Famed late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury had a one-of-a-kind voice. He was one of those rare rock stars who could hit a low bass F and reach up to a high soprano F with ease. His gorgeous vibrato was unlike what anyone had heard in rock music before. We lost Mercury far too soon, and I can’t help but wonder which classics he would have covered if he lived longer. Let’s look at a couple of songs that I think Freddie Mercury would have nailed.
Note: I should include my honorable mention, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan. I’d like to think that in another timeline, Mercury did not pass away so young and went on to be more accepting of his sexuality and queer culture as a whole.
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1. “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys
This 1966 classic from Pet Sounds would have been an excellent baroque rock song for Freddie Mercury to cover. The odd instrumentation of this Beach Boys tune would have suited Mercury’s unusual vocal style quite beautifully. However, plenty of Mercury’s contemporaries have already given the song a shot, including David Bowie, Olivia Newton-John, and Neil Diamond.
2. “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen
Alright, I know that this song has been covered to death. I’d say that there are too many covers of this song in existence, and the only really good one has been Jeff Buckley’s rendition. Don’t come for me! That being said, I can’t help but think that Mercury would have delivered a very beautiful version of Leonard Cohen’s soft rock classic from 1984.
3. “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton
This gorgeous Dolly Parton tune from 1973 was made famous years later when Whitney Houston lent her vocal chops to the song. It’s a beautiful song made even more beautiful by a singer with a wide vocal range. I can’t help but think that Freddie Mercury, similarly, would have knocked a cover of this song out of the park.
4. “Holding Out For A Hero” by Bonnie Tyler
This 1984 pop tune from Bonnie Tyler would have been the most appropriate of all songs out there for Freddie Mercury to cover. It’s high-energy, with a bit of a pop-rock vibe that wouldn’t be totally unfamiliar to the Queen frontman. Just thinking of the potential gives me goosebumps.
Photo by Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock
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