Trove Of Tunes – It’s A Beautiful Day
A playful vocal sketch from Freddie Mercury, reborn years later into a meditative track in Queen's 1995 album 'Made In Heaven'
You can wake up to it, or dial down your day with it. You can feel your breathing as you hear it, or just enjoy the silence through it. But whatever you do, if you’re listening to it using your earphones, do not, and I repeat ‘do not’ leave one ear out. Never before has a pair of headphones scored on convenience over the ever-tangling, sometimes flimsy and delicate earphones, eh?
Tune in to ‘It’s A Beautiful Day’ by Queen, from their 1995 album, ‘Made In Heaven’.
A Vocal Doodle With Emotions
It was 1980, and Freddie Mercury was just letting his voice be in the playful company with the keys during the recording sessions of ‘The Game’—Queen’s eighth studio album. Nothing unusual. But fifteen years later, with some string simulations and ambient sound samples, the song was digitally synthesised for Queen’s posthumous album ‘Made In Heaven’ released in 1995, four years after Freddie’s death, and the last album under the ‘Queen’ name.
It's a song that is so simple, but drifts so effortless through time. The meditative introduction that makes way for Freddie’s keys and John’s bass to enter into a short and synchronized routine, leading to ‘It’s A Beautiful Day’ in Freddie’s voice. The dismissive wave with assured confidence on ‘no one’s gonna stop me now’, the quiet regret mixed with optimism when he talks about feeling ‘sad’ and ‘bad’, and a smooth proclamation to himself during ‘Ooh, it’s hopeless - so hopeless to even try’ pushes you into a reflective mood.
Sometimes, you keep searching for a source of energy, or time for introspection, but they’re too busy for your calendar. And sometimes, they slide in during your first few steps on the treadmill. For me, this number was just that, the 2.32 minutes of energy and time to myself I needed to get on with my day.
The same album features an alternate version of the song, titled ‘It’s A Beautiful Day (Reprise)’ for the ear that craves a little heavier sound with conventional rock elements, and for the mind that forever wishes to watch Freddie performing live on an earthly stage.
I’ll be back soon with another number that pins my ear, finds my trove, and stays with me. Till then, you can continue to check out my Trove Of Tunes curated in a Spotify playlist by clicking here.
Cheers,
Shri