Songs written by John Deacon for Queen: creation history and releases

Very often it is the world-famous bands that earn their reputations by good with songs that stick in the memory for a long time. This is how Queen became popular thanks to the cool songs and charisma of their frontman Freddie Mercury. But who was the author of their most legendary tracks?

This article will talk about most of Queen's successful songs, which were written by the band's humble bassist. John Deacon. Although there are many more songs by John, the top 3 most "loud" and fan-favourite compositions are worth mentioning.

"I Want to Break Free"

One of Queen's brightest tracks that caused a media furore after its release, or rather after the release of the famous clip. "I Want to Break Free" was written by Deacon в 1983 year and released the year after on the album The Works.

The song consists of three verses, and the characteristic feature is a perfect absence chorus. The keyboard part was recorded with the band by a Canadian musician Fred Mandel. His solo in the song was recorded for one take.

In addition to the original version, a single and an extended version were also recorded. The latter included fragments of the album's other songs, which the musicians placed in the last minute of the track. The single was notable for longer with a synthesiser solo.

The song became a hit primarily in the UK, where it took on the status of a platinum. In all countries, the composition was favourably received by listeners; the only exception was the United States. Clip of the band practically was not broadcast on the main music channel at the time, MTV, which caused small the number of auditions.

The video for the song was directed and directed by Freddie's director and part-time mate by David Mallet. Parodying the British comedy "Coronation Street", the musicians are presented in the characters of women - of British soap opera characters. Queen drummer Roger Taylor was the initiator of the cross-dressing idea, and emphasised that he and his colleagues wanted to show their sense of humour and laugh at themselves. The heroines of Freddy and Roger, according to the clip, "want to be free".

"Another One Bites the Dust"

A major influence on John Deacon as a young man was soul music. Inspired by one of the songs by the American band Chic, the bassist soon recorded the bass part for "Another One Bites the Dust". For a while, John alone played all the instruments required in the composition, and his colleagues added their ideas. So, on the recording, all the effects are done with rewinds songs in reverse order at different speeds.

The musicians admitted that "Another One Bites the Dust" has become a atypical for them a song that was, however, a great success among the black population. This was largely due to the fact that the song was liked by Michael Jacksonwhich advised for the band to release it as a single.

Critics have also praised the track, calling it a second the band's greatest hit, written by John Deacon. Although Roger Taylor was unhappy with the disco sound of the new song, the other members, especially Freddie, believed in the success of the track. And, as always, the inner feeling did not lead the musicians: the song spent more than ten weeks at the top Billboard Top-10 chart, and was also recognised by the best-selling by Queen.

"The Miracle"

The last one the band's single was co-written by Freddie and John, although the musicians have often mentioned that all members of the involved to the creation of the track. Initially, it was the vocalist and bassist who came up with the idea for the composition: they wrote the basic chords for the composition. May and Taylor later added their own edits to the lyrics and music, and "The Miracle" was born.

The meaning of the song has philosophical The text refers to the world's cultural "wonders" as well as the most coveted for all people a "miracle" - world peace.

It's also become interesting clip on the song: it stars the band with little boys who play parts musicians. Ross Markol, playing the role of Freddie, was presented in four of the singer's most striking looks - his white tight suit, a rock look with a black leather jacket, a white T-shirt and jeans from 1985's Live Aid and a bright yellow jacket from the Wembley performance. Freddie joked about sending the boys out on tour as Queen, because they're the ones very a similar team to the original lineup.

A heartfelt friendship with Freddie and a painful experience ...

Despite the fact that Freddie and John were nothing like each other, in all the time they spent together, they became a very good friends. Freddie saw very subtly the line between true friends and mates; John became one of his most . loved ones people.

With Mercury's encouragement, John began to express himself more in his writing, and that's when the band saw him compositional talent. Besides, Freddie always believed in the success of his songs, and he was almost never wrong.

In the final months before lead singer Deacon's death. practically did not visit his friend: he realised that the singer did not want to see sympathy in the eyes of his friends. After Freddie was gone, John immediately declined to continue the band's activities, stating that no virtuoso vocalist can't replace Mercury on stage. If after a while May and Taylor were able to come to terms with the loss, Deacon did not. much harder.

Hymn eternal The song "Friends Will Be Friends", written jointly by the vocalist and bassist, was the most clearly reflecting the friendship between the musicians. The main message of the song is that no matter what happens in life, friends will still be friends. remain friends.