Talk:Bohemian Rhapsody

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A fair amount of space is given to "Wayne's World", but none to the Muppets + Queen version?

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Bohemian_Rhapsody

It seems to be that this version (which includes lyric changes and some editing) also deserves attention. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.106.215.154 (talk) 14:08, 12 January 2014 (UTC)

Time?

This is a long article, so maybe I missed something, but other than a mention of 1-1-2 in one part of the song, there seems to be no mention of what time the song is. since it is rock (sort of) and since 1-1-2 seems to be a kind of 4/4 (I'm not a musician, so I don't know, but there's no link to what 1-1-2 is), maybe the song is in 4/4. Can someone in the know include this information in the article -- or disabuse me of it if this is wrong.211.225.33.104 (talk) 07:07, 9 April 2014 (UTC)

Influences from Commedia dell'arte

Commedia dell'Arte was a style of street performance that became popular in Italy roughly during the same time that William Shakespeare was writing plays in England. There were many common themes and characters that were portrayed by the itinerant thespians, and the style went on to have enormous influences on performing art throughout Europe.

There are many elements in "Bohemian Rhapsody" that are taken from standard Commedia dell'Arte motifs and characters.

First off, the line from "Bohemian Rhapsody":

"I see a little silhouetto of a man, 
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?" 

The "silhouetto of a man" is a reference to Commedia dell'Arte shadow puppets that were common on the streets of Naples and other parts of southern Italy.

"Scaramouche" is one of the most common characters that appear in the Punch and Judy puppet shows. He is also imported from Italy, and is dressed to represent an effete Spanish dandy. He often comes out on stage to dance the Fandango, an 18th century Spanish dance.

Next, from the song:

"(Galileo) Galileo. 
(Galileo) Galileo, 
Galileo Figaro 
Magnifico." 

This is a reference to the Italian Commedia dell'Arte again. Galileo sometimes appeared in the street performers' skits as someone of ridicule - portrayed as a foolish wise man, whom the Catholic Church had to censor for spreading crazy ideas.

Figaro, of course, is a reference to late 18th century opera "The Barber of Seville", by Pierre Beaumarchais. Beaumarchais based his play directly on Commedia dell'Arte characters and style, including using the name Figaro, which had been a standard character portrayed by street performers in Naples for over 100 years.

Finally:

"Oh, mama mia, mama mia (Mama mia, let me go.) 
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me." 

There is a theme throughout this part of "Bohemian Rhapsody" that uses Italian phrases, again probably a reference to Commedia dell'Arte.

The reference to Beelzebub is also from Commedia dell'Arte, who was a stock character used by the Italian street performers.

Taken as a whole, the plot of the song could be almost precisely a stylized version of a Commedia dell'Arte performance, brought up to date. The song talks about a young man who has killed someone, and now must face the consequences of his actions, and is calling for his sweet mother, and bidding farewell to his friends. This moral play was very typical of many of the Commedia dell'Arte performances from the 17th century on.

The painting below is of a Commedia dell'Arte performance. The main character on the left (the "Harlequin") is preparing to fight and kill his protagonist on the right (both holding knives). The main character's mother hovers behind him, and the constable is coming from stage left to arrest him for murder. This is almost a complete depiction of the events described in "Bohemian Rhapsody".

http://www.wikigallery.org/wiki/painting_314383/(after)-Louis-De-Caullery/A-scene-from-a-Commedia-dell'arte

Perhaps some mention of this could be made in the article. --Saukkomies ^talk 18:02, 10 May 2014 (UTC)