50 Years in a Dangerous World, Queen II — Yoko Sugihara
Table of Contents
- When We Say "Album," We Think of the 60s-70s
- My Pick is Queen II
- The Gateway Was MusicLife, Rogerrrrr!!!!!
- At My Friend's House, "Queen," Then I Bought Queen II
- Side White — From Heartbeat to a Treasure Trove of Ideas
- Side Black — Freddie's Poison, Exquisite Balance
- 50+ Years, Still Deep in a Dangerous World
- Editor's Note
When We Say "Album," We Think of the 60s-70s
When we say "album," many works from the late 60s to 70s naturally come to mind.
I think even as a child, I somehow absorbed the colors, scents, and energy of that era. Progressive rock was especially incredible. There were grand stories, captivating artwork, and music that circulated through you like blood.
Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, and EL&P were all amazing. Wonderful. I love them.
My Pick is Queen II
But! My pick is this one: Queen II.
(Some people call Queen progressive rock, but I disagree. Well, categorization doesn't really matter anyway.)
Queen was, for me, absolutely real-time.
The Gateway Was MusicLife, Rogerrrrr!!!!!
The gateway was the music magazine MusicLife of that time. I don't remember buying it myself—someone must have brought it to school—but I was hooked by a photo published in it.
....Rogerrrrr!!!!!
Without even hearing the music yet. Editor-in-Chief Rumiko Hoshika's trap! lol
At My Friend's House, "Queen," Then I Bought Queen II
Eventually, a friend bought their debut album "Queen," so I went to listen to it.
Back then, we would often go to friends' houses to listen to records together, not chatting or drinking (of course not! lol), each immersing ourselves in our own world. Of course, we'd share our thoughts after listening... It was shocking.
And then I bought Queen II. I was thrilled and intoxicated. Completely intoxicated. It was another world.
The subsequent "Sheer Heart Attack" and "A Night at the Opera" are masterpieces too, but I love II the most. Hit songs like Killer Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody are great, but the story told through a complete album stays with you forever. Colors, scents, temperature.
Side White — From Heartbeat to a Treasure Trove of Ideas
Side White. It begins with a heartbeat, then Brian's multi-tracked guitars like an anthem. The excitement never stops.
The beautiful, unique voicing, the incense-scented White Queen is exquisite. It's like a treasure trove of ideas.
Roger Taylor's number comes too. A straightforward rock number—I love it.
Side Black — Freddie's Poison, Exquisite Balance
Side Black. Freddie's poison. A mysterious quality that could easily become gimmicky if handled wrong, but with exquisite balance.
Addictive taste and scent. The cascading song connections and composition. Meticulous yet bold, making you crave another hit of that poisonous thrill.
And the shadows in the album cover. We realize we've entered a dangerous world. Or maybe we don't realize it.
50+ Years, Still Deep in a Dangerous World
50+ years... maybe I don't realize it.
Yes, it's said that Japanese girls were the ones who discovered Queen and pushed them to become global stars. As one of those girls from that time, I'm proud of that.
Queen II is the best!!!!!
Editor's Note
Yoko Sugihara is my friend (Namio), a professional musician who performs with our mutual friend Ton-chan in Golden Cats. Her excellence as a pianist is obvious, but I also always look forward to the casual, natural everyday scenes she posts on Facebook.
When I received this manuscript from Yoko, I first laughed at "Rogerrrrr!!!!!", was impressed by the Side White / Side Black chapter structure, and was delighted by the final "the best!!!!!" The ears of a professional musician and the excitement of her teenage years resonate with the same intensity across 50+ years.
"Beautiful, unique voicing," "incense-scented White Queen," "Freddie's poison," "cascading song connections"—these are the words of someone who creates music. While reading, I felt my own ears traveling through the album.
Queen II was released on April 9, 1974. For more than half a century since then, this album continues to live, keeping Yoko in that "dangerous world." "Maybe I don't realize it"—I think this single line contains the real essence.
Thank you, Yoko. — Please listen to Queen II all the way through with headphones.
Author
