Somebody to Love (Queen song)
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| "Somebody to Love" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Queen | ||
| from the album A Day At The Races | ||
| Released | November 12, 1976 | |
| Format | 7" | |
| Recorded | 1976 | |
| Genre | Rock ballad Gospel Progressive rock |
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| Length | 4:56 | |
| Label | EMI, Elektra (US) | |
| Writer(s) | Freddie Mercury | |
| Producer(s) | Queen | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Queen singles chronology | ||
| "You're My Best Friend" (1976) |
"Somebody to Love" (1976) |
"Tie Your Mother Down" (1977) |
"Somebody to Love" (30 second sample ) is a song written by Freddie Mercury and performed by seminal English rock band Queen featured on the 1976 album A Day at the Races.
[edit] Song
Like "Bohemian Rhapsody", the major hit from Queen's previous album, this song has a complex layering of vocal tracks, this time based on a gospel choir arrangement. It was the first single off the album A Day at the Races. It is a rock ballad on which band members Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor multitracked their voices to create the impression of a 100-voice gospel choir. The lyrics, especially combined with the gospel influence, create a song about faith, desperation and soul-searching; the singer questions both the lack of love experienced in his life and the role and existence of God. Staying true to Queen's guitar-driven style, it was also filled with intricate harmony parts and a solo by group guitarist Brian May, and it went to number 2 on the UK charts and number 13 on the U.S. singles chart.
At the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert held at Wembley Stadium, the song was performed to great critical acclaim by George Michael, and this was later rereleased in 1993 as the lead track of an EP called Five Live which went to #1 in the UK. This version is also available on Greatest Hits III, released in 1999.
[edit] Cover versions
- In 2004, "Somebody to Love" was featured in Ella Enchanted, performed by Anne Hathaway.
- In the 2006 animated film Happy Feet, actress Brittany Murphy performs the song. The song appears on the soundtrack.
- Contestant, Elliott Yamin performed it for Queen night on American Idol 5.
- Contestant, Ben Mills performed a cappella version of the song on the UK version of The X Factor on December 2, 2006.
- Covered on December 11, 2006 at the 9:30 club in Washington, DC by Ray LaMontagne.
[edit] External links
- The Sunday Freeman - review
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