Living on My Own

"Living on My Own" is a song by Freddie Mercury, originally included in his first solo album "Mr. Bad Guy". It was released as a single (backed with "My Love Is Dangerous") in September 1985 in the United Kingdom where it peaked at number 50. The July 1985 release in the United States had "She Blows Hot and Cold" as its B-side. Eight years later, "Living on My Own" was remixed and rereleased to widespread chart success. The song's lyrics reflect Mercury's longstanding admiration for Greta Garbo, whose quotations are featured prominently in the lyrics.
1993 No More Brothers' Mix version.
In 1993, two years after Mercury's death, the No More Brothers Mix of the song was released and reached number 1 in the UK, Ireland and in France (for 15 weeks), becoming Mercury's first solo number 1 hit; in the rest of the world – including Europe, Asia, Canada and Ibero-America – this version also reached the top of the charts. Meanwhile, in the United States, the 1993 version was not officially released. It remained at the top for two weeks on the British charts.
Critical reception.
Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger said that Mercury "sounds terrific over house music." "Music & Media" wrote that "Belgian dance producers picked up a Mercury vocal track, put it on top of sequencers—with surprising results—and made a local top 10 hit out of it." John Kilgo from "The Network Forty" commented that "hitting you over the head like a hammer, the harmony-laden hook compliments an uptempo groove". "Sandwell Evening Mail" called it "a stunning Euro-style remix".
Chart performance.
The 1993 No More Brothers Mix of "Living on My Own" was very successful in Europe. It managed to peak at number-one in Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, it hit the top spot in its third week at the
UK Singles Chart, on August 8, 1993. The single spent two weeks at the top of the chart. Additionally, it reached number 2 in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. In these countries, it was held off reaching number-one by 4 Non Blondes' "What's Up". "Living on My Own" earned a gold record in the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, while it earned a platinum record in Austria and Germany.
Music video.
The videos for both the original 1985 and the 1993 remix versions of "Living on My Own" show footage of Mercury's 39th birthday celebration on 5 September 1985 at the Old Mrs. Henderson nightclub in Munich. The video was directed by Hannes Rossacher and Rudi Dolezal. The No More Brothers Mix was published on YouTube in November 2012. By March 2021, the video had more than 48 million views.
Track listings.
1985 edition.
7-inch
12-inch
1993 edition.
7-inch/cassette
12-inch
CD single
Charts.
Weekly charts.
Original version
No More Brothers Mix