Bohemian Rhapsody: Rami Malek's Oscar-Winning Performance—But Who REALLY Sang Freddie Mercury's Songs?
Bohemian Rhapsody: A Box Office Smash Hit Despite Its Controversies
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) was a massive movie event! It was however also seriously polarizing. Many agreed that Rami Malek absolutely crushed it as Freddie Mercury—but he didn’t actually sing! That's pretty crazy, folks. This biographical drama covering Queen's story, from 1970 to Live Aid 1985, was a huge hit earning over $910 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo)! It got major awards, including a Best Actor Oscar for Malek.
But critics weren’t as enthusiastic, hitting 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. They slammed it as superficial—especially its handling of Mercury's sexuality. Bryan Singer's directing style got also hit pretty hard (Dexter Fletcher finished the film after Singer got fired, though Singer still got the sole credit due to DGA rules). But one thing’s for sure; almost everyone agrees that Malek's performance was unreal. That is pretty awesome for any biographical picture!
Unmasking the Voice Behind Freddie Mercury: It Wasn't Rami Malek
Malek went all-in. He worked with movement and dialect coaches to perfect Mercury's moves and voice; this included wearing prosthetic teeth for an accurate look, piano lessons and even taking actual acting classes to bring that character’s true essence and persona. He might look like Mercury in the Live Aid scene—but that Singing Voice wasn't Malek’s.
While some parts used Malek’s actual voice, Marc Martel—a Canadian Christian rock singer with a voice incredibly similar to Mercury’s, provided most vocals. Martel has done Queen covers since 2011; he was the best option for the movie!
Here's what producer Graham King said about Martel: “Literally, you could close your eyes and it’s Freddie. And that’s a very tough thing to do.” The most crucial aspect that most fans seem to appreciate is actually the performance given which makes every person forget about other issues. Malek captured Mercury—both the singer and the man— flawlessly.
Rami Malek's Vision: A More Joyful Freddie Mercury
While Bohemian Rhapsody touched on Mercury's sexuality, one common critique concerns how toned down Mercury’s personal life is. Many felt that the movie’s focus on his friendship with Mary Austin overshadowed his gay relationships. Malek himself pointed that out:
"The fact of the matter, that he would freely admit, was that one of Freddie Mercury’s hobbies was sex. He was very promiscuous."
The PG-13 rating helped the movie’s massive box office success! More explicit stuff might have resulted in a far different experience. Those criticisms about his homosexuality however remained valid. There wasn’t a showing of Mercury actually enjoying himself. His relationship with his manager (Paul Prenter) is shown badly; conflating sex with drug abuse and other very negative traits. Malek wanted to show a better side:
"He used to throw these elegant, gorgeous dinner parties for his friends, not a bunch of strangers as portrayed in the film. He didn’t even grow up Christian, but he would throw Christmas parties and have a gift for everyone. He loved entertaining and was so generous. I mean, you could portray every aspect of his life. The fact of the matter is we had two hours and the goal of this movie was to celebrate the man. If you wallow in certain elicit aspects of his life, you really lose out on the glory of who this authentic, defiant, revolutionary human being was and is."
Rami Malek After Bohemian Rhapsody: A Stellar Career Continues
Malek didn't slow down after that amazing win! His amazing Emmy win came after Mr. Robot! He also hosted Saturday Night Live in 2021! He continued doing his own things even after the movie’s release which resulted in additional success in other avenues of production. That incredible trajectory in acting alone already puts this individual ahead of those contemporaries that might be very similar.
Movies after Bohemian Rhapsody show an amazingly varied career that makes him exceptionally desirable as an actor and personality and highlights just how uniquely important this specific movie is for his own personal achievements in his career, generating an immensely positive outcome. He became a Bond villain in No Time to Die and even appeared in Oppenheimer. His focus on playing real people continues; showing his dedication and effort into recreating other characters, showcasing an extremely versatile talent, continuing even further to display this amazing, almost chameleon-like capability. His future projects include more serious roles! That’s impressive, and truly showcases a remarkable, ongoing creative journey.
Conclusion: Malek's Masterpiece — Despite Some Unfinished Business
Bohemian Rhapsody is amazing despite its controversies. Malek’s unreal performance really elevated everything. Even though the vocal delivery was done through other talents involved, that decision showcases those priorities made to bring that experience to a very diverse range of audiences that might otherwise not engage without it being as enjoyable. While Mercury’s full story could have gotten a more comprehensive telling, Malek brought Mercury to a new audience. His brilliant role is worth appreciating, especially as it sparked deeper explorations of that musical legend’s unique, varied and complicated life.
