I have no idea who Taylor Swift. I confuse her with Kelly Clarkson. The daughter knows her though. Regardless, I try to bond with her over music, including and especially Queen. 

Outside of my too 3 bands, Queen has got to be a solid contender for fourth place. I’ve taken her to two tribute band concerts and she has a lot of fun. She is a funny girl, she bobs up and down when she dances. You can tell she’s my daughter. When she was young, she memorized the lyrics to We Will Rock You – not just the chorus but the stanzas as well. There is a video of her playing on her toy drum set while singing it out loud.  It is adorable and hilarious. 

I could identify with Freddie Mercury quite a bit. He was an outsider and hidden in many ways. He wasn’t even British, born in Zanzibar, his original name was Farrokh Bulsara. Secretly gay, he hid that from many. His parents did not approve of his career as a musician. 

Queen songs can be quirky but also underrated in their wisdom and profound meanings. I find many of them powerful, especially the quintessential Bohemian Rhapsody and The Show Must Go On, a defiant and courageous song about staring anything in their face – sorrow, great pain, even death. 

The one song, however, that truly stands out is one that doesn’t get as much airplay or attention – Love of My Life. It  is about Mary Austin – his former girlfriend or fiancée, I can’t exactly recall her status. 

She meant the world to him before he embraced his homosexuality. She took care of him during his last days when he was dying of AIDS. He left a significant portion of his estate to her and she is the only person who knows where he is buried. He felt safe and comfortable with and around her. I think they understood each otter. They loved each other through it all. 

She was truly the love of his life. 

 I think you are mine.