You Take My Breath Away by Queen

Album: A Day At The Races (1976)

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This song was written by Freddie Mercury and is based on the Japanese pentatonic scale. According to Brian May, Japan was a big influence on Queen, as we can hear through songs like "Teo Torriatte" from the same album. >>
Suggestion credit:
Gian Maria - Udine, Italy
This song is probably about Freddie Mercury's female lover Mary Austin, whom he lived with for six years and remained friends with until his death. Austin and Mercury split up in 1980 when Mercury decided he preferred male partners. Upon his death in 1991, Mercury left Austin his house in London. >>
Suggestion credit:
WhiteQueen - a place, FL
Freddie Mercury in an interview on Capital Radio: "This one I did myself, I multi tracked myself. So the others weren't used on this for the voices. I played piano and basically, I don't know how we managed to stay this simple you know, with all our over dubs and things. People seem to think that we're over complexed, and it's not true. It depends on the individual track really, if it needs it - we do it. So this is pretty sparse actually by Queen and our standards."

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Comments: 11

Marie from New JerseyWOW!! This song stopped me dead in my tracks! the pureness, the smooth silkiness of his voice and the song gives me goosebumps! you hear it the first time and are like oh that's a beautiful song but then when you really listen to it - every note, every inflection in his voice - it's just downright unbelievable!!
Marie from New JerseyTotally obsessed with this song since I first heard it last week. The depth, passion and purity of Freddie’s voice is so captivating!!
The live version is on a totally different level!! When he sings "you take my breath away" at 1:53 i am breathless myself and then "so please don't go, don't leave me all by myself" at 2:02 i am just floored!!
Jennie from Aberystwyth, United KingdomAlicia I agree with you entirely ... one of my very, very favourite Queen songs, and for me, Freddie is certainly singing it for me! R.I.P precious angel. xx
Valentin from Beijing, Chinamy least favorite Queen song. any time I listen to A Day At The Races I can't help skippin it :(
Andy from Glen Burnie, MdI offer this as evidence that Freddie Mercury was a vocal genius...and of course every genius has a madman inside him, but still...
Rita from Adelaide, AustraliaIt was actually about David Minns, his first serious male partner. Freddie stopped living with Mary to pursue the relationship with David just after Bo-Rhap
Adam from Boyce, VaVery haunting ballad and very very Freddie. This song is even more intense when they performed it live.
Joe from , MoOne of my faves! I love it to even though the outro gives me the creeps. LOL
Jonathon from Clermont, FlThis is among my favorite Queen songs. I could probably play this all day and never get tired of it.
Amy from Dallas, TxI agree Alicia
Alicia from Tamaqua, PaDescribing this song simply resides in the title... It takes my breath away! Such a smooth romantic song that always grabs you by the heart. It makes you wish that Freddie was singing it to you. Though It seems almost as if he really is. It truely is a beautiful song.

Freddie, You take my breath away!!

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