This is something I can no longer maintain is the case as I have no desire to listen to whatever it was they released with some guy who isn't Freddie singing and so didn't buy into all that 'Queen +' crap, and my musical tastes have developed a wanting for something with, dare I say it, a little more depth and consideration to it. However, Freddie, Brian, John and Roger will always hold a special place in my heart, and as I once saw Roger Taylor say in some Queen Doc or another, Queen are like "...coming back to mother." That is assuming your mother is hairy, rather loud and fond of skin tight leather clothing. Which she is. Yours, that is...
So anyway, my problem right now is the classifying of Queen's 'Greatest' music. A band unafraid of accusations of cynically exploiting a festive buying period with a 'brand new' Greatest Hits-type album release, Queen have many combinations of what they or more probably their record company deem to be their best work. While Greatest Hits 1 & 2 to some, including me, will have been a classic route into the band's work both have some serious music quality issues. This is especially true of 1, which from their earliest albums completely ignores the well constructed and far easier on the ear tracks such as 'Keep Yourself Alive' and 'Liar' and instead runs with the cringeworthily anthemic 'We Are The Champions' and 'We Will Rock You'. Heresy.
With the advent of the 'Absolute Greatest' compilation currently spamming our TV ad breaks, I've decided that enough is enough, and have decided to put together my own definitive selection of the 20 truly great Queen songs. Criteria is solely personal taste (mine), and while I'm sure many will recognise the vast proportion of these songs I hope that some will discover a gem they were hitherto unaware of. Thus I give you Queen - A Subjective Greatest Hits:
1) Keep Yourself Alive - As soon as that "chigchiggachigchigachigachigachig" guitar starts off, and Roger starts pounding out the beat the hairs on my spine, if it has any, tingle with anticipation. Possibly their best ever song, and hardly anyone's ever heard of it. Scandalous.
2)Innuendo - An epic. Better than Bohemian Rhapsody in my opinion as it doesn't now represent a clichéd or novelty song, but one that tells of a personal struggle, and sounds like it too. A great deal of fun, too, and alongside the cover of 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' a fitting end to Freddies' living output.
3) Hammer To Fall - For a long time my all time favourite Queen track, this is perfect stadium rock. Punchy solos, definitive vocals. Oh, and some poundingly fiery rhythm work from Messrs Deacon and Taylor. Tight as fuck. Damn they were good.
4) Seven Seas Of Rhye - Talk of privy counsellors, nudism and thunder-fire has never been better placed. Ridiculous lyrics, the drama of the piano-to-drumroll at the start and some good ol' fashioned Freddie screaminess in harmony with the guitar.
5) Stone Cold Crazy - Cracking riff, tick tocking verses and a live essential. Yet more nonsense lyrics (Slide Trombone?) but lets not get too deep about this. Some lovely layered guitar from Brian at the bridge lead into its dramatic conclusion!
6) You're My Best Friend - I don't know, it's a bit soppy but there's something about the 'bdow bow bow bow' and a cracking sentimental performance from Mercury that makes me a bit warm inside.
7) Tie Your Mother Down - Possibly the ultimate Queen live rocker (wait, did I say that before?) the kick-ass riff and over the top performance screams party. I've used this song too many times to get myself in the mood for a night out. And now resolve to go back to this ritual. Its perfect for the purpose.
8) Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy - It's a bit silly but nicely constructed and I think the lyrics paint a picture of that suave sophisticated type of chap who knows all the right things to say that we'd all like to be. And I do enjoy that comical little solo from May at the bridge.
9) Get Down Make Love - The suspense at the start of this would be perfect in an intro to some sort of sexy spy noir thriller. It's some classic seedy Queen focussing on ambivalent sexual themes ("You suck my mind, I blow your head", for example). Naughty.
10) Bicycle Race - And yet more silliness. But it's a bit more - it's a family friendly song that mentions Cocaine, which is a dubious achievement and come on, 100s of naked models riding bikes? I should have just left it at that...
11) Put Out The Fire - Bit more of cock rocky riff here, and some husky lyrics from Fred. To be honest, it's not a great song by any means, but as teenager in front of the mirror with my Lynx can microphone it was a joy to sing along to. And it's anti-guns (I THINK?) so that's all good.
12) Radio Ga Ga - Inspired by Roger's baby child, or so he says, Radio GaGa is a genuine Queen classic that appeals to most fans. Its sentiment while eventually proven not to be a pressing matter, although it was close there for a moment, is worthy and its a classic Queen anthemic chorus without getting annoying. Just.
13) Tear It Up - Maybe their last true rocking song, it has all the key ingredients. Pounding rhythm, guitar genius and some definitive if somewhat nonsensical lyrics. I understand what he wants to do, but can't quite get my around why...
14) Friends Will Be Friends - Again a bit soppy & sentimental, but hey this is Queen. Another one which I can't find too much reason to recommend it, other than it's a well written song beautifully performed. If it hasn't been used in some form of 'friendship' montage in a film it's a travesty.
15) The Invisible Man - Oh yes, now this is Queen at their most ridiculous. The concept of a song about the Invisible Man seems so obvious though, and John Deacon's bass line really gets to the bottom of the subject matter. Ghoulish....
16) I Can't Live With You (Queen Rocks version) - the original was a bit wet so for the (yes, compilation) Queen Rocks they rocked it up a bit. May gets going on his axe and it pumps more than an Arabian desert.
17) Heaven For Everyone - Posthumous release which was the 1st Queen release I definitely remember coming out. I wish I could find the video featuring a Fritz Lang type film as that pretty much made the song. Interestingly (probably for Queen nuts only) done by Roger Taylor's own band The Cross many years earlier.
18) One Vision - Done for some forgotten US war-glorifying film, I believe, another classic riff that stands the test of time. I have to say the lyrics almost border on the Bone-like, which is unforgivable, but I'll let it be as Brian May's guitar work is sublime. And they say 'Fried Chicken' right at the end.
19) Headlong - There's nothing you can, nothing you can, nothing you can do about it. But seriously, it's another pounding rhythm suggesting train travel or similar, and also reminds a little of 70s bands like Black Sabbath. For about 5 seconds. And another great solo.
20) Killer Queen - Camp, silly, & sounds beautiful. Contains possibly the campest solo in British rock, at least. Something about eating cake, China, and a word that sounds like 'beastimulous' which can't be right. But sod it, it's Queen. Enjoy.
OK, that took a while (I actually got about half way about 3 weeks ago and then lost focus, Christmas came & went, and I only remembered again today), but for me at least its been worth it. I've rediscovered a band I truly worshipped as an impressionable teenager, and I think realised why I always liked them in the first place - simply because they are fun. Whether it's rocking socks, getting a bit silly or simply exploring a seedier, dirtier side of life, it's all done in a happy & honest way.
Enjoy the 'cliché' anthems if you will, but I reckon given a bit of searching you'll find what Queen were really about right here.
