next' when they were kids... Have you taken your name from those?)
Here is my fun encounter with another Freddie fan. (Perhaps we should start a thread about that)
I was waiting at the airport to pick up someone whose plane was delayed by almost 2 hours! I did not mind as I had a new book about Freddie to read. Then this lady (a bit older) comes and sits next to me and asks if I am a Freddie fan. Turns out she had seen him perform live in Montreal, and was totally hypnotised by his stage presence, and his voice! And was an even bigger fan than me. She was a folk guitarist and had come to Vancouver for some music festival. She spent the next 2 hours telling me all about Queen, and she knew a lot! I wished the plane had been 4 hours late!
Plus the company I work for had years ago done a social project and for my part I had chosen 'Queen' as my topic. It was really fun talking to random strangers about Queen, and I was surprised at how many had some story to share or just started singing a Queen song for me. Almost everybody had a big smile on their face!
I remember in 1992,it was decided that Barcelona would make way for a NEW official Olympics song, Amigos Para Siempre by Sarah Brightman and José Carreras. There was uproar. As it turned out, the new track only scraped into the UK top 20,whilst Freddie and Montserrat rocketed to number two. Nowadays, the Brightman song has been pretty much forgotten, and when the 1992 Olympics are referenced or mentioned, there is only one song that accompanies any footage - you've guessed it- "Barcelona "from Mr Mercury and Ms Cabale.
Noorie, your work project sounds like fun!
Sorry to say, I haven't heard of the "Katy did" books but I might check and see if Amazon has any info. I chose the name because it's close to an old college nickname and was one of the first screen names I used eons ago. :)
I love your airport story! It leads me to ask what Queen books you would recommend? Or maybe, of all you've read, which was your favorite? I've read several, but I'm always looking for new suggestions.
BTW, apologies to all because I realize I've sort of managed to take some people off topic here and I'd very much like to get back to the original idea that brought me here: Hearing memories from Thor!
Yes but one song didnt take over the other, it was decided there would be two songs, these both. One performed at the beginning, the other at the end.
Im grateful that "Amigos para siempre" shit was forgotten because... My God, ridiculous.
No disrespect tho.
