By Trina Meersman Music 1010: Introduction to Music

1. By Trina Meersman Music 1010: Introduction to Music Freddie Mercury: Queen

2. Biography • Born September 5, 1946 • Zanzibar, Tanzania • Birth name: Fahrrokh Bomi Bulsara • Parents • Bomi and Jer Bulsara • One sister Kashmira born in 1952

3. Biography • Attended St. Peter’s Boarding School in Panchgani, India at the age of 7. • First piano lessons • Received the nickname “Freddie”

4. Biography • 1958-1962 • Pianist in his first band at the age of 12 • The Hectics • Graduated from St. Peter’s in 1962 at the age of 16

5. Biography • 1963 – Family fled Zanzibar during the Zanzibar Revolution and moved to Great Britain.

6. Biography “I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend.” ― Freddie Mercury • 1963 – Enrolled at Ealing College of Art to study Art and Design • Met Roger Taylor and Brian May • Guitarists in a local band “Smile” • Jointed Ibex as lead singer • August 23, 1969 • Performed in front of paying audience for the first time. Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock”

7. Biography • Convinced Ibex to change name to “Wreckage”. • Band broke up soon after. • Joined Sour Milk Sea • Left band after three shows • Roger Taylor & Brian May left “Smile” and joined Freddie. • 1971 – Met John Deacon • Queen was formed • Freddie adopted the stage name “Freddie Mercury”

8. Biography Freddie helped design “Queen’s “ logo. All four band member’s birth signs were used.

9. Biography • Record labels were confused by Queen’s unique musical styling’s. • Musical influences were: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Led Zepplin, The Who and Liza Minnelli, to name a few. • Vocal Range of 4 Octaves • Mercury has an extra row of back teeth. He wouldn’t remove them out of fear that it would change his voice. • First studio session with Trident Studio’s. • Made two tracks • Tracks were released as promotional bits rather than commercially

10. Signed to Record Label • 1973 – released first album • Self titled “Queen” • Toured with “Mott The Hoople” • Was said Freddie’s performance was more than a “support act”. • Possibly upstaged the main act “I always knew I was a star, and now the rest of the world seems to agree with me.” ― Freddie Mercury Biography

11. 1974 – Released second self titled album • Queen II • First song to hit UK charts • Seven Seas of Rhye • Written by Freddie Mercury Biography I challenge the mighty titan and his troubadours And with a smile I'll take you to the seven seas of Rhye ~ Freddie Mercury

12. 1974 – Released 3rd Album “Sheer Heart Attack” Breakthrough son “Killer Queen” First single released hit UK Charts at No. 2and United States at No. 12 Biography

13. Biography • 1975 – Offered 1st US Tour • SOLD OUT Venues in several countries. • Released 4th Album • Night at the Opera • Featured “Bohemian Rhapsody • Fusion of Rock and Opera • Topped the UK Charts for 9 weeks • Reached No. 9 in the US

14. Biography • Speculations brewed regarding Freddie’s personal life • Openly Gay – 1974 • 1989 – Withdrew from the public • Revealed to friends and family that he had AIDS. “I'm as gay as a daffodil, my dear!” ― Freddie Mercury

15. Biography “If I had to do it all over again? Why not, I would do it a little bit differently.” ― Freddie Mercury, Freddie Mercury A Life, In His Own Words • 1991 – Last Album “Innuendo” released. • Mercury’s physical appearance, privacy and lack of a scheduled tour date for “Innuendo” increased suspicions more. • November 23, 1991 – Mercury released a statement confirming AIDS • November 24, 1991 – Freddie Mercury died from AIDS-related Bronchial Pneumonia at his home in London. “He didn’t want to be looked at as an object of pity and curiosity, and he didn’t want circling vultures over his head,” Taylor said. (Biography)

16. Composition History • Bohemian Rhapsody • Written by Freddie Mercury • Album: Night At The Opera • Released 1975 • 5:55 minute Rock Operetta • Recorded after a 3-week rehearsal on August 24, 1975 • So elaborate, band members were recorded separately • No 1 on UK charts for 9 consecutive weeks • First Top 10 single in the United States “It’s one of those songs which has such a fantasy feel about it. I think that people should just listen to it, think about it and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them.”

17. Composition History • Killer Queen • “Breakthrough-Turning Point” Song • Written by Freddie Mercury • 3rd Album: Sheer Heart Attack • Released November 8, 1974 • No 2 on UK Charts • First time on US Charts No 12 • Mercury wrote song first then music • 2:59 minute song • Mercury wrote song in 1 night • First Queen song not driven by a guitar single

18. Composition History • Don’t Stop Me Now • Composed by Freddie Mercury • Written for 7th Album “Jazz” • Released 1978 • March of 1979 – on Billboard charts for 4 weeks • Only peaked to No 86 in US • Reached Top 10 in UK at No 9 • Used in many media clips for commercials and movies. • First of their singles recorded on a cassette. Prior singles were recorded on Vinyl. • Brian May – recorded guitar solo onto track after original recording.

19. Composition History • Crazy Little Thing Called Love • Composed by Freddie Mercury in 1979 • 1980 Album “The Game” • Tribute to Elvis – Many mistake the song for Elvis himself • No 2 on UK Charts in 1979 • February 23, 1980 – No 1 for 4 weeks on Billboard Hot 100 • Song was written in ~ 5-10 minutes “’Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ took me five or ten minutes. I did that on the guitar, which I can't play for nuts, and in one way it was quite a good thing because I was restricted, knowing only a few chords. It's a good discipline because I simply had to write within a small framework. I couldn't work through too many chords and because of that restriction I wrote a good song, I think.” ~ Freddie Mercury

20. Bohemian Rhapsody Listening Guide • 00:00The opening 14 seconds is a harmonized vocal that sets the tone for the song. • 00:15A piano enters dramatically to set the melody and tempo for the song. • 00:26The piano fades into a faint whisper almost and Freddie carries the melody and tempo with his voice. • 00:30 The piano again becomes prominent and does battle against the vocal power of Mercury. • 00:40As the tempo appears to gain momentum, there are subtle synthesized sounds that add a free flowing affect. • 00:45The piano and vocals build up to a transition of tone and tempo. • 00:50The song transitions with the piano playing the melody and tempo. • 00:55The vocals enter in a dramatic almost ominous tone, thus setting the mood. • 01:19The vocal inflections build up and culminate into a loud symbol crash. • 01:20 Percussion enters to carry the rhythm and tempo. The piano continues to carry the melody. • 01:30 The vocals vary in pitch and duration to draw attention to the mood. • 01:43There is a transition back to the somber melody set by the piano in the beginning. • 01:55It then transitions back to vocals in an ominous tone, with the percussion and piano. • 02:03As he says, “shivers down my spine”, you here a bell tree imitating shivering. • 02:18An electric guitar enters to help build intensity. The tempo gradually increases to change the mood. • 02:35The other instruments fall into the background and vocals die off as the electric guitar takes over in a dramatic solo. This makes the transition from a ballad format to more operatic format. • 03:03Everything stops abruptly to solidify the change • 03:04 The piano enters to set the new mood, rhythm, and melody; soon accompanied by vocals to add affect.

21. Bohemian Rhapsody Listening Guide Cont… • 03:12The bass, tympani, and piano the dynamically rise up along with the multiple vocals heard. • 03:15There is an alternating vocal at this point of the same lyric as if they are calling out to “Galileo”. • 03:23There is a quick transition back to the ballad format with vocals and piano. • 03:28The percussion brings the mood and tempo back abruptly. • 03:32The piano takes the mood and tempo back down to set the next transition. • 03:38The vocals and percussion seem to have a battle for control. This builds up in intensity as we approach a guitar solo. • 03:55The vocals and percussion come together and continue to build and increase in tempo. • 04:00 You can hear the guitar subtly in the background as the vocals hold in duration. The percussion as well has some dramatic rhythmic beats. • 04:07 The guitar begins to blare as a brief transition solo begins. The percussion sets a moderate tempo and rhythmic beat. This symbolizes the transition from operatic format to hard rock. • 04:15-04:53The beat rhythm is steady. The vocals are aggressive. The guitar drives the melody up and down and all around. • 04:53 The piano re- enters to bring down the tempo, melody and rhythm. • 04:57The vocals re-enter in the operatic style of previous. • 05:07 The style changes again back to the ballad format. • 05:27 The piano takes over the melody and tempo. • 05:36There is a brief little guitar riff carrying us toward the conclusion • 05:47 – 05:55A loud crash of a Tam-tam takes the sound out as everything fades away

22. Killer Queen Listening Guide • 00:00The first 2 seconds are rhythmic snapping to set the tempo • 00:02Vocals enter to begin the melody • 00:07 Piano takes over the rhythm and tempo and sets the melody. • 00:11Drums and guitar enter to keep the tempo • 00:20Vocal inflection to draw attention to a transition. • 00:27Chorus begins, multiple octave changes • 00:39Transition to original tone and tempo • 00:42Vocals carry in unison backed by a solo guitar • 00:44Guitar riff backed by piano and drums • 00:52Vocals and piano build up the tone • 00:54Drum roll ending with a chime • 00:56Vocals and piano continue rhythmically • 01:15Chorus begins, multiple octaves throughout • 01:26Guitar solo accompanied by drums • 01:33Drums intensify to add emotion to the solo • 02:01Transition back to original tone and tempo • 02:03Guitar riff • 02:12Drum roll accompanied by vocals in unison building up to chorus • 02:25Vocals carry in unison backed by guitar to build up to transition • 02:27Vocals transition to original tone and tempo • 02:32Vocals carry in unison and fade out • 02:35Guitar, piano and drums carry the tempo and melody • 02:46 – 02:59Guitar solo fades out

23. Don’t Stop Me Know Listening Guide • 00:00Vocals and piano enter to begin the melody • 00:25Piano cuts to a 2 note vocal transition • 00:32Rhythm and beat change • 01:01Additional vocals added to add more emotion to the song • 01:06Chorus begins with vocal variations and temp is kept by the piano and drums • 01:26Chorus ends with a long vocal note as piano creates the transition • 01:44Vocals and tempo build to a climactic point • 01:45Vocals continue at a erratic yet controlled pace • 01:58Drums transition and take the lead on melody and tempo • 02:01Alternating vocals balance with drums • 02:12 - 02:29Drum roll builds emotion to transition into guitar solo • 02:30 – 02:46Vocals continue in original tempo and tune accompanied by guitar riff’s as it transitions into the chorus • 03:04Sustained vocal note transitions into the finale • 03:09 – 03:29Piano accompanied by vocal repetition carries out the finale

24. Crazy Little Thing Called Love Listening Guide • 00:00The song opens with an acoustic guitar • 00:05Drum beat begins • 00:06Vocals rhythmically begin • 00:22Quick drum cadence provides a transition • 00:23Vocals and instruments resume tempo and melody • 00:39Cymbal crash in the middle of the chorus • 00:56Base guitar and Drum stick clap take down tempo and melody, transition into next verse • 01:01Vocals continue in original tone and tempo • 01:19Guitar riff transition into solo • 01:20Guitar Solo accompanied by drums • 01:33Bass Guitar takes down the tempo and tone • 01:38Clapping takes over the rhythm and tempo • 01:55Drum cadence brings back the tempo and rhythm • 01:57The guitar accompanies the vocals with the melody. • 02:06Guitar riff, repetitious vocals begin. • 02:17Guitar riff • 02:22Guitar riffs carry out the rest of the song accompanied by drums and vocals. • 02:42The song ends

25. Biography • Title Page Photo http://queen.shanemcdonald.org • http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/article3524761.ece • http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/freddie-mercury-his-life-in-pictures-20121009 • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/5924714/Before-they-were-famous.html?image=7 • http://imustconfab.blogspot.com/2012/02/music-feature-queen-way-back-when.html • http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/884134.Freddie_Mercury • " Farookh Bulsara." 2012. Biography.com 08 Oct 2012, 06:27 http://www.biography.com/people/freddie-mercury-9406228 • “Zanzibar Unveiled” 2000 Torrence Royer http://zanzibarhistory.org/zanzibar_revolution.htm • “Freddie Mercury: Biography” Jacky Gunn & Jim Jenkins http://www.freddie.ru/e/bio • “Bohemian Rhapsody” 2006 - 2011; Daria Kokoze • ‘I can dream up all kinds of things' – a classic Freddie Mercury interview from the vaults Caroline Coon. 2011. guardian.co.uk • Freddie Mercury Interviews> 05-02-1981 - Melody Maker • http://www.queenarchives.com