Freddie actually giving a final statment/not acting in TATDOOL Video/song

AlexRocks wrote:

No one knows except me apparently that when he says "I still love you." that that is from another song that they did. Ever heard of "Love Of My Life"?

I am VERY much aware that he did this in "Love Of My Life", especially the version at "Live At Wembley", where he also Speaks, not sings the final words, I Still Love You...when....I think Freddie already may have known he had AIDS.

My thoughts were that since "Love Of My Life" was one of Queen's & Freddie's favorites with the fans when performing live...and he and Queen adored the way the crowd responded to that song and loved interacting live with Queen, singing along at every live performance....

...that he took that as a ....cue and wanted to do it INTENTIONALLY as an affectionate nod to "Love Of My Life" and the fans' attachment/affection for that song and identifying it with Queen & Freddie, and so he thought it only befitting for the ending of TATDOOL....

Freddie saved my life with songs like this one. With his courage, strength, energy and will. Other people facing difficulty have that kind of determination, perhaps, but he had the power of music to break through. This song is an inspiration in my life: never look back and be melancholic about what's passed. Look ahead, make the most of life, enjoy the fact that precious gifts like love and friendship are always there and time will never destroy them. It's not easy to put that in practice but I'm learning...

I believe, and I may be wrong, that I can recall Brian saying in an interview (Maybe in Champions of the World) that looking back that he can now see that in this video it was totally Freddie saying goodbye in his own way.

arlene wrote:

In both the recorded and video versions of "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", just my opinion and feelings...but in NO way do I feel Freddie is just acting or performing in the video or just interpreting the song when he sings it. You can hear and visably see, this is his totally genuine final statement of Thank You and Goodbye to his friends, family, colleagues, of course the band and his fans.

He hadn't made barely any appearances in the public or done any videos the last year of his life, 1991. But he pulled his last bit of health and strength together, made the effort here, in the literal last months of his life. The video, his last, was shot in May 1991, only mere months before he passed. You can see the difference in his frail appearance, but he actually looks happy, in a bittersweet way, to be working again and making/performing wonderful music.

Watch his mannerisms in the video as they match the song's lyrics too (along with the band's mannerisms too, the way Brian, Roger, & John look and smile at one another and at Freddie. His utter conviction is all over this song/video.

The end of the song he speaks (he doesn't sing)... the lyrics, I Still Love You..and in the video, he even looks down, then tilts his head half upwards to the camera, and speaks those same words.

It's still my favorite song, unfortunately, the saddest....but the most beautiful, meaningful, sublime...

and you must admit, the whole band was on 100% full cylinders. Roger's percussion, John's bass, and....especially Brian's emotive, plaintive, elegiac, soaring guitar....all underscore Freddie's singing.

Actually, I guess the entire band was NOT acting or performing in this song and video. They were all in it together, a final touching Thank You and send off, for Brian, Roger, & John...to Freddie, and to everyone as they probably knew that this chapter of the band was about to end....

and for Freddie, to everyone.

That was a great descrription, wonderful! Now, I can see it...

It was Roger's song though - but I'm sure Roger would've noticed the "I Still Love You" reference. Probably deliberate, or maybe it was Freddie's suggestion? Hmmmph.

It's pretty risky business, when you're hiding an illness like AIDS, shooting a filmclip. I mean so many people work in TV and Film - the directors, the camera guys, the lighting guys, the guy that turns on the stereo for the guys to mime over - heck, the guy that holds the coffee for the stereo guy... it's a heck of a risk, what if just one of those guys blabbed to his family:
"OH I was at work today, I saw that Freddie Platinum and MAN did he look like a ghost".

My lasting regret is that the Show Must Go On didn't have a proper filmclip, because Brian reckons that Freddie saw that song as his farewell.

arlene wrote:

The end of the song he speaks (he doesn't sing)... the lyrics, I Still Love You..and in the video, he even looks down, then tilts his head half upwards to the camera, and speaks those same words.

Actually, he looks down cos Jim (Hutton) is sitting in front of him watching the final show (along with the shooting staff) he grins and laughs to jim and all the ridiculous and funny things in his life and in their relationship for the good and bad times and says in personal sence that "I still love you", (I will be alright, you just go on with your life knowing that you were the last and only man that I really loved in the end, not the beginning) to Jim.. In wider prospect he says it as his farewell to the whole fucking world.. but in that very moment.. he only feels Jim, and the rest of his closest fellows.

i totally agree that this video actually conveys a message from him. personally i think he knew it was his last video and i think in a way it helped him because like when your dieing you look back at your life and think like have a done it all, and i think if he didnt make that video, in his last days he might have like been thinking i could have done and should have that video.

im not sure you get what im saying but i totally agree with him for making that video

Malina(arlene), is that you?

Unless someone knocked me over the head and I have amnesia, I have always and only gone by the name of the one the only, Arlene...

Who is Malina anyway....sounds like..oh I won't go there...

great topic arlene well done, nicr too see the zoners in harmony

Seriously, are people actually wondering if Freddie meant it to be a message to everyone?

Of course he did!!

The video brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it, and of course it's just beautiful -- but I can only watch it once in awhile, perhaps because it's not something to be viewed lightly. I'm so happy Freddie made it for us -- What an amazing "goodbye." And of course the song itself is just lovely -- peaceful, calm, wistful and heartfelt.

Just my two cents,

Greg

I'm particularly touched that Roger is doing this song on the Queen+Paul Rodgers Tour...and that he used the concept of showing clips of Freddie behind him as he sings this song, on stage.

Since TATDOOL is my favorite song, and my favorite video, I...find that in 2005, Roger's Live Tour interpretation and PRESENTATION of the song...quite a wonderful, heartfelt way to honor the Original version of the song...and the original video of the song,...and Freddie.

One thing I would like to see in terms of unreleased Queen stuff, would be

1) The demos of the song iself
2) The outakes from the video

I mean they would mean so much since this song meant so much to Freddie, to the band, and to us the fans.

Now...how about that grin that Freddie does after "the rest of my life was just a show"...and then a slight glint in his eyes as he goes to the refrain?

The first time I saw the video, I was creeped out but now it's one of my favorite parts - I can't help but think he's being ironic, and tongue in cheek at that moment. A bit of typical Freddie "humor" - even in that final video.

This is my favorite video, and thanks to Freddie for making it.

As for the audio - his voice is so clear and beautiful.