The band formed in London in 1970 after May and Taylor's former band Smile split after having released an album and single. Freddie replaced lead vocalist Tim Staffell, after the latter's departure from the original trio.
There was much deliberation as to what the band's name would be. May and Taylor had settled upon the Grand Dance, derived from a C.S. Lewis Trilogy of books Out Of The Silent Planet.
Ultimately, the band went with Queen, a name that was entirely Freddie's. Originally Roger and, especially, Brian did not like the name, though Mercury would eventually persuade them both that it was "right" for the band.
"Years ago I thought up the name Queen... It's just a name, but it's very regal, and it sounds splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. "
- Freddie Mercury.
Queen went through several bass players before a young electronics major by the name of John Deacon arrived on the scene in January of 1971.
"Until John, it had been exploding bass player syndrome. If they musically worked they'd look all wrong, and if they felt all right they couldn't play. - Brian May.
This quite shy guy turned up with his immaculate Rickenbacker bass and immaculate amplifier, plugged in, and as soon as he started playing we realized it was right." - Brian May.
Later that year, the band was secured recording time at the newly built De Lane Lea studio, and used the opportunity to record several songs that would later appear on their debut album - Liar, Keep Yourself Alive, Jesus, and The Night Comes Down. The demo reel was passed around from producer to producer with little success, until a staff member of Trident records by the name of Roy Thomas Baker was introduced to the band by fellow Trident producer John Anthony. Baker dropped in to watch the band at work and, clearly liking what he heard, recommended Queen to his superiors.
It was eventually agreed upon that the fledgling band could record at Trident studios, though after already-established artists had finished their work, such as the likes of Elton John and David Bowie. Relegated to the wee hours of the morning to record the remaining tracks of their first album, the band nonetheless stuck it out until they reached their ultimate goal of "perfection".
Queen's self-titled debut album was released in 1973 and received little attention from the general public. They quickly followed it a year later with a second album, "Queen II" which also failed to generate much interest from music fans in Britain, despite the success of the album's single, Seven Seas of Rhye, which would reach #10 on the charts after the band's mimed appearance on Top of the Pops.
The band's second album was recorded with a higher budget than the first, and the band threw everything they had into recording it. Queen II was somewhat of a "concept album", split into "White Side" vs. "Black Side".
As was in their nature, the band pressed onward after the mediocre success of their first two albums, immersing themselves in a world-wide tour to promote Queen II. Queen played in America for the first time, as a support act for Mott the Hoople.
Sheer Heart Attack would be released later that year, focusing more on being accessible to listeners, than the grand and complex ideas of the previous two albums. The recording of their third album was met with some hardships, as May fell victim to a series of illnesses brought on by an infected inoculation, required for the band's rigorous touring schedule.
Sheer Heart Attack brought even more success for the band, with May's Now I'm Here and the song that would be the band's "turning point", the Mercury-penned Killer Queen, the latter of which would reach #2 on the UK charts.
During this time, the band began developing a huge following in Japan and witnessed their popularity for themselves when they visited the country, mainly in 1975, to promote their fourth and most famous album "A Night At The Opera", featuring the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody".
Queen's popularity grew steadily through the latter half of the 70s as they released hit album after hit album, reaching its peak in the mid-80s after their "Live Aid" appearance, and continuing into the early 90s before Mercury's untimely death on 24th November 1991. The official cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
Over the course of their 30 year career, the band did sound tracks for two films ("Flash Gordon" and "Highlander"), released a string of live and studio albums, and had many many fans across the world.
In 1995, 4 years after Mercury's death, the band released the album "Made In Heaven". This album saw the surviving band members in the studio completing or reworking unused vocals, unreleased variations of Freddie solo material (a Queen version of "I Was Born To Love You" for example), and tracks where Brian and Roger added lyrics to flesh out a song ("Mother Love").
Queen have been on indefinite hiatus since 1997, when John Deacon decided to retire.
Several "Queen + ..." projects have been developed in the following years, a few of them mere remixes with no artistic involvement from the band. In 1999, a "Greatest Hits III" album was released. This featured, among others, "Queen + Wyclef Jean" on a rap version of "Another One Bites the Dust", a live version of "Somebody to Love" performed by George Michael, and a live version of "The Show Must Go On" performed live in 1997 with Elton John.
Brian May and Roger Taylor have performed together as Queen on several occasions (award ceremonies, charity concerts, and the like), sharing vocals with various guest singers. They have also recorded several covers of Queen's hits with guest vocalists, including "We Will Rock You" (first with Five and later Britney Spears, Beyonce, John Farnham and P!nk) and "We Are the Champions" (with Robbie Williams).
On the 14th of May 2002 the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You' opened in the Dominion theatre in London's 'West End'. A Musical about young people in the distant future who aren't allowed to listen to music not generated by computers. Various Queen songs are used in the story, played by a live band. This live band was supported by Brian May and Roger Taylor on the premiere evening.
At the end of 2004, May and Taylor announced that they would reunite and return to touring in 2005, with Paul Rodgers (founder and former lead singer of Free and Bad Company). Brian May's website also stated that Rodgers would be 'featured with' Queen as 'Queen + Paul Rodgers', not replacing Mercury. The retired John Deacon would not be participating.
Between 2005 and 2006 Queen + Paul Rodgers embarked on a world tour, the first leg in Europe and the second, Japan and then the US in 2006. On 15 August 2006, Brian May confirmed through his website and fan club that Queen + Paul Rodgers would begin producing their first studio album beginning in October, to be recorded at a "secret location". The album, titled The Cosmos Rocks, was released in Europe on 12 September 2008 and in the United States on 28 October 2008. Following the album the band again embarked on a tour through Europe, opening on Kharkiv's Freedom Square in front of 350,000 Ukrainian fans. The show in Ukraine was later released on DVD.
Queen and Paul Rodgers officially split up without animosity on 12 May 2009. Rodgers did not rule out the possibility of working together again.
Since 2012, Queen has been touring with Adam Lambert as the frontman.
More information about Queen + Paul Rodgers can be found on their last.fm page.
Official website: www.queenonline.com
Discography:
1.- Queen (1973)
2.- Queen II (1974)
3.- Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
4.- A Night at the Opera (1975)
5.- A Day at the Races (1976)
6.- News of the World (1977)
7.- Jazz (1978)
8.- The Game (1980)
9.- Flash Gordon (1980)
10.- Hot Space (1982)
11.- The Works (1984)
12.- A Kind of Magic (1986)
13.- The Miracle (1989)
14.- Innuendo (1991)
15.- Made in Heaven (1995)
A Kind of 'A Kind of Magic'
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be, will soon be, will soon be done
This is (this is) a kind (a kind) of magic (yeah)
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be done - (done)
It's a kind of magic, magic, magic, magic (magic)
(Magic) ha ha ha haa - it's magic
(Magic)
Yeah - it's a kind of magic
Ha haa
Yeah yeah
Wooh
It's a kind of magic
The lyrics to Queen's song A Kind of 'A Kind of Magic' seem to be about a powerful force that will put an end to a long-lasting rage. The repetitive phrase "this rage that lasts a thousand years" suggests a deep-seated anger or conflict that has been ongoing for a very long time. But the singer is optimistic that this rage will soon be "done," and that a kind of magic will come into play to resolve it.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power of this magic, calling it a "kind of magic" that is unique and unparalleled. The repetition of the word "magic" in the chorus creates a sense of mystery and wonder, as if the singer is in awe of this incredible force. The line "there can be only one" suggests that this magic is singular and special, perhaps even divine.
Overall, the lyrics to A Kind of 'A Kind of Magic' seem to be about hope in the face of a long-standing conflict. The idea that a kind of magic could bring about a resolution to such a conflict is both fantastical and comforting, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility of a happy ending.
Line by Line Meaning
This rage that lasts a thousand years
This intense anger and frustration that has been building up for a long time
Will soon be, will soon be, will soon be done
Will soon come to an end
This is (this is) a kind (a kind) of magic (yeah)
The feeling of relief that comes when a problem or issue is finally resolved is similar to a magical experience
There can be only one
There can only be one solution or outcome
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Repeating the description of intense anger and frustration to emphasize its impact on one's life and emotions
Will soon be done - (done)
The anger and frustration will soon be over, completely resolved
It's a kind of magic
The feeling of relief and resolution is so great that it can be compared to magic
It's a kind of magic, magic, magic, magic (magic)
Continuing to emphasize the amazing feeling of resolution that comes with resolving one's problems
(Magic) ha ha ha haa - it's magic
The feeling of relief and resolution is so great that it is joyful and almost comical
Yeah - it's a kind of magic
Acknowledgment that the resolution of the issue is truly magical and special
Ha haa
A moment of joy and triumph as the issue is resolved
Yeah yeah
Repeating the acknowledgement that the resolution is truly magical
Wooh
Exclamation of excitement and joy
It's a kind of magic
Reaffirming the feeling of relief and resolution being akin to magic
Contributed by Eli J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@a.b.6867
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
A kind of magic (No way)
One dream, one soul
One prize, one goal
One golden glance of what should be
It's a kind of magic
One shaft of light that shows the way
No mortal man can win this day
It's a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of time
It's a kind of magic
The waiting seems eternity
The day will dawn of sanity (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
Is this a kind of magic?
It's a kind of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be done
This flame that burns inside of me
I'm hearing secret harmonies
It's a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of time
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be, will soon be, will soon be done
This is (this is) a kind (a kind) of magic (yeah)
There can be only one (one, one, one)
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be done (done)
Magic (it's a kind of magic)
It's a kind of magic
Magic magic magic (magic)
It's a kind of magic
@Batman-jc5uc
This is what happened when a graphic designer, electrical engineer, dentist/biologist and an astrophysicist form a band.
@garyolson3597
The smartest rock and roll band of all time.
@Bauldehistorias2.023
A perfect kind of magic
@saraa136
I’m in love with a bunch of nerds and I like that :’)
@mrmosquitoxd9351
its true hhahahhah
@leonaraya2149
Inmortals!!!
@filipnesic2362
the dislikes are from people who can't handle this kind of magic
@giacomomartinelli5185
Totally agree!!!
@obscureironwork2511
@Pluto Jaguar the dislikes are from complete and utter cunts
@mikew7561
The Highlander Soundtrack! Amazing Band A great movie