Queen are one of the most iconic British bands to ever exist and their popularity still persists today, more than 30 years on from the tragic passing of Freddie Mercury. Brian May was a pivotal part of the band as the lead guitarist and he helped to create the songs of Queen that will stay with people forever.
The band are most well-known for songs including Bohemian Rhapsody, Don’t Stop Me Now, Under Pressure and We Will Rock You. But Brian May says his favourite songs are the lesser-known from the collection. This is not an uncommon feeling to have among popular artists due to their biggest hits becoming owned by the public due to their extreme popularity.
During a conversation on the One Show, and at the time of the We Will Rock You jukebox musical opening, May revealed the song that he most enjoyed playing live. He said: “I still love playing them all, I have to be honest. I would have to say We Will Rock You. Especially as this is the moment when we’re relaunching the musical that is named after that song. It always gives me a good feeling.”
But when it comes to his favourite song of the band’s, May said The Miracle was his most coveted.
It was a personal song written by Mercury, written shortly before he died and the band have never played it live, likely out of respect for their friend and frontman.
During a Q&A on the band’s YouTube channel, May said: “I’m going to pick a song that not everybody knows out there, which is called The Miracle, which Freddie wrote that I always thought has a strange, unique magic to it.
“Especially because Freddie wrote it at a time when it was very hard for him to be optimistic, and it’s just very beautiful. I’ll go for that.”
Upon its release in 1989, May told Hard ‘N’ Heavy of the hopeful track: “We got pasted to the wall for this in England. Everybody hated it for some reason.
“It’s very uncool to be idealistic in Britain, I suppose, at the moment, and they said, ‘how can they talk about peace’, and all that sort of stuff, then of course, China happened and everything. It seems very relevant to us.”
The song demonstrates that although Mercury knew his life was coming to an end, he still felt a sense of optimism about the future and refused to let his illness get the better of his mind. This could be the reason that May holds the song so dearly that reminds him so vividly of his late friend and his incredible way of thinking.