By MICHAEL BAGINSKI/ A casual conversation at an industry luncheon the other day (long story) revealed that my considerably younger colleagues were oblivious to the existence of Live Aid, the epic, generational concerts in London and Philadelphia in 1985 that were organized to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. (Woodstock was vaguely recognized).
Beyond its philanthropic scope, Live Aid is also remembered for Queen/Freddie Mercury’s performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” considered by some to be the greatest live performance of all time, and, as such, is somewhat ubiquitous across the Internet and throughout pop culture (and naturally portrayed in the Queen movie of the same name – was that really 2018?).
With this in mind, for this week we offer this lesser-known gem from the band, “Good Old-Fashioned Loverboy,” from a performance on Top of the Pops in 1977. The song was on the album “A Day at the Races” – the one that followed “A Night at the Opera” (which featured “Bohemian Rhapsody”).
Featuring the music hall style (Mercury called it ragtime) that Queen sometimes dabbled in, the song is another example of the band’s amazing versatility, and – of course – Freddie’s fabulous voice, for which we never need an excuse to listen.
Lyrics
I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things
We can do the tango just for two
I can serenade and gently play on your heart strings
Be a Valentino just for you
“Ooh love, ooh lover boy
What’re you doing tonight? Hey, boy!”
Set my alarm, turn on my charm
That’s because I’m a good old-fashioned lover boy
Ooh, let me feel your heartbeat (grow faster, faster)
Ooh, ooh, can you feel my love heat?
Come on and sit on my hot-seat of love
And tell me how do you feel right after all
I’d like for you and I to go romancing
Say the word, your wish is my command
“Ooh love, ooh lover boy
What’re you doing tonight? Hey, boy!”
Write my letter, feel much better
And use my fancy patter on the telephone
When I’m not with you, think of you always
(I miss those long hot summer nights)
I miss you
When I’m not with you, think of me always
Love you, love you
Hey, boy, where do you get it from?
Hey, boy, where did you go?
I learned my passion
In the good old-fashioned
School of lover boys
Dining at The Ritz we’ll meet at nine precisely
(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine o’clock)
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine
Driving back in style, in my saloon will do quite nicely
Just take me back to yours that will be fine (come on and get it)
Ooh love (there he goes again)
(He’s my good old fashioned lover boy) ooh lover boy
What’re you doing tonight? Hey, boy!
Everything’s all right, just hold on tight
That’s because I’m a good old-fashioned (fashioned) lover boy
Check out our ‘Listening In’ archive at https://travelindustrytoday.com/infocus-listening-in/