Jul 242 min read

Queen Quiz - It's A Hard Life

Cover Artwork for Queen's Single "It's A Hard Life"

"It's A Hard Life" is the thirty-seventh single released by Queen and is the third single released from their eleventh studio album "The Works". It was written by Freddie Mercury and released in July 1984. it was also featured on their second "Greatest Hits" compilation album.

The song was performed in Queen's live shows during "The Works Tour" of 1984 and 1985, where Queen performed at the first Rock In Rio music festival. A video of Queen's performance during the festival was later released as "Queen - Live In Rio".

The music video was created in an operatic style, with everyone appearing in period operatic-style costumes. The video also featured Brian May playing an unusual skull and bones-themed guitar that cost more than £1,000, the guitar was relied heavily on for the use of alchemist and pagan symbols and symbolism - thus why it also featured on the singles cover artwork.

Musically, "It's A Hard Life" returned Queen to their earlier days of recording, utilising Mercury's piano playing and the band's characteristic technique of layered harmonies without the use of any synthesizers.