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Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen
Queen is unique among the great rock bands. It's been nearly 20 years since frontman Freddie Mercury's death brought the band to an end, yet their fan base remains massive, they appeal equally to men and women, and their fans are just as likely to be teenagers too young to have been born when the band were still touring and making records (thanks not least to the huge success of the musical We Will Rock You ). Their musical history is one of constant reinvention—from heavy metal and prog rock to disco pop, stadium anthems, and even jazz influences. Now, having already interviewed the surviving band members over the years, Mojo journalist Mark Blake has tracked down dozens of new interviewees, from long-forgotten early bass players to Freddie Mercury's schoolmates, to deliver the definitive history of the band. He traces Queen's long career from their very first gawky performances in St. Helens, Merseyside through their sensational stage-stealing appearance on Live Aid to the band's collaboration with Paul Rodgers at the beginning of the century. Full of fascinating new revelations—especially about the improbable transformation of a shy Indian schoolboy called Bulsara into the outrageous-living hedonist that was Freddie Mercury—this is a book every Queen fan will want.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
218 people are currently reading
1145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
December 9, 2019
Facts, facts, facts, names,names, names, songs,songs,songs... my head is spinning 😵...
Translation of the edition I was reading was terrible.
But Freddie was Freddie. Lonely, shy and in the end very sad visionary, whose life was like a star that disappeared in the darkness way too early.. but then again, he was too good for this world 💔💔💔.
We will always miss you, Freddie. You WILL have forever. In our hearts.
Translation of the edition I was reading was terrible.
But Freddie was Freddie. Lonely, shy and in the end very sad visionary, whose life was like a star that disappeared in the darkness way too early.. but then again, he was too good for this world 💔💔💔.
We will always miss you, Freddie. You WILL have forever. In our hearts.
May 5, 2014
Could have been a lot better with the story on offer. It isn't particularly well-written and if it hadn't been about Queen I wouldn't probably have finished it. There are lots of mistakes in the text. At one point, it even got a Queen song title wrong. What bothers me more than anything, though, is the way John Deacon is often ignored. Sure, he was the quiet one. But too often, it goes: Freddie did this, Brian said that and Roger did something else. And John? Not mentioned. And if he is mentioned, it is often merely to imply that he only ever thought about the money. A bassist myself, with a massive debt to Deakey, I was offended by this. Still, lots of titles in the credits which I now want to check out so at least I got something out of it.
February 4, 2012
Verdict: 2 ludwigs
Elaborate look into the rock-band Queen and it members. Filled with facts, interviews and little known details. Personally, I got bogged down by those details.
Why should you read it?
Because it tells, as far as I can see, as complete a picture of Queen the band, and its members, as possible. Care to know where Brian May lived when he was 14? It'll tell you.
Why should you not read it?
If you don't care where Brian May lived when he was 14, or who was the sound engineer's best mate's second cousin for 'A Night at the Opera'. It has too few stories to keep all but the most die-hard Queen fans interested.
Elaborate look into the rock-band Queen and it members. Filled with facts, interviews and little known details. Personally, I got bogged down by those details.
Why should you read it?
Because it tells, as far as I can see, as complete a picture of Queen the band, and its members, as possible. Care to know where Brian May lived when he was 14? It'll tell you.
Why should you not read it?
If you don't care where Brian May lived when he was 14, or who was the sound engineer's best mate's second cousin for 'A Night at the Opera'. It has too few stories to keep all but the most die-hard Queen fans interested.
August 26, 2024
3.5
bardzo rzetelna biografia pełna strasznie wielu faktów. strasznie. i to właśnie odrobinę przytłacza, zwłaszcza na początku, który zajął mi najwięcej czasu
poza tym widać że reszta muzyków trochę ginie w cieniu Freddiego (na szczęście nie całkiem, ale jednak), chociaż można się było tego spodziewać
jak na biografię Queen, czegoś mi tu zabrakło, czegoś co by tę pozycję jakoś wyróżniło, sprawiło że miałaby w sobie to coś. a tak zostajemy z dobrą, ułożoną i dość wyczerpującą biografią
bardzo rzetelna biografia pełna strasznie wielu faktów. strasznie. i to właśnie odrobinę przytłacza, zwłaszcza na początku, który zajął mi najwięcej czasu
poza tym widać że reszta muzyków trochę ginie w cieniu Freddiego (na szczęście nie całkiem, ale jednak), chociaż można się było tego spodziewać
jak na biografię Queen, czegoś mi tu zabrakło, czegoś co by tę pozycję jakoś wyróżniło, sprawiło że miałaby w sobie to coś. a tak zostajemy z dobrą, ułożoną i dość wyczerpującą biografią
August 4, 2011
Why did I read a book about Queen? I do not know. But this book was about Queen.
February 16, 2025
2,5 ⭐
Książka sama w sobie nie przypadła mi za bardzo do gustu, w moim odczuciu była bardzo sztywno napisana i momentami zbyt szczegółowo, do tego stopnia, że często traciłam chęć czytania dalej od nadmiaru (zbędnych) informacji. Przez całą książkę pojawia się mnóstwo nazwisk, których nawet nie byłam w stanie spamiętać, oraz chaotycznie wrzucanych wypowiedzi, co dla mnie wyglądało jakby autor chciał na siłę wkleić ich najwięcej jak się da, nie przywiązując większej uwagi do tego czy wnoszą one coś ciekawego do całości biografii. Myślę, że to wszystko dałoby się przekazać w o wiele krótszej i przyjemniejszej formie. Długo się męczyłam z tą książką, a te dwie gwiazdki daje tylko z czystej sympatii do Queen i nielicznych fajnych momentów/ciekawostek.
Książka sama w sobie nie przypadła mi za bardzo do gustu, w moim odczuciu była bardzo sztywno napisana i momentami zbyt szczegółowo, do tego stopnia, że często traciłam chęć czytania dalej od nadmiaru (zbędnych) informacji. Przez całą książkę pojawia się mnóstwo nazwisk, których nawet nie byłam w stanie spamiętać, oraz chaotycznie wrzucanych wypowiedzi, co dla mnie wyglądało jakby autor chciał na siłę wkleić ich najwięcej jak się da, nie przywiązując większej uwagi do tego czy wnoszą one coś ciekawego do całości biografii. Myślę, że to wszystko dałoby się przekazać w o wiele krótszej i przyjemniejszej formie. Długo się męczyłam z tą książką, a te dwie gwiazdki daje tylko z czystej sympatii do Queen i nielicznych fajnych momentów/ciekawostek.
January 1, 2017
If you're looking for a detailed and well-documented account, this one is a must. Having spent hours on end talking to all those close to the band and reading all available documents, the author creates a highly informative story of the greatest band ever (at least for me). It's a great read in the era of smartphones - you can always check the facts, consult uncle Google for a set list from a concert years ago, and play the songs to accompany any given chapter. The only thing I'd like to see more of are the visuals - at times the author refers to a photograph which could've easily been included in the publication to accompany the few select ones (although I have to admit that the ones included are original and rarely seen). I recommend it to all of you out there who want to enjoy the anecdotal aspect of the book and to those who wish to learn about the amazing story of the greatest band on the face of the planet. It depicts the transformation of Farrokh into Freddie and the creative process of the band throughout the years, and it truly was fascinating!
July 31, 2019
As usual, even though it claims to be about Queen, the focus of this book is primarily on Freddie. I just wish it had been different in that aspect. But other than that, it was an interesting read, featuring some of the well-known anecdotes, as well as others that were new, at least to me.
Recommended for people who might not know much about Queen in general, and would like to get acquainted with the band's history.
Recommended for people who might not know much about Queen in general, and would like to get acquainted with the band's history.
May 10, 2023
5✨
Myślę,że była to w dobry sposób napisana biografia zespołu.Co prawda pojawiła się przeogromna ilość osób jak i artystów + informacji , których już teraz po przeczytaniu nie mogę spamiętać. Najbardziej chyba dotknęły mnie fragmenty z ostatnich chwil życia Mercury'ego. Były bardzo wzruszające z faktu, że pomimo choroby Freddie dalej tworzył piosenki na zapas.
Myślę,że była to w dobry sposób napisana biografia zespołu.Co prawda pojawiła się przeogromna ilość osób jak i artystów + informacji , których już teraz po przeczytaniu nie mogę spamiętać. Najbardziej chyba dotknęły mnie fragmenty z ostatnich chwil życia Mercury'ego. Były bardzo wzruszające z faktu, że pomimo choroby Freddie dalej tworzył piosenki na zapas.
February 5, 2025
Zdecydowanie za dużo nazwisk i czasami ciężko ogarnąć kto jest kto. Książka dobrze napisana i przekazuje emocje w sposób jaki biografia powinna.
Smutna czasami, czasami śmieszna. Jednakże rzeczywista
Smutna czasami, czasami śmieszna. Jednakże rzeczywista
September 1, 2025
Nije loše ali nije nikakav spektakl od knjige. Opet imam problem sa prevodom Dejana Cukića. Volio bih da mi objasni kako je od čajnika moguće napraviti bas gitaru. U pitanju je drvena kutija za čaj a ne čajnik. Ali dobro, sve u svemu solidna knjiga.
September 14, 2024
This book is about one of my favourite bands and I couldn't even finish it. It's just all about facts and not about the story at hand. Poorly written and full of typos. DNF for me.
January 31, 2020
Quando comprei A Verdadeira História do Queen, foi uma decisão de momento. Estava comprando outros dois livros e, de repente, vi a biografia, que eu nem sabia que existia, sobre o balcão. Como bom fã, de impulso, passei mão na edição e incluí na compra. Só quando cheguei em casa é que pude parar para analisá-lo melhor. Se tivesse feito isso na loja, talvez não o tivesse comprado. Mas ainda bem que comprei.
Ao folhear aleatoriamente suas páginas, achei a tradução um pouco esquisita, com escolhas estranhas. Fui verificar o nome do tradutor e me assustei em não encontrá-lo. Pensei logo numa tradução via Google translator ou numa versão revisada de uma edição portuguesa. Contudo, ao pegar o livro pra ler muitos meses depois, achei a leitura tranquila. Alarme falso (além de ter realmente umas escolhas de termos e formas pouco usuais).
De cara, o título “A Verdadeira História” soa um tanto arrogante, com cara de tabloide britânico. Justiça seja feita ao autor, o título em inglês soa um pouco menos pomposo: Is this the real life? The untold story of Queen. Parece não só que vai contar algo que ninguém mais contou como irá fazer uma série de revelações bombásticas. Nada disso. O subtítulo na capa da edição brasileira só piora as coisas: “os bastidores e os segredos de uma das maiores bandas de todos os tempos”. Tirando a passagem em que Peter Gabriel chama Roger Taylor para ser o baterista do Genesis, antes de convidar Phil Collins, e saber que John Deacon teve seis filhos com a mesma mulher, nenhum outro “segredo” me fez levantar da cadeira. Quanto aos bastidores, ora, toda biografia de um artista visa os bastidores, ou não seria uma biografia, mas uma análise da obra.
A primeira metade do livro é o grande destaque, a que vale a leitura e o dinheiro e tempo gastos. Não que a outra metade seja ruim, mas soa mais como uma compilação jornalística da carreira da banda e de seus integrantes, recorrendo a livros já publicados e a inúmeras entrevistas em rádio, jornal, revista e TV, com algumas entrevistas originais ligando os pontos e preenchendo algumas lacunas.
É mais difícil penetrar nos bastidores de uma banda já famosa, que se torna mais refratária à invasividade da mídia. Seus integrantes transitam em círculos mais fechados, os amigos mais próximos ficam mais precavidos. Nos primórdios, entretanto, as coisas não são assim tão controladas. E o mérito de Mark Blake, que tem as revistas Mojo e Q no currículo, além de livros sobre Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan e Keith Richards, foi justamente encontrar as pessoas que conviveram com Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor e até mesmo John Deacon muito antes da banda fazer seu primeiro ensaio. Um amigo de Fred de Zanzibar, por exemplo, só soube que o velho amigo de escola havia se tornado um astro de rock cinco ano após a sua morte, mesmo morando nos EUA. Ele explica quem sempre foi ligado ao jazz.
Assim sendo, as primeiras 238 páginas do livro, que vai desde o nascimento de Farrokh Bulsara até a turnê americana de A Night at the Opera, na esteira do sucesso de Bohemian Rhapsody, é um belo trabalho de jornalismo. Blake conseguiu entrevistar dezenas de pessoas e construir um mosaico que contasse uma historia linear, coerente e interessante. Brian e Roger não parecem ter dado entrevistas ao autor para a biografia propriamente, mas para as revistas, de forma que não são eles que conduzem a narrativa. Porém, a participação deles certamente concede uma aura de oficialidade a toda a obra. Portanto, não temos uma visão “de dentro” do Queen, até porque isso seria impossível diante das reservas de Fred quanto a sua vida pessoal e familiar, a ponto de até mesmo seus companheiros de banda não o conhecerem tão intimamente. Mas é possível ter uma visão de como eram vistos no meio social em que viviam, uma verdadeira narrativa em terceiras pessoas.
A vida de Fred em Zanzibar e no internato na Índia certamente é mais eletrizante que a tranquila infância de Brian em Londres ou as aventuras musicais de Roger na Cornualha. Mesmo assim, dá-se o mesmo peso a cada uma delas. Essas narrativas iniciais seguem até o momento em que os três começam a frequentar o mesmo circuito de pubs e shows nos subúrbios de Londres. Já John Deacon, que foi o quatro baixista do Queen, é quase um fantasma nessa história, aparecendo muito depois, e sempre nos limites de sua discrição e timidez.
O que se vê em seguida é uma divertida descrição do circuito musical da Londres da segunda metade dos anos 60, como viviam os aspirantes a rockstar, a contracultura, a penúria, as influências musicais. Fred ajudando um iniciante David Bowie a empurrar mesas pra construir um palco improvisado em uma escola. Os futuros astros babando no gargarejo das apresentações de Jimi Hendrix e do Cream. A série de formações, troca de bandas, excursões furadas. A luta para compor material próprio.
Brian e Roger logo se juntaram e sempre estiveram às voltas com grupos musicais. Já Fred Bulsara parecia o mais improvável a se tornar uma lenda viva do rock, embora dissesse a todos que um dia se tornaria um grande astro enquanto tocava sua barraquinha hippie em Kensington junto com Roger.
Nesta parte do livro, é muito comum citações a frases que Fred teria dito, dando uma noção de seu jeito e maneirismos. Em cada uma dessas cenas, vinha a minha mente não a figura de Mercury, mas a do ator que interpreta Felix em Orphan Black, Jordan Gavaris. Este seria o melhor intérprete do jovem Fred Bulsara.
É justamente esse período formativo do artista que gera os melhores filmes. Não só pelo desafio, pelos obstáculos a serem transpostos, mas também pelo material mais desabrido, menos controlado e estudado. Ainda que alguns pontos de uma carreira consolidada possam render boas narrativas, como a morte de Mercury, geralmente é difícil contar uma boa história coesa e com bom ritmo do início ao fim. Por isso um Backbeat (a história dos Beatles com Stuart Sutcliffe) rende melhor do que o filme que conta tooooda a vida de Chaplin; assim como aquele que narra os tempos de Renato Russo em Brasília é mais vibrante que a narrativa picotada sobre Cazuza.
Das gravações de A Day at the Races em diante, o livro se assemelha a uma gigantesca (e boa) matéria especial de revista. Bastante detalhada, mas com poucos momentos palpitantes. Exceto, talvez pela doença de Mercury, a primeira turnê sulamericana (se a passagem pelo Brasil em 1981 fez eu me sentir constrangido, logo o sentimento foi superado pela aterradora turnê no México) e o show no Live-Aid. Aliás, a introdução do livro é o Live-Aid.
Inicialmente, achei estranha a opção do autor. Mas, no decorrer da leitura, passa a fazer sentido. Desde The Game, mais especificamente o single Crazy little thing called love, que fez a banda finalmente acontecer nos EUA e, consequentemente, na América Latina (de fato, eu e meus irmãos só viemos a tomar conhecimento da banda a partir daquele cara que “imitava Elvis” no rádio), que a banda se mantinha na ativa no embalo de sucessos imprevistos. A má recepção de Hot Space e as confusões na turnê americana (que foi a última nos EUA) levaram a banda ao limite. Talvez uma motivação estilo Abbey Road (“vamos parar deixando uma boa imagem”) levou ao The Works, cujo sucesso os colocou na estrada novamente. No final da turnês, o plano era ficarem cinco anos dedicados a projetos solos. Mas aí veio o convite para o Live-Aid… O resultado foi mais impactante do que o salto do Bono em Bad (o próprio autor classifica esse momento do U2 como o único de todo o espetáculo, tanto em Londres quanto na Filadélfia capaz de rivalizar com o esmagador sucesso da apresentação do Queen).
Pelo menos daqui, do meu ponto de vista tupiniquim, eu sempre vi o Queen como uma das grandes bandas da história do rock. Mas o que se nota é que sua relação com a crítica musical chegou a ser tão áspera quanto a de Roberto Carlos nos anos 80. Principalmente nos EUA, onde a boa vontade se limitou ao disco de estreia e ao The Game. Na Inglaterra, ainda que às turras, a mídia não podia ignorar o grande sucesso da banda. Havia, claro, o surgimento do punk (que Mercury confessava não entender) e a new wave, sendo o Queen associado aos dinossauros virtuoses dos anos 70. Mas talvez todo esse “nariz virado” se deva mais ao comportamento de Freddie Mercury, que realmente não fazia a menor questão de ser simpático com quem quer que seja, fosse a imprensa, o pessoal da produção, os músicos de abertura ou mesmo o público.
Curiosamente, se externamente Freddie era a personalidade mais difícil da banda (e Brian o bom moço), dentro do estúdio ele era o diplomata, a pessoa que conseguia contornar os atritos entre os demais integrantes da banda e fazer o trabalho fluir. Na hora de trabalhar, não havia divas ou celebridades (Roger adorava a vida de rockstar), todos trabalhavam duro.
Um dos méritos do livro é não acabar com a morte de Mercury. Ele segue em frente com a vida de Brian e Roger (e, quando possível, a de John), suas carreiras, a vida privada e o retorno com Paul Rodgers. Ainda que isso soe como um arrastado anticlímax, como em O Senhor dos Anéis após a destruição do anel.
Mas uma coisa realmente me incomodou no livro, uma falha básica de informação: dizer que o Queen abriu e encerrou o Rock in Rio. Quem encerrou foi o Yes. A segunda apresentação do Queen ocorreu duas noites antes. Se Blake foi capaz deste pequeno deslize, quantos mais não terá cometido?
Ao folhear aleatoriamente suas páginas, achei a tradução um pouco esquisita, com escolhas estranhas. Fui verificar o nome do tradutor e me assustei em não encontrá-lo. Pensei logo numa tradução via Google translator ou numa versão revisada de uma edição portuguesa. Contudo, ao pegar o livro pra ler muitos meses depois, achei a leitura tranquila. Alarme falso (além de ter realmente umas escolhas de termos e formas pouco usuais).
De cara, o título “A Verdadeira História” soa um tanto arrogante, com cara de tabloide britânico. Justiça seja feita ao autor, o título em inglês soa um pouco menos pomposo: Is this the real life? The untold story of Queen. Parece não só que vai contar algo que ninguém mais contou como irá fazer uma série de revelações bombásticas. Nada disso. O subtítulo na capa da edição brasileira só piora as coisas: “os bastidores e os segredos de uma das maiores bandas de todos os tempos”. Tirando a passagem em que Peter Gabriel chama Roger Taylor para ser o baterista do Genesis, antes de convidar Phil Collins, e saber que John Deacon teve seis filhos com a mesma mulher, nenhum outro “segredo” me fez levantar da cadeira. Quanto aos bastidores, ora, toda biografia de um artista visa os bastidores, ou não seria uma biografia, mas uma análise da obra.
A primeira metade do livro é o grande destaque, a que vale a leitura e o dinheiro e tempo gastos. Não que a outra metade seja ruim, mas soa mais como uma compilação jornalística da carreira da banda e de seus integrantes, recorrendo a livros já publicados e a inúmeras entrevistas em rádio, jornal, revista e TV, com algumas entrevistas originais ligando os pontos e preenchendo algumas lacunas.
É mais difícil penetrar nos bastidores de uma banda já famosa, que se torna mais refratária à invasividade da mídia. Seus integrantes transitam em círculos mais fechados, os amigos mais próximos ficam mais precavidos. Nos primórdios, entretanto, as coisas não são assim tão controladas. E o mérito de Mark Blake, que tem as revistas Mojo e Q no currículo, além de livros sobre Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan e Keith Richards, foi justamente encontrar as pessoas que conviveram com Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor e até mesmo John Deacon muito antes da banda fazer seu primeiro ensaio. Um amigo de Fred de Zanzibar, por exemplo, só soube que o velho amigo de escola havia se tornado um astro de rock cinco ano após a sua morte, mesmo morando nos EUA. Ele explica quem sempre foi ligado ao jazz.
Assim sendo, as primeiras 238 páginas do livro, que vai desde o nascimento de Farrokh Bulsara até a turnê americana de A Night at the Opera, na esteira do sucesso de Bohemian Rhapsody, é um belo trabalho de jornalismo. Blake conseguiu entrevistar dezenas de pessoas e construir um mosaico que contasse uma historia linear, coerente e interessante. Brian e Roger não parecem ter dado entrevistas ao autor para a biografia propriamente, mas para as revistas, de forma que não são eles que conduzem a narrativa. Porém, a participação deles certamente concede uma aura de oficialidade a toda a obra. Portanto, não temos uma visão “de dentro” do Queen, até porque isso seria impossível diante das reservas de Fred quanto a sua vida pessoal e familiar, a ponto de até mesmo seus companheiros de banda não o conhecerem tão intimamente. Mas é possível ter uma visão de como eram vistos no meio social em que viviam, uma verdadeira narrativa em terceiras pessoas.
A vida de Fred em Zanzibar e no internato na Índia certamente é mais eletrizante que a tranquila infância de Brian em Londres ou as aventuras musicais de Roger na Cornualha. Mesmo assim, dá-se o mesmo peso a cada uma delas. Essas narrativas iniciais seguem até o momento em que os três começam a frequentar o mesmo circuito de pubs e shows nos subúrbios de Londres. Já John Deacon, que foi o quatro baixista do Queen, é quase um fantasma nessa história, aparecendo muito depois, e sempre nos limites de sua discrição e timidez.
O que se vê em seguida é uma divertida descrição do circuito musical da Londres da segunda metade dos anos 60, como viviam os aspirantes a rockstar, a contracultura, a penúria, as influências musicais. Fred ajudando um iniciante David Bowie a empurrar mesas pra construir um palco improvisado em uma escola. Os futuros astros babando no gargarejo das apresentações de Jimi Hendrix e do Cream. A série de formações, troca de bandas, excursões furadas. A luta para compor material próprio.
Brian e Roger logo se juntaram e sempre estiveram às voltas com grupos musicais. Já Fred Bulsara parecia o mais improvável a se tornar uma lenda viva do rock, embora dissesse a todos que um dia se tornaria um grande astro enquanto tocava sua barraquinha hippie em Kensington junto com Roger.
Nesta parte do livro, é muito comum citações a frases que Fred teria dito, dando uma noção de seu jeito e maneirismos. Em cada uma dessas cenas, vinha a minha mente não a figura de Mercury, mas a do ator que interpreta Felix em Orphan Black, Jordan Gavaris. Este seria o melhor intérprete do jovem Fred Bulsara.
É justamente esse período formativo do artista que gera os melhores filmes. Não só pelo desafio, pelos obstáculos a serem transpostos, mas também pelo material mais desabrido, menos controlado e estudado. Ainda que alguns pontos de uma carreira consolidada possam render boas narrativas, como a morte de Mercury, geralmente é difícil contar uma boa história coesa e com bom ritmo do início ao fim. Por isso um Backbeat (a história dos Beatles com Stuart Sutcliffe) rende melhor do que o filme que conta tooooda a vida de Chaplin; assim como aquele que narra os tempos de Renato Russo em Brasília é mais vibrante que a narrativa picotada sobre Cazuza.
Das gravações de A Day at the Races em diante, o livro se assemelha a uma gigantesca (e boa) matéria especial de revista. Bastante detalhada, mas com poucos momentos palpitantes. Exceto, talvez pela doença de Mercury, a primeira turnê sulamericana (se a passagem pelo Brasil em 1981 fez eu me sentir constrangido, logo o sentimento foi superado pela aterradora turnê no México) e o show no Live-Aid. Aliás, a introdução do livro é o Live-Aid.
Inicialmente, achei estranha a opção do autor. Mas, no decorrer da leitura, passa a fazer sentido. Desde The Game, mais especificamente o single Crazy little thing called love, que fez a banda finalmente acontecer nos EUA e, consequentemente, na América Latina (de fato, eu e meus irmãos só viemos a tomar conhecimento da banda a partir daquele cara que “imitava Elvis” no rádio), que a banda se mantinha na ativa no embalo de sucessos imprevistos. A má recepção de Hot Space e as confusões na turnê americana (que foi a última nos EUA) levaram a banda ao limite. Talvez uma motivação estilo Abbey Road (“vamos parar deixando uma boa imagem”) levou ao The Works, cujo sucesso os colocou na estrada novamente. No final da turnês, o plano era ficarem cinco anos dedicados a projetos solos. Mas aí veio o convite para o Live-Aid… O resultado foi mais impactante do que o salto do Bono em Bad (o próprio autor classifica esse momento do U2 como o único de todo o espetáculo, tanto em Londres quanto na Filadélfia capaz de rivalizar com o esmagador sucesso da apresentação do Queen).
Pelo menos daqui, do meu ponto de vista tupiniquim, eu sempre vi o Queen como uma das grandes bandas da história do rock. Mas o que se nota é que sua relação com a crítica musical chegou a ser tão áspera quanto a de Roberto Carlos nos anos 80. Principalmente nos EUA, onde a boa vontade se limitou ao disco de estreia e ao The Game. Na Inglaterra, ainda que às turras, a mídia não podia ignorar o grande sucesso da banda. Havia, claro, o surgimento do punk (que Mercury confessava não entender) e a new wave, sendo o Queen associado aos dinossauros virtuoses dos anos 70. Mas talvez todo esse “nariz virado” se deva mais ao comportamento de Freddie Mercury, que realmente não fazia a menor questão de ser simpático com quem quer que seja, fosse a imprensa, o pessoal da produção, os músicos de abertura ou mesmo o público.
Curiosamente, se externamente Freddie era a personalidade mais difícil da banda (e Brian o bom moço), dentro do estúdio ele era o diplomata, a pessoa que conseguia contornar os atritos entre os demais integrantes da banda e fazer o trabalho fluir. Na hora de trabalhar, não havia divas ou celebridades (Roger adorava a vida de rockstar), todos trabalhavam duro.
Um dos méritos do livro é não acabar com a morte de Mercury. Ele segue em frente com a vida de Brian e Roger (e, quando possível, a de John), suas carreiras, a vida privada e o retorno com Paul Rodgers. Ainda que isso soe como um arrastado anticlímax, como em O Senhor dos Anéis após a destruição do anel.
Mas uma coisa realmente me incomodou no livro, uma falha básica de informação: dizer que o Queen abriu e encerrou o Rock in Rio. Quem encerrou foi o Yes. A segunda apresentação do Queen ocorreu duas noites antes. Se Blake foi capaz deste pequeno deslize, quantos mais não terá cometido?
June 5, 2013
Well... huh. I was really looking forward to reading Is This The Real Life? and enjoyed reading it but, sadly, it just falls short.
There have been a fair amount of Queen bios over the years, more so since the passing of vocalist, Freddie Mercury. The casual Queen fan or the simply curious will likely pick up loads of information from reading this book, but anyone who is a Queen fan, who has paid attention over the years, who has, perhaps, read a previous Queen bio, will end this book feeling like they just got the Cliff's Notes. It's touted as "The Untold Queen Story" but there is nothing new of any consequence in this book.
Which isn't to say it isn't packed full of Queen trivia and lore. The story's all here, from Deacon, Mercury, Taylor and May's early days to their first bands to the formation of Queen on through to the book's 2010 publication date. It's Freddie-centric but you get the gist. If you know nothing about Queen, you will learn a lot about them from reading Is This The Real Life?.
The problem is, the story isn't that well told. Blake's writing is generally passable but occasionally abominable. There's a snide, smarmy superiority to the worst of it and a slinking mediocrity to most of it. Bios of this caliber rarely see print as a hard back book. Perhaps the subject matter helped seal the deal.
I was entertained but I would have liked more. As a musician, I would have enjoyed reading more about the songwriting, recording and equipment used by the band. As a fan, I would have enjoyed reading more about Queen, the band rather than Queen, the internationally acclaimed celebrities. It's clear as day this book was not directed toward longtime Queen fans, musicians or otherwise. This is a mainstream effort that gets the job done with as little soul as possible. It ain't bad, but it could have been better.
There have been a fair amount of Queen bios over the years, more so since the passing of vocalist, Freddie Mercury. The casual Queen fan or the simply curious will likely pick up loads of information from reading this book, but anyone who is a Queen fan, who has paid attention over the years, who has, perhaps, read a previous Queen bio, will end this book feeling like they just got the Cliff's Notes. It's touted as "The Untold Queen Story" but there is nothing new of any consequence in this book.
Which isn't to say it isn't packed full of Queen trivia and lore. The story's all here, from Deacon, Mercury, Taylor and May's early days to their first bands to the formation of Queen on through to the book's 2010 publication date. It's Freddie-centric but you get the gist. If you know nothing about Queen, you will learn a lot about them from reading Is This The Real Life?.
The problem is, the story isn't that well told. Blake's writing is generally passable but occasionally abominable. There's a snide, smarmy superiority to the worst of it and a slinking mediocrity to most of it. Bios of this caliber rarely see print as a hard back book. Perhaps the subject matter helped seal the deal.
I was entertained but I would have liked more. As a musician, I would have enjoyed reading more about the songwriting, recording and equipment used by the band. As a fan, I would have enjoyed reading more about Queen, the band rather than Queen, the internationally acclaimed celebrities. It's clear as day this book was not directed toward longtime Queen fans, musicians or otherwise. This is a mainstream effort that gets the job done with as little soul as possible. It ain't bad, but it could have been better.
August 29, 2013
If you're a devoted fan of Queen but not a scarily obsessive read-every-article-scoured-every-detail fan, you'll love this, except for the ultra-irritating errata and lousy editing in the ebook version (I got the paper version cheap, but haven't yet read that, so whether it has the same issues or not I have yet to discover). It lost a star for the latter.
On the whole, it's not a bad read. Has a lot of the early stuff that most fans will have read about already, but it does go into detail about things that hadn't been published before and into further detail on some interviews with surviving band members previously done by the author as a magazine writer. It's slightly more heavily weighted towards Freddie - what biography of this band isn't? - which is a little irksome here and there as it could use a touch more balance. Otherwise, though, I did enjoy reading it and the only drag was very occasional.
Definitely worth a read, unless you're one of the frighteningly obsessed. For those who consider themselves casual fans, this will teach you a lot about the band and the band members' origins, careers and lives in general that you may never have known or seen - particularly if, like this reviewer, you're under thirty.
On the whole, it's not a bad read. Has a lot of the early stuff that most fans will have read about already, but it does go into detail about things that hadn't been published before and into further detail on some interviews with surviving band members previously done by the author as a magazine writer. It's slightly more heavily weighted towards Freddie - what biography of this band isn't? - which is a little irksome here and there as it could use a touch more balance. Otherwise, though, I did enjoy reading it and the only drag was very occasional.
Definitely worth a read, unless you're one of the frighteningly obsessed. For those who consider themselves casual fans, this will teach you a lot about the band and the band members' origins, careers and lives in general that you may never have known or seen - particularly if, like this reviewer, you're under thirty.
December 14, 2017
This look back at one of the great rock bands of the 70s and the charismatic frontman who led them to stardom is engaging but flawed. This biography is mostly compiled from archived interviews with the band members and contemporary interviews with collaborators and business associates. Therefore, it gives very little insight into the creative process involved in the recording of most of Queen's classic albums, which I found very disappointing. (An exception is an in-depth interview with producer Reinhold Mack that went into a lot of detail about recording of "The Game".) Blake is to be commended for the depth and breadth of research he did for this book, but he fell short in places in weaving all those facts into a coherent story. In particular, the chapters describing the band members' pre-Queen musical experiences, which dutifully list every band they were in and every member of every one of those bands, are almost unreadable. Despite its shortcomings, however, it's mostly entertaining and provides a revealing glimpse into the heyday of rock-and-roll excess. It also increased my admiration for the band members, for their commitment to their art and their loyalty to each other.
February 13, 2019
I am a 40 plus year fan of Queen and this was my third biography that I read on Queen and Freddie Mercury. I really enjoyed this book and found it be to very objective and the author's certainly did not have an agenda, for example in Lesley Ann Jones book( she was definitely negative towards Mary Austin). I learned a lot more about Brian May from this book and it was really interesting to learn that Brian is a really great person. The book also made it clear what good friends Roger Taylor and Brian May were to Freddie and the impact that Freddie's untimely death had on them. I also liked the fact( which is different from the other books I have read) that discussed Queen's continuation as a band after Freddie. Great book and highly recommended.
September 7, 2011
I liked this more than I expected to as it moves right along so the tabloid-ish writing doesn't bog down too much. Less "salacious" than some others.
There were some good points made and newish interviews, not just the same old ones, though I did see many of the same old quotes.
Very Team Brian May, though I think May was a cooperative source, so . . .
I have read so many Queen books there is probably not much to choose between them. I am a lenient reader of this genre.
I would not consider this actually an "untold" story, unless you think "rock stars take drugs and screw groupies" is an "untold" story.
There were some good points made and newish interviews, not just the same old ones, though I did see many of the same old quotes.
Very Team Brian May, though I think May was a cooperative source, so . . .
I have read so many Queen books there is probably not much to choose between them. I am a lenient reader of this genre.
I would not consider this actually an "untold" story, unless you think "rock stars take drugs and screw groupies" is an "untold" story.
November 8, 2018
This book gives a great background on one of the greatest bands ever existed: QUEEN.
I can’t compare this one to other biographies of Queen, but this one gives a very detailed description about how 4 guys became Queen. The author’s structure and tone lead the reader to a comprehensive appreciation of Queen and their music.
This book will rock you!
I can’t compare this one to other biographies of Queen, but this one gives a very detailed description about how 4 guys became Queen. The author’s structure and tone lead the reader to a comprehensive appreciation of Queen and their music.
This book will rock you!
July 26, 2011
Would give zero if I could. Typos/editing issues, novice-like factual errors, and author with blatant contempt of the band...Story has been told more objectively and effectively by others. glad I didn't have to pay for this book.
November 15, 2018
Królewska encyklopedia
Uf! To było coś! Choć objętość może na to nie wskazuje, książka autorstwa Marca Blake’a jest ogromna. To nieprawdopodobne, ile informacji udało upchnąć się autorowi w jednej biografii, ale zanim się rozkręcę, muszę to napisać – "Queen. Królewska historia" prawdopodobnie nie wszystkim przypadnie do gustu. A dlaczego? Zacznijmy od początku.
Jak już wspomniałam, książka jest przeładowana szczegółowymi informacjami na temat powstania każdej płyty (i prawie każdego utworu!), każdej trasy koncertowej, batalii z wytwórniami oraz solowymi projektami artystów. Zanim w ogóle docieramy do zespołu Queen jaki jest powszechnie znany, przez pierwsze sto pięćdziesiąt stron czytamy o procesie formowania się grupy. Dla mnie to nie jest wada (a nawet zaleta, bo nigdy wcześniej nie czytałam tak szczegółowej książki dotyczącej historii zespołu), ale ktoś, kto dopiero zaczyna przygodę z Queen, ktoś kto w biografiach najbardziej docenia anegdoty, może poczuć się przytłoczony lekturą.
Jestem pełna podziwu, że autorowi udało się zachować równowagę w opisywaniu muzyków i żaden z nich nie został potraktowany po macoszemu. I choć wiadomo, że nie dało się przemilczeć prywatnego życia frontmana grupy, to nie przyćmiło ono historii zespołu.
Trochę żałuję, że biografia nie zawiera większej liczby zdjęć (najlepiej w nieco większym rozmiarze, niż te zawarte w książce – kolor też byłby mile widziany). Historia zespołu aż się prosi o uzupełnienie fotografiami z tras czy prac w studio. O ile autor rzeczywiście dotarł do faktów, które mogły nie być znane nawet wiernym fanom, o tyle szkoda, że nie udało się wpleść niepublikowanych wcześniej zdjęć – królewska biografia zasługuje na królewską oprawę!
"Queen. Królewska historia" jest wielką encyklopedią wiedzy o jednym z najlepszych zespołów rockowych wszech czasów. Ogromny talent, determinacja, umiejętność porwania tłumów – to wszystko jest widoczne właściwie na każdej stronie. Być może nie jest to najlepsza pozycja na początek poznawania historii Queen, a natłok informacji może przytłoczyć, jednak czytelnicy i fani zespołu, którzy oczekują czegoś więcej niż anegdot (zwykle dość powszechnie znanych) powinni być naprawdę zadowoleni.
Uf! To było coś! Choć objętość może na to nie wskazuje, książka autorstwa Marca Blake’a jest ogromna. To nieprawdopodobne, ile informacji udało upchnąć się autorowi w jednej biografii, ale zanim się rozkręcę, muszę to napisać – "Queen. Królewska historia" prawdopodobnie nie wszystkim przypadnie do gustu. A dlaczego? Zacznijmy od początku.
Jak już wspomniałam, książka jest przeładowana szczegółowymi informacjami na temat powstania każdej płyty (i prawie każdego utworu!), każdej trasy koncertowej, batalii z wytwórniami oraz solowymi projektami artystów. Zanim w ogóle docieramy do zespołu Queen jaki jest powszechnie znany, przez pierwsze sto pięćdziesiąt stron czytamy o procesie formowania się grupy. Dla mnie to nie jest wada (a nawet zaleta, bo nigdy wcześniej nie czytałam tak szczegółowej książki dotyczącej historii zespołu), ale ktoś, kto dopiero zaczyna przygodę z Queen, ktoś kto w biografiach najbardziej docenia anegdoty, może poczuć się przytłoczony lekturą.
Jestem pełna podziwu, że autorowi udało się zachować równowagę w opisywaniu muzyków i żaden z nich nie został potraktowany po macoszemu. I choć wiadomo, że nie dało się przemilczeć prywatnego życia frontmana grupy, to nie przyćmiło ono historii zespołu.
Trochę żałuję, że biografia nie zawiera większej liczby zdjęć (najlepiej w nieco większym rozmiarze, niż te zawarte w książce – kolor też byłby mile widziany). Historia zespołu aż się prosi o uzupełnienie fotografiami z tras czy prac w studio. O ile autor rzeczywiście dotarł do faktów, które mogły nie być znane nawet wiernym fanom, o tyle szkoda, że nie udało się wpleść niepublikowanych wcześniej zdjęć – królewska biografia zasługuje na królewską oprawę!
"Queen. Królewska historia" jest wielką encyklopedią wiedzy o jednym z najlepszych zespołów rockowych wszech czasów. Ogromny talent, determinacja, umiejętność porwania tłumów – to wszystko jest widoczne właściwie na każdej stronie. Być może nie jest to najlepsza pozycja na początek poznawania historii Queen, a natłok informacji może przytłoczyć, jednak czytelnicy i fani zespołu, którzy oczekują czegoś więcej niż anegdot (zwykle dość powszechnie znanych) powinni być naprawdę zadowoleni.
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February 7, 2024Lista rzeczy, które nie podobały mi się w tej książce:
1. ZBYT DUŻO IMION/NAZWISK - jeżeli na jednej stronie dostaję 20 różnych nazwisk, jaka jest szansa, że zapamiętacie wszystkich oraz kim są? Praktycznie zerowa. Jednak Mark Blake najwidoczniej o tym nie pamiętał, a nawet uważał, że jego czytelnicy mają nadludzką pamięć, bo przywoływał czasami postacie, o których nie było nic przed ponad 100 stron.
2. BRAK DOBREJ KOREKTY - czasemzapominanochybaczymjestspacja... a korekty brakuje także na skrzydełku. Gdy otworzymy książkę i spojrzymy na pierwszą recenzję na skrzydełku, możemy przeczytać: "Wydawało się wam, że wiecie o Queen wszystko? W takim razie tylko się wam wydawało!" Serio? Wystarczyło zmienić pierwsze "wydawało" na "myśleliście".
3. STRASZNIE SUCHY STYL PISARSKI - czytając tę książkę, byłam zalewana statystykami, danymi, nazwami... Zabrakło w końcu miejsca na to, dlaczego a ogóle po tą pozycję sięgnęłam - miłość do Queen.
4. BRAK AKTUALNYCH TREŚCI W KOŃCÓWCE - dostajemy tam informację, że Queen nie zagrali jeszcze z Adamem Lambertem ani jednego koncertu. Wystarczy wejść w Google, a tam jest jasnk napisane, że grają oni razem od 2009 roku. Przepraszam, ale denerwują mnie takie szczegóły, jeżeli książka jest teklamowana jako "najdokładniejsza biografia Queen".
5. BRAK KOTÓW FREDDI'EGO!!! - to już jest naprawdę takie moje przywalanie się do niczego, ale Freddie tak kochał swoje koty, że nawet o jednym z nich (Deliah) napisał utwór, a tutaj przez całe ponad 400 stron ani słowa...
6. MARY AUSTIN JEST OK - wcale nie. Wszyscy doskonale wiedzą, co ona odwaliła po śmierci Freddiego. SPRZEDAŁA WSZYSTKI JEGO RZECZY, MIMO ŻE ON WCALE TEGO NIE CHCIAŁ!!! A przez całą tą książkś jest przedstawiana jako ta jedna pick me girl, która jest niewinna i po prostu kocha Freddiego 👉👈.
Jeżeli chcecie męczyć się z tym wszystkim, co wypisałam poniżej, zapoznacie się z BARDZO dokładnie napisaną biografią. Nie powiem, że to wszystko co wypisałam powyżej nie wpłynęło na mój odbiór tej książki - wręcz przeciwnie, ale nie mogę zaprzeczyć, że jest to zdecydowanie wyczerpująco napisana książka.
1. ZBYT DUŻO IMION/NAZWISK - jeżeli na jednej stronie dostaję 20 różnych nazwisk, jaka jest szansa, że zapamiętacie wszystkich oraz kim są? Praktycznie zerowa. Jednak Mark Blake najwidoczniej o tym nie pamiętał, a nawet uważał, że jego czytelnicy mają nadludzką pamięć, bo przywoływał czasami postacie, o których nie było nic przed ponad 100 stron.
2. BRAK DOBREJ KOREKTY - czasemzapominanochybaczymjestspacja... a korekty brakuje także na skrzydełku. Gdy otworzymy książkę i spojrzymy na pierwszą recenzję na skrzydełku, możemy przeczytać: "Wydawało się wam, że wiecie o Queen wszystko? W takim razie tylko się wam wydawało!" Serio? Wystarczyło zmienić pierwsze "wydawało" na "myśleliście".
3. STRASZNIE SUCHY STYL PISARSKI - czytając tę książkę, byłam zalewana statystykami, danymi, nazwami... Zabrakło w końcu miejsca na to, dlaczego a ogóle po tą pozycję sięgnęłam - miłość do Queen.
4. BRAK AKTUALNYCH TREŚCI W KOŃCÓWCE - dostajemy tam informację, że Queen nie zagrali jeszcze z Adamem Lambertem ani jednego koncertu. Wystarczy wejść w Google, a tam jest jasnk napisane, że grają oni razem od 2009 roku. Przepraszam, ale denerwują mnie takie szczegóły, jeżeli książka jest teklamowana jako "najdokładniejsza biografia Queen".
5. BRAK KOTÓW FREDDI'EGO!!! - to już jest naprawdę takie moje przywalanie się do niczego, ale Freddie tak kochał swoje koty, że nawet o jednym z nich (Deliah) napisał utwór, a tutaj przez całe ponad 400 stron ani słowa...
6. MARY AUSTIN JEST OK - wcale nie. Wszyscy doskonale wiedzą, co ona odwaliła po śmierci Freddiego. SPRZEDAŁA WSZYSTKI JEGO RZECZY, MIMO ŻE ON WCALE TEGO NIE CHCIAŁ!!! A przez całą tą książkś jest przedstawiana jako ta jedna pick me girl, która jest niewinna i po prostu kocha Freddiego 👉👈.
Jeżeli chcecie męczyć się z tym wszystkim, co wypisałam poniżej, zapoznacie się z BARDZO dokładnie napisaną biografią. Nie powiem, że to wszystko co wypisałam powyżej nie wpłynęło na mój odbiór tej książki - wręcz przeciwnie, ale nie mogę zaprzeczyć, że jest to zdecydowanie wyczerpująco napisana książka.
August 3, 2021
Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen (2011) by Mark Blake is an excellent read.
The book speaks about the amazing career of Queen and mixes in new interviews with information already known. I think it is a very interesting and very comprehensive book. I think it has extra detail on many interviews. It is an enjoyable and entertaining read and it helps put Queen fans who weren’t around at the height of Queen’s rise to fame in their career in the picture of how everything happened. For fans who were there it is a great trip down memory lane I would imagine. There is some typos here and there and a couple of facts which needed to be checked so maybe it might have needed a little more editing. That is a pity because clearly the author did a lot of research for this book and I don’t think the few facts that weren’t checked completely should take away from that. I don’t particularly think it’s an untold story so that might be a tad misleading but it is a very interesting story and it’s great how the author put the whole story all together in one book.
I was very entertained by the book and learned a lot. I really enjoyed the interview with Reinhold Mack. There is a wonderful photo section too showing photographs from the band’s life and career. It was great to read about the band’s rise to fame and they all seem really likeable people in their own individual ways. It was great reading about how their sound changed over the years and how they incorporated the Queen sound to go with the changes. Their friendship really shines through in this book and they seem to really care about each other and that was lovely to read because that’s not always true in bands. It was nice to see that their friendship endured throughout the years.
Amazing read.
The book speaks about the amazing career of Queen and mixes in new interviews with information already known. I think it is a very interesting and very comprehensive book. I think it has extra detail on many interviews. It is an enjoyable and entertaining read and it helps put Queen fans who weren’t around at the height of Queen’s rise to fame in their career in the picture of how everything happened. For fans who were there it is a great trip down memory lane I would imagine. There is some typos here and there and a couple of facts which needed to be checked so maybe it might have needed a little more editing. That is a pity because clearly the author did a lot of research for this book and I don’t think the few facts that weren’t checked completely should take away from that. I don’t particularly think it’s an untold story so that might be a tad misleading but it is a very interesting story and it’s great how the author put the whole story all together in one book.
I was very entertained by the book and learned a lot. I really enjoyed the interview with Reinhold Mack. There is a wonderful photo section too showing photographs from the band’s life and career. It was great to read about the band’s rise to fame and they all seem really likeable people in their own individual ways. It was great reading about how their sound changed over the years and how they incorporated the Queen sound to go with the changes. Their friendship really shines through in this book and they seem to really care about each other and that was lovely to read because that’s not always true in bands. It was nice to see that their friendship endured throughout the years.
Amazing read.
December 18, 2019
Iako sam je procitala prije dva mjeseca, jos uvijek me drzi bijes za sta dadoh 20 KM (1200 din) .
Dugo mi je bila na listi zelja, i kad se konacno usudih da je kupim i procitam, ojjj muko moja...
Svi koji znaju iole nesto o grupi Queen, znaju i to da je Fredie Mercury bio izrazito posebna licnost, osoba koja se nije ustrucavala nicega, s jedne strane njeznica, a s druge strane, mogao je izbiti iz cipela i najstrpljivijeg covjeka na svijetu.
Pocetak knjige je zaista obecavao. Zapocinjuci knjigu sa vrhuncem karijere grupe Queen, nastupom na Live Aidu, autor me uvukao ono bas. A onda sljedece poglavlje...paff,dosadno. I posto nisam osoba koja ce odustati "na pola", nastavim. Znaci, Boze... Godina za godinom, cinjenica za cinjenicom, opisi ovakvi, onakvi. Ma smor.
Od zanimljive licnosti, Mark Blejk je napravio dosadnu tetkicu koja samo zanovijeta, kao da je opisivao zivot moje nane. Pa cak bi i njen zivot bilo zanimljivije citati nego ovo.
Neispricana prica o grupi Queen? Malo sutra! Sve i jednu stvar sam vec znala :/ Klasicni marketing i zarada!
Nije za prodaju, jer mi je zao prodati je, al definitivno ce se zabaciti negdje na zadnju stranu police. Eto!
Dugo mi je bila na listi zelja, i kad se konacno usudih da je kupim i procitam, ojjj muko moja...
Svi koji znaju iole nesto o grupi Queen, znaju i to da je Fredie Mercury bio izrazito posebna licnost, osoba koja se nije ustrucavala nicega, s jedne strane njeznica, a s druge strane, mogao je izbiti iz cipela i najstrpljivijeg covjeka na svijetu.
Pocetak knjige je zaista obecavao. Zapocinjuci knjigu sa vrhuncem karijere grupe Queen, nastupom na Live Aidu, autor me uvukao ono bas. A onda sljedece poglavlje...paff,dosadno. I posto nisam osoba koja ce odustati "na pola", nastavim. Znaci, Boze... Godina za godinom, cinjenica za cinjenicom, opisi ovakvi, onakvi. Ma smor.
Od zanimljive licnosti, Mark Blejk je napravio dosadnu tetkicu koja samo zanovijeta, kao da je opisivao zivot moje nane. Pa cak bi i njen zivot bilo zanimljivije citati nego ovo.
Neispricana prica o grupi Queen? Malo sutra! Sve i jednu stvar sam vec znala :/ Klasicni marketing i zarada!
Nije za prodaju, jer mi je zao prodati je, al definitivno ce se zabaciti negdje na zadnju stranu police. Eto!
December 31, 2021
Książka pełna nazwisk, nazw i dat.
Biografia w wielkim stylu - w takim, na jaki zasługuje ten zespół.
Queen to moje życie. To odważne słowa, ale po przeczytaniu tej książki i przeżyciu całej fenomenalnej historii jednego z największych zespołów na świecie jestem tego pewna.
Oczywiście wzruszyłam się wiadomo w którym momencie.
"Freddie, chciałeś spełniać swoje marzenia"
Wszystkie piosenki mają swoje miejsce w moim sercu. Sam Freddie to dla mnie wielka gwiazda, showman, kultowa już postać, która narodziła się z nieśmiałego chłopaka z Zanzibaru.
Został gwiazdą, a później legendą.
Odszedł 30 lat temu, jednak wciąż mieszka w sercach wielu osób.
"Let's go, little Queenie"
Nie zapomnę. Śpiewaj dalej. Niech wszechświat usłyszy Twój głos.
"Show must go on"
Wiecie, że ostatnią piosenką, którą nagrał Freddie było "Mother love" - w maju 1991 roku, pół roku przed swoją śmiercią. Nigdy nie powiedział rodzicom o swojej chorobie. Nie chciał, żeby się matrwili.
Biografia jest o całym zespole, nie tylko o jego wokaliście, ale chciałam go tu wyróżnić.
Panuje tu chaos, ale wszystko płynie z serca.
"We are the champions"
Biografia w wielkim stylu - w takim, na jaki zasługuje ten zespół.
Queen to moje życie. To odważne słowa, ale po przeczytaniu tej książki i przeżyciu całej fenomenalnej historii jednego z największych zespołów na świecie jestem tego pewna.
Oczywiście wzruszyłam się wiadomo w którym momencie.
"Freddie, chciałeś spełniać swoje marzenia"
Wszystkie piosenki mają swoje miejsce w moim sercu. Sam Freddie to dla mnie wielka gwiazda, showman, kultowa już postać, która narodziła się z nieśmiałego chłopaka z Zanzibaru.
Został gwiazdą, a później legendą.
Odszedł 30 lat temu, jednak wciąż mieszka w sercach wielu osób.
"Let's go, little Queenie"
Nie zapomnę. Śpiewaj dalej. Niech wszechświat usłyszy Twój głos.
"Show must go on"
Wiecie, że ostatnią piosenką, którą nagrał Freddie było "Mother love" - w maju 1991 roku, pół roku przed swoją śmiercią. Nigdy nie powiedział rodzicom o swojej chorobie. Nie chciał, żeby się matrwili.
Biografia jest o całym zespole, nie tylko o jego wokaliście, ale chciałam go tu wyróżnić.
Panuje tu chaos, ale wszystko płynie z serca.
"We are the champions"
Read
April 23, 2021Blake's researched so much more of their past history than any other book has, with plenty of archive and newish interviews with the band to draw on as well.
I've seen a few people here complain that the book is over-written and over-researched, but I love a good biography or autobiography. I tend to watch those 'Behind the music' programmes too, so with music books, I actually get annoyed when they don't bother talking about albums I'm interested in.
It's odd, when I was a kid I always thought of Queen and the Beatles in the same frame, that is to say I never really realised how much queen went in and out of fashion... particularly in the states. It sounds like much of queen's 1980s work kind of fell by the wayside there and they didn't tour.
The description of Freddie's last year or so just really make me hate paparazzi. The writer was pointing out that this was before 21st century celeb culture, and that having this crowd of photographers holding vigil outside his house the way they did was unheard of.
I've seen a few people here complain that the book is over-written and over-researched, but I love a good biography or autobiography. I tend to watch those 'Behind the music' programmes too, so with music books, I actually get annoyed when they don't bother talking about albums I'm interested in.
It's odd, when I was a kid I always thought of Queen and the Beatles in the same frame, that is to say I never really realised how much queen went in and out of fashion... particularly in the states. It sounds like much of queen's 1980s work kind of fell by the wayside there and they didn't tour.
The description of Freddie's last year or so just really make me hate paparazzi. The writer was pointing out that this was before 21st century celeb culture, and that having this crowd of photographers holding vigil outside his house the way they did was unheard of.
February 24, 2019
I've loved Queen music since I was a child (I clearly remember watching the I Want to Break Free video on the telly at quite an early age and I wonder now what kind of impact that had in my life) but I am a newbie in terms of knowing stuff about the band and the dynamics among the members. Blake's Is This the Real Life? does its job in an unflinchingly serious manner: it gives you the real facts, it doesn't binge on gossip (and that's not an easy job, considering the tons of dirt that surround Mercury's life) and it's refreshingly honest, sometimes maybe too much; Blake doesn't hide and lets you know that Queen could be real cunts to fans, crew members and basically everyone else if they wanted to. There's always two sides of the coin, I guess, and Blake doesn't cut back on honesty, which is fairly admirable. If you don't know much about the band and you want to get to know them without stumbling on legend and false truth, this is the right book.
April 24, 2024
Esencja rzetelnej biografii, której autorowi udało się zachować równowagę - z szacunkiem dla dorobku, wpływu na historię muzyki i popkulturę, ale bez unikania trudnych tematów czy kontrowersji związanych z życiem członków - w tej kwestii ze wskazaniem, oczywiście na lidera - zespołu.
Najciekawszym aspektem publikacji jest zdecydowanie - dla mnie osobiście bardziej interesującym niż wątki relacji wewnątrz grupy, bulwersujące legendy i rzeczywiste skandale, związane z pozasceniczną aktywnością członków zespołu - jest dogłębny wgląd w proces twórczy Queen oraz unaocznienie wpływu wydarzeń społeczno-politycznych i zmian kulturowych na ich muzykę i vice versa.
Biografia ta nie tylko zaspokoi - w wielu aspektach - ciekawość największych fanów twórczości Queen, ale z pewnością okaże się również, dla osób znających zespół jedynie z jego największych przebojów, znakomitym przewodnikiem i zachętą do zagłębienia się w obszerny dorobek artystów. Polecam!
Najciekawszym aspektem publikacji jest zdecydowanie - dla mnie osobiście bardziej interesującym niż wątki relacji wewnątrz grupy, bulwersujące legendy i rzeczywiste skandale, związane z pozasceniczną aktywnością członków zespołu - jest dogłębny wgląd w proces twórczy Queen oraz unaocznienie wpływu wydarzeń społeczno-politycznych i zmian kulturowych na ich muzykę i vice versa.
Biografia ta nie tylko zaspokoi - w wielu aspektach - ciekawość największych fanów twórczości Queen, ale z pewnością okaże się również, dla osób znających zespół jedynie z jego największych przebojów, znakomitym przewodnikiem i zachętą do zagłębienia się w obszerny dorobek artystów. Polecam!
August 31, 2022
A rather thorough history, I would say. From the very beginning, till the possibility to go on a tour with Adam Lambert. Which happened couple of years back. They had a massive gig even in Tallinn.
Going through the albums was a pleasure. I listened to all of them while reading about the journey with every one of them. People know only the hits, but there is so much more there. It's fun to see the contrast between forgettable garbage and pure awesomeness. It's nevel all good or bad. It's mostly hard work. Even for the so called "talented".
And it's still the same guys all through the years. Each with an ego as large as a planet. Non-standard divas rocking the world. Yet, together they were so much more than the sum of their parts. An inspiration to all to stay the course. Whatever you're doing.
Going through the albums was a pleasure. I listened to all of them while reading about the journey with every one of them. People know only the hits, but there is so much more there. It's fun to see the contrast between forgettable garbage and pure awesomeness. It's nevel all good or bad. It's mostly hard work. Even for the so called "talented".
And it's still the same guys all through the years. Each with an ego as large as a planet. Non-standard divas rocking the world. Yet, together they were so much more than the sum of their parts. An inspiration to all to stay the course. Whatever you're doing.
January 8, 2023
Mark Blake on onnistunut koostamaan kiinnostavan Kirjan Queenista mässäilemättä liiallisuuksiin menevällä kauhistelulla ja voivottelulla, toki kirja on aika Freddie keskeinen, mutta se annettakoon anteeksi koska muut Queenin jäsenet ovat vielä elossa eikä heidän yksityisasioitaan ole tätä enempää tarpeen edes kaivella.
Kiinnostavinta näissä on aina miten ja miksi päädyttiin näihin biiseihin, ja millä tavalla niitä hiottiin ja kuka teki studiossa mitäkin.
Ja sitä käytiin läpi joka levyn kohdalta kiitettävästi ( ei ironiaa tässä).
Luen paljon elämänkertoja ja bändi/ muusikko juttuja ja niiden lukemisessa yhteistä on hitaus.
Aina pitää googlata ja kaivaa levyä hyllystä ja tarkistella sitä sun tätä.
Toisaalta se on myös osa lukemisen ilosta.
Suosittelen kaikille joita musiikki kiinnostaa
#Helmet2023 lukuhaasteen kohtaan :
22. Kirja kertoo aiheesta, josta olet lukenut paljon
Kiinnostavinta näissä on aina miten ja miksi päädyttiin näihin biiseihin, ja millä tavalla niitä hiottiin ja kuka teki studiossa mitäkin.
Ja sitä käytiin läpi joka levyn kohdalta kiitettävästi ( ei ironiaa tässä).
Luen paljon elämänkertoja ja bändi/ muusikko juttuja ja niiden lukemisessa yhteistä on hitaus.
Aina pitää googlata ja kaivaa levyä hyllystä ja tarkistella sitä sun tätä.
Toisaalta se on myös osa lukemisen ilosta.
Suosittelen kaikille joita musiikki kiinnostaa
#Helmet2023 lukuhaasteen kohtaan :
22. Kirja kertoo aiheesta, josta olet lukenut paljon
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