Saw this on Reddit, news to me....
Did you know that "It's a Hard Life" is based on the aria "Vesti la giubba" from the opera "Pagliacci"? Neither did I, until I watched "The Untouchables" again...
Freddie sure was WAY ahead of his time (three years to be exact). Such a time traveler he was.
More likely he was influenced by Otis B. Driftwood link
Or.......
the things you learn: According to the Guinness Book of Records, the aria 'Vesti la giubba',,sung by Enrico Caruso, first recorded in November 1902, was the first million-selling record in history