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)
Breakthru
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the dawn light wakes up
A new life is born
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
Now
I wake up
Feel just fine
Fills my mind
I get religion quick
'Cause you're looking divine
Honey, you're touching something; you're touching me
I'm under your thumb, under your spell, can't you see?
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough, oh yeah
Break through these barriers of pain
Break through to the sunshine from the rain
Make my feelings known towards you
Turn my heart inside and out for you now
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
Now, oh yeah
Your smile speaks books to me
I break up
With each and every one of your looks at me
Honey, you're starting something deep inside of me
Honey, you're sparking something this fire in me
I'm outta control
I want to rush headlong into this ecstasy
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Oh yeah
Breakthrough, breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Breakthrough
The lyrics to Queen’s song ‘Breakthru’ describe the feeling of being in love and the desire to break through any barriers to be with the object of their affection. The song begins with the breakup of a past love, but as the dawn comes, it signifies the start of a new life. The singer is determined to make a final breakthrough to be with their love. As they wake up, they feel fine thinking about the person they love. The intense feeling of love that they experience is compared to religion. They’re under their spell and can’t resist their attraction towards them.
The chorus conveys the desire to reach out to the person and to make them smile, to break through the barriers of pain, and show their true feelings towards them. The person’s smile speaks volumes to the singer and they are struck by their beauty. They declare their love, that they’re out of control, and want to rush headlong into the ecstasy of being with them. The song ends in repetition of the chorus, where the singer states that reaching the person would truly be a breakthrough. Overall, the lyrics depict a sense of excitement and urgency in the singer’s quest to be with the one they love.
Line by Line Meaning
When love breaks up
When a relationship ends
When the dawn light wakes up
When a new day begins
A new life is born
A new chapter in life starts
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
I need to find a way to move on and start fresh
Now
I need to do it now
I wake up
I start the day
Feel just fine
I feel good and positive
Your face
I think of you
Fills my mind
You are constantly on my thoughts
I get religion quick
I have newfound faith and hope
'Cause you're looking divine
You are inspiring me
Honey, you're touching something; you're touching me
You are bringing out emotions and feelings in me
I'm under your thumb, under your spell, can't you see?
I feel powerless and enchanted by you
If I could only reach you
If only I could connect with you
If I could make you smile
If I could make you happy
Break through these barriers of pain
Overcome the emotional pain I am experiencing
Break through to the sunshine from the rain
Find happiness and positivity after a difficult time
Make my feelings known towards you
Express my emotions to you
Turn my heart inside and out for you now
Be completely honest and vulnerable with you
Your smile speaks books to me
Your smile tells me so much
I break up
I am overwhelmed with emotion
With each and every one of your looks at me
I am affected by your gaze
Honey, you're starting something deep inside of me
You are sparking deep emotions within me
Honey, you're sparking something this fire in me
You are igniting a passion within me
I'm outta control
I am overwhelmed with emotion
I want to rush headlong into this ecstasy
I want to fully embrace these overwhelming emotions
Breakthrough
I want to break free from my emotional state and find happiness
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN MAY, FREDDIE MERCURY, JOHN DEACON, ROGER TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sirkhalid3509
When love breaks up
When the dawn light wakes up
A new life is born
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
Now
I wake up
Feel just fine
Your face
Fills my mind
I get religion quick
'Cause you're looking divine
Honey, you're touching something; you're touching me
I'm under your thumb, under your spell, can't you see?
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough, oh yeah
Break through these barriers of pain
Break through to the sunshine from the rain
Make my feelings known towards you
Turn my heart inside and out for you now
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
Now, oh yeah
Your smile speaks books to me
I break up
With each and every one of your looks at me
Honey, you're starting something deep inside of me
Honey, you're sparking something this fire in me
I'm outta control
I want to rush headlong into this ecstasy
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Oh yeah
Breakthrough, breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Breakthrough
@lynn9885
Best piano song: Seven Seas of Rhye
Best swing song: You're My Best Friend
Best song: Bohemian Rhapsody
Most soulful song: Somebody to Love
Most invincible song: We Are the Champions
Most unstoppable song: Don't Stop Me Now
Catchiest song: Crazy Little Thing called Love
Most iconic song: I Want to Break Free
Most unifying song: One Vision
Wisest song: Who Wants to Live Forever
Most emotional song: The Show Must Go On
The last song: These Are the Days of Our Lives
The song that can't prevent you from smiling: Breakthru
@antiochosyuliana7904
Lyrics:
When love breaks up
When the dawn light wakes up
A new life is born
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
Now
I wake up
Feel just fine
Your face
Fills my mind
I get religion quick
'Cause you're looking divine
Honey, you're touching something; you're touching me
I'm under your thumb, under your spell, can't you see?
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough, oh yeah
Break through these barriers of pain
Break through to the sunshine from the rain
Make my feelings known towards you
Turn my heart inside and out for you now
Somehow I have to make this final breakthrough
Now, oh yeah
Your smile speaks books to me
I break up
With each and every one of your looks at me
Honey, you're starting something deep inside of me
Honey, you're sparking something this fire in me
I'm outta control
I want to rush headlong into this ecstasy
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Oh yeah
Breakthrough, breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
If I could only reach you
If I could make you smile
If I could only reach you
That would really be a breakthrough
Breakthrough
@MusicFanatical1
Would be the best train station announcement ever: "We are sorry to announce the 9:30 to Waterloo service is delayed due to Queen filming a music video on the train in front."
@104thDIVTimberwolf
Pretty sure this was filmed in NE Pennsylvania. That locomotive definitely came out of the PRR shops outside of Pittsburgh. The Belpair firebox is a dead giveaway there. There is a rail museum up near Scranton that uses an identical engine and the clean exhaust is because they use anthracite hard coal.
Perfect for this video.
@adellenorth449
104thDIVTimberwolf nope it was in England, watch the making of the video
@adellenorth449
Near Peterborough to be precise
@tubs1725
Pretty easy to tell that it's a british steam locomotive.
@t.b.g.504
@@adellenorth449 Which also doubled for the East Berlin train chase sequence in the James Bond film Octopussy.
@francescodonofrio506
I'm in love with my train
@emilymiller5552
This comment deserves more likes
@therailtourer
👏🏻
@averyparker5053
Who isn't