Queen icon Freddie Mercury may have died in 1991, but his impact on the music and cultural landscape is as resonant as ever. The artist not only captivated the world with his stirring songwriting and powerful vocals but also cemented his status as an enduring global icon even three decades onward from his untimely demise.
His Queen bandmates previously revealed Freddie Mercury’s most adored tracks, as a 2022 Spotify playlist unveiled by Queen’s own official account unveiled some of his top favourites. Included is the powerhouse anthem Somebody to Love, where Freddie once revealed, “We had the same three people singing on the big choir sections, but I think it had a different kind of technical approach because there was this sort of Gospel way of singing, which I think was different to us. Sort of going to Aretha Franklin, sort of made them go a bit mad.”
Freddie Mercury was driven to write Somebody To Love after being inspired by Aretha Franklin’s soulful voice. “I just wanted to write something in that kind of thing. I was sort of incensed by the Gospel approach that she had on her albums, the earlier albums. Although it might sound the same kind of approach on the harmonies, it is very different in the studio because it’s like a different kind of… a different range.”
The list also includes It’s a Hard Life, which holds a special place in the heart of Queen’s lead guitarist and backing vocalist Brian May. In the notes for 2003’s Greatest Video Hits 2, May revealed: “To my mind, this is one of the most beautiful songs that Freddie ever wrote. It’s straight from the heart, and he opened up during the creation of it. I sat with him for hours and hours and hours, just pouring out every word and trying to get the most out of it. It’s a very revealing thing about how relationships are, and he was talking about his relationship.”
Notably absent from the list is Queen’s iconic 1975 hit Bohemian Rhapsody, which catapulted the band to global stardom.
Here is the complete list of Freddie Mercury’s favourite songs:
Somebody To Love
Written by Freddie Mercury at his piano, this soulful ballad showcased innovative voice layering techniques. By using just three vocalists – Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor – Queen created a breathtaking 100-voice choir effect.
Queen enthusiasts were left fascinated by the revelation that bandmate John Deacon did not lend his voice to any backing vocals on the track or the album ‘A Day at the Races’.
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
The foot-tapping hit ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ was a product of Freddie Mercury’s genius, reportedly crafted in just 10 minutes while he lounged in a bath at Munich’s Bayerischer Hof Hotel, as Roger Taylor disclosed and Freddie later confirmed.
It’s A Hard Life
‘It’s A Hard Life’, from Queen’s 1984 album ‘The Works’, stayed true to their early commitment to avoid synthesizers. The music video, with its operatic flair, saw the band donning period costumes which they found rather stifling.
Freddie’s costume for the video, complete with “eyes”, drew light-hearted comparisons to “a giant prawn” from his fellow Queen members.
The Miracle
‘The Miracle’, a collaborative effort with Freddie Mercury and John Deacon at the helm, featured on Queen’s eponymous 1989 album. Brian May and Freddie both expressed a particular fondness for this song, while Roger Taylor acknowledged its complexity despite it not being his personal favourite.
Time
This 1986 track was recorded by Freddie Mercury for Dave Clark’s musical of the same name. The music video was filmed at London’s Dominion Theatre, where the play had been showing since its world premiere on 9 April 1986.
Mercury and Austrian producer Rudi Dolezal met at the break of dawn, 6:00 AM, to shoot the video.
The Great Pretender
Originally a hit by the Platters, The Great Pretender found a new lease of life in 1987 thanks to Freddie Mercury. In one of his final videotaped interviews in spring 1987, Freddie confessed that the song deeply resonated with his perception of his stage persona and career.
Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow
Released in 1985, this was the last single from Freddie’s solo debut album, Mr. Bad Guy. Peter Freestone, in his book Freddie Mercury: An Intimate Memoir by the Man Who Knew Him Best, revealed that the song was inspired by the Queen frontman’s deep relationship with Austrian actress Barbara Valentin.