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)
Is This The World We Created...?
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need
Is this the world we created?
What did we do it for
Is this the world we invaded
So it seems in the end
Is this what we're all living for today
The world that we created
You know that everyday a helpless child is born
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Waiting for life to go by
Wooh, is this the world we created?
We made it all our own
Is this the world we devastated, right to the bone
If there's a God in the sky looking down
What can he think of what we've done
To the world that he created
The song "Is This The World We Created" by Queen explores the reality of a world where suffering, loneliness, and hunger are prevalent. The lyrics express a powerful message of bewilderment and disappointment at the state of the world. It invites listeners to ponder on the sad state of our world, which is filled with poverty, hunger, and sorrow. The opening lines of the song paint a vivid picture of hunger and poverty, and the chorus questions whether this world we live in is what we set out to create.
The second verse describes the stark contrast between the lives of the rich and poor. While some are born into poverty and despair, others live lives of luxury and comfort. The word 'devastated' aptly describes how the world has been destroyed by its inhabitants' greed and power-hungry nature. The song's final lines ask what God must be thinking of our collective actions and the impact we've had on the world he created.
Overall, the song is a call to action for people to change their ways and take responsibility for the world we live in. It powerfully conveys a message of empathy, urging people to consider the suffering of others and take positive steps to improve the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Just look at all those hungry mouths we have to feed
There is a large population of people who are in need of food and basic necessities.
Take a look at all the suffering we breed
Our actions results in causing people to suffer.
So many lonely faces scattered all around
There are many people who are alone and isolated in society.
Searching for what they need
These lonely people are in search of basic necessities or a sense of belonging.
Is this the world we created?
The song questions the state of the world and the problems it faces.
What did we do it for
The song questions the motives behind our actions and the consequences of them.
Is this the world we invaded against the law?
The song suggests that our actions and choices have gone against what is considered ethical or moral.
So it seems in the end
This line implies that the current state of the world is indicative of the consequences of our actions.
Is this what we're all living for today
The song is questioning the direction of society and its values.
The world that we created
The song refers to the state of the world being a direct result of our actions and choices.
You know that everyday a helpless child is born
The song highlights the constant cycle of vulnerable individuals being born into a world that faces numerous challenges.
Who needs some loving care inside a happy home
The song highlights the importance of basic caregiving and belonging in ensuring a proper upbringing.
Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne
Not everyone is affected equally by the problems faced by the world. Some individuals are privileged and this creates further inequality.
Waiting for life to go by
The line implies the sense of apathy and inactive attitude held by some privileged individuals in society.
We made it all our own
The song suggests that the state of the world is a direct result of our actions and decisions.
Is this the world we devastated, right to the bone
The song suggests that our actions have caused irreparable damage to the world and to its most vulnerable members.
If there's a God in the sky looking down
The song references religion and the notion that there is a higher power or entity overseeing the world.
What can he think of what we've done
The song questions how the higher power would view and judge our actions and the state of the world as a result of them.
To the world that he created
The song highlights that the world is believed to be created by a higher power and that responsibility rests on us to care for it and treat it with respect.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian May, Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Just Laura
I love how he feels every word of this song. Nobody sings with as much emotion as Freddie.
la noche y el dia
So much beauty in his voice, e v e r y word expressing an emotion, e v e r y word emoting a sentiment within us.
Lori Reece
Freddie obviously truly FELT this song when he sang it! Everything about this is beautiful, yet sad at the same time.
thehitman2001uk
Is this the world we created? Yes, and its a lot worse without freddie's music and voice
Freddies Killerqueen
So true 💖💖💖💖👑👑👑👑
Prank
Невероятно красивый голос, можно слушать просто голос и наслаждаться
Tini 42
I am actually in Rio. my hotel is one street away, were freddie lived in 1985. every time when i pass the hotel, i look up up to the balcon where freddie gave his legendary interview. And this makes me happy. love you forever freddie❤️❤️❤️
Елена Бакулина
Божественно, обожаю Фредди
Владимир Гараничев
Феномен
TamaraTM
В этой песне - душа Фредди - любящая, переживающая,неравнодушная,человечная!!!
Любил жизнь
Любил музыку
Любил людей
❤️❤️❤️👑🎤