Queen Music History Essay Example For Students

Queen Music History Essay Queen became one f the most well known Rock and Pop groups for the next 18 years and had a host of number one successes written by every member of the group. Although still touring with original members Brian May and Roger Taylor, the Queen most recognized by its extravagant stage shows and music videos came to an end with the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury in 1991. Queen were responsible for fourteen albums covering a varied array of genres such as Rock, Progressive Rock, Rock and Roll, Pop, Classical, Disco and Funk. Queens first album Queen featured a wide mixture of musical styles. The opening song Keep Yourself Alive, also the bands first single, written by Brian May was a rock song featuring the standard l, V, V chord progression but also marking several sounds that would become some of Queens trademarks for years to come. For example the intro and solo section involves Brian May using his trademark delay effect with the production feature of layered guitar. Also the song My Fairy King by Freddie Mercury which featured the same guitar production but also operatic vocal arrangement with the use of layered vocals by the band. The lyrical theme varies ever these songs such as Liar by Freddie Mercury, a standard rock song with a love theme. Modern Times Rock and Roll a heavy metal song by Roger Taylor written simply about the music and My Fairy King, by Freddie Mercury written about a mythical world. The mythical theme and folklore would feature heavily in Queens earlier works through Ogre Battle on the Queen II album, In The Lap of The Gods On Sheer Heart attack and The Prophets Song on A Night At The Opera. Many songs such as these could be called progressive rock in the use of production techniques such as layered vocals, guitars and long musical interludes during the music. At the same time, these albums featured an array of songs written by other members of the band such as Father to Son by Brian May which appeared on the Queen II album which lyrically was about a father explaining life to his son and Youre My Best Friend by John Deacon, a love song written when he was married in 1975. The release of the album A Day at the Races saw a turning point in the musical development of Queen. Where previously many songs had featured a prop rock and operatic arrangement, My Fairy King, Bohemian Rhapsody, and lyrically had little Queen Music History By Jackbooted mainly on a love theme. This album featured songs such as Tie Your Mother Down by Brian May which was a rock and roll standard and The Millionaire Waltz a waltz time and again operatic rock song by Freddie Mercury it did not however feature any of the more mythically based songs from previous albums and focused more on a love theme throughout. The songs also had more standard solo section lengths rather than long drawn out layered guitar solos or piano interludes. Queens next album, News of The World would see some of the bands most well known songs and the transition into writing much more anthem based songs such as We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions. Similarly with the next two albums Jazz (1980) and The Game (1978) whose tracks continued on the rock trend for Queen with songs such as Dont Stop Me Now and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. In 1982 however Queen would attempt to write an album with a Disco and Pop theme throughout with a large usage of synthesized instruments such as a drum machine. Although Hot Space was seen as a failure for the band musically it did show the bands understanding and ability to write other genres of music and produced one of their greatest hits, Under Pressure. The song Body language for example was recorded without any guitar on the track and The Bass line of Dancer was played on a keyboard synthesizer by Brian May. The album was not received well by the Queen fans or the critics, Hot Space takes all the things that Queen were known for and either removes them or treats them to ridiculous subversion. Essay On Pop MusicTape or Analogue delay systems worked by taking the one note played by the guitar then the tape deck playing that note back at a set time from the original note and so on. May, especially in long instrumentals, would often play the first note of a chord then as the tape played that delay he would play the second note of a chord and so on. By the time third delay was played back, a lull chord was being sounded by a single guitar which he could then sustain and play over the top of. Http://www. Questions. Info/the-book/queen-the-four-of-them-as- musicians/Brian-may. HTML Queen have influenced many artists since their last studio album in 1991. Bands of varied genres are known to have covered Queens work or given them credited for their own musical creations. The Heavy Metal band Metallic covered the queen song Some people to offer credit to Queen as one of their key musical influences are The Killers, Green Day, Lady Gaga, Boo Fighters, Guns Roses and many more. O ne key feature of Queen was their flamboyant live shows and performances by lead sing Freddie Mercury. Mercury wore striking and sensational clothing on stage from leotards to studded arm bands as well as using a trademark half microphone stand which he often used as a prop for his on stage actions. This idea of a visual performance as well as musical is a staple for most contemporary commercial music with extravagant shows from artists such as Lady Gaga or Robbie Williams. The lack of meaning surrounding many of Queens lyrics throughout their career is also omitting which has been continued into contemporary music. The song One Vision ends simply with the words Fried Chicken also it is commonly believed that the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody were merely written to fit the music and hold no meaning. Other songs by Queen such as Somebody to Love were although meaningful to the listener where relevant, the lyrics were very much generic and standard to that genre. This is still the case with most contemporary commercial music and to those who have credited Queen with being one of their key influences with songs such as Micas Grace Kelly and Lady Sagas Do What You Want. Queen released a wide array of albums covering varied genres from their rock, classical and progressive rock roots of the Albums Queen and A Day At The Races and the Rock themed News of The World. A disco album Hot Space and the pop and rock based The Miracle and Innuendo. Uniquely each member of queen wrote at least one number one song which is testament to their commercial knowledge and musical abilities as individuals as well as a group. Queens flamboyant portrayal of themselves mainly shown through lead singer Freddie Mercurys larger than life take performances and vocal style also added to their commercial success. A testament to queens long lasting influences on the music world is shown through the many artists both contemporary and of the time that cite queen as one of their key influences in their own music whether through song writing or performance. We are the Champions: The Politics of Sports and Popular Music by Ken McLeod Freddie Mercury Interview Walt David Wig 1986 http://www. Questions. Info/the-book/queen-the-four-of-them-as-musicians/Brian- may. HTML Dont Talk! In defense of Queens Hot Space, Daniel Ross