Freddie Mercury born as Farrokh Bulsara; September 5, 1946 β November 24, 1991 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. He was best known for his vocal abilities, his outgoing charisma, and his energetic live performances. As a songwriter, he is known for many international hits, whic include “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen”, “Somebody to Love”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “We Are the Champions” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. He died of bronchopneumonia induced by HIV (AIDS) on November 24, 1991, only one day after publicly acknowledging he had the disease.
In addition to his work with Queen, he released music on his own with minor success, and was occasionally a producer and guest musician (piano or vocals) for other artists. One such solo project was “Barcelona” with Montserrat Caballe. Freddie had been a long time fan of Monserrat and they struck up an unlikely friendship after Mercury had quipped on Spanish television that he was hoping to meet the Spanish Diva during a visit to Barcelona in 1986. They ended up becoming friends and Caballe called on Freddie when the search was on for a song to commemorate the Olympic Games in Barcelona. As she recalls βhe was a big opera fan and had come to see me in Barcelona. And when the mayor asked for a song to commemorate the Olympic Games we thought of him. He came to see me in Covent Garden. We worked on some ideas, he sat at the piano and we ended up improvising all through the night, but it was worth it.β Barcelona is a fitting song to come at the end of a career that had begun with such an operatic production as Bohemian Rhapsody. Sweeping, grand and ostentatious it is the kind of classic pop music accessible to a mainstream audience. The song was an international hit with the video showing both Mercury and Caballe camping it up and winning an award in the US. Sadly, the plan for them both to perform the song at the 1992 Olympics never happened. Mercury died of Aids in November the year before and Caballe, stricken, refused to sing it with anyone else and the song was not performed at the ceremony.
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1.)
Barcelona
2.)
La Japonaise
3.)
The Fallen Priest
4.)
Ensueno
5.)
The Golden Boy
6.)
Guide Me Home
7.)
How Can I Go On
8.)
Overture Piccante
Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe Barcelona Concert Video
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3