"The very first song they recorded in Munich was 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love,'" Bardola says. He and his bandmates Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon were particularly fond of Musicland Studios, founded in the early 1970s by composer and music legend Giorgio Moroder. That was the very first ever Queen concert in Germany, and he recognized then that Munich was an attractive city." Queen 'conquers' the US from Germanyįreddie Mercury was attracted to Munich's vibrant music scene.
"Freddie changed a lot in Munich," says Bardola in an interview with DW. He found refuge there and experienced an artistic awakening. Yet, despite the fame, Mercury was left alone in Munich. with " Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1975 and were no longer unknown in Germany. The band Queen had already scored their first number one hit in the U.K. Germanist and author Nicola Bardola has written an extensive biography of Mercury's time in Munich, quoting the singer at the outset as saying, "I've found a place, which is called Munich, where I can actually walk the streets." This is one of the reasons he felt so at home in the Bavarian metropolis of Munich, where he lived for a period between 19. I’m just thinking in terms of how we, maybe, we’re going to adapt it on stage and how people are going to… It’s a public, public stroke group thing really."Mercury in München" looks at the singer's years in the Bavarian city of Munich Unknown in Munich We were dragged through all kinds of hell by people, but we emerged victorious.”įreddie Mercury: “Basically it is a participation thing. “But, you know, it came from him and there was a kind of delicious arrogance to Freddie, and I think, if I’m truthful, I think, you know, the very first meaning of it probably was that we were, you know, damn right. But of course, it only takes a moment’s thought to realize that “We Are The Champions” doesn’t just mean me, and my pals, it means all of us. It’s the most egotistical and arrogant song I’ve ever written.”īrian May: “I think we were all just mildly shocked, ‘cos it sounded so, kind of, arrogant. It’s just pure commercial, call it what you like. After the slagging off we get from the English music press, I mean who cares? We’ve got nothing to lose now.”įreddie Mercury: “Oh, I’m a cold, heartless bugger. Roger and Freddie rose to the moment in characteristic style:
“And only Queen could come up with the title, “We Are The Champions.” I mean, where’s the modesty gone?” ?Watch #QueenTheGreatest 'We Are The Champions' the composition seen being recorded in this fascinating archival footage! ? /cwrcSfbxa4 It’s the most egotistical & arrogant song I’ve ever written.” Freddie Mercury This time, the focus is partly on the reception of the media to “We Are the Champions” - specifically, questions of “arrogance” and “modesty” as it pertains to the track’s grandiosity. It followed a two-part exploration of the story behind “We Will Rock You,” also another of Queen’s most-beloved contributions to music (and pop culture).
FREDDIE MERCURY WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS SERIES
The latest episode of Queen: The Greatest, the English band‘s YouTube series exploring its vaunted history, was premiered on Friday, and tackles one of the group’s most enduring classics: “We Are the Champions.”