"One of my earlier memories of music is my mom sitting at the piano late at night, playing us to sleep with Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata,'" Marc says. With a father who preached and led worship and a mother who led the church choir and played piano, Marc was raised in a music-intensive environment.
His parents instilled a love for music in him that followed him throughout his childhood through eight years of piano lessons, through Disney duets he would sing with friends, through hours he spent alone teaching himself guitar all the way to a small college in Saskatchewan, where he formed the band Downhere with his roommate Jason Germain and a few close friends in 1999.
"Our friendship was always based around music," Marc says. "We really hit it off musically... we realized we shared a lot of the same taste in music, while also bringing different influences."
Downhere developed their sound while touring on behalf of the college, which would send them out on the road with production, lighting, sound, and even a vehicle and trailer. After four years of college, the band left their Canadian roots behind and relocated to Nashville, TN, where they signed with Word Records. Downhere has since gone on to win multiple Juno Awards and a Dove Award. They have released 10 albums, including their latest release, On the Altar of Love, which reflects a different approach to songwriting than their previous releases.
"For me it used to be all about being musically complex and artsy," Marc says. "And then I had a real perspective-shifting experience. At one of our shows there was a little girl standing front-center with her mother. When I said the next song was "How Many Kings," her face lit up as she looked up at her mom and grabbed her hand. She sang along to every word. I thought to myself, 'I've got to write more songs like THAT.'"
In September 2011, Marc entered a competition to join Roger Taylor, original drummer for the legendary rock band Queen, on stage for the Queen Extravaganza Live Tour. Throughout his career with Downhere, concertgoers have often approached Marc insisting he sounds just like Freddie Mercury, legendary singer of the rock band Queen.
"I don't think I've done a show in the last five or six years where five to ten people haven't come up to me and said, 'Hey, anyone ever tell you that you sound like Queen?' or 'that guy from Queen' or 'Eddie Mercury,'" he says laughingly. "In the list of great rock signers, he is considered one of the best if not the best and it's always just a huge compliment when people tell that to me."
It seems that Downhere concertgoers aren't alone in their thinking, as Marc's entry for the Queen Extravaganza contest, a video of Marc singing along with the Queen classic "Somebody to Love," generated more millions of views on YouTube after being up for only a few days.
Whether it's onstage with Downhere or on a computer screen, Marc has a message and a voice that has captured millions for the past decade. Through music, Marc is after the one thing people are always looking for a connection.
"There is always time for exploring new soundscapes and interesting arrangements…but the song has to connect with people or there's not much point to it. I'm really trying to stay in that magic equilibrium now as I write, the union of intriguing artistry combined with strong human connection."
Killer Queen
Marc Martel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Let them eat cake," she says, just like Marie Antoinette
A built in remedy for Khrushchev and Kennedy
At anytime an invitation, you can't decline
Caviar and cigarettes, well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Ooh, recommended at the price, insatiable in appetite
Wanna try, wanna try?
To avoid complications, she never kept the same address
In conversation, she spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China, went down to Geisha Minah
Then again incidentally, if you're that way inclined
Perfume came naturally from Paris
For cars, she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise
She's a Killer Queen, gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Blow their minds
Drop of a hat she's as willing as, playful as a pussy cat
Momentarily out of action, temporarily out of gas
To absolutely drive you wild, wild
She's all out to get you
Killer Queen, gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Ooh, recommended at the price, insatiable in appetite
Wanna try, you wanna try?
The lyrics of "Killer Queen" by Marc Martel depict a flamboyant, luxurious, and powerful woman who effortlessly seduces and enraptures anyone who crosses her path. The first verse describes her regal taste, as she keeps a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne in her pretty cabinet and quotes Marie Antoinette's infamous line "Let them eat cake." The second line speaks of her political power, as she possesses a built-in remedy for both Khrushchev and Kennedy.
The chorus elaborates on her prowess, describing her as a "Killer Queen" with the potential to blow anyone's mind. The third verse marvels at her ability to move gracefully between different cultures and classes, as she maintains an air of sophistication in any conversation and has even traveled to China to experience the culture. The final lines emphasize her sexual appeal, describing her as a playful, wild cat who is all out to get you.
Overall, the song celebrates a woman who embodies power, luxury, and sex appeal in equal measure, and who can easily enchant anyone in her orbit.
Line by Line Meaning
She keeps a Moët et Chandon in her pretty cabinet
She has a fancy champagne in her decorated storage space
"Let them eat cake," she says, just like Marie Antoinette
She has an entitled attitude and echoes the famous quote from a French queen
A built in remedy for Khrushchev and Kennedy
Her charming presence could be a solution to political disputes, personified with two significant figures of the Cold War era
At anytime an invitation, you can't decline
She wields a powerful influence that cannot be refused
Caviar and cigarettes, well versed in etiquette
She indulges in luxurious eating and smoking habits and is knowledgeable of proper manners
Extraordinarily nice
She has a pleasant personality that surpasses expectations
She's a Killer Queen, gunpowder, gelatin
She's sharp as a lethal weapon, with a mixture of explosive ingredients
Dynamite with a laser beam
Her strong presence and impact is symbolized with modern and futuristic weapons
Guaranteed to blow your mind
She's capable of impressing and overwhelming people tremendously
Ooh, recommended at the price, insatiable in appetite
She's worth the cost of her services as she has an insatiable hunger for life
Wanna try, wanna try?
She's alluring and tempting, making you want to experience her ways
To avoid complications, she never kept the same address
She avoids any potential issues or unwanted attention by frequently changing her living arrangements
In conversation, she spoke just like a baroness
She possesses a refined and articulate manner of speech, similar to that of noblewomen
Met a man from China, went down to Geisha Minah
She has a diverse social life and experiences different cultures, exemplified by visiting a Japanese entertainment district with an acquaintance from China
Then again incidentally, if you're that way inclined
She is open-minded and understanding of various lifestyles and preferences
Perfume came naturally from Paris
She's adorned with a pleasant fragrance, originating from the city of love
For cars, she couldn't care less
She doesn't have any particular interest in automobiles
Fastidious and precise
She's attentive and precise in everything she does
Drop of a hat she's as willing as, playful as a pussy cat
She can change her attitude and actions quickly from reserved to playful, like a feline
Momentarily out of action, temporarily out of gas
She may need to take a short break, but will quickly recharge and be ready again soon after
To absolutely drive you wild, wild
She's capable of igniting strong emotions and intense desires
She's all out to get you
She's determined to win you over and get what she wants
Writer(s): Freddie Mercury
Contributed by Evan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@cadenmorris3680
Josh Bridgman Speaking of Disney Princesses...
Now that Disney own Fox Studios...
Freddie Mercury is my Favorite Disney Princess / Queen !!!!!!!!!!
👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑
👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻👨🏻
@vickyf211
If I was his neighbor, I would complain if he stops singing.
@AZSROSE
hahahahahahahahaha
@anastasiatsivrini7594
Same
@luisxd422
Hahahahah
@user-dn5no8cx7o
@@Honeytips_BEE no, he wrote it right
@Jinxs_YT
hahaha it's true
@cailynneuhauser7638
is no one gonna talk about how he literally whistled a guitar solo flawlessly
@artfulstories
Cailyn Neuhauser he recently whistled the guitar solo in Somebody to Love on Australia TV. He killed it despite bad jet lag and early morning hoarseness. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF0GE29LmHw
@blinkst3710
@@artfulstories STRAYA FOR THE WIN
@nunyabizness4892
Cailyn Neuhauser seriously! I can’t even whistle the ending of Sitting on the Dock of the Bay 😂