Queen is an English rock band originally consisting of four members: vocali… Read Full Bio ↴Queen is an English rock band originally consisting of four members: vocalist and pianist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bass guitarist John Deacon, and drummer Roger Taylor.
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)
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)
I Can
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I am just an organism
Stuck inside the mechanism
I can't trust my intuition, it's been lost to pessimism
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right
I'm not fine (no)
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right (ha)
I get up, I go out
See my friends, blend in with the crowd
Smile and wave, swirling 'round
Like I've got it all figured out
But
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
Nobody knows my secret
My life's in total disarray
I can't seem to find the pieces
To put it back together again
I get up, I go out
See my friends, blend in with the crowd
Smile and wave, swirling 'round
Like I've got it all figured out
But
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right (ha)
I'm not fine (no)
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right (ha)
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I am just an organism
Stuck inside the mechanism
I can't trust my intuition, it's been lost to pessimism
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right
I'm not fine (no)
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right (ha)
I get up, I go out
See my friends, blend in with the crowd
Smile and wave, swirling 'round
Like I've got it all figured out
But
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
Nobody knows my secret
My life's in total disarray
I can't seem to find the pieces
To put it back together again
I get up, I go out
See my friends, blend in with the crowd
Smile and wave, swirling 'round
Like I've got it all figured out
But
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right (ha)
I'm not fine (no)
I'm not fine
Lost my damn mind
Gone all wrong, right (ha)
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Coming down under the pressure
Maybe I'm just not that clever
I can't get my shit together
I take pills, I don't get better
Lost my mind, but, uh, whatever
I can't get my shit together
The lyrics to Queen's song "I Can" describe a love that is so fulfilling that it becomes all-consuming. The singer reveals that they never had a love of their own before, which might explain why whenever they are alone with their current partner, they can hear music. The music represents the intense emotions that they are experiencing with this person - a symphony of love and passion.
The second verse clarifies even further the transformative power of this relationship. The sounds of the city disappear, and all they are aware of is their own intense connection. The singer cannot explain the way they feel, but the one thing they know is that this love keeps them satisfied. When they close their eyes, they are transported to another dimension, one where the only thing that matters is their partner's touch and the music that surrounds them.
The refrain "I can hear music" is repeated throughout the song, creating a sense of euphoria and celebration of this all-consuming love. The lyrics paint a picture of a love that is both transformative and deeply satisfying.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the way I always dreamed it would be
I had always imagined love to be like this
The way that it is, o-oh, when you are holding me
When you hold me, love feels just like I imagined it - perfect
I never had a love of my own
I never knew true love before you came into my life
Maybe that's why when we're all alone
Perhaps that's why I cherish every moment we spend alone
I can hear music
When I'm with you, it feels like a beautiful melody is playing
Sounds of the city baby seem to disappear
Even though we're in the middle of a bustling city, all I can focus on is you and our love
Oh well I can hear music
Our love makes everything else fade away and all I can hear is the music we create together
Sweet sweet music
Our love is a beautiful symphony that I never want to end
Whenever you touch me baby
Your touch ignites a fire within me that cannot be quenched
Whenever you're near
Just being close to you fills me with happiness and contentment
Loving you it keeps me satisfied
My love for you brings me endless joy and fulfillment
And I can't explain, oh no, the way I'm feeling inside
My love for you is beyond words and description - it's a feeling deep within my soul
You look at me we kiss and then
When we share a kiss, it's like time stops and nothing else matters in the world
I close my eyes and here it comes again
When I close my eyes, I can still feel the love we share and the music it creates
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Arabella Latham, Edward Carlile, Max Wolfgang
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@vlastimir77
We can't live without Freddie Mercury!
@filippofrassineti4521
Freddie's voice is immortal
@hanasimackova8983
Freddie is immortal....
@raffeainkhalil9257
At this stage of aids, even breathing becomes hard af. Freddie was so strong. Rest in peace darling.
@rodger3352
Rip legend 💓🥺
@professerhairy8880
He couldn't walk, breath, barley open his jaw without it hurting and still Sang the show must go on in one take
@theofficialcman
His vocals we're really strong for someone literally dying of aids. Freddie was and still is the definition of resilient and power
@dolanduck4380
The show must go on!
@princelunairemetamorph6980
He was driven to write, perform and sing even up til the day he died, he was in such pain but as brian says he would beg to go to the studio and just keep putting out tracks it in the end was the only thing keeping him alive til he could n't sing anymore then when he lost that he died like 2 days later.
@jackdaw99
Agree! I believe that with the Innuendo album we’re listening to a man doing everything he can to keep himself together (and alive). He lived for this and needed it to handle everything.