Through Chrissie's eyes

Videoclips

One thing that became part of the band over the years was the recording of promotional clips for the singles. With each new album, it meant that the boys would record new clips, always discussing the artistic direction of each of them with some animosity, just as they did when they produced a new song.

Freddie came up with extravagant ideas for "Radio Gaga" and "It's a Hard Life." He himself had given suggestions to the costume designer and the result was quite something very like him.

"I can't believe we're back to the '70s even after 13 years!" I had to say when I saw the boys wearing that sort of red bandage shirt, trying to sound playful.

Freddie would have given me one of his answers full of reason, but just ignored me, focusing on something else, going to check the scenario. This attitude worried me, but I didn't ask him anything. Brian wasn't ready yet, so I went to see what had happened.

"Is everything alright, Bri?" he said shortly after opening the door.

"I give up, Chrissie" he complained, trying to unfold the chest bandages. "How do you dress this thing? Since it was to return to extravagance, I still have my white robes ..."

"Wait, let me help you." I laughed and grabbed a stool to lean on, propped it up in front of Brian, climbed onto the stool, and wrapped the bandages back so they wouldn't let go any further, and I fixed his shoulder pads.

"There you go" I put my hands in his hair, grooming it gently "handsome".

"Handsome, but ridiculous ..." he rolled his eyes and I just kissed him, trying to improve his mood, which eventually worked.

Brian joined the bandmates and started the recordings. I found interesting the idea that Roger had to add claps between the pauses of the chorus. It was something like "We Will Rock You," which fans would surely pick up and accompany along with the band.

Finishing the recordings of "Radio Gaga", they went to "It's a Hard Life". Freddie wore the red jumpsuit full of holes, and the wig that looked like a dead animal, but I kept my opinion to myself. The poor fellow was already with that melancholy again, the music was sad, and I didn't want to make anyone sadder.

Roger and John also didn't like their costumes so much, Brian was spared the extravagance wearing a simpler black outfit. If the boys found it bad and overdone their clothes for these clips, they hardly knew what awaited them with "I Want to Break Free".

It all started with the meeting to decide on what the clip would be. We had the classic ideas of jailbreak, and the boys running outdoors, but Roger had a better argument.

"When Dominique heard the song and told me what she had thought about what it meant, she thought of female oppression, you know?" the drummer was building his argument "so she said it would be cool if the four of us represented different types of women, and in the video clip language, this would be set up as a parody of "Coronation Street." "

John and Brian blinked for a moment, trying to process the answer, Roger and Freddie exchanged animated smiles, Mercury had loved the idea.

"Did Dominique give you that idea?" I asked, a little curious "I don't know, no, you know what, it's so her such a thing, all she wants is to laugh a little at your faces."

"Let them laugh, Mrs. May! "Freddie cut me off, in his enthusiastic tone "we'll do exactly as Roger suggested."

Brian and John shrugged simultaneously, agreeing that it was best not to argue and just accept the decision.

I tried not to raise expectations as to how my husband would look, but seeing Brian in his pink sweater, bunny slippers and curlers in his hair, I just couldn't stop laughing.

"Okay, Chrissie, you're going to throw up like this" I saw he was getting pissy and irritated.

"Sorry ..." I took a deep breath, concentrating to hold back the laughter. "Where did they get a sweater of your size? And curlers? Seriously? I wore it in high school."

"Yeah, I know, I saw the pictures your parents showed me, not you with curlers, but with your hair modeled," Brian countered in an attempt to change the subject.

"The nice thing is that after the clip your hair will be perfect, not that it already is" I gave a mischievous smile, and he just shook his head.

"Duty calls, my love" Brian gave me a kiss on the cheek, having patience with me amusing myself because of his look.

As the boys recorded, I had grown accustomed to their female versions, and I no longer laughed as much as when I first saw them, and I also had to be quiet so as not to disturb the recording.

Freddie had taken over the scene with his irreverent and daring way, and the boys entering in the character completed. In the end, I found that the funniest clip they ever made.

However, not everything was fun and laughable at the time, even in that relaxed atmosphere. Brian, Roger, and John played and teased each other at the far end of the scenario, while Freddie, at the end of the recording, despite the shared laughter, went back to being sad and crestfallen.

It made my heart clench. I kept repeating to myself that I wouldn't worry, that I would let him live as he wanted, remembering that he was an adult, but I just couldn't. Year after year, instead of opening up and trusting us, Freddie shrank back, kept to himself and to inspire his compositions all he was feeling. But seeing him like this again demanded an attitude on my part.

I created a strategy so he wouldn't think he wanted to rummage through his life and ask questions that he found inconvenient. I brought him a cup of coffee.

"I brought it to you" I offered, with a discreet smile, "do you want it?"

"Thank you, Chrissie" he said softly, taking a sip of coffee shortly.

"I liked the idea, after all" I tried to make a conversation.

"Yeah, I saw how much you laughed" Freddie said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone." I justified myself.

"There is no one you offend in this world, Mrs. May" he managed to smile "t's just me that ... Well, it doesn't matter."

"You can tell me if it's something that bothers you, really." I tried to encourage him to open up, gently.

"I don't know if you've ever felt that way, but ..." he sighed, looking at me seriously and sadly at the same time "I have the impression that I don't know what I'm doing with my life ..."

"Oh ..." my concern multiplied at once "you ... I know it's hard not to think that Freddie, but think of all the good things you've done, and all that you still can do. Just keep moving on."

A bit hesitant, I kissed his cheek, and before I pulled away, Freddie gave me a hug.

"Thank you again." He smiled slowly, watching me with half-closed eyes. "Brian couldn't have chosen a better wife."

"Well ..." I chuckled softly, feeling embarrassed. "I'm happy to help."

I didn't know exactly what he was going through, but giving Freddie a little relief at that moment also made me calmer.