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)
Staying Power
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha
Keep doing that
Let me show it to you
Yeah
Ha
Ahh
Wow
See what I got
I gotta hell of a lot
Tell me what you feel
Is it real
Is it real
You know I got what it takes
And I can take a lot
Did you hear the last call baby
Me got staying power, ha
You and me we've got, huh, staying power, yeah
You got it, staying power, ha
I wonder when we're gonna make it
I wonder when we're gonna shake it
Rock me baby rock me
Come on you can shock me
Let's catch on to the groove
Make it move, make it move, yeah
You know how to work that thing
We'll work it, work it, work it
I can play ball baby
You and me got staying power, ha
You and me we've got, ha, staying power
(Ad-libbed vocals)
Ha
Oooh, watch'a
Give it to me
I wonder when we're gonna make it
I wonder when we're gonna shake it
I got fire down below
I'm just a regular dynamo
Want some smooth company
Don't lose control just hang on out with me
Got to get to know each other
We got plenty of time
Did you hear the last call baby
Me got staying power
Ha, you and me we've got, huh, staying power
Hey, ha, wow
Power, power, power, power
Power, power, power, staying power
Wow
I wonder when we're gonna stick it
I wonder when we're gonna trick it
Blow baby blow
Let's get down and go, go
Get yourself in the mood
Got to give a little bit of attitude
Baby don't you crash
Let's just trash, trash, trash
Did you hear the last call baby
Me got staying power, yeah
Ha, you and me we got staying power
Staying power
Yeah, yeah, gotcha
Freddie: This next song from album called "A Day at the Races",
this is song of my favourites,
it's called "Somebody To Love".
The lyrics to the song Staying Power by Queen are a testament to the band's unwavering conviction and confidence in their staying power in the music industry. The song opens with the singer encouraging the audience to keep doing what they are doing as he showcases his talent. He asks the listener to tell him how they feel and whether what they are feeling is really real or not. He then goes on to assert that he has what it takes to succeed and can take on any challenge that comes his way.
Throughout the song, the singer wonders about when he and his partner will make it, and he urges them to rock him and to catch on to the groove to make it move. He acknowledges that the other person knows how to work that thing, and together they can make it work. They can play ball, and he reassures them that they have staying power.
The song ends with the singer talking about the fire down below and his eagerness to get to know the other person better. He assures them that they have plenty of time to take their relationship to the next level, and he reiterates that they have staying power.
Overall, the song's message is one of resilience, confidence, and determination. It is a testament to Queen's commitment to staying in the music industry and their belief in their ability to make it.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha
Expressing enjoyment or enthusiasm
Ha
Expressing enjoyment or enthusiasm
Keep doing that
Encouraging someone to continue a particular action or behavior
Let me show it to you
Expressing a desire to demonstrate something to someone
Yeah
Expressing agreement or affirmation
Ha
Expressing enjoyment or enthusiasm
Ahh
A sound of satisfaction or pleasure
Wow
Expressing amazement or admiration
See what I got
Asking someone to take notice of what you have
I gotta hell of a lot
Asserting possession of a large quantity or an impressive amount
Tell me what you feel
Inviting someone to share their emotions or thoughts
Is it real
Questioning the authenticity or sincerity of something
Is it real
Questioning the authenticity or sincerity of something
You know I got what it takes
Asserting confidence in one's abilities
And I can take a lot
Asserting the ability to withstand stress or pressure
Did you hear the last call baby
Asking someone if they heard the warning or last opportunity
Me got staying power, ha
Asserting that one has the capacity to endure challenges
You and me we've got, huh, staying power, yeah
Celebrating the collective ability to overcome obstacles
You got it, staying power, ha
Affirming that someone else possesses the ability to endure
I wonder when we're gonna make it
Expressing curiosity or uncertainty about achieving success
I wonder when we're gonna shake it
Expressing a desire to create excitement or enthusiasm
Rock me baby rock me
Inviting someone to provide comfort or support
Come on you can shock me
Encouraging someone to be bold or daring
Let's catch on to the groove
Proposing that both parties should adapt to the situation
Make it move, make it move, yeah
Encouraging action or progress
You know how to work that thing
Complimenting someone's skill or talent
We'll work it, work it, work it
Promising to put effort into achieving a goal
I can play ball baby
Asserting the ability to participate in an activity
You and me got staying power, ha
Reiterating that both parties possess the ability to endure
You and me we've got, ha, staying power
Celebrating the collective ability to overcome obstacles
(Ad-libbed vocals)
Non-lyrical sounds made to add emphasis or emotion
Oooh, watch'a
Expressing surprise or intrigue
Give it to me
Requesting action or stimulus
I got fire down below
Asserting a strong desire or passion
I'm just a regular dynamo
Stating a positive self-image or self-esteem
Want some smooth company
Expressing a desire for relaxed and enjoyable companionship
Don't lose control just hang on out with me
Encouraging someone to stay calm while in the presence of the singer
Got to get to know each other
Proposing that both parties should spend time together
We got plenty of time
Asserting that there is enough time to achieve something
Ha, you and me we've got, huh, staying power
Celebrating the collective ability to overcome obstacles
Hey, ha, wow
Expressing enthusiasm or excitement
Power, power, power, power
Celebrating the power or ability to achieve something
Power, power, power, staying power
Celebrating the collective ability to endure or persevere
Wow
Expressing amazement or admiration
I wonder when we're gonna stick it
Expressing a desire to achieve something with persistence
I wonder when we're gonna trick it
Expressing a desire to overcome a challenge through cleverness or skill
Blow baby blow
Encouraging someone to proceed with enthusiasm
Let's get down and go, go
Encouraging someone to proceed with energy and enthusiasm
Get yourself in the mood
Encouraging someone to adopt a certain mindset or attitude
Got to give a little bit of attitude
Suggesting that an assertive or confident demeanor is necessary to achieve something
Baby don't you crash
Urging someone to maintain focus and control
Let's just trash, trash, trash
Encouraging an uninhibited and carefree behavior
Me got staying power, yeah
Reiterating that the artist possesses the ability to endure
Ha, you and me we got staying power
Celebrating the collective ability to overcome obstacles
Staying power
Emphasizing the ability to endure or persevere
Yeah, yeah, gotcha
Expressing agreement or understanding
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lonely8198
Clean, great separation. You have good taste in music. Thanks.