This week, I’ve had Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”#OnRepeat. I grew up listening to this song repeatedly, but didn’t really quite appreciate it until recently.
Queen is a rick band from London, England that was popular during the 1970s and 1980s. The band was lead by vocalist and pianist, Freddy Mercury (famously known for sliding effortlessly up and down his five-octave range), writing music that blended Pop, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, and Classical music. They were known for experimenting heavily with sound and live stage performance techniques. Some of their most well-known songs are “We Will Rock You,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and “Somebody to Love.”
“Bohemian Rhapsody” was a song written by Freddy Mercury that became one of the most iconic Pop songs in the last several decades. Nearly six minutes in length, the song was written in the format of a suite, with changes in style and tempo, moving from a Ballad section to an “Operatic” section, to an aggressive Hard Rock. Mercury’s virtuosic voice is prominent throughout with an incredibly powerful, piercing upper range that he utilizes while belting. He demonstrates ridiculous efficiency in diction and rhythm, and he was able to slide from subtle and sweet to brash and energetic almost seamlessly. Having grown up listening to Queen, and then training as a vocalist myself, I have gained a whole new level of respect for this song, Freddy Mercury, and the band as a whole.
Take a listen below:
What do you think? What is your favorite Queen song? Let us know in the comments below!