Sci Fi History: Metropolis (1927)

Metropolis is a film set in an urban future in which workers and capitalists struggle against one another. The film is Marxist in viewpoint and demonstrates class warfare. On one hand, the capitalists live an easy life while the workers struggle for survival. In the end, the two sides reach an accommodation as a mediator intervenes. The human body serves as an allegory for society. The brain represents capitalists, the hands represent workers, and the mediator (the heart) brings them together.

The film has proved influential over the years. Blade Runner borrowed the cityscape. Star Wars appropriated the golden robot. Queen used scenes from the film in their “Radio Ga Ga” video. In the end, almost every Sci Fi film owes something to Metropolis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSExdX0tds4

The Top 200 Albums of All Time: Queen

A Night at the Opera: Queen (1975)
Brian May claims Queen would have broken up if A Night at the Opera flopped. At the time, it was the most expensive album ever recorded. They had little to fear as it debuted at #1 in Britain and #4 in the U.S. This album is an extravaganza that culminates with “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “God Save the Queen.”

Key Tracks:
You’re My Best Friend
Bohemian Rhapsody
Love of My Life
Death on Two Legs

My All-Time Grammy Awards

Best Vocals: Roger Daltrey: Love Reign O’er Me

Greatest Guitar riff: Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple

Greatest Guitar Solo: David Gilmour: Comfortably Numb

Greatest Bass Line: Another One Bites the Dust: John Deacon (Queen)

Greatest Bass Solo: My Generation: John Entwhistle (The Who)

Greatest Drum Performance: Moby Dick: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

Greatest Keyboard Performance: Light My Fire: Ray Manzerek (The Doors)

#27 Queen

Queen is known for their musical diversity, harmonies, and their live shows. In fact, an industry poll ranked Queen’s Live Aid performance the greatest live performance of all time. They debuted in 1973. They originally attempted to merge Metal with Prog Rock. Their first album is considered one of the most underrated albums of all time. They broke the following year with “Sheer Heart Attack.” The album featured a fusion of many genres including Metal, soft ballads, and Caribbean.

They followed their breakthrough with the most expensive album ever produced to that point. “A Night At The Opera” is considered one of rock’s greatest. The album included “Bohemian Rhapsody” which combined opera with rock music and became the third largest selling single of all time. The band continued to release hit after hit in the 1970s. In 1980, “Another One Bites the Dust” became an anthem for the Detroit Lions and other sports franchises adopted it along with “We Are the Champions” for championship runs. Also in 1980, Queen also scored the soundtrack for the forgettable movie, Flash Gordon.

Queen continued to play to massive crowds. In 1981, they performed before nearly 500,000 during a Latin American tour. On several occasions, crowds numbered over 100,000. In 1985, one concert drew 180,000. Then came Live Aid. Freddie did not like Live Aid’s political slant, but Bob Geldof told him he’d have the largest audience ever to perform in front of. That sold Mercury.

In the the late 1980’s or early 1990s, Freddy was diagnosed with AIDS. He began to look sickly. He denied the rumors until November 1991. Mercury died less than twelve hours after releasing the statement confirming his illness. Queen’s popularity increased dramatically as a result of the publicity, a benefit concert for Mercury, and the movie Wayne’s World. People flocked to record stores requesting “the new Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody.” (Dumb asses). After Mercury’s death, the band never officially disbanded and in 2004 began touring with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, The Firm) on lead vocals. This incarnation split in May 2009.

Rock n Roll Moment: A biker gang attempted to jump members of Queen. Roger Taylor flashed his college ID and warned them he was a martial arts expert. Taylor claimed the law required he notify the gang three times that he had a black belt. The bikers ran away.

Essential Queen:

A Night at the Opera (1975)
News of the World (1977)
The Game (1980)
Greatest Hits (1981)
Greatest Hits II (1991)

Queen’s Top 10:

Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You
Fat Bottomed Girls
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Another One Bites the Dust
Flash
Under Pressure (with David Bowie)
Radio Ga-Ga
Who Wants to Live Forever
The Show Must Go On