About the video for the song «I Want to Break Free» (The Works, 1984, written by John Deacon)
The clip was completed on May 4 (the first stage of filming took place on March 22) 1984 at Limehouse Studios (London), directed by David Mallet. The budget was around £100,000. The video was intended as a parody of the TV series ITV «Coronation Street». The idea was suggested by Roger Taylor (according to some sources, his girlfriend): «We wanted to show that we can still laugh at ourselves. I think we’ve proven that.»
Musicians have used images, a well-known actor on the series: Brian May like Hilda Ogden (actress Jean Alexander), Freddie Mercury as Beth Lynch (actress Julie Goodyea). Lynch in the film was a blonde, but Freddie decided that in the role of a blonde he would look stupid and chose the image of a brunette. It is likely that Roger and John are most visually consistent characters – Sally Webster (actress Sally Whittaker) and Minnie Caldwell (actress Kathleen Bryant).
The choreography of the ballet part of the clip was performed by Freddie Mercury’s friend Wayne Igling, the soloist of the Royal Ballet. Especially for filming in the role of V. Nijinsky in the image of the Faun (ballet «L'après-midi d'un faune») Mercury shaved his signature mustache. Rehearsals were not agreed with the management of the Royal Ballet, which subsequently led to some trouble for Igling.
It is known that MTV refused to show the clip, not accepting British humor. Roger commented on the refusal: «MTV’s management probably felt that the clip of the women’s clothing did not correspond to the general public’s ideas about rock musicians. Then on the channel were only Whitesnake, Whitesnake again, and again … Whitesnake!» And Brian May added: «I think at this point we lost America…»
The image created by Freddie Mercury in the video became very popular and was used in concert performances of the group. Lisa Stansfield performed the song «I want to break free» in 1992 at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert in this image.
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«Coronation Street» (1960-2017) – the longest soap opera in the UK tells about the life of ordinary inhabitants of Coronation Street in the small town of Weatherfield. Against the background of an idyllic picture — representatives of the working class, ordinary people with different fates. They love and hate, meet and break up, succeed and fall to the bottom. Their many vicissitudes of life, full of humor and drama.
Imagine going to the same school as Rogerina Taylor. She has a reputation for being the “bad girl” and tries to influence you to do things you normally don’t do. You of course give in because you have a crush on Rogerina and want to impress her.
Freddie Mercury performing ‘I Want To Break Free’ on stage at Voorst National in Brussels during the European tour of 'The Works’ on 21 September 1984.
05.09.1946 A 74 años del nacimiento de su Majestad Freddie Mercury. ✨
Radio Ga Ga, Don’t Stop Me Now, Another One Bites The Dust, Bohemian Rhapsody, Under Pressure y I Want To Break Free, himnos icónicos de la música y el vídeo.
