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)
Bicycle Race
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
You say black, I say white
You say shark, I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
You say God give me a choice
You say Lord, I say Christ
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
On your marks, get set, go
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
(I want a) bicycle race
You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it man
I don't wanna be the President of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
The lyrics of "Bicycle Race" by Queen display Freddie Mercury's love of bicycles and his firm belief in individual freedom. The opening lines emphasize his longing to ride a bike, and the varying responses of others to the idea. It suggests an underlying theme of people being free to pursue their respective interests, without conforming to social norms. The lyrics are also full of references to several popular culture figures, like Star Wars, Jaws, Superman, etc., and the lines hint at a tug of war between Mercury's quirky preferences and the mainstream preferences of society. The chorus "I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle" repeats throughout the song, suggesting an underlying theme of the quest for independence, which is also reflected in the line "I want to ride it where I like." Mercury was known for being an advocate of queer liberation, and the chorus could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the defiance of society’s gender norms and expectations.
The second section of the song emphasizes Mercury's determination to remain true to himself. He says "I don't believe in Peter Pan/Frankenstein or Superman" signifying that his interests may not align with mainstream preferences, and he is not ashamed of it. The next lines "All I wanna do is bicycle, bicycle, bicycle" reiterate the theme of individualism. The third section of the song briefly touches on different opinions, such as "you say coke, I say 'caine" and "you say smile, I say cheese" before returning to the main chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
The singer of the song is expressing their love for their bicycle in repetition
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
The singer's desire to ride their bicycle is expressed even more explicitly than before
I want to ride my bicycle
The singer is determined to ride their bicycle regardless of any barriers
I want to ride my bike
Another way of saying the same thing as the previous line
I want to ride it where I like
The artist doesn't want anyone to limit where and when they ride their bicycle
You say black, I say white
The singer is expressing a philosophical opposition to others' opinions and choices
You say bark, I say bite
The singer reacts differently than others might in the same situation
You say shark, I say hey man
The artist isn't afraid of the things that others consider scary
Jaws was never my scene
The artist didn't like the popular movie Jaws
And I don't like Star Wars
The artist didn't like the popular movie Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
The singer is saying they don't care about the distinctions that others do
You say God give me a choice
The artist resents being told what to do by God or anyone else
You say Lord, I say Christ
The singer is making a similar statement to the one above
I don't believe in Peter Pan
The singer doesn't believe in fairy tales or myths
Frankenstein or Superman
The singer doesn't believe in science fiction or fantasy
All I wanna do is
The artist is trying to bring the focus back to their one true desire
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bike
Repetition of the chorus, just slightly reworded
I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
The artist is excited for some upcoming bicycle races
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
The singer is encouraging listeners to forget their obligations and join in the fun of bicycle racing
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
The artist is suggesting that all types of people can enjoy bicycle racing, not just the stereotypical athlete
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
The singer is admiring the diverse group of people who enjoy bicycle racing
On your marks, get set, go
The start of a bicycle race is being announced
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
The song is building up to a climactic moment by emphasizing the excitement of the race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
(I want a) bicycle race
The singer is making it clear that their one true desire is to race their beloved bicycle
You say coke, I say 'caine
The singer is flip-flopping and challenging the listener's expectations
You say John, I say Wayne
The artist doesn't conform to the stereotype of liking popular figures
Hot dog, I say cool it man
The artist is annoyed with the listener for not paying attention to what they're actually saying
I don't wanna be the President of America
The artist wants listeners to know that they don't care about power or authority
You say smile, I say cheese
The singer is saying that the listener is too cliché
Cartier, I say please
The artist doesn't care about expensive jewelry or material possessions
Income tax, I say Jesus
The singer is reacting negatively to the mention of a serious topic
I don't wanna be a candidate
The singer doesn't want to run for political office or anything like that
For Vietnam or Watergate
The singer is rejecting anything that represents war or politics
'Cause all I want to do is
The artist is pleading with listeners to understand their singular desire
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bike
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride my bicycle
Repetition of the chorus
I want to ride it where I like
Repetition of the chorus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thisisqueen3568
Bicycle Race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
You say God give me a choice
You say Lord, I say Christ
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
On your marks, get set, go
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
(I want a) bicycle race
You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it man
I don't wanna be the President of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
Songwriters: Freddie Mercury
@BrianRumbaoaDisney1998
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
You say God give me a choice
You say Lord, I say Christ
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
On your marks, get set, go
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
(I want a) bicycle race
You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it man
I don't wanna be the President of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
@thisisqueen3568
Bicycle Race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene
And I don't like Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
You say God give me a choice
You say Lord, I say Christ
I don't believe in Peter Pan
Frankenstein or Superman
All I wanna do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, races are coming your way
So forget all your duties, oh yeah
Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today
So look out for those beauties, oh yeah
On your marks, get set, go
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
(I want a) bicycle race
You say coke, I say 'caine
You say John, I say Wayne
Hot dog, I say cool it man
I don't wanna be the President of America
You say smile, I say cheese
Cartier, I say please
Income tax, I say Jesus
I don't wanna be a candidate
For Vietnam or Watergate
'Cause all I want to do is
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle (c'mon), bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like
Songwriters: Freddie Mercury
@xyxyqw
Timeless classic...I've bought this album in original year
@drdrumbeat3010
Freddy, even now he's gone, listening to him is a breath of fresh air. Legend!
@grizzlygaming0511
My favourite band ever. Many many memories made listening to their music😌
@nikostock_official
Pov: you're here because the original video is subject to age restrictions
@JovialEclipse
I love how this song has continuity with the Fat Bottomed Girls part!
@robertdubs9466
It's just a bit weird, Freddie. What exactly are you doing with that bicycle? (Freddie reacts by reaching out for the coffee machine), Oh no! Don't start that again!
@Eldesmadrevin
Jajaja i understand the reference
@applescruff2129
This is actually really good
@Alex-bm2hw
Of course, its queen after all