The Sunday Spark is on a brief hiatus while I enjoy some vacation time. This weekend, I’m in Cleveland, Ohio fuelling my musical obsession, so I thought I’d dust off a guest post I originally wrote for my friends at T.B.C… for an obsession series that never came to fruition.
Is there such a thing as a healthy obsession?
Obsession—it’s an interesting word. When my friends at T.B.C… first asked me to write about obsession, a single word immediately jumped to mind, but I’ll come back to that.
If you dive into the meaning of the word obsession, you’ll find that it can be seen as both a positive and a negative. As mental health issues reach all-time highs, obsession is often seen as a negative thing. Obsessive compulsive disorder is a real worry, and unhealthy obsessions cause addiction, relationship issues, and all sorts of other concerns.
So, is there such a thing as a healthy obsession? I think so. Now, let’s get back to that single word that jumped to my head…Queen.
A party fit for a Queen
In 2022, I watched the Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace on television. The opening stomps made my heart sing. As much as I loved and admired Queen Elizabeth II, she wasn’t the reason my heart was singing. No, I was excited about a different Queen that I saw on the screen. Yes, I’m talking about Queen, my all-time favourite band and the best rock band of all time. You can argue against me on that if you like, but I guarantee you won’t win.
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A relationship that was meant to be
Queen is my musical obsession.
It’s a relationship that was meant to be. You see Queen and I share a big day. Fifty years ago, on July 13—my 9th birthday—they released their first album, Queen. That album still sounds as amazing as it did all those years ago.
Now I didn’t discover Queen until about a year after that first album was released. My sister Lorraine, who’s three years older than me, brought home a copy of Queen II and played it for me. At the time, I thought it was pretty cool. Little did I know how much of a role that band would come to play in my life.
A year or so later, Lorraine brought home a copy of Sheer Heart Attack. Again, some pretty cool music that I enjoyed listening to with her.
My real obsession started in late 1975 when Queen released A Night At The Opera. To this day, it’s my favourite Queen album. I can recite the lyrics of every song on that album from the opening notes of Death On Two Legs, to the closing chords of God Save The Queen. I have vivid memories of 11-year-old me rocking out to Bohemian Rhapsody on the school bus on the way home from grade seven. We made the Wayne’s World scene with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey look pretty tame.
After A Night The Opera, I rushed out and bought every Queen album as soon as it hit the stores. I obsessed over the album covers, memorized the lyrics, and listened to those records over and over and over again.
On July 13, 1985, the stars aligned again when Queen delivered their epic performance at Live Aid—on my 21st birthday. What an incredible birthday gift that was!
The show must go on
In 1991, I wept when our beloved Freddie died far too young. Many of those tears were shed because I never saw Queen live while Freddie was alive—one of my only regrets in life.
For years after Freddie’s death, I rejected tribute bands and versions of Queen with other singers. To me, it would never be the same without Freddie. When Brian and Roger endorsed The Queen Extravaganza, I gave in and bought a ticket. Attending that concert made me realize it’s all about the music, and the music needs to be played live and heard by a new generation. I believe Freddie would have wanted it that way.
Fuelling my musical obsession
These days, I fuel my obsession hanging out with fellow Queenies at Breakthru, the official North American Queen Convention. It was at The Queen Extravaganza concert in 2013 that I first heard about Breakthru. What could be better than a whole weekend of Queen, spent with people who are just as—or even more—obsessed with Queen than me?
Sadly, 2023 will be the final Breakthru convention. I have made so many wonderful friends at Breakthru over the years. I hope that Some Day One Day, I’ll be able to gather again with my Queenies and share my obsession with people who get it. Because I’m convinced there are no better people in the world than Queen fans.
The music lives on. The obsession continues…
The Sunday Spark will return next week. For now, I’d love to hear about your musical obsession. Drop me a comment below to let me know.
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Oh my! I’m a fan, too, of Queen – but not nearly as dedicated as you. I hope I didn’t miss it — the mention of why you’re in Cleveland. Any Rock and Roll Hall of Fame connections to your trip? Music matters. It just does…and I’m so impressed by all of your talents. I’m just a happy listener – grateful that music can transport me in time. It’s like magic. 🥰
Yes, you hit the nail on the head Vicki. Music is like magic!
I went to Cleveland for Breakthru, the official North American Queen Convention. Of course, we had to go early to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was so amazing. I loved seeing all the old stage costumes, and handwritten lyrics.
Love it! It is a cool place. So glad you visited and enjoyed! 😉
The first ever record I bought was Radio Gaga in the eighties. I think alongside this I bought ‘I need a hero’ by Bonnie Tyler. I understand what its like to follow a celeb or a group. For me, Kylie Minogue has been with me since I was 9.
Oh I love Radio Gaga. I Need a Hero is a great tune, too! Kylie Minogue has never really been as popular in Canada as in other parts of the world, but she’s a great talent!