“The Great Pretender” was originally recorded by The Platters in 1955, and was rerecorded by Mercury 32 years later. He felt the song conveyed the way he felt about his public image. People knew him one way, but he was the ‘Great Pretender,’ and someone different behind closed doors. It’s also notable to know that at this time, Mercury had been diagnosed with HIV, and was lying to even the closest of his friends by pretending he didn’t have it.

The music video for the song featured Mercury parodying himself in many of his Queen guises through video medium over the years, including visual re-takes of “Radio Gaga”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “It’s a Hard Life”, “I Want to Break Free”, “One Vision”, and “I Was Born to Love You”. It was directed by David Mallet in February 1987, and also featured fellow Queen member Roger Taylor and actor Peter Straker in drag.

In 2020, the song is picked up by a same-titled anime as it’s ending titles.