Mercury commented that the influences he received for the track included early Beatles records, Beach Boys and (lyrically) Noel Coward. He wrote the lyrics first before adding the complex musical arrangements. The recording features elaborate 4-part vocal harmonies (particularly in the choruses, and also providing backing parts in the verses), and also an elaborate multi-tracked guitar solo by Brian May.
Mercury was quite fond of the song, and spoke of it during a 1974 interview with Melody Maker.
"Well, 'Killer Queen' I wrote in one night. I'm not being conceited or anything, but it just fell into place. Certain songs do. Now, March Of The Black Queen, that took ages. I had to give it everything, to be self indulgent or whatever. But with 'Killer Queen', I scribbled down the words in the dark one Saturday night and the next morning I got them all together and I worked all day Sunday and that was it. I'd got it. It gelled. It was great. Certain things just come together, but other things you have to work for. The whole band is very particular. We don't go in for half measures and I'm very hard with myself. There're no compromises. If I thought a song wasn't quite right, I'd discard it. I'm very intricate and delicate. You can see that in my paintings. I love painters like Richard Dadd, Mucha and Dali, and I love Arthur Rackham."
He spoke further of the song in a 1976 interview with Record Mirror.
"We're very proud of that number. It's done me a lot of proud. It's just one of the tracks I wrote for the album to be honest. It wasn't written as a single. I just wrote a batch of songs for the Sheer Heart Attack album and when I finished writing it, and when we recorded it, we found it was a very, very strong single. It really was. At that time it was very, very unlike Queen. They all said: 'Awwwwwww.' It was another risk that we took you know. Every risk we've taken so far has paid off.""
The song was included in the List of songs deemed inappropriate by Clear Channel following the September 11, 2001 attacks, although its inclusion has been subject to criticism.
Killer Queen
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In her pretty cabinet
"Let them eat cake," she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built-in remedy
For Khrushchev and Kennedy
At anytime an invitation
You can't decline
Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
To avoid complications
She never kept the same address
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China
Went down to Geisha Minor
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined
Perfume came naturally from Paris (naturally)
For cars she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Drop of a hat she's as willing as
Playful as a pussy cat
Then momentarily out of action
Temporarily out of gas
To absolutely drive you wild, wild
She's out to get you
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
You wanna try
The first verse of Queen's song Killer Queen introduces us to the character that the whole song is about, a seductive and luxurious woman who keeps her expensive Moët et Chandon champagne in her 'pretty cabinet'. The line "Let them eat cake," is a reference to the infamous quote attributed to French Queen Marie Antoinette, who allegedly said that when she was told that the peasants had no bread to eat. The lyrics go on to suggest that this woman is a remedy for politicians Khrushchev and Kennedy, and she is always offering an invitation that you can't decline. The theme here is of a powerful, confident woman who knows her worth and is not afraid to flaunt it.
The chorus of the song is where the 'killer' aspect comes in, as she is compared to gunpowder, gelatine, and a dynamite with a laser beam that is guaranteed to 'blow your mind anytime.' The second verse gives us more information about her. She is well-versed in etiquette and has an insatiable appetite. She moves around frequently to avoid complications and speaks like a baroness. We learn that she is well-traveled and sophisticated, having been to Geisha Minor and met a man from China. The final lines of the verse suggest that she is both playful and fierce.
Line by Line Meaning
She keeps her Moët et Chandon
She enjoys luxurious champagne
In her pretty cabinet
She collects fine things that are pleasing to the eye
"Let them eat cake," she says
She has a flippant attitude towards the struggles of others
Just like Marie Antoinette
She is compared to a historical figure who also displayed a disregard for others
A built-in remedy
She has a natural ability to cause a positive reaction in people
For Khrushchev and Kennedy
She can charm and influence people from different political ideologies
At anytime an invitation
She is always available and can be difficult to say no to
You can't decline
She is irresistible and hard to turn down
Caviar and cigarettes
She indulges in fancy, extravagant vices
Well versed in etiquette
She is knowledgeable about proper behavior and manners
Extraordinarily nice
She projects an outward charm and beauty
She's a Killer Queen
She is a captivating and powerful woman
Gunpowder, gelatine
She is dangerous and explosive
Dynamite with a laser beam
She is deadly and precise
Guaranteed to blow your mind
She will impress and astound you
Anytime
She can do this at any moment
Recommended at the price
She is worth the cost
Insatiable an appetite
She has an unquenchable desire for pleasure
Wanna try?
Do you want to experience the same pleasures as her?
To avoid complications
She takes steps to prevent problems from arising
She never kept the same address
She is always on the move and elusive
In conversation
When speaking
She spoke just like a baroness
She has a refined and sophisticated manner of speaking
Met a man from China
She has travelled all over the world and has met people from all cultured
Went down to Geisha Minor
She has visited interesting and exotic locales
Then again incidentally
This is just one of many stories she could tell
If you're that way inclined
If you are interested in hearing more about her adventures
Perfume came naturally from Paris (naturally)
She emanates a natural and captivating fragrance
For cars she couldn't care less
She is uninterested in mundane material possessions
Fastidious and precise
She is exacting in her standards and behavior
Drop of a hat she's as willing as
She is always ready and willing to take action
Playful as a pussy cat
She has a playful and mischievous side
Then momentarily out of action
There may be short moments when she is unavailable
Temporarily out of gas
At times she will need to take a break or recharge
To absolutely drive you wild, wild
She has the ability to excite and captivate you
She's out to get you
She is aiming to capture your attention and desires
You wanna try
She is tempting you to experience her captivating and exciting lifestyle
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Rayzzen11ttv
[Verse 1]
She keeps Moët et Chandon
In her pretty cabinet
"Let them eat cake," she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built-in remedy
For Khrushchev and Kennedy (Ooh, ooh)
At anytime an invitation
You can't decline (Ooh, ooh)
[Pre-Chorus]
Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
[Chorus]
She's a killer queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
(Pa-pa-pa-pa) Anytime
Ooh
Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
[Verse 2]
To avoid complications
She never kept the same address
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China
Went down to Geisha Minah (Ooh, ooh)
(Killer, killer, she's a killer queen)
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined
[Pre-Chorus]
Perfume came naturally from Paris (Naturally)
For cars, she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise
[Chorus]
She's a killer queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
(Pa-pa-pa-pa)
Anytime
[Guitar Solo]
[Bridge]
Drop of a hat she's as willing as
Playful as a pussycat (Ooh)
Then momentarily out of action (Ooh)
Temporarily out of gas (Ta-taaa)
To absolutely drive you wild, wild
She's out to get you
[Chorus]
She's a killer queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam (Pa-pa-pa-ra)
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Ooh
Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
You wanna try
@SolidAsianGold
The year was 1974.
The month was October.
It took three albums in America.
But they had finally arrived.
Three was the charm.
The third album produced this infinitely iconic gem.
Much of the music of '74-'76 was goosebump provoking, it was that good.
It was their first, but most certainly not their last.
We would hear this throughout all of 1975 and 1976 on the pocket radios.
WPGC, WASH, and WMOD - Washington D.C.
And after this hit, Queen would become known forever.
Written and sung by one Freddie Mercury.
There was no shame in Freddie.
@cookdbr5201
0% AutoTune
100% Talent
200% Hair
@karoll287
300% Triangle
@yumwel8467
400% jojo ref
@novadante1975
500% exploding cat
@Auugghughg
@@yumwel8467 😩 stoppppppp
@vernondouglas4425
1000% top comment on bohemian rhapsody
@yeetthefeet1628
This song shines like an unbreakable diamond in an ocean of stones. It’s truly a golden experience.
@fatherfvcker9
what a bizzare song to listen on an adventure🙏🏿
@user-bi2rr6vk7y
A timeless song that changes the world, truly they are stars that deserves platinum records
@YoshikaggeKira
@@user-bi2rr6vk7ybut also golden, diamond, and stone