BRIAN HAROLD MAY

As Backing Singer

Although usually pigeonholed as the one doing the low-harmony (because live that was usually the case), Brian's functions as backing singer were those of a tenor. His marvelous voice worked perfectly for both hard-rock things (e.g. Freddie's Liar, and The Hitman) and ballads (e.g. Brian's own Leaving Home Ain't Easy and Save Me).

Some of his highlights in the Queen catalog are:

- Liar: The second "why don't you leave me alone" features Brian harmonizing Freddie's lead.

- Someday One Day: Harmonies in the chorus are all or most by Dr. May.

- Brighton Rock: When Brian enters (in the second part of the chorus) the change is noticeable.

- Killer Queen: One of the chorus-lines (the one doing scat) was re-recorded after Brian recovered, because it sounded smoother with him joining.

- Now I'm Here: Some very nice high voices in the multi-part bits.

- She Makes Me: Great falsetto harmonies by Brian only.

- '39: Falsetto at the end of the last chorus ("all your letters..."), complementing his lead voice.

- Prophet's Song: The canon is started-off by Freddie, then it's done by all of them in three-part harmony, where Brian's superb tone helped make it sound big.

- Good Company: Two-part harmonies in his low-range (as opposed to She Makes Me from the previous album).

- Bohemian Rhapsody: Note Brian's great step-wise ascending "no no no no no no no" and his falsetto on "mamma mia let me go" (he's doing the top-note on front-left channel).

- Somebody to Love: "At the end of the day".

- Long Away: Wonderful harmonies in "come let the new child play", done by Brian alone.

- Teo Torriatte: Brian sings harmonies there with the others. Very beautiful counterpoints.

- Sleeping on the Sidewalk: Three-part choirs by just Brian.

- Leaving Home Ain't Easy: All vocals there are by Dr. May (backing and lead).

- Save Me: Chordal-backing in the second bridge, done without the others (it can be heard better on the karaoke mixes).

- Las Palabras de Amor: "This night and evermore".

- Hammer to Fall: Chordal backing during the solo.

- Princes of the Universe: The top-voice in the intro seems to be done chiefly (or exclusively) by Brian.

- I Want It All: Again, Brian is dominating (or doing by himself) the top voice in the choruses (compare with Tie Your Mother Down which has Roger on the top instead of Brian).

- My Baby Does Me: Chordal backing.

- I'm Going Slightly Mad: Chordal backing in the "banana tree" section.

- Headlong: Chordal parts are entirely (or at least mostly) done by him.

- The Hitman: Rock harmonies, done by Brian only.

- The Show Must Go On: Brian dominates the harmonies, and is the only one singing in some of them (like the "echoes" in the fourth verse, and the outro).