The iconic rock band Queen

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July 13, 1973 under the label EMI released the first album of the band Queen. Most of the songs written by the band members — Freddie mercury, Brian may and Roger Taylor.

Songs Queen have long been considered classics of the rock, and the group became a legend of world music. Queen have released fifteen Studio albums, five concert halls and numerous compilations. Eighteen of the band's albums took the first places in the charts of different countries. Concert performances Oueen was also recognized as one of the most dramatic and important in the history of rock. Remember the iconic songs of Queen.

The iconic rock band Queen
The iconic rock band Queen

Bohemian Rhapsody, the song from the album A Night at the Opera, was written by Freddie mercury in 1975. The song has an unusual musical form. It can be divided into six different style of the parts which are not divided into verses and choruses and represent individual musical direction: Opera and ballad singing, a Cappella and heavy metal.

The iconic rock band Queen

Usually the Queen much invented in the Studio, but the composition was completely finished in the mind of mercury. He painted the entire sequence on the sticky notes that took on her father's, and laid them on the piano to demonstrate to the group. (Interview of Brian may magazine Q.)

The iconic rock band Queen

At the time of recording this song was the most expensive in the history of recording: it took three weeks of rehearsals the whole group, more than three weeks of recording and editing in five different studios.

The iconic rock band Queen

The Opera part of the song performed by only three people, the members of Queen: Brian may, Freddie mercury and Roger Taylor, the voices of which cover the necessary vocal range from quite low to high notes may Taylor. To create the effect of a large choir their voices many times duplicated and mounted, so that the total record consists of 180 different pieces. In 1975 they were only available analog 24-track equipment, so the mixing was carried out sequentially in several stages, sometimes the number of stages reached eight. The tape was worn to such an extent that through it, you can look at the clearance, it required the creation of additional copies. The whole process took three weeks, the musicians sang for 10-12 hours a day.

The iconic rock band Queen

No one knows exactly what is the meaning of the words of this song have, if any. Freddie mercury, author of "Bohemian Rhapsody", never did explain it. Brian may considers that the text laid some personal experiences. Although broadcaster Kenny Everett said that Freddie mercury once called the text "rhymed nonsense".

The iconic rock band Queen

At the top of the British charts, this song is visited twice: in 1975 (when the single was released, it stayed there for nine weeks) and in 1991 (when he died, Freddie mercury, came the re-release of "Bohemian Rhapsody" along with the song These Are the Days of Our Lives). This is the first and so far only the case when the song in the same version visited twice in the first place (both times besides Christmas).

The iconic rock band Queen

We Will Rock You (translated from English. "We will rock") — song from the album News of the World.

The iconic rock band Queen

This song was written in may after a concert at the Bingley Hall in the English city of Birmingham. That night, the audience suddenly actively sang every song Queen, that absolutely was not planned and lead musicians to confusion in the group always wanted to listen to her and listened very carefully. But that night, may and mercury, discussing the incident, I realized that we can not fight and need to accept the fact that at the concert the audience take part in the show, as the group. And give people something to sing. In the evening after the concert, Freddie mercury wrote We Are the Champions, and Mei woke up the next morning with the beat in my head.

The iconic rock band Queen

The song is known because of its catchy rhythm — two kick and a cotton hand. A support opening song and lasts until the very end. The song is also unique in that it plays only one musical instrument — the guitar. Mae comes to her after the third verse during the second repetition of "We will, we will rock you". Originally the song was supposed to be the words "We will beat you", but mercury said it sounds silly, and replaced the words.

The iconic rock band Queen

We Are the Champions. Song included in the album News of the World (1977). Written By Freddie Mercury. The single was released with another famous song on side B — We Will Rock You — and became the sports anthem of millions of fans around the world. Queen often performed their final for their concerts.

The iconic rock band Queen

In the vocal part has a very high notes. Concerts Freddie mercury is often inferior to the most difficult pieces of Roger Taylor, having just a high, squeaky voice.

The iconic rock band Queen

The video clip for the song represents the band in a concert format, but this is not a live recording of the song. The band asked their fans to the role of spectators, and this is the first time in the music industry when the band invited their fans to create a video clip. After filming the musicians as a reward played a small concert for their fans.

The iconic rock band Queen

In this clip continued to change the band's image. Gone long hair the bass player deacon and drummer Taylor. They are dressed much simpler than before — in a dark shirt. Style may remain the same. Mercury is dressed in black and white leotards. This is the last video clip, where mercury appears in tights, not counting clips, which are old videos.

The iconic rock band Queen

Radio Ga Ga. In the original version of the song was called Radio Ca-Ca, not Radio Ga Ga. In fact, the phrase said a little child of Roger Taylor. Taylor wrote this song as material for his solo album, but the rest of the group saw a potential hit, added the words and instrumental parts. In particular, changing the name to Ga Ga.

The iconic rock band Queen

Ga Ga — in English, the image of the sounds of the babies who try to say (as a Russian "ASU"). Also gaga used to mean "crazy / crazy in love (something)" and as an epithet for a person who behaves like a baby or a senile old man.

The iconic rock band Queen

In the video for the song uses footage from the legendary German science-fiction film "metropolis" (1927). More precisely, one attempts to recover a lost movie which made Giorgio Moroder. In his version there was a song mercury Love Kills, and in return the group received the footage. But the rights to broadcast had to buy from Communist Germany.

The iconic rock band Queen

In the clip you can watch the scene when the group is flying on a fantastic camera frame on the background of skyscrapers of metropolis: operates the machine, pulling the lever, the author of the song Roger Taylor.

The iconic rock band Queen

When this song hit the charts, each member of the band Queen was at least one song ranked in the top ten of the hit parade.

The iconic rock band Queen

I Want to Break Free (eng. "I want to break free") is a song from the album the Works. Written by John Deacon in 1983 under the impression from the men's views on women's liberal movement. The song is largely known for its music video for which all the musicians dressed in women's clothing, parodying the longest series of Britain's Coronation Street.

The iconic rock band Queen

At concerts, when she performed this song, Freddie has frequently appeared in costume from the video clip of the song — in the lush wig, in a pink blouse and false breast. Gradually, as the song progresses, he got rid of these things. However, this stage persona in some countries, the public was not to your taste. At a concert in Rio de Janeiro, the audience pelted the group with stones, when the singer appeared in this form, and he had then to remove all unnecessary.

The iconic rock band Queen

There are three versions of the song: the album version lasts 3 minutes 20 seconds and was only released on the album The Works.

The iconic rock band Queen

The second version of the single lasts 4 minutes 21 seconds. It differs from the landscape by the presence of the introduction and a longer synthesizer solo.

The iconic rock band Queen

Third, the extended version lasts 7 minutes, 16 seconds. It differs from the single-coil a longer entry, which includes the second part of the solo, and a longer ending, extended to 6:04. At the end of this part cease to play first the guitar, then bass guitar. After 6:04 to play other songs from the album The Works.

The iconic rock band Queen

The video song is one of the most famous clips of. The shooting took place on 22 March and 4 may 1984, they were spent 100 thousand British pounds. In the video Freddie mercury depicts a housewife who wants to "break free" from his life, may also looks like a housewife, but in the video his more relaxed role compared to the role of the singer. Deacon appears as a conservative elderly woman, and Taylor was in the role of a schoolgirl, who like mercury in the clip, wants a different life. This idea belongs to Taylor. He commented that the group was shooting a serious, epic videos before, and now they wanted to play a joke and to show that can laugh at themselves.

The iconic rock band Queen

In the middle of a video clip mercury appears in the image of a Faun Nijinsky. He performs some dance numbers with the London Royal ballet. Especially for these scenes mercury wearing spotted tights, shaved off his famous mustache and made his pointed ears.

The iconic rock band Queen

The choreographer of the video Wayne Eagling later said, "During the filming of the mercury has worked as a professional of the highest standard. Freddie has long stuck in my head the image of Nijinsky's Faun playing the flute. The shooting took a lot of effort, especially the part where he washed over the dancers. But he liked the process of filming. It was very easy to work with and he was treated with great responsibility. Freddie was a brilliant professional."

The iconic rock band Queen

The clip was banned on American MTV, but its well received in the UK.

The iconic rock band Queen

Who Wants to Live Forever (eng. "Who wants to live forever") is a song from the album A Kind of Magic. Written By Brian May.

The iconic rock band Queen

The song was written for the film "Highlander" with Christopher Lambert in the title role. The film's Director Russell Mulcahy then admitted that he wanted to cooperate with the band Queen and had no idea who would be more able to cope with this task. Before you begin, all members of the group viewed a 45-minute version of "Highlander". Brian may was inspired by the scene in which Connor Macleod in the performance Lambert picks up the dying wife. On the way home he made sketches for future songs, which eventually sounded in this episode of "Highlander", and later was included in some part of the series "Highlander", which tells about the life of Duncan Macleod, brother of Connor Macleod.

The iconic rock band Queen

The song was recorded with the Symphony orchestra Michael Kamen also worked on the music for "Highlander". In "the Highlander" all song sings Freddie mercury, and on the album A Kind of Magic the first verse and few more lines takes Brian may.

The iconic rock band Queen

A distinctive feature of songs is that it takes the participation of the Symphony orchestra. And the fact that all the musicians not playing their instruments — for example, John deacon performs his part on the bass, Roger Taylor — Symphony on drums and Brian may on the body.

The iconic rock band Queen

Videos of the song two. The first was filmed in a warehouse in London's East end. Was involved the national Philharmonic orchestra and forty choristers, and the room glowed with hundreds of candles.

The iconic rock band Queen

The second clip includes various scenes from the movie "Highlander".

The iconic rock band Queen

The Miracle (eng. "The miracle"). The song was released in November 1989, the author of music and words, is Freddie mercury. In the clip, several boys are playing the role of musicians in the band. The boy in the role of Freddie mercury stands in different images: in yellow leather jacket from the Magic Tour performances; in the image of the concert Live Aid; in a leather suit, cap, and black opaque glasses; plaid tights image 70. mercury Himself and the whole group appear at the end of the clip.

The iconic rock band Queen

For a clip of The Miracle were made reduced copies of the original klinowski costumes, and not long before the shooting took place a dress rehearsal with lights, designed for producer and operators. In addition, it was the first time the other musicians saw the idea finally materialized Freddie.

The iconic rock band Queen

When the boys appeared at the site of the dressing room, the effect surpassed all expectations. They didn't have to even begin to move to the music, they were true clones of Brian, Roger, Freddie and John! Brian experienced a culture shock, and Freddie cried: "Damn, I shouldn't have told the press that a tour of The Miracle will take place! We will send THEM on tour instead of us!" Robiskie at first, the boys very soon got the taste and brilliantly sustained rather exhausting rehearsals and three days of shooting. The first day was filmed the final episode, which required the presence of musicians. Ross McCall, "double" Freddie had a unique opportunity to take on the characteristics of stage choreography mercury under his direct supervision! This gave Ross the confidence in the next two days when shooting more complex scenes, where he's already a full-fledged soloist was together with his "colleagues". Later Ross admitted that after such a deep immersion in the image he has long felt himself to be half Freddie mercury.

The iconic rock band Queen

Innuendo (eng. "Innuendo", "Hint") is a song written by the whole group Queen, although the greater part was composed by Freddie mercury and Roger Taylor. The song is six and a half minutes is one of the longest songs of Queen.

The iconic rock band Queen

A video made for the song, is one of the most famous and original video in the history of music.

The iconic rock band Queen

Segments of video clips were stylized animation: Freddie mercury drawn in the style of Leonardo da Vinci, Brian may — Victorian etchings, Roger Taylor stylized work of Jackson Pollock, and John deacon the works of Pablo Picasso.

The iconic rock band Queen

When creating a clip was used plasticine men, unique dolls, scary images of war, plane crash, epidemics, locust invasion and the atomic bombing in contrast with the progressive and original drawings Jeanne Isidore, Spanish dancing, dancing plasticine men.

The iconic rock band Queen

The song has an element of folk — a party of Spanish guitar in the middle of the song, which was played by guitarist Steve Howe of Yes. According to Brian may, "Spanish motifs are assumed to be from the very beginning of the song; these little reefs, something similar to the Bolero".

The iconic rock band Queen

Innuendo was the third song of the group, which reached the top spot of the British chart after Bohemian Rhapsody and Under Pressure.

The iconic rock band Queen

I'm Going Slightly Mad (from the English. "I'm going slightly mad") is the second entry in the 1991 album Innuendo. Written By Freddie Mercury.

The iconic rock band Queen

The video was shot in February 1991, by which time the health status of mercury has seriously deteriorated. Video as all other videos of the album Innuendo, made Rudy Dolezalek and Hanneson Rossacher of DoRo Production, shows the band, dressed unusually and behaving very strange.

The iconic rock band Queen

I'm Going Slightly Mad — Queen the last video, which contains significant creative contribution mercury. Although Freddie was already very ill at the time, I'm Going Slightly Mad he's pretty agile, artistic, emotional.

The iconic rock band Queen

"I wanted to make the video more memorable. I've always wanted to star in a video with a gorilla and a group of penguins. A little bit of Queen madness," said about the video clip of Freddie mercury.

The iconic rock band Queen

This clip is filmed in black and white (bright elements are only a foolscap on the head of John deacon and colorful fabric, raised mercury); the lighting effects in the video and the absurd character mercury, and heavily disguised in a wig, helped to mask a sickly appearance Freddie.

The iconic rock band Queen

Held in Chicago in 1991 festival of American Film & Video Festival video clip I'm Going Slightly Mad was ranked third, first place in the same festival took another clip Queen — Innuendo.

The iconic rock band Queen

These Are the Days of Our Lives (eng. "These are the days of our lives") is a song by Queen from the album Innuendo. "It's the best I wrote for the Queen" — Roger Taylor, 1994. Originally the song was released as a single for the United States together with Bijou on the side of "B" September 5, 1991 (on the 45th birthday of Freddie mercury). Was later reissued with the song Bohemian Rhapsody on the second side "A" of 9 December 1991, 15 days after the death of Freddie mercury. All proceeds from the reissue of the mercury before his death, ordered to give charity Terrence Higgins Fund to fight AIDS.

The iconic rock band Queen

First, the video was filmed on color film. But, having watched the video, the group decided not to show it in color, that fans of the group saw what was then Freddie mercury. His face was so emaciated that without make-up Freddie was impossible to know.

The iconic rock band Queen

The original version of the video was filmed in black-and-white film. The video is not story — Freddie just sings in front of the camera. The image of the musicians changed: Freddie mercury was dressed in a black shirt and a colored vest c drawings of cats wearing trousers and wide trousers, hide the extreme thinness, Roger Taylor in the same clothes, and Brian may and John deacon in trousers and a white shirt.

The iconic rock band Queen

The last words in the clip were a message from the singer to her fans: "I still love you" ("I still love you [you]"). In a second Freddie out of the frame, to never return.

The iconic rock band Queen

The Show Must Go On ("the Show must go on"). Mei specially wrote this song for Freddie, as it was one of those few who knew about his illness. Interview with Brian may CNN, January 9, 2000: "The Show Must Go On wrote together, the song Queen, because in the end, we decided to give the authorship Queen. But you know, I consider this song to your child, as most of the time Freddy was sitting here, and it was a great feeling because at that time Freddie couldn't or didn't want to Express themselves through poetry, except in a few cases. And he knew about this idea. He knew that it was a way to Express what we felt towards him. When I sang the main song for Freddie to sing basically had a falsetto because I couldn't sing so high, I asked him, is all well? He drinks vodka, goes to the Studio and making everything just perfect. And I think this is one of the best vocals ever performed Freddie — the original version of The Show Must Go On".

The iconic rock band Queen

This song is perceived as an autobiographical song by Freddie mercury, his farewell to the audience, despite the fact that music and poetry belong mainly written by Brian may, who wrote this song for Freddie. "We have experienced things that are hard to tell. But the language of music we have done" — Brian may.

The iconic rock band Queen

By the time of the release health mercury has deteriorated so much that he could not take part in the filming of the video, so instead of a new production, it was decided to use the existing material. The video is not a chaotic set of the film, and a complete and independent video frames Chronicles, concerts, interviews and other clips Queen, which was aired from 1980 to 1991.

The iconic rock band Queen

Brian may told us that in the group there was an unwritten rule not to discuss with the author of the song the meaning of the text. Because the text is sometimes invested something personal and climb it was indecent: the musicians thought that the author knows what he's doing. Why Mei never asked mercury question what all those strange words in "Bohemian Rhapsody". And only at the time of writing The Show Must Go On Freddie mercury sat down next to may, and Mei invited him to participate in the creation of the text. May said they had discussed "every word and what they meant to say".

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