Seaside Rendezvous

"Seaside Rendezvous"
Song

"Seaside Rendezvous" is a song by British rock group Queen, and is the seventh track on their fourth studio album A Night at the Opera. The song was written by Freddie Mercury under his vaudevillian/musichall influence.

The song is probably best remembered for its "musical" bridge section performed by Mercury and Roger Taylor in the middle part of the song.

Details

The song's "musical" bridge section was performed entirely by Mercury and Taylor using their voices alone, with Taylor at one point hitting the highest note on the whole album – a C6.

Mercury imitates woodwind instruments including a clarinet. Roger uses mainly brass instruments such as tubas and trumpets, and even a kazoo. The tap dance segment is also "performed" by Mercury and Taylor on the mixing desk with thimbles on their fingers. Mercury plays both grand piano and jangle honky-tonk.

This is one of the few Queen songs without Brian May participating at all.

Lyrics

This song has an old-time feel, with a ragtime sound and lyrics that could easily have come from the 1930s ("Be My Clementine"). In these days before television, many people would go to the beach (the "Seaside") to relax on weekends.

Live performances

"Seaside Rendezvous" has never ever been performed live.

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, piano, jangle piano, vocal orchestration of woodwinds
• John Deacon – bass guitar
• Roger Taylor – drums, triangle, vocal orchestration of brass