"It's a Hard Life"
Single by Queen
from the album The Works
Released	16 July 1984
Format	vinyl record (7", 12")
Recorded	1983
Genre	Rock
Length	4:08 (Album Version) 5:05 (12" Extended Version)
Label	EMI / Capitol
Writer(s)	Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)	Queen and Mack
Chart positions
#2 (Ireland) #6 (UK) #72 (US)
Queen singles chronology
"I Want to Break Free" (1984)	"It's a Hard Life" (1984)	"Hammer to Fall" (1984)

It's a Hard Life is a song by English rock band Queen, written by lead singer Freddie Mercury. It was featured on their 1984 album The Works, and it was the third single from that album. Image File history File linksMetadata Harduk. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... This article is becoming very long. ... The Works is a rock album by British band Queen released in 1984. ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... Rock is a form of popular music from the late 20th century which typically features a vocal melody (often with vocal harmony) that is supported by accompaniment of electric guitars, a bass guitar, and drums, often with a strong back beat. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The EMI Group is a major record label, based in Kensington in London, in the United Kingdom. ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label, owned by EMI. // History The Capitol Records company was founded by the songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, with the financial help of movie producer Buddy DeSylva and the business acumen of Glenn Wallichs, (1910-1971) (owner of Music City, at... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Freddie Mercury (September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991) was a rock musician. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Reinhold Mack (aka Mack) is a German record producer. ... A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... This article is becoming very long. ... I Want to Break Free is a song performed by Queen, which was written exclusively by bassist John Deacon. ... Hammer to Fall is a 1984 hard-rock song written by Brian May and performed by the British rock group Queen with Freddie Mercury on lead vocal. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... This article is becoming very long. ... Freddie Mercury (September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991) was a rock musician. ... See also: 1983 in music, other events of 1984, 1985 in music, 1980s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 21 - Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood reaches number one in the UK singles chart: it spends a total of forty-two weeks in the Top... The Works is a rock album by British band Queen released in 1984. ...

The intro of "It's a Hard Life" is based on "Vesti la giubba", a famous aria from Ruggiero Leoncavallo's opera Pagliacci. Indeed, the video which accompanies the song (which is full of visual jokes) has been created in an operatic 'style'. This article is about the musical term aria. ... Ruggiero Leoncavallo (March 8, 1857 - August 9, 1919) was an Italian opera composer. ... Pagliacci (Clowns) is an opera in two acts written and composed by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. ...

External links

• Video for "It's a Hard Life" on YouTube

• Lyrics

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