Textual Analysis: I Want To Break Free by Queen

Textual Analysis
For my textual analysis of a song which was made before 1998; I decided to analyse one of my favourite songs and music videos: I Want To Break Free, by Queen.




I Want To Break Free was a highly controversial music video in 1984 as it consisted of all male members of Queen dressed as women. It was banned on MTV in America which caused Freddie Mercury the lead vocalist to refuse to tour America again. However, in the UK and rest of the world, the video and song were hit successes being used as a fight against oppression.

The video was also a parody of Hit UK Soap Opera: Coronation Street as all the members were suppose to represent a character from the TV show.

The second part of the video then takes place dancing with the Royal Ballet as Freddie Mercury had an ambition to bring 'ballet to the masses'.  Back in the Coronation Street house Freddie two-steps from the kitchen to the living room, Freddie added this in as improvisation in the hope that someone would notice.

The dancing part of the video was choreographed by Wayne Eagling, however despite being a born performer, Freddie didn't like any choreographed act himself so he was mostly picked up and moved around during the ballet part of the video. Wayne organised the rehearsals with the Royal Ballet in secret from his superiors; something which got him into trouble later when discovered.

In April 1984 it was in the top 3 in the United Kingdom whereas it only reached a maximum of 45th in North America.


Various different camera angles were used throughout:


The scene starts off with a birds eye view of council houses in Manchester to set the scene that the video is taking place in the 'Coronation Street' setting. There's then a close up of Brian Mays face which shows the hair curlers and highlights the fact that he is dressed as a woman. This is then followed by a close up of his pink,feminine bunny slippers. There is also a mid shot of the hoover which is being used by an unseen body, making the audience wait in anticipation to see who is going to come on scene and want to see what they are dressed as.


There were also various methods of editing used throughout: an example of this would be when Freddie opens the door to under the stair and it leads onto the next part of the music video instead of a closet as would be expected. I found this to be a very effective transition and use of continuity as it could symbol 'breaking free' from being trapped inside the closet. This could also be a hidden meaning for Mercurys' true sexuality as he was homo/ bisexual.