70s on 7 hosts remember Freddie Mercury on 70th birthday

The inimitable Freddie Mercury would’ve celebrated his 70th birthday today, Sept. 5, had his life not been tragically cut short by complications from AIDS in 1991. There never was and never will be a frontman quite like him. He was theatrical, lavish, tortured, free, berated and beloved. Queen’s unique ability to blend baroque pop and opera with hard rock, disco, funk and folk would not have come to life so vividly without Mercury’s booming vocals and majestic presence guiding the way.

In honor of his 70th birthday, 70s on 7 hosts have shared the Queen songs they say highlight Mercury’s genius.

 

Killer Queen

“I am procuring my Moët & Chandon from my pretty cabinet to toast one of the top five, in my never humble opinion, greatest rock ‘n’ roll vocalists of all time, Freddie Mercury. Cheers.”

— Magic Matt Alan/Mornings on 70s on 7 (Ch. 7)

 

Bohemian Rhapsody

“Bohemian Rhapsody came out in 1975. It was the only song on radio that started as a soft ballad, then went into a hard pop-rock sound, opera, and then back into a ballad! Freddie was a genius!”

— Jaybeau Jones/Afternoons on 70s on 7 (Ch. 7)

 

We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions

“The ultimate stadium anthem… Got to be No. 1 on any sports anthem list that matters. The two songs back to back show off the whole range of Freddie Mercury’s voice — which was as distinctive as Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney’s, if not more!”

— JJ Walker/Nights on 70s on 7 (Ch. 7)

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