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Rosie Bennett’s friend and mentor Sir Brian May showered this under-recognized artist with public compliments. With his heartfelt adulation of her new record deal, these kinds of superstars could very well mark career highpoints for the classically trained guitarist Bennett, narrating a few tales of a convivial musical fraternity. This took May’s shout-out to the pinnacles of rock, thus bringing to the fore the commercial possibilities of Bennett’s career.
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Going onto social media to express his joy at this very special moment in the career of Rosie Bennett, Brian May wrote a succinct yet lovely message: “Congratulations dear Rosie on your brand new record deal. More power to ya!!! Bri.” It has now become the crowning moment in Bennett’s career as the beautiful and heartfelt words of May were soon doubled by endorsements from other celebrities and fans, creating a momentum for the career progress of Bennett.
Well-wishers swarmed the comments section, bearing witness to Bennett’s talent. “She’s a very talented girl,” said one, whereas another said she was brilliant, speaking for the general public opinion about Bennett’s musical skills. Other following comments were rather specific to her classical guitar skills; one enthusiastic fan maybe unfairly yet passionately stated that “Bennett’s music is a soul healer,” meaning there is an emotional level of her playing that locks the soul of the listener.
Standing among all of the congratulations discs was one comment shedding fresh light on the May-Bennett relationship. “Her interview with you, Brian, remains one of the most intimate, wonderfully real, vulnerable, and open conversations ever.” That would imply that those two musicians share a professional respect, which probably rivals an actual or personal relationship based on aesthetic affection.
May’s reach is worldwide, from where the comments have been coming. A Chilean guitarist said an interesting correlation: “We did study under the same teacher in Wisconsin Rene Izquierdo.” This comment shows the international connections the classical guitar world has but also how musicians often find unanticipated correlations through training and mentoring.
The most heartwarming testimony came from a 13-year-old follower called Charlie from Chile, who shared a very personal story of how Queen’s music literally saved his or her life: “Queen saved me from suicide since I was 10.” Charlie went on: “They saved me from doing a lot of stupid things, even when I didn’t want to live anymore.” This triggered a series of responses from other young fans telling their experience, creating one touching log of musical healing.
One response to Charlie really stood out: “OMG WE’RE ALMOST THE SAME 😭 I tried to commit the s word when I was 10-11 but Queen saved me with that Drowse song.” In a way, these conversations shared by the young fans proved that May’s music has continued to comfort and bring a sense of community to people growing up in different parts of the world. It is miraculous that something which started as a simplistic congratulatory message regarding a musician’s achievement could become the platform for vital conversations about mental health and musical salvation.
Quite a few comments around the post are about how much all Bennett’s accomplishments have been “well deserved,” “overdue,” etc. These imply it is something that she has been fighting for for quite a while. The general feeling is that this record deal is more of an acknowledgment of true artistic value than just another business deal. “Such a gifted artist, it feels like her success was just meant to happen, not described as being by chance,” one fan summarized perfectly.
The response to May’s comment is evidence of the status that he occupies in the music world. Being a rock legend but perhaps also the nurturing mentor places him with an own voice and tone that is personal and so close to almost being a family member. The endearing nickname of “Rosie,” and a casual phrase of “More power to ya,” shows that this is more than merely a professional courtesy-it is personal support of one colleague for another whom he clearly regards with respect.
What blossomed out of a simple congratulatory post was an eruption of artistic celebration, a living testimony of musical mentorship from Master May and in turn a platform for earnest-recognition-foldable stories by fans from the transmutable power of songs. The thread depicted beautifully the music fraternity acting as an extended family, founded and sustain by artists such as May with the support of emerging talent like Bennett, all the while maintaining strong ties to the listening public all over the world.
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Sir Brian May’s endorsement of Rosie for her record deal is reminiscent of the old-school musical congratulations and at the same time, an epitome of the greater fabric that sustains musical ties between artists and across generations. From the glory stories of his milestones, such as the Bohemian Rhapsody 50th anniversary, to the salvation stories of individuals, one social media post portrayed the entire gamut of what music means to human life. This moment also recalls his emotional performance with Andrea Bocelli.
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