Queen's "A Night at the Opera" Quiz

Answer: John Deacon

Although John Deacon wrote "You're My Best Friend", the lead vocals were sung by Freddie Mercury. In addition to that song, Mercury performed lead vocals on seven other songs, including the famous "Bohemian Rhapsody". Brian May was the lead vocalist for two songs, including "Good Company". Roger Taylor wrote and performed lead vocals for "I'm in Love with My Car", which would be released as the B-side for the "Bohemian Rhapsody" single.

Answer: Norman Sheffield

Norman Sheffield was the manager of Queen from 1972-1975. As this song was being written, the band was in the process of firing him for his mistreatment of the band. After hearing the song, Sheffield sued the band for defamation, a case which was settled out of court. This had the effect of revealing to the general public that he was the subject of the song. This song is truly Freddie Mercury's "hate letter":

"You suck my blood like a leech
You break the law and you breech
Screw my brain till it hurts
You've taken all my money--you still want more"

Answer: Thursday

"Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" is the shortest song on the whole album at only 1:08. Freddy Mercury recorded the vocals which were played back through a metal bucket to give them a hollow sound. According to the lyrics, here is what the singer says he is doing on the four days:

"Tuesdays I go off to honeymoon ...
Bicycling on every Wednesday evening
Thursdays I go waltzing to the zoo ...
Fridays I go painting in the Louvre"

Answer: Piano

John Deacon played a Wurlitzer Electric Piano for the recording instead Freddie Mercury who usually handled keyboards for the group because Mercury didn't like the sound of the electric piano. Deacon wrote the song for his wife, Veronica Tetzlaff. The song was a number 16 hit in the United States.

Answer: '39

They lyrics of "'39" describe voyagers in a space craft that travels at a very fast rate of speed (approaching the speed of light). When they return to earth, they discover that time has moved much more slowly for them and the signer describes meeting his now adult grandchildren who remind him of his long dead wife. Brian May, who wrote the song and performed the lead vocals, has the science cred to back this up.

He studied physics and mathematics in college and in 2007 received his PhD in Astrophysics from Imperial College London.

His thesis topic was "A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud."

Answer: Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor

In the liner notes to the album, Roger Taylor is credited for "vocal orchestration of brass" and Freddie Mercury is credited for "vocal orchestration of woodwinds". According to Wikipedia, Freddie's impersonated instruments include a clarinet and Roger's impersonated instruments include a kazoo! This is one of the few Queen songs on any album with no participation from Brian May. On a personal note, I always liked this song for its "old-timey", vaudeville feel.

Answer: The Prophet's Song

At 8:17, "The Prophet's Song" is over two minutes longer than any other song on the album. Written by Brian May, the song was inspired by a dream he had. The dream itself was inspired by the Flood story from the Book of Genesis. In addition to playing guitar for the track, Brian May also played a toy koto which can be distinctly heard in the song.

Answer: Freddie Mercury

Roger Taylor played drums and John Deacon played bass guitar. In addition to lead guitar, Brian May also sang and played a banjo uke on the recording. The banjo uke has the body of a banjo and the fretted neck of a ukelele. The song deals with a young man who doesn't properly follow his father's advice to "take care of those you call your own, and keep good company." Although he becomes financially successful, he gradually loses contact with his friends and family.

Answer: He has killed someone

"Mama, just killed a man,
Put a gun against his head,
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead.
Mama, life had just begun,
But now I've gone and thrown it all away."

"Bohemian Rhapsody" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. A famous use of the film is when Wayne and Garth lip-sync to the song in the 1992 film "Wayne's World".

Answer: It has the longest running time of any song on the album

"God Save the Queen [or King]" is a patriotic anthem in Great Britain. Brian May arranged the instrumental version played on the album but the original composer is unknown. The first published version that is essentially "God Save the Queen/King" appeared in the 18th century. Queen would often play this song at the end of concerts.

In the United States, the tune was adapted for "America" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee". Brian May intended the recording as a homage to Jimi Hendrix's recording of "The Star-Spangled Banner".

It has in the fact the second-shortest running time on the album at 1:11.