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)
Over My Shoulder
queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he's kissing on my neck
Ashes settle on the sofa
Riddles spilling from his lips
And he tells me that he loves me
While he's taking off my clothes
Give him everything he wants from me
Leave the body of an angel
But I can't let go
I just want someone to hold
There's a Devil on my..
Devil on my
Devil on my
There's a Devil on My Shoulder
There's a Devil on my shoulder
Telling me to say his name
See my angel peeking over
Tell him look the other way
Phantom fingertips surround me
With a touch that feels like home
When he puts his arms around me
I become the girl he wants
Devil on my
Devil on my
There's a Devil on My Shoulder
The lyrics to Queen's song "Over My Shoulder" convey a struggle between two opposing forces within the singer. The song presents a metaphorical representation of the conflict between good and evil, where the Devil symbolizes temptation and the angel represents purity.
The opening lines, "There's a Devil on my shoulder and he's kissing on my neck, ashes settle on the sofa, riddles spilling from his lips," depict the seductive nature of the Devil and the chaos he brings. The Devil's persuasive words and actions are overpowering, as he professes his love while undressing the singer. This suggests a temptation that is hard to resist, even though the singer knows deep down that it's wrong.
The chorus, where the singer expresses the desire for someone to hold and the repetition of "There's a Devil on my shoulder," highlights the internal struggle. The constant presence of the Devil weighs heavily on the singer's mind, causing inner turmoil and confusion. Despite the realization that the situation is unsustainable and needs to come to an end, the singer cannot let go of the temptation and the temporary pleasure it offers.
In the second verse, the Devil continues to urge the singer to say his name while the angel watches. The presence of the angel signifies conscience and the internal struggle to resist the Devil's influence. The touch of the Devil is described as feeling like home, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort that is difficult for the singer to reject. The line "I become the girl he wants" suggests that the singer is changing and compromising their values to please the Devil.
Overall, "Over My Shoulder" explores themes of temptation, inner conflict, and the struggle to resist destructive influences. The lyrics reflect the universal struggle between good and evil that exist within all of us.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a Devil on my shoulder
I am being influenced by negative thoughts and temptations
And he's kissing on my neck
The Devil's influence is intimate and overpowering
Ashes settle on the sofa
My life is falling apart and becoming chaotic
Riddles spilling from his lips
The Devil is speaking in deceitful and confusing ways
And he tells me that he loves me
The Devil manipulates my emotions with false affection
While he's taking off my clothes
The Devil is stripping away my innocence and vulnerability
Give him everything he wants from me
I am succumbing to the Devil's desires and sacrificing my own well-being
Leave the body of an angel
I am losing my purity and righteousness
And I know that it's over
I am aware that this situation is harmful and destructive
But I can't let go
I am struggling to break free from the Devil's grip
I just want someone to hold
I desire comfort and support from someone else
There's a Devil on my..
The Devil's presence continues to trouble me
Devil on my
The Devil's influence is persistent and overwhelming
Devil on my
The Devil's presence intensifies and consumes me
There's a Devil on My Shoulder
I am constantly being guided by negative influences
There's a Devil on my shoulder
I am being tempted and misled by evil forces
Telling me to say his name
The Devil is urging me to align with him and embrace darkness
See my angel peeking over
I have a sense of righteousness watching over me
Tell him look the other way
I am trying to distract my conscience from noticing my wrongdoings
Phantom fingertips surround me
I am haunted by the insidious presence of the Devil
With a touch that feels like home
The Devil's influence feels familiar and comforting
When he puts his arms around me
I am swallowed by the darkness and fully under the Devil's control
I become the girl he wants
I transform into someone who fulfills the Devil's desires
Devil on my
The Devil's impact on me persists
Devil on my
I am consumed by the presence of the Devil
There's a Devil on My Shoulder
I am constantly influenced by negative and corrupt ideas
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Brianna Brock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
retroRadio
i just found out this song was posted on my birthday!!
酒井じゅねり
Happy 4 year late birthday 😍🤞🏾
Yooran
One day after mine
shrek person
Happy 4 years late birthday
Nekolara chan
Happy four year late birthday lol 😂
-SodaLimez-
Happy late birthday! 🎂
* Snowflakebottles *
the only thing i can imagine while listening to this is a group of friends playing a real hardcore game of solitaire and getting way too into it
Jook06
@Corgi Lover Haha, it’s been 3 years since I made that comment, unfortunately not as big of a player as I was, but still a big fan!
Corgi Lover
@Jook06 I play DnD too!!! :>
Ash Rose
@Suzie Moore OMFG I FORGOT ABOUT 4 SQUARE THAT GAME IS POG BAHAHA