The never-before-seen draft of the lyrics of “Bohemian Rhapsody” of What in suggests that Freddy Mercury he considered giving his anthem a somewhat different title: “Mongolian Rhapsody”.
The discovery came after the appearance of a 15-page folio of lyrics, vocal lines and harmonies handwritten by the singer as he composed his 1975 hit. Near the top of an introductory page, Mercury appears to have crossed out the word “Mongolian”. before replacing it with the now famous “bohemia”.
The draft of the lyrics reveals other ideas that were apparently abandoned or reworked, including alternate lines such as: “It’s time to say goodbye now, is this reality” (“Time for good-byes now, is this reality”).
Elsewhere, an unknown version of the verse that begins “Mama, just killed a man” (“Mama, just killed a man”, from the original), reads instead: “Mama, a war started; I have to go tonight.” “Mama, there’s a war began; I’ve got to leave tonight.” Another page features a jumbled profusion of words and phrases, some of which appeared in the final song, such as “Galileo,” ” Bismillah” and “Fandango” (while others like “Matador” and “Belladonna” were dropped).
The long-lost notes were written in black and blue pen on the pages of a calendar produced by a now-defunct airline, British Midland Airways, in 1974. Queen recorded “Bohemian Rhapsody” the following year. It became the band’s definitive hit, topping the charts in countries around the world, including Mercury’s native UK, where it has sold more than 2.6 million copies and remains the third best-selling single from Mercury. all the times.
What will the auction of Freddie Mercury objects be like?
“Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own”the six-part auction features a variety of personal items, ranging from costumes he wore on stage and Victorian paintings, to a silver-tone mustache comb from Tiffany & Co. One of the six sales is entirely dedicated to the singer’s love of Japanese art and will include woodblock prints and porcelain from his collection.
The working lyrics of other songs by What inincluding “Don’t Stop Me Now”They will also go on sale. Mercury’s handwritten notes for “Somebody to Love” include unused early letters, while its nine-page folio is expected to “We Are the Champions”also sketched in a 1974 calendar, fetch as much as £300,000 ($373,000).
The possessions are being put up for sale by Mercury’s close friend, Mary Austin, who inherited most of his estate and looked after his former London home and its contents, including the draft letter, after his death in 1991. .
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
