The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the BPI in January 2000. The band gained greater success with their second album, The Man Who (1999), which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, totalling 134 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. In 2003, The Man Who was certified 9× platinum by the BPI, representing sales of over 2.68 million in the UK alone. Following this success, the band released their third effort, The Invisible Band (2001) album. The Invisible Band went on to match the success found with their previous album, where it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of four weeks at the top spot, fifteen weeks in the top ten, and a total of fifty-five weeks in the top 100 chart, as well as peaking at thirty-nine on the US Billboard 200 album chart, spending a duration of seven weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. A year following the release of The Invisible Band, the BPI awarded Travis with a 4× platinum certification for the album.
In recent years, the band's discography has included studio albums 12 Memories (2003), The Boy with No Name (2007), Ode to J. Smith (2008), Where You Stand (2013), Everything at Once (2016) and 10 Songs (2020). In 2004, the band released their first greatest hits album, Singles, which spent nineteen weeks in the top 100 of the UK albums chart. Travis have twice been awarded best band at the BRIT Awards and were awarded the NME Artist of the Year award at their 2000 ceremony, and in 2016 were honoured at the Scottish Music Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. The band are widely said by the media to have paved the way for other bands such as Keane and Coldplay to go on to achieve worldwide success throughout the 2000s, particularly with the success of The Man Who.
Craft Recordings celebrated the 20th anniversary of Travis' breakthrough year with two simultaneous releases: Live at Glastonbury '99, plus expanded editions of The Man Who – both of which were released on 21 June 2019.
Killer Queen
Travis 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, gelatin
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 Minah
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined
Perfume came naturally from Paris
For cars she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatin
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 all out to get you
She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatin
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime
Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
You wanna try.
Travis's "Killer Queen" is a tribute to a woman who is the ultimate embodiment of glamour, luxury, and sophistication. The opening lines of the song refer to the woman's taste for Moet et Chandon champagne, which is known for being one of the finest and most expensive champagnes in the world. Her "pretty cabinet" is likely a reference to her luxurious home, filled with expensive and extravagant decor. The line "let them eat cake" is an intentional nod to Marie Antoinette, who famously made the statement when told that the peasants had no bread to eat.
The woman represented in the song is not only rich and glamorous but also powerful and influential. She has the ability to invite anyone she wants and they cannot decline. This is an indication of her status and position in society, where she can attract influential people from various fields. The song also refers to her impeccable social skills, professional poise, and savoir-faire.
The chorus, "She's a Killer Queen. Gunpowder, gelatin, dynamite with a laser beam. Guaranteed to blow your mind anytime" further emphasizes the woman's dangerous yet enticing persona. She is capable of driving men wild, and people can't help but be drawn to her. The combination of explosive visuals like gunpowder and dynamite with a feminine and delicate ingredient like gelatin adds to her mysterious yet deadly aura.
Line by Line Meaning
She keeps Moet et Chandon
She enjoys luxury and keeps expensive champagne in her possession.
In her pretty cabinet
She displays her possessions in a decorative case.
'Let them eat cake' she says
She is insensitive and insensitive toward the less fortunate.
Just like Marie Antoinette
She shares the same attitude as the former queen of France.
A built-in remedy
She is a perfect solution to problems.
For Khrushchev and Kennedy
She is able to satisfy the needs of powerful figures.
At anytime an invitation
She is always available to those invited to be with her.
You can't decline
You can't say no to her.
Caviar and cigarettes
She indulges in expensive and luxurious tastes.
Well versed in etiquette
She is skillful and knowledgeable in good manners.
Extraordinarily nice
She is especially kind and pleasant.
She's a Killer Queen
She is a powerful and potentially dangerous leader.
Gunpowder, gelatin
She is both explosive and sweet.
Dynamite with a laser beam
She can be both fierce and precise.
Guaranteed to blow your mind
She is sure to impress you.
Anytime
She can do this at any moment.
Recommended at the price
She is worth the cost.
Insatiable an appetite
She is extremely hungry for more.
Wanna try?
Are you daring enough to see for yourself?
To avoid complications
She takes steps to prevent problems from arising.
She never kept the same address
She frequently changes locations.
In conversation
When talking to others.
She spoke just like a baroness
She has a sophisticated manner of speaking.
Met a man from China
She had a romantic encounter with someone from another country.
Went down to Geisha Minah
She traveled to a location with geishas.
Then again incidentally
By coincidence.
If you're that way inclined
If you have similar tastes or interests.
Perfume came naturally from Paris
She prefers to use expensive and luxurious perfumes from Paris, France.
For cars she couldn't care less
She has no interest in automobiles.
Fastidious and precise
She is meticulous and detail-oriented.
Drop of a hat she's as willing as
She is always ready and willing to participate in activities.
Playful as a pussy cat
She is playful and mischievous, just like a cat.
Then momentarily out of action
She may temporarily be unavailable due to other engagements.
Temporarily out of gas
She may temporarily be without energy or enthusiasm.
To absolutely drive you wild, wild.
To excite you and cause intense emotions.
You wanna try.
Are you brave enough to experience what she has to offer?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind