Song of the Day 2/24: Marc Martel, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Not being a movie person, I have no opinion about who should win anything at tonight’s Academy Awards. But I did see “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and while the movie has been criticized for downplaying Freddie Mercury’s gayness, Rami Malek’s performance is riveting and IMO Oscar-worthy. But while producers have said the soundtrack features a blend of Malek’s voice and Mercury’s old master recordings, they also used someone they didn’t talk much about — a singer named Marc Martel.
Martel is a Canadian singer who formed a Christian rock band around the turn of the millennium while at Bible college in Saskatchewan. People always told him he sounded like Freddie Mercury, so when Queen drummer Roger Taylor advertised for a singer for the Queen Extravaganza tour in 2011, Martel sent in an audition tape doing one of Mercury’s most demanding songs, “Somebody to Love.” The tape went viral.
Listen to him perform a solo version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” on the piano and it’s pretty clear they didn’t need anybody else’s vocals. Martel had to sign an NDA about his work on the movie, so maybe they didn’t.
His Mercury impression was popular enough to land him on not just Ellen DeGeneres’ American TV show, but Celine Dion’s show in Quebec, too. He was a surprise guest and serenaded her with “Somebody to Love.” This time, with a full orchestra and choir backing him, he gets to finish the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atb5AMkWHks
Very nice.
Not everyone’s cuppa, but Roma is the film of the year for me. Mexican film. Black & white with English subtitles.
Well done application of the “upstairs/downstairs” conceit.
Cool! Great rendition, have not seen the movie but they got it right casting this guy, I’m impressed.
They didn’t actually cast him, just his voice. Here’s a video showing a direct comparison of Freddie Mercury and Marc Martel singing “Radio Gaga.” See if you can tell the difference with your eyes closed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5CdXug-KFw
I thought Roma was an excellent film regardless of the Oscar outcome. The part of the mother/wife trying to park the large car in the narrow alley parking spot, had me laughing and wondering about driving over all the dog crap.
Still, I have been a long time Queen fan. Although there were numerous rock the crowd numbers (We will rock you, We are the champions, Radio Gaga), the arrangement and composition of Bohemian Rhapsody was so far ahead of its time that it could not be fully performed live. I used to think that there was a whole chorus singing parts of it, but there wasn’t it was just the band overdubbed (reportedly 180 times).
Anyway, in an attempt to remain objective, they didn’t get Freddie’s teeth quite right, but otherwise a pretty damn glorious film, who was much more appreciated in the UK than the U.S. at the time.
I saw them in San Francisco. I think it was around 1977 or something. God they were good!
So whadja think about this guy?
Martel is/was excellent. I could tell the difference, but it’s very very close to Mercury. Still, what Lambert brings to the table is not just a voice, but also the performance; the show. So, I like Lambert but I would also go see Martel. I admire all who have voices that deliver goosebumps.
Going to see Queen in DC in July. Always a good show. Fortunately, I won’t the only elder there rockin in their seats.
Sounds great. Enjoy.