Hear Freddie Mercury’s Vocals Soar in the Isolated Vocal Track for “Somebody to Love”

For quite some time now, aficionados of Queen have been on a quest to unravel the mystery behind Freddie Mercury's unparalleled vocal prowess. That Mercury was an extraordinary singer, among the elite in terms of vocal range, emotional depth, stage charisma, songwriting prowess, and more, is a widely acknowledged truth. Regardless of one's musical preferences, recognising the brilliance of Queen's music and marvelling at the frontman's seemingly superhuman abilities is undeniable. However, the quest for explanations has evolved significantly in recent years, delving into multiple facets.

Scientific inquiry has delved into the potential physiological makeup of Mercury's vocal cords, suggesting that he possessed the ability to engage multiple vocal folds simultaneously, resulting in the generation of subharmonics and an exceptionally rapid vibrato unmatched by any other vocalist. While this theory is compelling, it may elicit some discomfort in its imagery. After all, who wants to envision vibrating vocal folds while immersed in the soulful, soaring verses and electrifying choruses of "Somebody to Love" or the captivating theatrics of Broadway-style performances? Mercury was undeniably a master showman, not merely a mechanical vocalist, and his distinct vocal style was shaped not only by biological factors but also, as argued by Rudi Dolezal, director of "Freddie Mercury: The Untold Story," by cultural influences.

Mercury’s formative experiences as a child in Zanzibar and India, and the “culture shock” of his move to London as a teenager, may have contributed to his expansive vocal prowess: “it was multiculturalism that was combined in Freddie Mercury,” says Dolezal, suggesting that Mercury’s voice went places no one else’s did in part because he combined the strengths of Eastern and Western music. Maybe. Mercury grew up emulating English and American artists like Cliff Richard and Little Richard, but one of his biggest influences was Bollywood superstar Lata Mangeshkar.

Mercury himself had his own unusual theory, believing that his distinctive overbite somehow played a part in his singing ability, which is why he never had his teeth straightened despite a lifetime of self-consciousness about them.

If you remain skeptical, just take a moment to listen to the isolated vocal track for "Somebody to Love" from beginning to end. What you'll hear is a singer who seems capable of achieving virtually anything with the human voice, except singing off-key. Undoubtedly, it's impressive within the context of the song, with the band's harmonies elevating Mercury's voice. However, remove all the instrumentation and strip the song down to just his vocals, and Mercury's voice seems to ascend to even greater heights. I must admit, I'm quite curious about how he managed to achieve that.

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