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Killer Queen

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This article is about the song. For other uses, see Killer Queen (disambiguation).

"Killer Queen"
Italian single picture sleeve
Single by Queen
from the album Sheer Heart Attack
A-side"Flick of the Wrist" (double A-side)
Released11 October 1974 (UK)
21 October 1974 (US)[1]
RecordedJuly – August 1974
StudioTrident Studios, London
Rockfield Studios, Wye Valley[2][3]
Genre
Length3:00
Label
Songwriter(s)Freddie Mercury
Producer(s)
Queen singles chronology
"Seven Seas of Rhye"
(1974) 		"Killer Queen" / "Flick of the Wrist"
(1974) 		"Now I'm Here"
(1975)
Music video
"Killer Queen" on YouTube

"Killer Queen" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury and recorded for their third album Sheer Heart Attack in 1974. It reached number two in the UK Singles Chart and became their first US hit, reaching number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] The song is about a high-class call girl and has been characterised as "Mercury's piano-led paean to a Moët-quaffing courtesan".[7][10]

The song is included in Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits compilation.[11] It is also recorded on the live albums Live Killers and Queen Rock Montreal.[12][13]

History and recording

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Mercury commented he wrote the lyrics before the melody and music, whereas normally he would do the opposite. He stated that the song was about a high-class call girl. The song's first verse quotes a phrase traditionally but falsely attributed to Marie Antoinette: "'Let them eat cake,' she says, Just like Marie Antoinette". "Killer Queen" retained the essence of Queen's trademark sound, particularly in its meticulous vocal harmonies.

Unlike the first two Queen albums, this song was partly recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales.[2][3] The recording features elaborate four-part harmonies (particularly in the choruses, and also providing backing parts in the verses), and also a multitracked guitar solo by Brian May which makes use of the bell effect. At one point there are two distinct bass guitar lines, one of which diverges into a descending run.

Release

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When released as a single, "Killer Queen" was Queen's breakthrough hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and number twelve in the United States.[14][15] It was released as a double A-side in the UK, the US, and Canada (where it reached number 15 in the RPM 100 national singles chart),[16] with the song "Flick of the Wrist". Several different versions of "Flick of the Wrist" were used on different releases. In 1986, "Killer Queen" featured as the B-side to "Who Wants to Live Forever".[17]

Queen on the song

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Freddie Mercury:[18]

People are used to hard rock, energy music from Queen, yet with this single you almost expect Noël Coward to sing it. It's one of those bowler hat, black suspender belt numbers – not that Coward would wear that. ... It's about a high class call girl. I'm trying to say that classy people can be whores as well. That's what the song is about, though I'd prefer people to put their interpretation upon it – to read into it what they like.

Brian May:

'Killer Queen' was the turning point. It was the song that best summed up our kind of music, and a big hit, and we desperately needed it as a mark of something successful happening for us... I was always very happy with this song. The whole [album] was made in a very craftsman-like manner. I still enjoy listening to it because there's a lot to listen to, but it never gets cluttered. There's always space for all the little ideas to come through. And of course, I like the solo, with that three-part section, where each part has its own voice...It's vintage Queen. The first time I heard Freddie playing that song, I was lying in my room in Rockfield [a residential recording studio in Wales], feeling very sick. After Queen's first American tour, I had hepatitis, and then I had very bad stomach problems and I had to be operated on. So I remember just lying there, hearing Freddie play this really great song and feeling sad, because I thought, 'I can't even get out of bed to participate in this.' But then I got fixed up, thank God. And when I came out again, we were able to finish off 'Killer Queen.' They left some space for me and I did the solo. I had strong feelings about one of the harmony bits in the chorus, so we had another go at that too.

Live performances

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The song was regularly performed between 1974 and 1981 as part of a medley.[19][20][21][22] In 1974–1975, the song was played following "In the Lap of the Gods",[19] and in 1975–76, the song followed "Bohemian Rhapsody".[20] In 1984 and 1985, during The Works Tour, it was reintroduced in a medley following a truncated version of "Somebody to Love".[23]

Critical reception and legacy

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On the single's release, Cash Box said that it had "fine lead vocals, solid harmonies and an inventive production" and that "this song is bound to make you smile with its lighthearted whimsy and confident approach."[24] Record World described it as "a cross between Bowie and Wings".[25]

Retrospectively, "Killer Queen" was described by AllMusic as the true beginning of Queen's "radio sound" and "recalls the cabaret songs of yesteryear, but also shows how Queen was fast becoming a master of power pop".[7] Rock historian Paul Fowles wrote that "Killer Queen", with its "sleazy Parisian imagery", allowed "free rein" to Mercury's "unique brand of rock theater".[26]

American pop singer Katy Perry cites "Killer Queen" as an important influence on her, saying it "made me discover music and helped me come into my own at the age of 15".[27]

Personnel

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Chart performance

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Sales and certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[52] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[53] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[54] Gold 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[55] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[57] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

5 Seconds of Summer version

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"Killer Queen"
Single by 5 Seconds of Summer
Released25 October 2018
Length3:18
LabelVirgin EMI
Songwriter(s)Freddie Mercury
5 Seconds of Summer singles chronology
"Valentine"
(2018) 		"Killer Queen"
(2018) 		"Lie to Me"
(2018)

In October 2018, Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer released a version of the song ahead of release of Queen's biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. The cover was released to support the Mercury Phoenix Trust, an organization founded by Queen's band members that aims to provide support in the fight against HIV/AIDS.[58][59]

The song was released to coincide with the release of the film Bohemian Rhapsody. Universal Music Group released 3 tracks by different artists' channeling their inner Freddie Mercury; this is the second installment, following Shawn Mendes' "Under Pressure" released two weeks earlier.[60][61][62]

According to 5 Seconds of Summer, Queen's "unique harmonies, the fluidity to their songwriting and how they each used their own musicality to back each other up have always inspired us. For us, the exploration of individual vocalists in a band is incredibly important and Queen helped us to see the future of how we want to sing, in addition to how we play our instruments."[63][64] A portion of the profits from the "Killer Queen" cover will be donated to Mercury Phoenix Trust, which was founded by Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor (and the group's manager, Jim Beach) after Mercury's death to help fight AIDS worldwide.[63]

Reception

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Brooke Bajgrowicz from Billboard said "The four-piece pop rock band launch into the anthemic a cappella chorus from the get-go... By the time the full-force chorus arrives, the fluid harmonies and catchy phrasing are instantly recognizable. While somewhat modernised, the single fades out in a style similar to the original Queen banger, and other '70s hits of the time".[63] Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone called the version "Faithful".[64]

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[65] 49
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[66] 18

References

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  1. ^ "Killer Queen". Queen Vault. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b Mark Hodkinson Queen: The Early Years Omnibus Press 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b Popoff, Martin (2018). Queen: Album by Album. Voyageur Press. p. 36.
  4. ^ "10 Essential Glam Rock Albums". Treblezine. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2015. cheeky art-pop romps ("Killer Queen")
  5. ^ "Top 10 Freddie Mercury Queen Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2015. three near-perfect minutes of orgiastic heavy glam rock
  6. ^ Potter, Jordan (20 December 2023). "Far Out 40: The best songs of the glam-rock wave". Far Out Magazine. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Prato, Greg. "Song Review by Greg Prato". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 December 2015. the song recalls the cabaret songs of yesteryear, but also shows how Queen was fast becoming a master of power pop
  8. ^ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Some Kind of Monster: Metal". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 569. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  9. ^ Dolan, Joe; Martoccio, Angie; Sheffield, Rob (20 November 2024). "The 74 Best Albums of 1974". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 November 2024. ...the music-hall-glam bop "Killer Queen
  10. ^ Monahan, Mark (30 October 2015). "Why we still can't get enough of Queen". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  11. ^ Queen Album: Classic Queen Archived 27 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine MTV. Retrieved 15 March 2019
  12. ^ Queen Rock Montreal Allmusic. Retrieved 15 March 2019
  13. ^ "Queen - Live Killers". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  14. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books
  15. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited
  16. ^ Top Singles - Volume 23, No. 14, 31 May 1975 Archived 25 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Library and Archives Canada
  17. ^ Who Wants To Live Forever Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Queen Interviews - Freddie Mercury - 11-02-1974 - NME - Queen Archives: Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Interviews, Articles, Reviews". queenarchives.com. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Queen live on tour: Sheer Heart Attack: Setlist". Queen Concerts. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Queen live on tour: A Night at the Opera: Setlist". Queen Concerts. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Queen live on tour: Day at the Races (world): Setlist". Queen Concerts. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  22. ^ "Queen live on tour: News of the World: Setlist". Queen Concerts. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  23. ^ Queen live on tour: The Works 1984 Queen Concerts. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  24. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 28 December 1974. p. 92. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  25. ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 21 December 1974. p. 12. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  26. ^ Fowles, Paul (2009). A Concise History of Rock Music. Mel Bay Publications, Inc. p. 244. ISBN 978-0786666430.
  27. ^ "Katy Perry hails Freddie Mercury and 'Killer Queen' as a major influence". NME. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  28. ^ Hung, Steffen. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)". Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  29. ^ "Queen – Killer Queen" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Queen – Killer Queen" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  31. ^ "Queen – Killer Queen" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  32. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  33. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  34. ^ Ward, Jaclyn. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  35. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 1975" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Queen – Killer Queen" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  37. ^ "Queen – Killer Queen". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  38. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  39. ^ "Queen Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  40. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 5/31/75". Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  41. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Killer Queen" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  42. ^ "The ARIA Report: Issue 1499 (November 19, 2018)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  43. ^ "Queen Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
  44. ^ "Queen Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  45. ^ "Top Selling Singles for 1974". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 20. 4 January 1975.
  46. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1975". Ultratop. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  48. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1975". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1975". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  50. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  51. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  52. ^ "Danish single certifications – Queen – Killer Queen". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  53. ^ "Italian single certifications – Queen – Killer Queen" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  54. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Queen – Killer Queen" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  55. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Queen – Killer Queen". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  56. ^ "British single certifications – Queen – Killer Queen". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  57. ^ "American single certifications – Queen – Killer Queen". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  58. ^ "Killer Queen (single)". iTunes Store. Apple iTunes. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  59. ^ "5 Seconds of Summer Pay Homage to Freddie Mercury With 'Killer Queen' Cover". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  60. ^ "Shawn Mendes drops cover of Queen's 'Under Pressure'". Entertainment Weekly. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  61. ^ "Shawn Mendes and Teddy Geiger Pay Tribute to Queen With Acoustic 'Under Pressure' Cover: Listen". Billboard. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  62. ^ "5 SECONDS OF SUMMER HONOR FREDDIE MERCURY WITH "KILLER QUEEN" COVER". alt press. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  63. ^ a b c "5 Seconds of Summer Pay Homage to Freddie Mercury With 'Killer Queen' Cover". Billboard. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  64. ^ a b "5 Seconds of Summer Celebrate Queen's Legacy With 'Killer Queen' Cover". Rolling Stone. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  65. ^ "5 Seconds of Summer: Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  66. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
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