The singer Freddie Mercury admitted he wished he could sound like: “It’s just effortless”

Freddie Mercury said he wished he could sing like Aretha Franklin, praising the apparent effortlessness of her phrasing. His admiration highlights the contrast between Franklin’s powerful, gospel-rooted delivery and Mercury’s more theatrical, wide-ranging approach.

The article links Franklin’s influence to Queen’s “Somebody to Love”, whose gospel-style vocals were carefully arranged in layers, with Brian May recalling that Mercury had many parts worked out in advance. It contrasts Franklin’s raw vocal power with Mercury’s versatility across pop, hard rock, opera and show tunes, citing songs including “You’re My Best Friend”, “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”.