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)
Love Is a Hero
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ah, ah-ha, ah-ha, yeah-yeah-yeah
Oh-oh, oh-oh (la-la, la-la, oh)
Oh-oh, oh-oh (la-la, la-la, oh)
Sittin' here thinkin' back like, "Damn, ain't life crazy"
I remember when I used to stress on the daily
You really thought that without you I wouldn't make it
I should've known you wasn't no man, you put your hands on me
Shamin' my body make you feel more of a man don't it?
You used to tell me that no other man would ever love me
Treated me ugly, called me ugly
But now I realize that love is blind
Now I realize that love takes time
Never in a million years I thought that I would see the signs
But love is blind, and it'll take over your mind
What you think is love, is truly not, you need to elevate and find
Love is blind, it really took over my mind
What I thought was love, was truly not, I had to elevate and find
I would be lyin' if I said that I never cried about you (about you)
I would pretend but I really don't know how to (how to)
And I really thought I couldn't live without you
But look at me now, I done gained all my strength back
Got in the gym, now I'm gainin' all my weight back
Dryin' my tears with money, I got my waist snatched
Lovin' on myself a lil' more now
Deserve everythin' and some more now
It took me a while but now
I realize that love is blind
Now I realize that love takes time
Never in a million years I thought that I would see the signs
But love is blind, and it'll take over your mind
What you think is love, is truly not, you need to elevate and find
Love is blind, it really took over my mind (oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)
What I thought was love, was truly not, I had to elevate and find
Always thought I could trust myself
But how do you expect love from a nigga who don't love himself?
Wasn't focused on elevatin' you
Treated you so badly, you always felt like I hated you
This was more than occasional
So fucked up, I know love is blind, these bitches got my vision fucked up
Creepin' from behind, you love the way I got you fucked up
You know you're still mine, can't let another nigga luck up
But why are you so stuck up?
Don't you give my trust up
Playin' with my name in front of these lames gon' get you touched up
Walkin' in the rain, brushin' off pain and I'm like, "Fuck love"
'Cause I'm just tryna see the way our love went blind
It be too hard for me to hold your heart the way I keep on breakin' it
It be too hard for me to focus on that ass the way you shakin' it
I'm just tryna gather all your flaws and run away with it
And let you know I love you without sayin' it (sayin' it)
Love (love)
Love ain't supposed to hurt (oh-oh)
True love knows your worth (his worth)
You gotta know that you deserve
Love (love)
Love ain't supposed to hurt
True love knows your worth
You gotta know, you gotta know
Love is blind, and it'll take over your mind
What you think is love, is truly not, you need to elevate and find
Love is blind, it really took over my mind
What I thought was love, was truly not, I had to elevate and find
Love is blind
In Queen's song Love Is a Hero, the lyrics express the idea that love is universal and can be found in every aspect of life. The song highlights the humor and irony that comes with falling in love, as the lyrics mention the sudden heartbreak that love can cause and how it can make people feel wild and free. The repetition of “funny how love is” throughout the song emphasizes the idea that love is elusive and indefinable.
The lyrics also suggest that love is the antidote to lies, as the truth will always come out in the end. The song further asserts that love is not constrained by time or space, as it can be found anywhere and anytime. The lyrics make a lighthearted reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, suggesting that even the first couple to experience love had their share of troubles with it.
The chorus of the song emphasizes that love is found in “the shape of things”, suggesting that love is not just a feeling, but can be seen in the world around us. In the end, the song offers a playful message that if you have to make love, do it everywhere.
Line by Line Meaning
Funny how love is everywhere just look and see
It is ironic how love is easily found when you least expect it, just take a closer look.
Funny how love is anywhere you're bound to be
Love can be found in any place or situation, it is universal.
Funny how love is every song in every key
Love is a common theme in music and can be heard in any genre, in different variations.
Funny how love is coming home in time for tea
Love is the feeling you get when you come home to someone or something comforting, just in time for a relaxing moment with them.
Funny how love is the end of the lies
Love is the truth that exposes all the lies and deceit, putting an end to it.
When the truth begins tomorrow comes
Once the truth is revealed, tomorrow brings hope for a future without deceit or falsehood.
Tomorrow brings tomorrow brings love
The future holds love and brings it closer, day after day.
In the shape of things
Love takes on different forms depending on the situation or circumstances.
Funny how love can break your heart so suddenly
It is ironic how love can give us so much happiness, but also cause so much pain.
Funny how love came tumbling down with Adam and Eve
Love took a turn for the worse with the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, teaching us that love can also lead to bad outcomes.
Funny how love is running wild feeling free
Love can be felt as a wild and free emotion, making us feel alive and passionate.
From the earth below to the heavens above
Love transcends all boundaries, from the lowest point on earth to the highest point in the sky.
That's how far and funny is love
Love can be humorous and unpredictable, taking us on a journey that can be both difficult and rewarding.
If you gotta make love do it everywhere
Spread love wherever you go, show your affection to everyone around you.
That's what love is that's what love is
All these paradoxical aspects of love are what make it unique and beautiful, bringing people together and making life more meaningful.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Corey Dennard, Eve Jeffers, Jaucquez Lowe, Justin Irvin Rivera, Kasseem Dean, Michael Woods, Queen Naija Bulls, Shari Watson, Warren "Oak" Felder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@megangagliardi9005
Nobody can compete with a voice like that!😇
@chekotewashakey225
I can '' But no one is King Freddie
@rosariotipanjacho8932
Una joyita escondida escucharle a Freddie en solitario es que es sublime 💋❤️
@bridgettherose609
The absolute best!! I could listen to him sing all year! 😍
@garybassman08
por Dios! qué interpretación!!! está entre las mejores grabaciones de freddie. gracias, freddiem85, por subir esto! saludos
@pamelatriffon4408
He's simply the best! The way he holds that last note for so long. It's beautiful!
@MariliaCabralpmcl
Gênio!!!
@janiquevaillot8554
Miss you so much darling. Your amazing voice and the way you was able to play piano and simple the great and kind man you was. You're still alive in our hearts and in our minds. You are a Legend and legends never die !
@erekesha
Впервые слышу этот шедевр.👍
@christinepoilbois6759
Charisma, this word was created for our Freddie, a real showman, the most beautiful voice in the world, the best!! there is no need to say, a true Legend, thank you for existing my love Freddie 🙏🙏🙏