It’s hard to tell these days what is real on Facebook and what is advertising and/or AI garbage. But I came across this story the other day from the Americana Music Society, and I find myself hoping (almost willing into existence) it’s true:
Freddie Mercury was so ill when the band recorded the song ‘The Show Must Go On’ in 1990 that Brian May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it.
Recalling Freddie’s performance, Brian said, “The melody called for some very demanding top notes, and I’d only been able to ‘demo’ them in falsetto. I said to Freddie:
‘I don’t want you strain yourself - this stuff isn’t going to be easy in full voice, even for you!’
Freddie told me : ‘Don’t worry - I’ll fucking nail it, darling!’
I said: ‘Fred, I don’t know if this is going to be possible to sing.’ And he went: ‘I’ll fucking do it, darling’, vodka down, and went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal.
Freddie propped himself up against the mixing desk and… delivered one of the most extraordinary performances of his life.
Brian: “In the final mix of ‘The Show Must Go On’ , when you get to ‘On with the show’, you are listening to a man who conquered everything to deliver his finest work."
Freddie Mercury was a remarkable singer and performer, and as the years go on, my appreciation for his talent just continues to grow.
