A heavyweight champion of rock n’ roll that’s inspired decades of musicians and artists across genres; Freddie Mercury the frontman of Queen needs no introduction, and yet the tracks of his solo career (by comparison) are hardly known. Although not the first in Queen to release a debut album, that was Roger Taylor with Fun in Space 1981, Mercury released his first and only solo album Mr. Bad Guy in 1985. It’s disco-inspired tone, though a commercial success (reaching no.6 in the UK, but only 159 in the US), was heavily criticised, as was his later collaborative album Barcelona (1988) with Montserrat Caballé – which had allowed him to display the full range of his operatic voice.
Despite Mercury’s solo career not reaching the acclaim of his work with Queen, there are many tracks from his album that will be easily recognised; Mr. Bad Guy, I Was Born to Love You, and Living On My Own (1985) – which became the most famous when it was digitally remixed in 93’ (following his untimely death in 1991) and became his only number one hit as a solo musician.
One of Freddie Mercury’s favourite songs from his solo-career was Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow – which has been re-released with a heart-breaking animation directed by Esteban Bravo and Beth David in celebration of what would’ve been Mercury’s 73rd birthday. And in support of The Mercury Phoenix Trust – a charity set up by Queen and their manager Jim Beach to fight the global battle against HIV/AIDS following Mercury’s death. In a touching tribute the video follows two anthropomorphised white blood cells who are in love but face the possibility of being separated as one becomes diagnosed with AIDS. His body slowly being taken over by the disease. Faced with losing him, his partner desperately calls for other cells to help, but they turn away. With great delicacy the animation reflects on LGBT history, commenting on the prejudice and shame placed on people with AIDs, and the social distancing of a society who turned their back.
Telling of a beautiful romance, this animated video reaches out to people in the hope that it will make them aware of pre-conceptions, whilst celebrating a love that should be admired and not hated. Highly romantic – because it is – it’s not hard to imagine Mercury would have loved the animation. The video’s ending displaying a life that many couples should have lived together. The animators’ video giving the respect deserved to the LGBT+ community, for as they say on the video’s YouTube account;
“The LGBT+ community fought for years for the right to proper research and healthcare, and because of that fight, millions of lives have been saved. We wanted to celebrate that victory. Through perseverance, strength, and love, our characters not only survive, but live long, healthy lives together.”
I won’t lie, I shed a couple of tears in watching the music video of Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow, especially as the partner fights to save the life of the man he loves, finally succeeding at the end. Its music and sorrowful tone making it a highlight within Mercury’s career.
Although Mercury only managed to release one solo album – what an album it is! With eleven eclectic tracks all written by him, and all very personal. In Made in Heaven – the original title song of the album – Mercury sings the touching line; “I’m playing my role in history/Looking to find my goal/Taking in all this misery/But giving it all my soul” which he certainly did. Many songs on the album are in fact romance power-ballads, and though he places a somewhat pop sound to them, the longing for love isn’t lost behind it – Man Made Paradise. While There Must Be More to Life Than This sends a wider message to and about society; “Why is this world so full of hate/People dying everywhere/And we destroy what we create/People fighting for their human rights/But we just go on saying c’est la vie/So this is life”
Co-produced with Reinhold Mack, Mr Bad Guy gave Freddie the chance to be freer in his expressive use of music; from reggae-inspired beats, electric-pop, and the inclusion of orchestral music. Proving time and time again that Freddie Mercury was born with the heart and ears of a musician.
Other solo-songs by Freddie Mercury we love:
- Foolin’ Around (1985 – Mr. Bad Guy)
- I Was Born to Love you (1985 – Mr. Bad Guy)
- Living on My Own (1985 – Mr. Bad Guy)
Other artists you might like:
- George Michael
- Mika
- Queen
