In a new scientific study, researchers conducted acoustical analysis of Queen singer Freddie Mercury’s singing voice. While he spoke in a baritone voice, Mercury had a tremendous singing range. But his real vocal superpowers were a rather unique vibrato combined with his ability to use subharmonics, like a Tuvan throat singer. The Austrian, Czech, and Swedish scientists report on their research in the journal Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology.
“Perceptually, Freddie Mercury’s irregular (and typically faster) vibrato is clearly audible in the sustained notes of famous songs such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ (A Night at the Opera) or ‘We Are the Champions’ (News of the World), and it appears to be one of the hallmarks of his vocal style,” they wrote.
In other Mercury news, a notebook containing some of his last lyrics will be auctioned off at Bonham’s in June. It’s estimated to go for £50,000-£70,000.
