Today, September 5, 2026, would have been Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday. He was born on September 5, 1946, in Zanzibar.
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) was a music legend. Before the release of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, I used to listen to Queen here and there. But then, when the film came out in 2018 (October 24 in the UK and November 2 in North America), my love for Freddie Mercury and Queen began. I remember hearing the song “Don’t Stop Me Now,” which was one of the few songs I didn’t know or had heard before. The lyrics resonated with me deeply, especially when I was going through a challenging time in my personal life. It’s my favourite song by Queen that Freddie Mercury wrote. I learned so much about Freddie Mercury’s life in the process. Queen’s music brings me so much comfort.
Queen and Freddie Mercury have been a great source of inspiration for me for eight years for many reasons, including following my dreams. When I have writer’s block, I remind myself that Freddie Mercury did too. Then, soon after put three incomplete songs together and came up with Bohemian Rhapsody. I also remember the story of how Freddie Mercury came up with the song Crazy Little Thing Called Love in 10 minutes while taking a bath. I remain impressed and fascinated by Freddie Mercury, both as an artist and as a human being. He knew how to put on a show and own the room. He had a bold presence, as shown in many programs about Freddie Mercury. His voice had a vocal range that’s hard to match.
I also want to take a moment to honour Freddie Mercury for his perseverance and determination in pursuing his dreams. He saw potential when he met Brian May and Roger Taylor in the band Smile, and then John Deacon joined in 1971. He took a bold chance and created Queen. I admire Freddie Mercury’s guts to change the band’s name to Queen, knowing full well the connotations. More than 50 years after the band came together, people for generations still listen to them. Timeless music!
Some may not know this, but Freddie Mercury designed Queen’s logo. He studied graphic design at university. This talent served him well. Another reason why I admire this singer and musician so much. His talent went beyond what one would have imagined. It’s incredible how multi-talented he was.
Freddie Mercury’s legacy lives on, strong and bold. September 5, to me, is Freddie Mercury Day. Every year, I honour the Queen frontman by listening to songs and thanking the universe for this incredible talent named Freddie Mercury.
Happy (heavenly) 80th birthday, Freddie Mercury!
Flora Youssef
Here are three examples of songs Freddie Mercury wrote for Queen
