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)
Good Old-Fashion Lover Boy
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sing you songs full of sad things
We can do the tango, just for two
I can serenade and gently play
On your heart strings
Be your Valentino just for you
What to do tonight?
Hey boy, set my alarm, turn on my charm
That's because I'm a good old fashioned lover boy
Ooh, let me feel you heartbeat (grow faster faster)
Ooh, can you feel my love heat?
Come on and sit on my hot seat of love
And tell me how do you feel right after all
I'd like for you and I to go romancing
Say the word, your wish is my command
Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy
What to do tonight?
Hey boy, write my letter, feel much better
And use my fancy patter on the telephone
When I'm not with you
Think of you always (I miss those long hot summer nights), I miss you
When I'm not with you
Think of me always, I love you, love you
Hey boy, where did you get it from?
Hey boy, where did you go?
I learned my passion
In the good old fashioned school of lover boys
Dining at the Ritz we'll meet at nine
(One, two, three, four, five) precisely (six, seven, eight, nine o' clock)
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine
Driving back in style in my saloon will do quite nicely
Just take me back to yours, that will be fine
(Come on, and get it)
Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy
What're you doing tonight?
Hey boy, everything's all right, just hold on tight
That's because I'm a good old fashioned lover boy
In "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy," Queen's Freddie Mercury sets the mood for a romantic evening with his lover. The opening line, "I can dim the lights and sing you songs full of sad things," sets the scene. Mercury is offering to entertain and woo his lover by dimming the lights, singing songs filled with heartbreak, and even dancing the tango with them. He then compares himself to Valentino, the romantic Italian film star known for his passionate performances.
The chorus is catchy and playful, with Mercury asking his lover what they want to do tonight. He tells his lover "hey boy, set my alarm, turn on my charm," indicating his eagerness to please them. Mercury suggests writing a letter or employing "fancy patter on the telephone" to keep the romance going when they are not together.
The song's bridge is one of the most memorable parts, with Mercury asking his lover to sit on his "hot seat of love," clearly implying they are about to get intimate. He asks to go romancing and says, "Your wish is my command."
"Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" is a classic Queen track that exemplifies the band's ability to blend humor, playfulness, and romanticism into a catchy tune.
Line by Line Meaning
I can dim the lights
I am able to lower the brightness of the lights
And sing you songs full of sad things
I can perform music that contains melancholic themes
We can do the tango, just for two
We have the option to dance the tango together, without anyone else present
I can serenade and gently play
I have the ability to play and sing romantic music
On your heart strings
I'll put forth my best effort to make you feel emotional
Be your Valentino just for you
I'll be your perfect lover, devoted and romantic
Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy
My love, my beloved partner
What to do tonight?
What shall we do tonight?
Hey boy, set my alarm, turn on my charm
I am instructing my lover to set my alarm clock and bring out my best attributes
That's because I'm a good old fashioned lover boy
I'm a romantic partner of high caliber, evoking traditional values of love
Ooh, let me feel you heartbeat (grow faster faster)
Let me listen to your heart beat getting more excited
Ooh, can you feel my love heat?
Are you able to experience my love's intensity?
Come on and sit on my hot seat of love
Experience the intensity of my love.
And tell me how do you feel right after all
Why don't you let me know your emotions at this moment?
I'd like for you and I to go romancing
It would be my pleasure if we could go out for a romantic evening.
Say the word, your wish is my command
If you indicate your desire, I shall fulfill it.
Hey boy, write my letter, feel much better
My love, write me a letter. It would make me feel better.
And use my fancy patter on the telephone
Talk to me on the telephone in a charming way.
When I'm not with you
Whenever I'm not beside you
Think of you always (I miss those long hot summer nights), I miss you
I always ponder upon you (recalling sensual summer nights); I long for you in your absence.
When I'm not with you
Whenever I'm not beside you
Think of me always, I love you, love you
Always reflect on me; I love you immensely.
Hey boy, where did you get it from?
My love, where did you learn your romantic ways?
Hey boy, where did you go?
Where did you acquire these romantic traits?
I learned my passion
I got my romanticism and passion
In the good old fashioned school of lover boys
from the classical lessons in the art of being a lover.
Dining at the Ritz we'll meet at nine
We're going to have dinner at the Ritz and meet at nine
(One, two, three, four, five) precisely (six, seven, eight, nine o' clock)
At five minutes to nine, exactly nine o'clock
I will pay the bill, you taste the wine
I'll take care of the bill; you sample the wine.
Driving back in style in my saloon will do quite nicely
Driving away from the Ritz in my fancy car will be satisfactory
Just take me back to yours, that will be fine
Let's go back to your place; that would suffice.
(Come on, and get it)
(Let's get started)
Ooh, love, ooh, lover boy
My love, my beloved partner
What're you doing tonight?
What are you planning to do tonight?
Hey boy, everything's all right, just hold on tight
My love, everything's perfectly fine; hold onto me tightly.
That's because I'm a good old fashioned lover boy
Reason being, I'm a fantastic, traditional lover.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FREDDIE MERCURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind