Life Lessons I Learned From Freddie Mercury
“I love the fact that I make people happy, in any form. Even if it’s just half an hour of their lives, in any way that I can make them feel lucky or make them feel good, or bring a smile to a sour face, that to me is worthwhile.” Freddie.
A true showman who held the audience in the palm of his hand. An unparalleled musician who radiated zeal, passion, and energy.
Freddie Mercury, the frontman of Queen: The outstanding musician who mesmerized us time & time again with his incredible ability to sing anything in any style.
A true showman who held the audience in the palm of his hand.
An unparalleled musician who radiated zeal, passion, and energy.
Freddie Mercury, the frontman of Queen: The outstanding musician who mesmerized us time & time again with his incredible ability to sing anything in any style.
New to Freddie Mercury, Queen, and their music? Don’t worry, you can check out some of Queen’s greatest hits right here on:
I’m confident enjoy a beautiful baroque operatic timeless innovative evolution and influence of musical experience.
Have you seen it? The Bohemian Rhapsody movie. Released on November 2nd 2019, the biopic celebrates the music of Queen and their phenomenal lead singer Freddie Mercury. The film showcases the meteoric rise of Queen through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound while highlighting their undeniable success.
Freddie left a timeless, dynamic legacy. Freddie modelled that is not only about being an extraordinary musician (or magician, your choice) with an incomparable voice. Freddie set an incredible example of what it looks like to follow your dreams relentlessly without compromise. Freddie Mercury taught us valuable lessons of bravery, self acceptance, and how to be a true champion.
Freddie left an enduring legacy of genuine love, kindness, creativity, and generosity. Unconditionally.
Freddie Mercury is more relevant now than ever, as new generations continue to fall in love with his music, what he stands for, his iconic mustache, and his fearless ability to be unapologetically himself.
Here are 6 important life lessons that I have learned from Freddie Mercury (and why I love him):
Bravery
“I will never get over that feeling of seeing Freddie step out onto a stage with the ability to hold the attention of a quarter million people in the palm of his hand. That power is truly mesmerizing.”
Peter Freestone, Freddie Mercury’s Assistant
“Every band should study Queen. And if you really feel that barrier with the audience is gone, you become Freddie Mercury, the greatest frontman of all time.”
David Grohl, drummer for Nirvana and Foo Fighters frontman
“Of all the more theatrical performers, Freddie took it further than the rest. He took it over the edge. And of course, I always admire a man who wears tights!”
David Bowie
Born as Farrokh Bulsara, he was an immigrant refugee from the East Afrian island Zanzibar. Beginning in 1955, young Farrokh learned piano and nourished interest in music while attending school in Panchgani near Mumbai, India. While in school, Farrokh began referring to himself as Freddie. In 1958, he formed a music group called “The Hectics” and covered rock and roll songs sung by Little Richard and Cliff Richard.
In 1963, Farrokh went back to his hometown to live with his parents, but the family had to relocate after the commencement of the ‘Zanzibar Revolution,’ which was aimed at deposing the Arab Sultan. He and his family settled down in Feltham, England.
In April 1970, the talented singer, along with English drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May, formed the band “Queen”. Freddie proposed the name Queen himself and also officially changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury.
Freddie Mercury became the greatest virtuoso rock and roll iconic legend we know and love forever.
Notably, being gay especially was not widely accepted during times in the 70s and 80s. At this time still, in many places Freddie traveled while touring, it was illegal or punishable. In some of those places, homosexuality of any sort is still illegal and punishable. Yet Freddie Mercury pushed the boundaries of what was “acceptable” for a man and for sexual orientation through his music, costumes, showmanship, and more.
Generosity
“Freddie, famously, had his Polaroid Camera and used to take pictures of everyone, everyone, and give his pictures away, and he had a very generous nature, so normally he would snap, snap, snap. Snap, ‘Here you go. Here you are, Darling’, and I’d love to know where some of those pictures are now.” Brian May
“He was a photographer. He loved his Polaroids. He used to take masses of Polaroids of all his friends, portraits, and then give them all away. It was just one of Freddie’s things. Very generous in nature, Freddie. He loved photography.” Brian May
“Generosity repels self hatred cultivates a happy and successful life. Acts and attitudes of generosity build self confidence, community, and connection with one another.
I love the fact that I can make people happy, in any form. Even if it’s just an hour of their lives, if I can make them feel lucky or make them feel good, or bring a smile to a sour face, that to me is worthwhile.” Freddie Mercury
“This is another touring snapshot, if you like. This time we’re on tour in Europe, and it’s a nice three-dimensional picture of Freddie but the 4th dimension is that he’s taking a picture of me at the same time. Freddie loved his cameras. He loved his Polaroid thing because it was instant. He could take pictures of all his mates and immediately give them all away. Freddie was a very generous person, and again, you can enjoy it like this in 2-D in the book and you can flick through and read the anecdotes, but with this – with your OWL – you can zoom in in 3-D and you can see him, and, my God, it’s like you could touch him. And there he is snapping away at me. So here’s Freddie, and he liked his instant photography and we liked seeing him do it.” Brian May
In addition to his sense of humour, Freddie Mercury exuded kindness, generosity, and treasured his friends (and his cats). Freddie was very generous with his hospitality, time, money, gifts, and more.
It’s no surprise many other musicians and figures like Elton John, David Grohl, David Bowie, and of course, his own band mates feel so fondly about and speak so highly of Freddie Mercury.
Often referred to as the “mother of the group” Freddie often served as the mediator in Queen. Even though prone to tantrums himself, he always made sure that everyone in the group was happy at the end of the day.
“Freddie had passed on November 24, 1991, and weeks after the funeral, I was still grieving. On Christmas day, I learned that Freddie had left me one final testament to his selflessness. I was moping about when a friend showed up at my door and handed me something wrapped in a pillowcase. I opened it up, and inside was a painting by one of my favorite artists, the British painter Henry Scott Tuke. And there was a note on the front from Freddie. Years before, Freddie and I had developed pet names for each other, our drag-queen alter egos. I was Sharon and he was Melina. Freddie’s note read, ‘Dear Sharon, I thought you’d like this. Love, Melina. Happy Christmas. I was overcome, 44 years old at the time, crying like a child. Here was this beautiful man, dying from AIDS, and in his final days, he had somehow managed to find me a lovely Christmas present. As sad as that moment was, it’s often the one I think about when I remember Freddie because it captures the character of the man. In death, he reminded me of what made him so special in life.” Elton John
Love of My Life – Brian May with Freddy Mercury Live
Self Confidence
Freddie shattered stereotypes and defied convention and become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. At a time in a world where many said no, Freddie said yes to being himself, unapologetically.
“Freddie wasn’t a star when we met him, but a guy working in a boot store, and he was at art school doing graphic design. But he hand an insane confidence and belief. He behaved like he was a rockstar. Not in an arrogant way, but just in a very kind of innocent way. ‘Of course im going to be a rockstar’, that kind of thing.” – Brian May 2017 Interview
Acquiring the self confidence to truly believe in your worth and your value is priceless.
Self Acceptance
One of Freddie’s physical characteristics is his teeth. Although endeared by many fans, many others have asked Freddie why he did not “fix” his teeth. Of course, Freddie did not want any tampering, surgeries, or adjustments to his teeth to impact his voice. In fact he even believed that his teeth allowed him to have more vocal range. Even though Freddie was a slightly bashful about his teeth, often covering them with his lips, he accepted them. He accepted them and did not let reservation stop him from sharing his rare 4 octave voice with the world.
Self acceptance is powerful and essential to building self confidence. To have self awareness to realize who you are and truly accept yourself; to understand that you too are human, and like everyone else, have flaws. And that is okay.
“I’ve always been like this, I’ve always been like this. Success does help, you know, and I just, you know, it makes it easier to be outrageous or whatever. But I mean that doesn’t stop me. If all my money ended tomorrow, I would still be the same person, I’d still go about the same way. That’s what I used to do before. That’s something inbred, that’s a part of me and I’ll always, I’ll always walk around like a Persian popping-jay and no one’s going to stop me, honey.” – Freddie Mercury
“It’s unusual. I think most of us in the world like to please people. We feel a need to be liked. Freddie didn’t have that. He had freedom. Freddie represented to me a kind of freedom which we all strive for, which is the freedom not to be governed by pleasing people.” – Brian May
Creativity
If you’ve experienced Queen’s body of work, then you’ve experienced the magic of Freddie Mercury’s creative imagination. Often referred to as “Freddie’s Cowboy Song”, hardly anyone understood Bohemian Rhapsody as a song nor Freddie’s thought process while writing it.
“All of my songs are fantasy. I can dream up all kinds of things. That’s the kind of world I live in. It’s very sort of flamboyant, and that’s the way I write. I love it. ” Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury wrote Bohemian Rhapsody, which is nearly 6 minutes long and includes an operatic section. Radio stations at the time frowned upon playing a song over 3 minutes long, especially with this seemingly risky choice of a single. Freddie did not waver. He took pride in his craft as a musician, bravely standing by Bohemian Rhapsody as the single to be released on the album A Night at the Opera. Bohemian Rhapsody and the album A Night at the Opera played a key role in Queen’s unparalleled fame and success.
Freddie Mercury’s creativity resulted in mass impact and across multiple generations inspired by his innovation. “Bohemian Rhapsody” was later voted Britain’s favorite single in a 2002 poll conducted by Guinness World Records British Hit Singles.
“Freddie’s artistic endeavors weren’t solely to do with his recording and touring work but embraced his while life. He spent his life collecting, whether it was people or pieces of art. Each had a place in his grand design.” Peter Freestone
“He really invented this persona which he inhabited in public. This outrageous sort of showmanship. But at the heart of it he was a brilliant, brilliant musician. And I think that’s what people forget about Freddie Mercury.” Roger Taylor
Freddie Mercury’s heart and spirit was gentle, yet fierce. Even decades after his passing in November 1991, the radiant, fearless light of his soul continues to shine bright, lighting up our world for generations to come. Freddie Mercury has inspired, impacted, and saved millions with what he’s created, all while reminding us of what’s so special in life.
No one will ever replace him.
More from other authors:
The Freddie Mercury story that goes untold in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’