On this day in 1946, Farrokh Balsara, better known by his
stage name Freddie
Mercury, was born. Making a name for himself as the frontman for rock band Queen,
the singer’s four-octave vocal range and grandiose performance style became
legendary, launching him and the band to rock stardom. Following his passing in
1991, Mercury has remained an influential voice in music more than 25 years on.
In honor of his 72 birthday, Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s
music outlet, is taking a look back at some of the most memorable Queen songs
penned by Freddie Mercury. From operatic epics to simple rock gems, here are six
songs that show the genius in Mercury’s writing.
1.
“Killer Queen”: “Killer Queen” was the band’s
first big hit, bringing them fame outside of their native UK. Written
about a “high class call girl,” the song’s style is bold and show-stopping,
building the character’s reputation through detailed lyrics and layered
instrumentals. (video)
2.
“Bohemian Rhapsody”: “Bohemian Rhapsody” takes
the listener on a journey, telling the story of the song’s narrator in the most
theatrical way possible. Running nearly six minutes and broken up into six distinct
parts, it’s an entire story in one song. The song became the band’s
magnum-opus, giving them their first number one and going multi-platinum
several times over (more than any of their other singles) with many
publications considering it the band’s best work. (video)
3.
“We Are
The Champions”: Starting out slow and sincere, lamenting about the band’s rise,
“We Are The Champions” builds into this grand melody filled with pomp and
triumph. This makes it perfect for big crowd sing-a-longs (it was supposedly written
with those in mind), which is exactly what it has gone on to do. The song is
nearly inescapable at sporting events where has become a favorite among teams
celebrating game victories. (video)
4.
“Don’t Stop Me Now”: Based around a hyped-up piano
melody, “Don’t Stop Me Now” explodes with a speed and zest that energizes the
listener upon impact. The lyrics mirror the intensity of the song’s caffeinated
instrumentation. It’s also one of their more hard rock-leaning pieces, focusing
more on the instrumentation than theatrics. Mercury’s vocals are also noticeably
raw, pushing the limits of his vocal abilities. (video)
5.
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”: Not all of
Mercury’s tunes have to be big show-stopping numbers. “Crazy Little Thing
Called Love” was reportedly written in 10 minutes from an idea he had in the
shower. According to an interview with Melody
Maker, Mercury said that the song was written on the guitar with the few
chords he knew, keeping its melody simple. The song’s early rock ‘n’ roll feel
provides a shocking contrast from the band’s usual fare, as well as a
complexity to their sphere of influence. (video)
6.
“Under Pressure”: Generally considered to be one
of Queen’s best songs of all time, “Under Pressure” is also one of their more
culturally aware. Written by Queen as a whole (though usually attributed to
Mercury) and performed as a duet with David Bowie, the song laments the “pressures”
of the world and loving your fellow man/woman. The song has a lot of the
theatrical gusto that had been the mark of Queen’s style for more than a decade
at that point, especially as the song builds into the chorus. However, it also shows
a bit of restraint, not soaring too high as to overshadow the lyrical content. (video)
Freddie Mercury has left an indelible mark on music over the
course of his short career. With influences that ranged from the theatrical to
different modes of rock, he helped Queen create a sound and presence that would
remain unique and unmatched to this day. As his music continues to reach new
audiences through live performances from the rest of the band and continued
radio airplay, Mercury’s musical legacy will continue to live on for years to
come.
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Find music from Freddie Mercury and more legendary artists
at Vinyl Bay 777. Long Island’s favorite new independent record shop has
thousands of titles to choose from in a variety of genres ranging from rock and
pop to blues, jazz, R&B, hip-hop and more. Browse our wide selection of new
and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With
more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what gems
you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.
