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)
Driven by You
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ow
Oh yeah
We touch and you're afraid of me
And we burn and now I'm at your feet
High speed, but you know you're in safe hands
Oh, in the dark we make a brighter light
We trust, and together we tame the land, yeah
Oh you'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Oh, come on babe
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
And you know we still got time
Whoo, hold on tight to the driving wheel
This ride is really out of line
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
'Cause you're saying all the things I want to say to you
(You say) everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, oh yeah, everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do
Everything we do is driven by you
Inner children lost their way
Now they know the price you pay
I'm holding on to life with you
'Cause life without you just won't do
Driven by you
Ah, you know we're never gonna know who's dreaming
But we're working night and day to make the dream come true yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Yeah everything we do, everything we do, yeah everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Is driven by, driven by, driven by you
Yeah
Oh everything I do, I do for you
The song "Driven by You" by Queen is an upbeat and optimistic love song that speaks of the joys of being in a relationship where both partners support one another. The song seems to be about a couple who have an intense and passionate love for one another, but who also have a sense of adventure and excitement about the world around them. The lyrics suggest that the couple is not afraid to take risks, but that they trust each other completely and are able to navigate through any challenges that come their way.
The opening verse of the song describes the intense passion between the two lovers. The couple "touch" and "burn" with desire, but despite their intensity, they feel safe in each other's hands. The next verse suggests that the couple is on a journey together, and that they are both motivated by a desire to achieve their dreams. Throughout the song, the lyrics are full of optimism and confidence, and they suggest that even when things get tough, the couple will be there to support each other.
The chorus of the song is the most memorable part, as it repeats the phrase "Everything I do is driven by you" over and over again. It captures the sense of mutual love and support that the two lovers share, and it suggests that their relationship is the foundation for everything they do in life.
Overall, "Driven by You" is a feel-good love song that celebrates the power of love and partnership. It speaks to the idea that when two people are in love and committed to each other, they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Line by Line Meaning
Woh everything I do I do for you
Every action I take is motivated by my love for you.
We touch and you're afraid of me
When we are intimate, you are scared of how strongly you feel for me.
And we burn and now I'm at your feet
Our physical connection is intense and passionate, which has left you feeling vulnerable and at my mercy.
High speed, but you know you're in safe hands
Our relationship moves quickly, but you trust me to keep you safe.
Oh, in the dark we make a brighter light
Together, we are able to create something beautiful and powerful out of even the darkest situations.
From one spark to the horizon wide
What started as a small and simple connection between us has grown to encompass all of our hopes and dreams for the future.
We trust, and together we tame the land, yeah
Our mutual trust in each other allows us to conquer any obstacles and build a life together.
Oh you'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
Our love is so incredible that it might feel like a dream or something too good to be true.
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Despite any obstacles, we are dedicated to making our love and future together a reality.
Everything I do is driven by you
All of my actions, motivations, and decisions are made with our love and future in mind.
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The path we are taking is not easy, but it is worth it.
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
Our future together holds great promise and potential.
And you know we still got time
We have plenty of opportunity to continue building our life and relationship together.
Whoo, hold on tight to the driving wheel
We need to stay committed and focused in order to navigate our journey successfully.
This ride is really out of line
Our journey together is not always easy or straightforward, but we are determined to persevere.
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
We are willing to face any challenges that come our way, because we know that our relationship is worth the effort.
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
I am deeply in love with you, but sometimes the intensity of my feelings overwhelms me.
'Cause you're saying all the things I want to say to you
You have a way of expressing yourself that perfectly captures my own feelings and desires.
(You say) everything I do is driven by you
You recognize that all of my actions and motivations are motivated by our love for each other.
Inner children lost their way
We have both gone through struggles and hardships in our past that have left us feeling broken or lost.
Now they know the price you pay
However, we have both come to understand that the greatest rewards in life can come with great risk or sacrifice.
I'm holding on to life with you
I am fully committed to building a life with you, no matter what challenges we may face.
'Cause life without you just won't do
Without you by my side, my life would feel incomplete and empty.
Driven by you
Our love and dedication to each other is the driving force behind everything we do.
Ah, you know we're never gonna know who's dreaming
We can never be sure what the future holds, but we will continue to work towards our shared goals and dreams.
But we're working night and day to make the dream come true yeah
We are dedicated to turning our shared vision for the future into a reality, no matter how much time or effort it takes.
Everything I do is driven by you
Our love and future together is the primary motivation behind all of my actions and decisions.
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Every step we take, every choice we make, is made with our love and future in mind.
Yeah everything we do, everything we do, yeah everything we do
We are completely committed to each other and building a life together.
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Our love and dedication towards each other is the reason behind all of our actions and decisions.
Is driven by, driven by, driven by you
Our love and dedication towards each other is the driving force behind everything we do.
Yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and affirmation towards our love and future together.
Oh everything I do, I do for you
All of my actions and decisions are motivated by my love and dedication towards you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vivi
Driven by you
Brian May
Oh, everything I do I do for you
Oh yeah
We touch and you're afraid of me and
We burn and now I'm at your feet
High speed, but you know you're in safe hands
In the dark we make a brighter light
From one spark to the horizon wide
We trust and together we tame the land, yeah
You'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Oh, come on babe
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
And you know we've still got time
Hold on tight to the driving wheel
This ride is really out of line
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
Because you're saying all the things I want to say to you
You say
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do is driven by you
Inner children lost their way
Now they know the price you pay
I'm holding on to life with you
Because life without you just won't do
Driven by you
You know I'm never going to know who's dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do
Everything we do is driven by
Driven by
Driven by you
Oh, everything I do I do for you
WillRock07
Listening to this song makes you realise just how important Brian is to the sound of queen as a whole. Queen isn't just the Freddie Mercury show.
Juan5B
back in 92 I used to think the same, but also, you know what's missing there?? his pals voices and Ideas... if you listen to the headlong demo (from innuendo) you can clearly see how important were the 4 ladies together. with that basis how this would have sound with John bass line, Freddie's voice and killer roger drum fills.
Juan5B
also let me add that, in some Brian songs Freddie's voice is to powerful, saying this, I prefer the too much love will kill you in Brian's solo album than the later Queen cut
William Taylor
Freddie is the best lead singer/frontman of all time.
Brian is one of the best guitarists of all time and might be a better songwriter than Freddie
Brian clearly wrote this with Freddie in mind as a singer.
He managed to make this song his alone.
Marilyn De Vigne
I agree with you
Al Kinghorn
The guy's got range! 👍
Ethan Hobbs
This song actually gets better every time you listen to it :)
Carole Barker
It actually does!
Richly Blessed in Christ
I agree.
Also, check out the epilogue version of this song "Driven by you Two".
It's one of the Greatest songs to blast loud whilst speeding on the highway!
UteBigSmile Reichling-Wack
Brian is Queen, the sound, he's not just a guitarist, piano, the guy is a musical machine, Freddie's obviously the man but without Brian there wouldn't have been Queen.🎸🎤📀