Later this year, Mr. Robot star Rami Malek will step into the role of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, the upcoming bio-film about the late frontman of Queen. While Malek’s performance of Mercury will likely make or break this movie, he needed an assist for Mercury’s singing vocals. That’s why singer Marc Martel was hired to lend his voice to the movie’s music, in conjunction with Malek’s voice and Queen’s original recordings. Earlier this week, fans on Reddit gushed about Martel’s impersonation of Mercury and it’s currently blowing up on that site.
Martel’s talent may a be surprise for casual fans, but it’s no secret in the music industry. Martel was discovered years ago, and he was one of the lead performers on The Queen Experience, a Queen tribute band. Martel’s ability to sing like Mercury has also given him a fan following, but he credited “genetics” for his voice during the following video in which he explained how to sing like Mercury.
According to Martel, recapturing Mercury’s performance is about more than just mimicking his voice. Instead, he calls for a complete understanding of Mercury’s lyrics and the emotions behind them. He also explained at length the feelings he attempts to portray while singing some of Bohemian Rhapsody’s saddest lines.
Bohemian Rhapsody will be out in theaters on November 2, but you can catch Martel on tour by checking his official site.
What do you think about Martel’s take on Freddie Mercury’s voice? Is he the champion, or does he flat-out rock you? Comment below, where anyone can see!
Image: 20th Century Fox
