Ace Audio: "The Show Must Go On" - Queen

Ace Audio is a series where I look at songs that I don't think get enough appreciation, or analyze songs that I think are well loved, so I try to avoid well loved songs like "Stairway to Heaven" or "Run to the Hills". Although, there may be a case or two where I break my rule, I may not do it often but I will occasionally, like now.

Queen needs no introduction, if you don't know Queen you don't know music proper. They are one of the greatest, if not the greatest band who has ever performed with many amazing songs under their belt. Many of their songs are some of the greatest of all time from "Bohemian Rhapsody" to "Radio Gaga" and many more. I decided to go with this song because I really want to emphasise how important the song was to the band and to their fans.

The song is basically about Freddie Mercury and his continuous singing for the band despite his failing health. It was one of the last songs released before his death in 1991. To this, the song itself highly compliments this by having a very symphonic feel to it all, kind of like the end of an opera. It gives the song a very triumphant sound, as if saying this is not the end.

Even though at this point he was terminally ill, Freddie still kills it on the vocals. This is a testament to how amazing of a vocalist Freddie Mercury was, as he still has all that power and range even when dying. This is why Freddie is recognized as the greatest singer in music, because even though others had the range like Ray Charles, and others had the power like Screamin' Jay Hawkins, very few had both, and none to such an impressive degree.

The rest of the band does an awesome job as well, Roger Taylor especially kills it with those drums and John Deacon plays an awesome bass. However, it's Brian May that steals the show when it comes to the instrumentals with his precise guitar playing, it really does add to the whole rock orchestra feel of the song.

When we talk about the best of Queen, yes "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Are the Champions" are always going to be in our hearts, but "The Show Must Go On" is a testament to the band as a whole. Sure, this could've been entirely Freddie's doing, and his ultimate final song, but no, this was a whole band effort and they did not pull out any stops.

The song sounds incredible and it was the perfect track to end on. It may be, objectively speaking, the best Queen song ever. It was the bands ultimate song and it gave the fans Freddie's ultimate vocal performance. It is a very important song to all Queen fans.

I'm the Entity of Darkness, and the show...

It must go on!