Music and Cats / Book of Abstracts - Catalog - Page 33
Abstracts
Panel 1: Musicians and Their Cats
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11:35 – 11:50
My, My, My, Delilah
Freddie Mercury’s Tribute to His Favourite Cat
Marie Josephine Bennett / Independent Scholar
Freddie Mercury was a well-known cat lover. As
noted by the singer’s personal assistant, Peter
Freestone, “it is no mere silliness when I
emphasise that he placed as much importance on
these beloved animals as on any human in his life”
(1998, 234). One of Mercury’s prized possessions
was a silk waistcoat that featured hand-painted
pictures of six of his cats. The waistcoat was
painted by Narissa Ratcliffe, following a
commission by one of his friends. He can be seen
wearing this item of clothing in the video for the
double A-sided single released shortly after
Mercury’s death, namely “These Are the Days of
Our Lives.” Very prominent on the left-hand side
of the colorful waistcoat is the tortoiseshell and
white cat that Mercury named Delilah. Delilah was
given to Mercury when a kitten by one of his
friends.
The final studio album by Queen to be released
in Freddie Mercury’s lifetime, Innuendo
(1991), includes a track called “Delilah.”
Mercury wrote the song as a tribute to the cat
that was said to be his favorite. Partner Jim
Hutton explains that Delilah “became the little
princess of the house,” was spoiled, and even
slept at the bottom of their bed (1994, 103). In
this paper, I will discuss Mercury’s love of cats
and his particular affection for Delilah. I will
then talk about the track “Delilah” and explain
why it divides opinions. I will also discuss its
place on the album Innuendo.
Dorian
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