You’re My Best Friend

When John Deacon sat down to compose You’re My Best Friend, he wasn’t aiming for a radio hit, but rather to express a very personal feeling. The song was born as a tribute to his wife, Veronica Tetzlaff, and in it, Deacon not only contributed his bass line but also dared to play the Wurlitzer electric piano, giving the piece its characteristic warm sound. This instrument, which Freddie Mercury wasn’t entirely convinced by due to its timbre, became the melodic heart of the song, adding a unique texture that sets it apart. The structure of the piece is quite distinctive; unlike many other Queen songs, no section is repeated more than twice, something Brian May has noted as a distinctive feature of the band’s work.

The recording of You’re My Best Friend took place in 1975 as part of the album A Night at the Opera, a work that stood out for being one of the most expensive up to that point and which included other iconic tracks like Bohemian Rhapsody. The single was released in June 1976 and quickly climbed the charts, reaching number seven in the UK and sixteen on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song remained in Queen’s live repertoire from 1976 to 1980, and was performed again live long after Freddie Mercury’s passing. The music video, filmed in April 1976 at Elstree Studios near London, shows the band surrounded by a multitude of candles, creating an intimate atmosphere that perfectly complements the essence of the song.