Bowie Vs. Queen

Although Queen may have been the upright sensation that swept the nation, did they have the heart and soul of David Bowie? In tracks such as “Space Oddity,” “Heroes,” “Starman,” and “Life on Mars?” we see an outlook on humanity. Especially in “Life on Mars?” where Bowie explores the truth of humanity by following the narrative of a troubled young girl finding herself within the pop culture of the 70s, a thing that most can relate to. Whether it be the newest blockbuster film, or the latest hit artist, we find ourselves in an immersive world of fiction or nonfiction when listening to Bowie’s lyrics in “Life on Mars?”.This gives Bowie not only heart but a song the world can relate to whether it be a girl with mousy hair in the 70s or a modern Gallatin High School Student.

But to not talk about the characters Bowie possesses would be a crime. Of course we know of David Bowie but there was also Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, Aladdin Sane, and the Thin White Duke, to name a few; all of these were different characters explored by Bowie’s movies and albums. To say Bowie had a simple character would be an understatement and factually wrong as throughout his career, Bowie made it so his many characters became familiar faces in his discography. The most iconic of these characters was Ziggy Stardust, immortalized in the album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and Spiders from Mars,” and brought to life on stage by David Bowie.

The character of Bowie doesn’t stop there. David Bowie was a great musician and actor starring in films like “Labyrinth” and “The Man Who Fell to Earth”. This stardom not only in music but also acting is an achievement no member of Queen has ever accomplished to this very day.

On the other side of the coin, however, is the case for Queen. As previously mentioned, Queen swept not only England, but the entire world with their wave of never-before-seen rock-opera sound. The band– consisting of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon– had not one, but two number-one hits on the Billboard charts: “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” They have had 24 songs reach the Billboard Hot 100, which is a publication that tracks the most popular songs in the U.S.. Although their reach is undeniable, their music itself is an emotional experience when listened to. The odd lyrics and abstraction in their music leaves the emotional depth of each song to the interpreter, meaning that what “Somebody to Love ‘’ means to one person could be something completely different to another. This is undeniably their reason for popularity, and the reason why they continue to be one of the most recognizably iconic bands of all time.

In addition to their adaptability, Queen was a pioneer in their industry. Although rock was not a new genre, the band took it and crafted ballads such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” that completely reshaped the way rock was viewed. Freddie Mercury said it best when he stated, “We’re a very expensive group; we break a lot of rules, it’s unheard of to combine opera with a rock theme, my dear.”

Freddie Mercury, although an individual, became the face of the band. He was a naturally charismatic man who had an intense stage presence and was a master at capturing audiences. This is best depicted in the 2018 biographical film, Bohemian Rhapsody, which depicts the life and death of Mercury along with his involvement in the band.