By Hayden Wright

(RADIO.COM) – A multinational group of European researchers examined Queen recordings to determine what gave Freddie Mercury the supernatural voice of a generation. From Mercury's distinctive falsetto to his heartiest low tones, scientists studied live subjects and archival audio to explain the icon's instrument.

According to a paper published in Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, Mercury exhibited a physical phenomenon called "subharmonics." Like Tuvan throat singers in Mongolia, Mercury manipulated his vocal chords to produce a growling sound using a combination of vocal folds and ventricular folds.

The team also re-classed Mercury as a baritone rather than a tenor, as he's popularly regarded. Dr. Christian Herbst, from the University of Vienna, summarized the findings of his team's study:

"These traits, in combination with the fast and irregular vibrato, might have helped create Freddie Mercury's eccentric and flamboyant stage persona."

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