{"id":4839,"date":"2021-09-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=4839"},"modified":"2023-01-09T15:26:40","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T23:26:40","slug":"freddie-mercury-piano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/freddie-mercury-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"Pianist Profiles: Freddie Mercury &#038; the Piano, Born to Perform"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Anyone who has seen Freddie Mercury perform the piano opening to &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221; at Live Aid will understand the impact Freddie has made on pianists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The intro to the rock anthem is iconic. In fact, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/bohemian-rhapdosy-piano-tutorial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221;<\/a> tutorial on Pianote is one of our top lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Freddie was a delight to watch on stage&#8230;and poetic to watch in the studio. In this month&#8217;s profile, we&#8217;ll take a deeper dive into Freddie Mercury&#8217;s composing style. And we&#8217;ll see how the piano played a role in one of rock history&#8217;s greatest songwriters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Biography<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946 in Zanzibar. His family was Parsi and they practiced Zoroastrianism. Freddie spent the majority of his childhood at a boarding school in India, then moved to Middlesex, England in 1964.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While studying graphic design at the Ealing College of Art, Freddie met Roger Taylor and Brian May. Their band, Smile, would later become Queen. The members of Queen (Freddie, Roger, Brian, and later John Deacon) would not change for 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Queen became one of the biggest rock bands in history. Sadly, the man most responsible for their image, Freddie Mercury, passed away in 1991. He suffered pneumonia as a complication of AIDS, and the 45-year-old had just publicly announced his diagnosis 24 hours before his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, Freddie&#8217;s legacy lives on. His stage persona, powerful voice, and epic songwriting continue to inspire musicians young and old.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:399px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/85056831\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:148.8722% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/85056831?et=Me9z21rGRktm9gwoktlHKQ&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=4PVTibVbaWCMR9jaz42jvbwQY69Wl0pZYa3orYz3WRc=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"399\" height=\"594\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I am not going to be a star. I am going to be a legend.<\/p>\n<cite>Freddie Mercury (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.freddiemercury.com\/en\/quotes_by_Freddie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Influences and Style<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the 17 songs on Queen\u2019s best-selling <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greatest_Hits_(Queen_album)\">Greatest Hits album<\/a>, Freddie wrote ten. He was responsible for some of Queen&#8217;s most memorable hits: &#8220;We Are the Champions,&#8221; &#8220;Somebody to Love,&#8221; and &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody,&#8221; to name a few. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freddie Mercury and the Piano<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Freddie Mercury&#8217;s relationship with the piano started when he took lessons at age seven. He played piano for his first band, The Hectics, when he was just twelve years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Freddie never identified as a keyboardist. In fact, he would often hire keyboardists to play the piano parts for him on stage. Perhaps he chose to focus on his vocals and stage presence instead, skills for which he is best known for.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/86101582\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:68.51852% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/86101582?et=_rKkciIERYNFwqqpZOmu8Q&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=RIJ8aBhHFVLESDS3Wq4-HKolRP2XCaCqRmWd_8xS8eI=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"407\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, the piano served as an invaluable songwriting tool. Rumor has it that Freddie put a piano on the headboard of his bed so he could test out his ideas as soon as they came. Brian May claims &#8220;Crazy Little Thing Called Love&#8221; was written while Freddie was in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/freddie-mercury-wrote-elvis-presley-tribute-bath-10-minutes-2996011\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bathtub<\/a>. He had a piano pulled into the room and composed the song in less than ten minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Writing \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d came on the radio, listeners had never heard anything like it. The song was strange, theatrical, and long \u2014 and it had opera! Yet people couldn&#8217;t get enough of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Queen \u2013 Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Video Remastered)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fJ9rUzIMcZQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221; is a culmination of its influences. It came on the heels of experiments made by the Beatles and the Beach Boys \u2014 then went further. The hit mashes disparate genres \u2014 opera, ballad, hard rock \u2014 into the same song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">And somehow, it totally works. In fact, some experts see &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221; not as one song but as a <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/-yE8SYzZ6Eo?t=171\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suite of five songs<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>A capella <\/em>Intro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ballad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opera<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hard Rock<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ballad<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>What&#8217;s interesting is that &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221; lacks a chorus, which is a core element of most popular songs. It&#8217;s totally memorable, though, perhaps relying on its famous piano intro.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why &#039;Bohemian Rhapsody&#039; Is The Best Song Ever Written | The Art Of Film\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-yE8SYzZ6Eo?start=171&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Their pop rock opera songs . . . are both sophisticated yet entertaining; they\u2019re both complicated but easy enough to understand.<\/p>\n<cite><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BhtC8pdLa88?t=81\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ben Aaron<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Producing &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Producing a song like \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d was an art form on its own. <meta charset=\"utf-8\">Today, music producers can easily cut and fix mistakes within a digital interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Inside The Rhapsody (Bohemian Rhapsody mini documentary, 2002) 3 of 3\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v15oIktGJOo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">But in Freddie\u2019s time, the band would have had to manually fix mistakes on a tape. This required a higher level of commitment from musicians, especially if studio time was limited by financial constraints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, Freddie had a reputation for being well-prepared. He was said to have had a complete vision of &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221; by the time he got to the studio.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unforgettable Performances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Many rock stars have a reputation for being eccentric, and Freddie was no exception. As a performer, Freddie interacted with the crowd and was not afraid to be dramatic, showy, and humorous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also played piano with a distinct style. To guitarist Brian May, Freddie played piano <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/v15oIktGJOo?t=260\">like a drummer<\/a>\u2014very precise, dramatic, and metronome-like. And while he <em>technically <\/em>didn\u2019t play with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/perfect-posture-at-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">right technique<\/a> (he played with drooping wrists!), his playing style somehow gave his sound more power.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/71023085\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:67.34007% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/71023085?et=qr4PJxN2RrV3L6lyxL4EoA&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=9rYKl9F9-Ef8xaFi5-2CYcr2sLdc5e_V15JdcmX7ZzI=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"400\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Freddie was unique, one of the biggest personalities in pop music. He was not only a singer but also a fantastic performer, a man of theatre and someone who constantly transformed himself. In short, a genius.<\/p>\n<cite>Lady Gaga (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.freddiemercury.com\/en\/quotes_about_Freddie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">source<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legacy <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Freddie Mercury remains one of the most beloved musical figures in recent history. His musical prowess is evident, but Freddie Mercury the man also inspired people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/85053556\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:66.16161% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/85053556?et=NvkX85rcSTpdFBqRfNd1Pw&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=GBep9pnpGd4zPFgt9hZsfCMcxbJ4iKOoyGR8kgYwb_0=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"393\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Some fans see him as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/culture\/article\/20191010-who-was-the-real-freddie-mercury\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">queer icon<\/a> and as a celebrity who <a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5440824\/freddie-mercury-celebrity-aids-awareness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">humanized AIDS<\/a>. <meta charset=\"utf-8\">Recently, Freddie\u2019s South Asian and Zoroastrian heritage \u2014 perhaps obscured by his anglicized chosen name \u2014 has instigated discussions on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intomore.com\/culture\/we-always-talk-about-freddie-mercurys-sexuality-but-what-about-his-confusing-racial-identity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">race and pop culture<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/RzuBTC2kZ8o?t=140\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lady Gaga\u2019s stage name<\/a> is inspired by \u201cRadio Gaga,\u201d and the biopic <em>Bohemian Rhapsody <\/em>earned actor Rami Malek an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2019\/feb\/25\/rami-malek-wins-best-actor-oscar-for-bohemian-rhapsody\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Academy Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Today (at least in the English-speaking world), if you put \u201cBohemian Rhapsody\u201d on the car stereo, chances are at least one passenger will erupt enthusiastically into song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sources and Further Reading<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cover photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/weheartit.com\/entry\/58777168\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Source<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/3.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.freddiemercury.com\/en\/biography\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Official website<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/-yE8SYzZ6Eo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Why &#8216;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8217; Is The Best Song Ever Written | The Art of Film (Insider)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/v15oIktGJOo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Inside The Rhapsody (Bohemian Rhapsody mini documentary, 2002) 3 of 3<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BhtC8pdLa88\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ben Aaron &#8211; Queen Songwriting Tips<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pianoreport.com\/freddie-mercury-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Freddie Mercury and the Piano (Piano Report)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/stacker.com\/stories\/13783\/freddie-mercury-life-story-you-may-not-know\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Freddie Mercury: The life story you may not know (Stacker)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/music\/freddie-mercury-wrote-elvis-presley-tribute-bath-10-minutes-2996011\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rhian Daly &#8211; &#8220;Freddie Mercury wrote Elvis Presley tribute in the bath in 10 minutes&#8221; (NME)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalfloss.com\/article\/22465\/facts-about-freddie-mercury\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stacy Conradt, &#8220;32 Surprising Facts About Freddie Mercury&#8221; (Mental Floss)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;ve heard the opening of &#8220;Bohemian Rhapsody&#8221; on the piano, you know Freddie Mercury is a legend. This is the songwriter&#8217;s story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":4866,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-musicianship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4839"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10387,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4839\/revisions\/10387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}