＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
Had you heard of the band “Queen” before seeing the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody”?
I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t. Compared to the Beatles, the Carpenters, or even Michael Jackson, I imagine they were less well-known among the general public.
However, the movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” is surprising in that it became popular even among elementary school students who had never heard of Queen. Apparently, many parents and children enjoyed the movie together, even with their children.
1. About Queen
Queen is a four-piece rock band from London, England. Debuting in 1973, they achieved success worldwide, including in the UK, the US, and Japan.
They were ranked third in The Wall Street Journal’s “100 Most Popular Rock Bands of All Time.” Their total album and single sales are estimated to exceed 170 million copies.
In 2001, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Michael Jackson and Aerosmith.
2. What is “Bohemian Rhapsody”?
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a song originally released by Queen in 1975. It debuted at number 17 on the singles chart, rose to number one in just three weeks, and became a massive hit, staying at number one for nine consecutive weeks.
The song’s structure is a little unusual. From the beginning, it consists of ① a cappella, ② ballad, ③ opera, ④ hard rock, and ⑤ an extension of the ballad ②.
Vocalist Freddie Mercury died of AIDS at the young age of 45. However, Queen’s popularity continues even after his death. One American critic said, “The effect that cynics call a ‘dead star’ has occurred. Queen is in the midst of a resurgence.”
The film “Bohemian Rhapsody” stars Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the legendary British rock band Queen.
It grossed 13 billion yen in Japan and over 100 billion yen worldwide.
It won Best Picture and Best Actor at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, and won four Academy Awards: Best Actor, Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.
The reasons for its success include (1) the fact that it can be enjoyed like a greatest hits album, (2) it can be enjoyed by two generations, and (3) it allows for a participatory, immersive viewing experience.
For these reasons, the film apparently has many repeat viewers.