I can’t remember the first time I heard Queen songs. I probably would have second-hand heard it when someone else was playing it somewhere or as part of an ad on TV.
Either way, when I got older and started exploring music, I realised that rock opera or whatever genre Queen is formed quite a big chuck of the foundations of my music taste.
To commemorate Freddie Mercury’s birthday today, here are my top 10 songs from Queen.
Somebody to Love
Favourite lyric: “I try and I try and I try but everybody wants to put me down, they say I’m going crazy”
As a chronically single person, I understand the feelings conveyed in this song. Some days, it does feel like I’m begging the universe to find me somebody to love. The angst and desperation in this song is so relatable, especially the bridge.
Don’t Stop Me Now
Favourite lyric: “I’m burnin’ through the sky, yeah, two hundred degrees, that’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit”
This is a feel-good song that boosts my confidence and overall mood. If I had to describe this song to someone who has never heard it before, I’d say this is a coffee shot in the form of a song. It gets me so pumped up. I think this would 100% be in my workout playlist if I ever become a gym bro (god forbid).
Fat Bottomed Girls
Favourite lyric: “Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go ‘round”
I almost lost it when I heard this song for the first time, as someone with quite a fat bottom. It felt empowering instead of demeaning unlike a lot of the other songs about heavier women (or even men). I was pleasantly surprised that this song came from an era when body positivity wasn’t all that big.
Love of My Life
Favourite lyric: “When I grow older, I will be there at your side to remind you how I still love you”
This is one of their more mellow ballads. You can feel the hurt in his voice when he sings this song. This was written for his best friend and common law wife, Mary Austin. As someone who loves this kind of music, it’s only natural for me to enjoy belting out to this.
I Want to Break Free
Favourite lyric: “But I have to be sure when I walk out that door, oh, how I want to be free”
The perfect amount of angst and the feeling of wanting to do something about it. Whenever I feel trapped in a situation, I remember the lyrics to this song. The music video was also AMAZING. Seeing all of them in drag is so fun! I’m pretty sure it was hella controversial back then (to the point of MTV banning the music video from airing).
Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite lyric: “I don’t want to die, I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all”
We can’t have a Queen list and not include Bohemian Rhapsody right? This is the OG rock opera that spawned others (who tried to be) just like it. The fact that the song was banned in Malaysia until recently seals the deal for me because we love a controversial ballad.
Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
Favourite lyric: “Write my letter, feel much better, and use my fancy patter on the telephone”
This is such a cheeky song! I love it so much because it sounds flirty and at the same time hopeful. The tempo and beat of this song is catchy too, and I love listening to it when I’m doing something boring because it kind of lights up the room and puts me in a bouncy mood (if that makes sense).
- Another One Bites the Dust
Favourite lyric: “How do you think I’m gonna get along without you, when you’re gone?”
When I used to take public transport to work, whenever this song came on, I’d march to the beat of the drum. I heard that the beat can also be used when administering CPR, so it’s helpful to have this memorised. My competitive side loves the message of this song.
Bicycle Race
Favourite lyric: “I want to ride my bicycle”
I get the irony; I don’t know how to ride a bicycle but this is one of my favourites from them. Sorry, I can’t help it. It’s too catchy! Even though the lyrics repeat themselves like 70% of the time. This song actually ties in with Fat Bottomed Girls (which I talked about earlier).
Killer Queen
Favourite lyric: “Perfume came naturally from Paris (naturally), for cars, she couldn’t care less”
Another feel-good song in my opinion. The lyrics taught me some things about high society culture. The warped tune of the chorus just scratches the itch in my brain, what can I say? The choir in the background adds an element of power to this song, I can’t quite explain it.
There’s just so many more songs that didn’t make the cut. I’m so sad I was born too late to see the brown man front one of the biggest bands in the world live and in person. I was born in the wrong generation 😩 But hey, they were touring a while back with one of my favs (Adam Lambert) so maybe I could get to see them live one day. One can only hope!