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 Want to Break Free
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self-satisfied, I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free
I've fallen in love
And this time, I know it for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
It's strange but it's true, yeah
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh, how I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free
Oh, how I want to break free
But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without, living without
Living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone, hey
God knows, got to make it on my own
So baby can't you see
I've got to break free
I've got to break free
I want to break free, yeah
I want, I want, I want, I want to break free
"I Want to Break Free" is a classic and timeless song by Queen, which is all about the freedom to be oneself, and the struggle to break free from societal norms, expectations, and the repressive aspects of relationships. The lyrics address the singer’s rebellion against the restrictive nature of his relationship, as he wants to escape the lies and the self-satisfaction that he believes his partner represents. The singer has fallen in love for the first time and is finally breaking free to live a life free of limitations and full of love. He wants to be sure that he can stand on his own two feet and find happiness alone, but fears he will never find love again. While the song is primarily about romantic relationships, it has wider connections to the human condition, both in personal and social contexts.
The first verse is a bold statement of the singer’s intentto break free from the lies that he perceives his partner represents. He is self-assured in his “I don't need you” stance, and his strong-willedness is further emphasized by the repetitions of “I want to break free.” In the second verse, the singer reflects on his newfound love and the depth of his emotions. He has fallen in love for the first time, and he feels it is real, even though it may seem strange. The chorus reflects the singer’s feelings of his yearning for freedom to be his true self.
In the bridge, the singer acknowledges the inherent difficulties in breaking free from the relationship, even as he feels the need to do so. Life is going to continue, and he struggles with the reality of being alone, without his partner by his side. As the song comes to a close, the singer returns to his resolve, declaring in strong and repeated lines, that he wants to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to break free
The singer desires freedom from someone or something that has been limiting them.
I want to break free from your lies
The singer wants to be free from the falsehoods and fakeness of their current situation or relationship.
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
The person who is hindering the singer is confident in their status, but the singer has realized they do not require them.
God knows, God knows I want to break free
The singer pleads to a higher power to recognize their deep desire for personal liberation.
I've fallen in love for the first time
The singer has encountered genuine romantic feelings for the first time in their life.
And this time I know it's for real
The singer is assured that these feelings are true and not a fleeting infatuation.
It's strange but it's true, yeah
The singer acknowledges that the situation they are in is unusual but genuinely heartfelt.
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
The singer is deeply moved by the way someone loves them but recognizes their need for independence.
But I have to be sure when I walk out that door
The singer is uncertain about leaving behind what they know and are accustomed to but recognized the importance of being prepared.
Oh, how I want to be free, baby
The singer yearns to be free, and even though it may be challenging, they will do whatever it takes to achieve it.
But life still goes on
Despite the singer's desire for change, they recognize that life continues to move forward.
I can't get used to living without, living without living without you by my side
Without the other person, the singer is struggling to acclimate to life as they once knew it.
I don't want to live alone, hey
The singer does not want to live life without the other person. They want to directly tell them and make a change.
God knows, got to make it on my own
The singer knows that they cannot rely on anyone to make their dreams and desires come true but themselves.
So baby can't you see I've got to break free
The singer is urging the other person to recognize how important it is for the singer to break free.
I want to break free, yeah
The singer emphasizes their unyielding desire for liberation from the constriction of their past.
I want, I want, I want, I want to break free
The singer repeats their vow to pursue liberation and the fulfillment of their desires.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Deacon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gummying1590
I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied, I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
It's strange, but it's true, yeah
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh, how I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free
Oh, how I want to break free
But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without, living without
Living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone, hey
God knows, got to make it on my own
So, baby, can't you see?
I've got to break free
I've got to break free
I want to break free, yeah
I want, I want, I want, I want to break free
@cheri238
@@Brianmay.__
I love Queen, you are my favorite rock n roll band
RIP 🙏❤️🕊 Freddie Mercury!!! (Brian May, Roger May, & Roger Taylor)
David Bowie RIP 🙏 ❤️🕊
George Michael RIP 🙏 ❤️🕊
🎼🎹🎵🎶🎤🎸🎸🥁
Queen forevermore!!!
Is this really Brian May? If so,
💋 😘
@Queen
The official lyric video for 'I Want To Break Free'.
There will be a new official lyric video coming on the 1st of the month for the rest of this year. Please subscribe to the official Queen YouTube channel to be the first to see them!
@killerkotler
I would love to see a Stone Cold Crazy video
@Gabi-enby
Official lyric video for The March Of The Black Queen, White Queen or Was It All Worth It!
@_kamarade3629
Thanks for lyrics.
@knightguard1724
Dat Freddie wink tho
@MetroidFREAK21
what happened to the first of every month???
@Tauraaa
On the last day at my old job that I really hated, I played this song out loud. I felt like such a prisoner at that job, whenever Freddie sang "oh how i want to be free" i almost started crying because I was so thankful to be quitting. That song takes me back to that moment and im so greatful.
@ericmcgouyrk1910
❤
@mmirafuentess1990
I can relate to you.
Blessed your heart.
@redanapalm
Same , god knows i want to break free