Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

Gently Play On Your Heartstrings

You'd heard of them, of course. Your friend had not been able to shut up about them. They were THE band, apparently. The best thing since sliced bread, the way she talked about it. She'd made you listen to parts of their first couple of albums and you liked it. But you were still heartbroken about The Beatles breaking up, even though it had been years. You swore you'd never be over it. No one could ever take their place in your heart. Still, when heard Queen's newest album, you had to admit it was pretty damn good. It was being played everywhere and with good reason. It was unlike anything you'd ever heard before! You blasted the music whenever you heard it on the radio and started to know every note by heart. When your friend announced that Queen would be coming to a nearby city on tour, you agreed to stand in line with her outside the venue to buy tickets the minute they went on sale. Yes, Queen's music was very good. But how could their live performance possibly live up to it? Would they be bringing an actual choir of singers, a squadron of guitars, and a giant gong? There was no way they'd be able to capture that feeling or that sound on stage...

Your friend had seen them live before and swore it was one of the best experiences of her entire life. Apparently the lead singer's exceptionally tight trousers had ripped on stage and she'd bent herself over backwards trying to get a better look... but hadn't managed it. She was still very put out about it.

"But there's so little left to the imagination. Honestly, I don't know why he even bothers wearing pants," your friend giggled.

You'd seen pictures of him, of course. He seemed very... glittery. Very... What was the word for it? Glam. The guitarist seemed to be dressed by the same costumer. It was not the look you had come to expect from rock 'n rollers. No, the drummer seemed more that type than any of them. Not to mention that every picture you'd seen of the drummer, he looked absolutely gorgeous. You thought it an absolute pity he'd be stuck at the back of the stage for most of the night... Still, you were never one to let a good time go to waste. It would take you and your friend about two and a half hours to get into the city for the concert. After a trip like that, you'd both decided to go halfsies on a hotel room near the venue and travel back the next day.

When you arrive, you take the opportunity before the show to doll yourself up. You've resolved yourself to looking absolutely fantastic for the night's outing. That way if the concert is a bust, there are plenty of bars nearby with people who would certainly appreciate your effort. The dress is brand new, made of emerald green silk with a plunging neckline and a backline to match. For makeup you favor a glittery, golden smokey eye and deep shade of lipstick.

"Damn girl," your friend says when you walk out of the bathroom, "You look so good tonight I might even hit on you!"

"Play your cards right, you never know what will happen," you say with a wink.

The excitement is palpable walking into the venue. Everyone seems hyped up and ready to rock. It's a promising start. The tickets are for the pit, standing room only. Your friend drags you forward through the crowd as close to the stage as you can get. You notice people staring at you while you wait for the concert to start and you realize you look a little out of place. Most people are wearing t-shirts and jeans more fit for the mosh pit you're in. How dull, you think. At least I stand out for the right reasons.

When the show starts, you completely forget about everyone else. From the first stream of light, the starting movement of the fog across the stage, the opening cry of the guitar, you're locked in. The lights nearly blind you and the sound coming from a wall of amps is deafening. And then comes that voice... It's just as good as it was on the record. (Could it even be better?) Everyone begins screaming his name...

FREDDIE!

You shiver in excitement as he moves in tandem with every twist and turn of the music. Your first impression of him was correct, in a sense. He's no ordinary rock 'n roller. None of them are. They play with as much power as on their records. The sound is not exactly the same, but you quickly realize that it doesn't have to. Everything they do, they do to put across their music to its fullest effect. Every note coming out of Freddie's mouth is dripping with passion. He takes many breaks to talk to the audience and works hard to get them all involved in every song. Many times he walks directly up to the edge of the stage where you're watching. As he stands there and sings his heart out, you can't keep from smiling at the view. Your friend had certainly been right about Freddie's costume. Pants were pretty pointless. They only served to outline all of his significant natural... talents. You officially adore this man. There's no turning back now.