Killer Queen

History and recording

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. 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

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. 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), 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".

Queen on the song

Freddie Mercury:

Brian May:

Live performances

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

Critical reception and legacy

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." Record World described it as "a cross between Bowie and Wings".

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". Rock historian Paul Fowles wrote that "Killer Queen", with its "sleazy Parisian imagery", allowed "free rein" to Mercury's "unique brand of rock theater".

American pop singer Katy Perry cited "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".

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, grand piano, tack piano, finger snapping
• Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
• Roger Taylor – drums, triangle, chimes, backing vocals
• John Deacon – bass guitar

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Sales and certifications

5 Seconds of Summer version

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.

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.

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." 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.

Reception

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". Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone called the version "Faithful".

Charts

References

References

1. "Killer Queen".
2. Mark Hodkinson [https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZMQXF9O8x0C&dq=killer+queen+recorded+at+rockfield+studios&pg=PT241 Queen: The Early Years] Omnibus Press 2004. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
3. (2018). "Queen: Album by Album". Voyageur Press.
4. (5 September 2015). "Top 10 Freddie Mercury Queen Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock.
5. Potter, Jordan. (December 20, 2023). "Far Out 40: The best songs of the glam-rock wave".
6. Deusner, Stephen. (January 5, 2017). "34 Essential Glam Songs".
7. (6 June 2012). "10 Essential Glam Rock Albums". Treblezine.
8. Prato, Greg. "Song Review by Greg Prato". AllMusic.
9. Stanley, Bob. (13 September 2013). "Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop". Faber & Faber.
10. (November 20, 2024). "The 74 Best Albums of 1974".
11. Elliott, Paul. (13 July 2016). "Every song on Queen's Greatest Hits, ranked from worst to best".
12. Lenig, Stuart. (June 16, 2010). "The Twisted Tale of Glam Rock". Bloomsbury Publishing.
13. Monahan, Mark. (30 October 2015). "Why we still can't get enough of Queen". The Daily Telegraph.
14. link. (27 February 2008 MTV. Retrieved 15 March 2019)
15. [https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1239496 Queen Rock Montreal] ''Allmusic''. Retrieved 15 March 2019
16. "Queen - Live Killers". AllMusic.
17. [[Joel Whitburn. Whitburn, Joel]] (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books
18. Roberts, David (2006). [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]. London: Guinness World Records Limited
19. link. (25 December 2014 Library and Archives Canada)
20. [http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/discography/queensinglesuk2.htm#whowantstoliveforever Who Wants To Live Forever] Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
21. "Queen Interviews - Freddie Mercury - 11-02-1974 - NME - Queen Archives: Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Interviews, Articles, Reviews". queenarchives.com.
22. "Queen live on tour: Sheer Heart Attack: Setlist". Queen Concerts.
23. "Queen live on tour: A Night at the Opera: Setlist". Queen Concerts.
24. "Queen live on tour: Day at the Races (world): Setlist". Queen Concerts.
25. "Queen live on tour: News of the World: Setlist". Queen Concerts.
26. [http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/works1984.html Queen live on tour: The Works 1984] Queen Concerts. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
27. (December 28, 1974). "CashBox Record Reviews". Cash Box.
28. (December 21, 1974). "Single Picks".
29. Fowles, Paul. (2009). "A Concise History of Rock Music". Mel Bay Publications, Inc..
30. (7 September 2013). "Katy Perry hails Freddie Mercury and 'Killer Queen' as a major influence". NME.
31. Hung, Steffen. "Forum - 1970 (ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts)".
32. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
33. Nyman, Jake. (2005). "Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja". Tammi.
34. Ward, Jaclyn. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie.
35. "Cash Box Top 100 5/31/75".
36. "The ARIA Report: Issue 1499 (November 19, 2018)". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
37. (4 January 1975). "Top Selling Singles for 1974". Spotlight Publications.
38. "Jaaroverzichten 1975". Ultratop.
39. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
40. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1975". Dutch Top 40.
41. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1975".
42. "Top 100 Hits of 1975/Top 100 Songs of 1975".
43. (2 January 2013). "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019".
44. (25 October 2018). "Killer Queen (single)". Apple iTunes.
45. (12 October 2018). "Shawn Mendes drops cover of Queen's 'Under Pressure'".
46. (12 October 2018). "Shawn Mendes and Teddy Geiger Pay Tribute to Queen With Acoustic 'Under Pressure' Cover: Listen".
47. (26 October 2018). "5 SECONDS OF SUMMER HONOR FREDDIE MERCURY WITH "KILLER QUEEN" COVER". alt press.
48. (26 October 2018). "5 Seconds of Summer Pay Homage to Freddie Mercury With 'Killer Queen' Cover".
49. (26 October 2018). "5 Seconds of Summer Celebrate Queen's Legacy With 'Killer Queen' Cover".
50. "5 Seconds of Summer: Billboard".
51. (5 November 2018). "NZ Hot Singles Chart". [[Recorded Music NZ]].