Some time but not too much ago, I listened to Queen's concert from Wembley... I think it was from '86. It wasn't the first time either.
During that concert, they introduced their new song "Who wants to live forever?", but I hadn't remarked until then the introduction to the song.
Freddy Mercury talked about rumors of Queen breaking up and dismissed them saying they'll be together forever. That was after already embracing a solo career in '85 (I didn't remember the details - I did a little research), so the rumors were probably justified. But he was right, he remained a member of Queen to his death in '91.
The song itself was written by the guitarist Brian May for the Highlander film, but I always thought of it when Freddy sang it as a self-reflection of his own condition.
Turns out Freddy Mercury and Queen live "forever", but not in the flesh (at least Freddy).
This came to my mind recently when I heard (again) how in a few dozen years, at most, (rich) people would be able to choose "immortality", if they want to, because simply the medical system would be able to reach "longevity escape velocity", where it would give back to individuals more years than the passing of time.
Many super-rich are very much seduced by this prospect, and would probably do everything in their power to reach "immortality" this way. I delved into this topic before...
One influential super-rich that doesn't like this eventuality is Elon Musk (although I've seen him nuance his position recently on this subject). He believes "immortality" would be a major break to progress, because mentalities don't evolve well with age, there needs to be a generational shift for that to happen.
That is probably true. For example, if all the great scientists of the past were still alive to defend their work, would new theories come out as easily? Of course, they could have created more since then, but they would have built on their own theories, in many cases, isn't it? What if a better theory is killed because it contradicts their own assumptions, deductions, or biases?
Anyway, I believe the thrive to immortality is simply... egocentric. If someone deserves to be remembered after many years, they will be. They don't need to be around to collect the gratitude of the people.
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That's an interesting topic! I thought the post would be about Queen that I ignored when I was young for some unknown reason... lol... I began to listen to them when Freddy passed away... 😞 I watched the movie and it was quite good explaining the history, with a few minor changes in timelines... After that, I watched this specific performance from Wembley a couple of times and the Live Aid performance too...
Regarding the topic, not sure about living forever will come soon... Yes, these actors and famous people hide their age with skin treatments, but not sure that works with the brain... I suppose we will need a few more decades to make a bigger advance there...
PS... Bonus song... My fav from the concert you shared... :)
Interesting! I didn't ignore them when I was young, but before the communism fell I didn't listen to a lot of Western music. Unfortunately, Freddy passed away soon after, but he lives on through his and Queen's legacy. I saw the movie too, but much later. Also saw the concert for Live Aid, I'll need to look for it and check it out again. Thanks for reminding me of it!
Yeah, things like dementia, Alzheimer and all other neuro-degenerative diseases are the main reason for not prolonging life much more than nowadays.
They already found the genes that control the aging of our cells. I'm sure they are testing on them intensively already.
I love that song! I also love choirs from UK. These guys and gals know how to sing.
it would be kinda a mess if people beliving sun rotate around earth would be still alive defending that idea, that's true lol
I think some still are...
Man, Queen’s music really does make them live forever. Freddy’s voice probably still gives chills to fans even decades later. As for immortality, I’d probably get bored after a few centuries… unless they invent new pizza flavors every year lol
They are legends, for sure.
Have you ever felt like an outsider to a group of people? I bet that's how they'd feel by that time.
hahahaha yes a little, especially in a groups chat of my school mates
At least you know your school mates. If immortality will be something only elites have access to, they may be in the situation they won't know anyone around them in a few hundred years. Pretty lonely life...
A classic song from a classic film.
On the flip side of scientists being around to slow innovation there are also those that would have been around to see their theory’s proved, a fine line.
But, as you say, it wouldn’t be the scientists living forever it would be the rich that they ended up working for.
!BBH
Like everything that gets invented, at some point more and more can afford it. The question is, if you live forever, do you even want/need to have kids? 😄 What does humanity turns into? A species that doesn't procreate anymore by choice?
It certainly becomes an interesting question, i'm pretty sure even if science turns us immortal we will find a way through violence to reduce population, someone always wants to have more power than the next person, so procreation would still be required 😀
!BBH
Haha, good point. I'm pretty sure by that time each immortal will have its own country, at least, if not its own continent or planet. Maybe that's enough space to not go to war with the neighbors, but knowing humans, it's not. Of course, who says they need kids in this case either? They can have clones...
There must already be clones, some of these billionaires have such split personalities they must be different people! 😂
!BBH
I think living forever won't really happen. The name of the guy who is the face of not aging seems like a scam after looking into all of the history. I agree with your outlook. If you deserve to be remembered in the future, you will.
And yet... humans have sought the immortality of the body since the beginning of civilization.
I was at one of those Queen shows back then. My favourite live band of all time.
Immortality would change our attitudes in many ways. I think some people find it hard to amuse themselves in a normal lifetime. Maximum lifespans have not changed that much over the centuries, but more people are living a long life. That life needs to be good quality when there are so many things that go wrong with us. You could get to 500 and be blind, deaf with no teeth.
I would have loved being at one of the live concerts too.
Yeah, they are talking about extending healthy lifetime, as a first step. They (who are very focused on this), talk about immortality sort of like a dream that may come true some day. But in reality, I think they want at least a (much) longer life without the health issues that come with old age.
The rich seem as mortal as the rest of us for now, but that could change with things like gene editing. Maybe the next generation will have some advantages, if you can afford them.
I think they are quite egocentric, wanting this for themselves more than their offsprings. But you are right, many of them will not reach what they desire so much before their life ends.
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