Many old-school Queen fans consider "Queen II" their finest work, blending amazing writing style and instrumental and vocal virtuosity. Freddie is firing on all cylinders, vocally, on this album, as can be heard tackling "March of the Black Queen" full voice, with little falsetto work. Aaaahhhh, he was young and powerful, here!
Underrated comment here. It's that kind of album, which should be treated as one piece. Especially so the Black side with every song flowing into the next one (they had some of this in further albums as well, notably with the Prophet's Song, but less and less). The two songs featured here were even separated at a wrong place (before 'forget your singalongs', as the author of the video almost expected) in some releases.
My favourite album ever! They weren’t even full time when they recorded this. Brian was teaching maths and Roger and Freddie still had their clothes stall in Kensington market! Unique!
">>> Well I sold a million mirrors >>> In a shopping alley way But I never saw my face In any window any day Now they say your folks are telling you Be a super star But I tell you just be satisfied Stay right where you are" -- _Keep Yourself Alive_ Good thing he didn't take his own advice.
Yeah, we really need this! It's my favorite too. hahah (and it sure have a lot of interesting sections and stuff... even an "only-vocals" really amazing section, with nice neat harmonies by Freddie)
@@Nikioko which is, I'm convinced, the REAL power of these platforms... I'm just an old rocker...yet I find true hope for humanity in recent generations discovering some of the soundtrack of my youth. Yes, self-referential more than a bit, but convince me I'm wrong. This stuff rocks🤘👹🤘
This song takes me on a mental journey into another world. Freddie had such a unique and creative musical imagination. The whole band pulls you in and all you can do is hold on for the ride in this song! Gorgeous work! ❤
@@mori1bund Agreed... 1,000% It's not complete without the full three movement suite..., and it begins with one of their toughest tunes in their entire catalog..., then a prog masterpiece..., and finally one of their most beautiful and lush pieces of their entire catalog...
1973-1980 + Innuendo are best albums from Queen. Brighton Rock The Millionaire Waltz The Prophet's Song Ogre Battle Stone Cold Crazy Father To Son It's Late Totally masterpieces.
I'm ashamed to have never heard this. I'm 36 and have loved Queen since being around 5 due to my Mother... It seems I have some more Queen to discover! This is fantastic.
Dive down the Queen rabbit hole. 18 albums and so many masterpieces it’s astonishing! Also check out Freddie’s 2 solos Mr. Bad Guy and his opera album Barcelona.
Queen II is simply a masterpiece. The whole of the black side segues into each song...I would highly recommend starting at Ogre Battle and listening through to Seven Seas of Rhye in one go, I promise you won't be disappointed. Love the channel BTW and was so stoked to see you pick this song up, my second favourite Queen song. The Fairy Fella's Masterstroke is my favourite and comes before this one on the album.
When you hear "Black Queen" and "Funny How Love Is" back to back, uninterrupted, it's a magical moment. Everything builds to that great crescendo then just stays right up there straight through the next song, like you're soaring. It's just perfect. I'll never understand how some can dislike FHLI, especially how well it follows TMOTBQ. Also, as you point out, the connective musical elements threading through this song started on the previous album. It follows thus: My Fairy King The March Of The Black Queen In The Lap Of The Gods Bohemian Rhapsody Somebody To Love Each song was more ambitious than the last for Freddie, where he challenged himself and the band in terms of writing and production.
Early Queen albums are phenomenal ll being my favorite. Bassist John Deacon is just incredible on these albums & you’re right no one else sounds like Queen.
Queen is so much a part of me that I only now, in my fifties, realise what a weird, seemingly chaotic music it can be. Grew up with them since I was about six or seven because my two older brothers and my nephews were big queen fans, to the exclusion of almost everything else at the time. It’s cool to hear them with new ears when someone is reacting to them for the first time. Appreciate them even more if that’s possible.
Man, I REALLY APPRECIATE that you went on into Funny How Love Is. Without it, March of the Black Queen simply can’t be allowed to finish. And a song that is such genius does not deserve to be simply cut off at the end of where the tracks change over. Thank you!
"Wait, this can't be the end..." Remember riding my Schwin to the record store to buy this...I was 12 and hung out with the older guys in the neighborhood, more than a few of whom were would-be musicians. Such good times! Freddie's vocals, Brian's guitar work completely captivated and motivated me! Was soon to get my first Strat, which led to much joy and not much critical acclaim!!! Yet still! Oh how I miss those 70s! Thanks dude, well chosen!
i have managed to be obsessed with a few bands ,,, i like to think of myself as mr rainbow in that respect it is a lie ... im an obsessive ... pallas ... genesis ...
Such a glorious masterpiece! Welcome to the huge iceburg that is Queen! Their music and its effect on crowds are just magical! The best part of Queen is they don't have just one genre, they don't mean one thing: they are timeless, cross genres, topics, and even now their music is a breath of air because of their pure genius talent. You name the type of music, they have played/sung it! They all brought brilliant ideas to the table and its incredible how sometimes the lyrics would often delve into the philosophical!! Since this was from their second album, who knows what kind of music sorcery was cooking that would eventually either flesh out into something or be tossed into the waste basket. In the first three albums, it was arranged mucically that each song would more often than not segue into the next on the record. March of the Black Queen is so intense it was rarely sung live and only a small portion was sung as part of a medley. I think "funny how love is" is more about how there isn't one difinitive way to define/explain it or how unpredictable it can be, how to display love a significant other (regardless of heterosexual or homosexual) and how the outcome of that love may be, whether the couple stay together for however long, get married or the love becomes toxic, etc. These early works just show, not only how wonderfully talented they are but also how perfectly they blended together and how they seemed incomplete without eachothe! Alongside having his opportunities to sing lead live and on albums, drummer Roger Taylor often sang high falsetto notes in their early years and it was incredible! Brian May has also sung lead on several songs and during concerts and has a beautiful voice too! I like your interpretation on those lyrics of "March of the Black Queen". In their early work, they wrote a lot of fantasy/mythology-themed songs. In fact, when Freddie and his sister were kids, they created their own "Tolkien-esque" fantasy world called the "Kingdom of Rhye" and he told her stories, etc. Some believe Freddie took those childhood memories and wove them into his songs. Alongside "March of the Black Queen", ther such songs include "Lily of the valley", "Nevermore", "ogre Battle" (live at the odeon is outstanding!), and "my fairy king". "White Queen" live at the hammersmith by Brian May is so mystifying and "Fairy Feller's masterstroke is a beautiful of a famous 19th century painting. The kingdom of Rhye is most prominent in the song "The seven seas of Rhye". Here is a link for life at the rainbow th-cam.com/video/ZGXlXIoU1aU/w-d-xo.html! There are so many amazing studio tracks and superior live renditions, there are enough to make your head spin, especially when it comes to deciding your favorites! I love Adam Lambert also! He fits Queen like a glove! He's got the vocal chops, stage presence and his chemistry with Brian and Roger is just infectiously electric! Adam has more than proven himself a worthy addition to the Queen family. I love his personality, voice and his chemistry with the band (especially his comedy/vaudeville bits with Brian). Plus, you don't get called a GFG (Gift from God) by Brian May himself for nothing! On top of that, Brian and Roger started calling him their “slightly younger brother” during 2019/early 2020 rhapsody tour. I don't think anything beats that! Without a doubt, even now, Queen isn't just a band of musicians, composers and singers, but wizards: the effect their music has on the soul and of course their power on crowds is a pure magic only they can deliver! In case you haven't already, I highly recommend the documentaries-The days of our lives th-cam.com/video/y2NOyPI8_m8/w-d-xo.html and "The Show must go on, the Queen and Adam lambert story" on Netflix. I certainly hope you explore more of the vast and epic works of Queen!
How about “Innuendo”? Features a flamenco-ish guitar solo by Steve Howe from YES. Amazing song!!! BTW, Roger has an insane falsetto-he’s usually singing the almost-comically high harmonies...
Doug, I have been a Queen fan since I was a young boy, How I missed this I'll never know! Outstanding piece of music by, in my opinion, the single greatest band of all time. No other bands have come close, either before or since and I think that its a testament to the unique qualities that each member of the band brought to the table. Now that you've started with Queen, you have to do Innuendo! you won't be disappointed - There might even be a bottle of Single Malt in it for you!!!!!!
I've got the album on CD somewhere but I've never listened to it all. Being seduced by night at the Opera, a kind of magic, and Innuendo makes you forget the classic early material.
I distinctly remember the first time I heard this album, and particularly this song. First my headset exploded, then my 13 year-old brain exploded. Thank you.
Queen II remains of of my favorites and this is an unheralded masterpiece. These guys were so far ahead of their time, they're still ahead of them. These vocal arrangements, no vocaltune, layered 3 times to create this infamous blend. Back then, you actually had to work to achieve this and they were in their early '20's!!! Think about that!!! For as much credit as they get, they still don't get the credit they deserve as true pioneers and contributors to the prog-/hard rock/metal genre. Their body of work is as strong as ANYONE's in the history of popular music. And I'll rank it with Beatles, the Bee Gees, Zeppelin and Floyd. They were that varied, that good and that unique. I don't know how technically good Freddie was as a pianist, but he truly had an interesting style. Maybe a comment on that? I kinda wished he'd have highlighted that part of his talent on later albums which he didn't. Brian has said he was always self-conscious of his piano playing. But the intro was 'Seven Seas' of "Death On' are such mood setters.
Queen II is my favorite Queen album. The opening three songs (“Procession”, “Father To Son”, “White Queen”), which flow from one to the next, are possibly the best three song punch other than the end of Abbey Road.
I agree Queen has a unique sound that can't be copied. They are definitely rock music but don't fit in any of the subgenres. I myself think they're like "opera rock".
They carried the "black"/"white" motif on to later albums as well: The white cover on "A Night at the Opera" and the black cover on "A Day at the Races" - even though based on the names you would think they were the reverse.
I recently discovered your channel! I allready respect you soo much for looking at this masterpiece. To me the greatest moment in music/album history is the floaty-switch from ogre battle to Fairy Fellers to Nevermore to the GRAND FINAL MARCH of the Black Queen! To me Queen hit the hardest in the 70s! An album that inspired me to become a musican! Thank you again for this clip! Cheers from switzerland
YESS! HE DID IT! For more Queen, the most obvious pick would be White Queen from the same album. Both the studio version and the live version of Hammersmith Odeon are really, really great. 3 other pieces by them that are really interesting musically are Innuendo (which you might have heard already since it was a big hit), The Prophets Song, it's from the same album as Bohemian Rhapsody and it's their longest piece on any studio album, and finally The Millionaire's Waltz, another musical masterpiece from the album A Day At The Races. Where March Of The Black Queen is often regarded as BoRhaps predecessor, this one is seen by some as its successor. For some other songs by them I really think you would enjoy: -Save Me -Spread Your Wings -Sail Away Sweet Sister
Quenn are, in my opinion, one of the greatest bands. One of their strengths was that every member contributed and was responsible for numerous hit songs. Such an amazing collaboration of talented musicians who managed to fit together perfectly. Please do more Queen songs! Millionaire Waltz, The Prophet's Song, Innuendo and The Show Must Go On are some of the ones I would recommend.
Had to tune in for this one. I think your interpretation of the lyrics is very on point. I'm a guitarist with a BA in classical guitar, but started as a heavy rock/metal player. Loved this album since I was about 7 yrs old. I'm 54. You have a great ear. It makes me realize how genius level the album actually is, yet it flows and transitions so effortlessly on the listener..Nice one! I still rock and play classical too. Cheers.
So glad you did this. Love this song and this was one of the first albums I ever bought. Almost all of the songs are fairy tales. Father to Son is about a king passing down the kingdom to his son. White Queen is about a magical beautiful Queen. Ogre Battle is what the title sounds like. The Fairy Fellers Master Stroke is fairy royalty gathering around to watch a fairy crack open a walnut with a hammer. It's a beautiful and creative album that's really a prog rock album for Queen.
Queen are very good at harmonically messing with your head, especially if you are trying to figure out Freddie's piano changes for guitar. Brian May is no slouch either when it comes to relatively sophisticated composition. Somebody once told me that Seaside Rendezvous was the trickiest Queen song to learn to play on guitar. I tried it. The joke is that there is no guitar on the original recording.
That was a brilliant reaction. This is my favourite Queen song and I listened to this album as a teenager and loved it. I searched your reaction to this as I wondered how you would react - the harmonies are just amazing on that song. Thanks Doug x
Loved seeing a reaction from a trained musician and listening to you follow the chord progressions, etc. It's wonderful to see someone recognize the musicianship and intricacies of Freddie's writing. Look forward to seeing more of your reactions.
I was introduced to Queen through my cousin who is four years older than I am in the mid seventies. Of course it was "A Night At The Opera" we were listening to. I was a fan of Queen immediately. The next album I bought was Queen II and this was my favourite song. The album is much underrated. Thank you for this video.
The albums were enormously popular in the 1970s, not underrated at all. Big sellers. But it's nice to see a young generation appreciating Queen's early albums.
Preps to the one who recommended tjis masterpiece. Queen II it's ridiculously good. One of my favorite songs (Nevermore) lasts just 1:38 and i can't believe how good it is. That's Queen II. It goes beyond expectations.
Great one ! Queen has been one of my absolute 1st bands i completed loving with all their discography. Same album : "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" another HUGE one !
For all of the incredible things that Freddie Mercury is remembered and praised for, I think one of the things that should be talked about more is what an accomplished pianist he is. And as someone who has played since I was three years old, I find his piano compositions endlessly fascinating and challenging. He was classically trained at boarding school, but later in life, he absolutely put his own spin on it. There will truly never be another like him.
If you ever get into Album Reactions, this is definitely one you MUST hit! Like a classic Floyd album, the songs move into each other! If not, at least get Ogre Battle, The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke, and Nevermore together as that is the single greatest medley Queen ever did! In the early days, before the Arena Rock and Synth Rock they did, Queen were a Prog/Metal band (Prog and Metal, not Prog Metal, to avoid confusion) that actually had a strict policy against using synthesisers. They were very experimental and up to the par of Yes, Genesis, and Pink Floyd. A Day At The Races was their last album to feature a dominating Progressive sound. Like many Prog bands at the time, they couldn't go on doing long Prog songs once Punk hit the scene. So they simplified their sound and eventually gave into the Synth crave of the early 1980s. They did return to their Prog roots by their last few album after Live Aid, especially on Freddie's last album with them Innuendo in 1991, the year he died. This song, like many Queen songs, was never explained the meaning. The most plausible and common theory has to do with a villainous or flamboyant baker from Victorian-era England, as Freddie was a big fan of the Victorian Era at this time and even constructed the many songs, including the entirety of Side Black off of his original fantasy land called Rhye, which technically makes Queen II, or at least Side Black, a concept album. Whomever this baker is, they seem to have power over everyone who consumes her creations, possibly alluding to a Witch or even a Gypsy of some sort. Though the lyric video here censors it, this song actually made buzz on social media a while back due to the use of the phrase "a little n*gger-sugar", as opposed to the changed "a little bit of". What most don't understand is that that phrase is an old term from Victorian-era England to name Brown Sugar, due to the colour of the sugar (and possibly due to African slaves stomping on it and some belief that their colour washed off on it, which apart from that being quite hard to believe, is also not supported by any real evidence). Definitely hit some more Queen from this era! It's probably safe to assume you've heard the big hits, so I'd recommend The Prophet's Song, Ogre Battle/The Fairly Feller's Master Stroke/Nevermore (medley), White Queen (As It Began), The Millionaire Waltz, and Death On Two Legs! Also, if you like Ragtime and Dixieland Jazz, Good Company and Bring Back That Leroy Brown! Just a fun treat those two!
You mentioned Queen "giving into the synth craze," but they were never specifically anti-sent. The only reason they even specifically mentioned that there were no synthesizers used on the record was because people didn't believe them that they were making the sounds with only vocals, guitars, and sound engineering and and effects pedals. They didn't use synthesizers, not as a matter of policy or of hatred, but just because they didn't think the synthesizers of the time could make the kind of sounds that they wanted and sound good while doing it. They weren't wrong. They knew how to make the sounds they wanted with the things that they knew how to use instead. Once the technology caught up, they started using synthesizers. They used them well, in fact. They used them better than a lot of the garbage New Wave bands did. They used them to supplement the band. It wasn't like they compromise their ideals to do it because they never had any such stated ideals. This may not even be what you mean, but it's something that I've heard expressed many times by many others, so I'm just putting this out there. It bugs me as much as people trying to claim that the movie 300 is historical or sin City is good or...I dunno, that The Game was somehow worse than Jazz because it uses synths.
I've been a Queen fan since the beginning and still love the genius of those first 5 albums much more than some of the obvious 80's hits. Queen II was an astonishing album to my 12 year old ears at the time - anybody not familiar with this album should definitely give it a serious listen.
To understand The March of the Black Queen, you must understand Freddie's background. He was born in Zanzibar which is a beautiful and exotic island known for 2 things: as a "Spice Island" and one of the largest slave ports in the Indian Ocean. Freddie, along with sister Kashmira. played along the waterfront (where he created the fantasy world of "The Seven Seas of Rhye") and listened to the stories of the island past about the slave trade. One story was of a young boy signed on a slave ship as the powder monkey (a boy whose job was to ferry gunpowder from the powder magazine in the ship's hold to the artillery pieces). The story tells of the boy's initial excitement when he first saw Zanzibar ('It's like going up to heaven and coming back alive"). The smells and beauty overwhelmed him, The boy had been taught that his country was noble and slavey was its right but now he confronted with reality, he begins questioning the racism of the British culture. He is confused and conflicted but in the end, chooses to follow the Black Queen (I'll be your bad boy, I'll be your bad boy, I'll do the march of the Black Queen). This story must have resonated with the creative brain of Freddie and somewhat haunted him until he could express it in music. I believe that is the way that Freddie dealt with many of his demons, to mold them into imaginary he could communicate and control in his music. .
This is revivalist history to suit the times of today. Freddie and his family loved the British culture, for them Britain was a save heaven from prosecution and rebellion. His father worked for the British government. Freddie has said if he could choose he would have been born in London at the age of 17 when he first arrived in Britain. The Black Queen is a pirate Queen, the song is full of Victorian words. Waterbabies, are fantasy creatures from a Victorian book. Powder monkeys also comes from the Victorian age. It starts with calm before the storm, just before the attack of the Black Queen. There are still waterbabies magical creatures playing in the water, and everything is peacful. Then there is a battle at sea, "Blue powder monkeys, praying in the dead of night. Here comes The Black Queen poking through the pile". The protagonist is captured by the Black Queen. She tortures them, "Black on, black on, every finger nail and toe we've only begun, begun, make this, make that, keep making all that noise". Pulling out your nails are methods of torture. And then she begins to seduce the protagonist. He struggles with the decision, "In each and every soul lies a man and very soon, he'll deceive and discover, but even till the end of his life, he'll bring a little love." He says he is about to deceive his side, but he will do it for love. He has fallen in love with the Black Queen's command and power. He swears fealty to her completely. " My life is in your hands, I'll fo and I'll fie, I'll be what you make me, I'll do what you like I'll be a bad boy, I'll be your bad boy, I'll do the march of the Black Queen. In last part he thinks about his old life and what he will miss, he does feel slightly sad about it, but he is prepared to forget his old life.
@@ZENOBlAmusic What are you trying to say? That Freddie wasn't born on Zanzibar and never heard any of the stories about the slave ships? Or are you saying that his admiration for the British Culture (and he did love Britain) means he was immune to the feeling and emotions of a young boy when confronted with the realities of slavery on a British ship? Or are you saying that Freddie could never identify with contrary emotions and how reality can produce a conflicting mental state? Despite the fact that Freddie was excited when his family was forced to leave Zanzibar for London, he still was conflicted by the fact that he never quite feel he fit into the British culture. Yes, he was British but he was also a Parsee and he was proud of his Persian heritage. That alone was a situation that produced conflicting emotions in his life. In addition, he had been forced by circumstances (by his own admission) to learn how to maneuver his life on his own between the multiple diverse forces in his life. He was sent to boarding school over 7400 away from his home at the age of 8. The school he attended was a Christian boarding school outside of Bombay (Mumbai), India where most of the students were English boys whose families were living in India. Freddie was a Parsee raised in a conservative, Zorastarian family from Zanzibar. His family's dream for him was to become a lawyer, find a nice girl, and raise a family. Freddie grew up to be a bisexual/gay, musically gifted, world-renowned rock star who raised cats. His life was full of contrary forces and conflicted emotions.
@@Sassypaws4927 I have seen this type of analysis or speculation about The March Of The Back Queen. You got that answer from a blog. Which is fine, I am not saying there is anything wrong with it. But this blog, or analysis don't know their own history. Historically these ideas does not bare any truth. Some groups of people do have a tendency to relate a lot of topics to slavery these days. This is not something people did in the 50's, 60's and 70's. There are a few very obvious problems with this whole premise, if you know and understand a bit of history. Slavery was fully outlawed in Britain and the British colonies in 1805. Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890, that is 85 years after Britain had fully abolished slavery. They didn't just abolish slavery they actually fought wars against slavery. (The debt Britain incurred from fighting slavery was only fully paid off by British citizens in 2018, after over 200 years). Zanzibar is mostly a Moslem country, most of their historical dealings was with Middle Eastern countries, not with Britain. Zanzibar is on East coast of Africa. The British and Americans got their slaves from the West coast of Africa. Slaves for these Western countries came mostly from The Kongo, Nigeria and Cameroon. If you look at a map of Africa you will understand why this is the case. The Western countries had direct and easy access to the West coast of Africa, they did not have much easy access to the East coast of Africa. Who did have access to the East coast of Africa? Saudi Arabia and Middle Eastern countries had quick and easy access to the East coast of Africa. The Middle East used and created far more slaves then Western countries ever did. That is the big problem with this premise and analysis. It is the Arabs who mostly ruled and occupied Zanzibar through the years. Being a British colony actually relieved the citizens of Zanzibar from Arab rule at the time. The conflict between Africans and Arabs almost immediately escalated as soon as Britain decided to abandon Zanzibar. That is why Freddie and his family had to fled the island. There was about 70 000 Arabs and Indians on Zanzibar at the time, 20 000 of them were killed in this revolution. That means 29% of the Indian and Arab population was killed. If Freddie had any torments from his upbringing, you would think a revolution would be a big torment. Freddie likely knew people where killed in this revolution. The Arab and Parsee population did not mix much with the African population. The African population were mostly servants to them. Most of Freddie's fellow student were Indian in the boarding school, not English. Freddie's friends were Indian, you can look at pictures from the school to see this. British culture was revered in India at the time. That is where Freddie learned all of the Victorian stories and phrases that he used in his early music. Freddie saw very little from his parents during this time, he saw his parents around 3 times from the age 7 - 16. He was really mostly exposed to the Anglican church in his childhood, (mass was compulsory and he sang in the church choir), far more then Zoroastrianism. When he returned to Zanzibar he was sent to a Catholic church. He had issues with abandonment, because he had so little contact with his parents. The only slight reference in the song to slavery is n**** sugar. This is not actually a reference to slavery. Coarse and unrefined brown sugar was sometimes called n**** sugar, during the Victorian times in unrefined company. Using oil and rubbing someone with coarse sugar or salt was actually a method of torture. In the song it is the Black Queen who orders her minions directly, to use oil and sugar in order to torture the captives. No, the Black Queen is not physically black. She is called The Black Queen because she is suppose to be an evil character. As the villain in the story she uses words such as n***** sugar. Of course Freddie had his problems and conflicts, but you cannot use ideas from today and supplant them on someone like Freddie, who did not grow up with these issues. You can do it, but you will never really understand his way of thinking if you assign ideas and motives to him which would not have been there. As someone who actually live in Africa, I have never heard stories of slave ships. I can perhaps give an explanation for that. The truth is that it was fellow Africans who mostly sold people into slavery. There was and still are warring tribes, they sold their captured enemies into slavery. And there is still slavery in Africa and in the Middle East. I think people who live in Africa understands this very well for the most part. But this is just a personal perspective, so it might not be relevant to every situation. I am not trying attack or target you. As I said, I know where you got this interpretation from. Not everyone is being taught a lot of history these days and people are often not that interested in history. So these are very easy mistakes to make, and they always come from an area of compassion or empathy. You can verify all of this information.
Two more songs with multiple sections: Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run which you most likely already know and 10cc from the 1975 album The Original Soundtrack: One Night in Paris - which you may not know
Ooh, one of my favourite Queen tracks! Generally, early Queen is just brilliant. As in, every song from the first two albums is a masterpiece. Some are better than others, purely to my personal taste, but there's no "bad", just "brilliant" and "even brillianter".
So glad you've done a Queen reaction Doug! And I must echo the other poster who've suggested The Prophet's Song, it is truly excellent. You may want to consider these gems also: Doin' Alright Jesus White Man Dead on Time
The whole Queen II album is amazing You really should do the whole Black side as a whole as all the songs run together.. From Ogre Battle through The Fairy tellers Masterstroke to The Seven Seas of Rye Its a true masterpiece. March of the Black Queen is just the starter pack
Thanks Doug, that was great. I have been a Queen fan since the mid 1970's and had never heard that one (could not afford to buy albums back then!) I am learning so much about music through your reactions, keep it up please!
Queen put together multilayered song structures bolstered by rich, royal, intense vocal & guitar and overdubs. The rich melodic lead guitar passages often reflect the name of the band, sort of a nod to the British tradition of royalty, king & queen. Listening to Queen songs is like listening to a catalogue of musical passages and phrases that are familiar, but often times presented with a twist. Like changing majors to minors, and constructing unexpected melodies that progress in a different and clever way, and tempo changes not normally heard in popular music. As a youngster listening to Queen I and Queen II, thier music was mesmerizing. It still is.
Fist of all, greetings from Brazil. My dear and beloved professor - yah, you teach me soooooo3 much. You have no idea! This is one of my favourite Queen songs! I am writing it BEFORE watching your video! After I watch it, I will write you again! Greetings
Many old-school Queen fans consider "Queen II" their finest work, blending amazing writing style and instrumental and vocal virtuosity. Freddie is firing on all cylinders, vocally, on this album, as can be heard tackling "March of the Black Queen" full voice, with little falsetto work. Aaaahhhh, he was young and powerful, here!
🤩 I'm one of those fans
@@zigomar-4 Too!
Hard to decide but I'm almost there too. Also, goosebumps every time I listen the little gem that is "Nevermore". That final note, oh man...
Agree! Queen 2 and Innuendo their top, and in the between, lots of masterpieces
agree
Queen II is my fav
Queen 2 is one of those albums that really need to be listened in it's entirety. It's a true musical journey.
I smoked a lot of pot to this album in college. The best of times.
@@TheWaynos73 it really is one of those albums. What helps it is that you can pick out different things over several listens.
You really should listen to Queen II in one sitting. In my opinion it's their best album and deserves a full listen.
Yes!!
They weren't quite as good again until Innuendo, although, of course, they were always brilliant.
Underrated comment here. It's that kind of album, which should be treated as one piece. Especially so the Black side with every song flowing into the next one (they had some of this in further albums as well, notably with the Prophet's Song, but less and less). The two songs featured here were even separated at a wrong place (before 'forget your singalongs', as the author of the video almost expected) in some releases.
@@MarcoWriedt In the case of Yes, that would be _Going for the One_ ;-)
@@davep8221 absolutely!!
My favourite album ever! They weren’t even full time when they recorded this. Brian was teaching maths and Roger and Freddie still had their clothes stall in Kensington market! Unique!
">>> Well I sold a million mirrors
>>> In a shopping alley way
But I never saw my face
In any window any day
Now they say your folks are telling you
Be a super star
But I tell you just be satisfied
Stay right where you are"
-- _Keep Yourself Alive_
Good thing he didn't take his own advice.
"Remember to deliver with the speed of light
a little bit of love and joy"
Mercury, messenger of the gods
Please do "the ferry fellers masterstroke"
Queen II is my absolute favorite album.
one of my faves as well
Oh Yes!! Fairy Feller's Masterstroke and the transition into Nevermore!! The two of those together are amazing!!
Ooh, yes please.
#1 best song ever of any band/singer (IMHO).
YESSSS - Please let the song transition into Nevermore (beautiful song).
Listen "The Prophet Song " next time, epic song from Queen.
Amazing song.
I was just going to say the same thing. Nice!
Yes, I have also recommended this on an older video of The Daily Doug. Awesome art!
This is one of my very favroites!
Yeah, we really need this! It's my favorite too. hahah
(and it sure have a lot of interesting sections and stuff... even an "only-vocals" really amazing section, with nice neat harmonies by Freddie)
Please do “White Queen” live at the Hammersmith 1975.
Absolutely, an amazing song!
Up
Yes yes yes White Queen live!!
YESSSS 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Most beautiful balad I have ever heard. So emotional.
I cried😭 again 🙈😂
Welcome to the rabbit hole that is the Queen II album. There's much more.
Soo much..!
Yes, there is also a White Queen, of course. ;-)
@@Nikioko dualism aside, this disc rocks, muchly!
@@roblaw4554 Yes, there is a lot more on it but most people only know Funny How Love Is and Seven Seas of Rhye, unfortunately.
@@Nikioko which is, I'm convinced, the REAL power of these platforms... I'm just an old rocker...yet I find true hope for humanity in recent generations discovering some of the soundtrack of my youth. Yes, self-referential more than a bit, but convince me I'm wrong. This stuff rocks🤘👹🤘
This song takes me on a mental journey into another world. Freddie had such a unique and creative musical imagination. The whole band pulls you in and all you can do is hold on for the ride in this song! Gorgeous work! ❤
Another great one would be the Trilogy formed by Tenement Funster, Flick of the wrist and Lilly of the valley.
A MUST !!!
Yes...
Or Brighton Rock
Or the Dream Theater cover of these ... also great!
Absolutely, but I would prefer the original by Queen over DT's cover!
@@lacapsuladeltiempo9040 YESSSS - BRIGHTON ROCK
Ogre Battle would be interesting.
you mean 'Ogre Battle + The Fairy Feller's... + Nevermore' 😁
do altitudes or speed metal symphony by jason becker!
YES
Live at the odeon hammersmith is outstanding!
@@mori1bund Agreed... 1,000% It's not complete without the full three movement suite..., and it begins with one of their toughest tunes in their entire catalog..., then a prog masterpiece..., and finally one of their most beautiful and lush pieces of their entire catalog...
This is my favorite Queen album. As Brian May said, it's like Led Zeppelin meets JRR Tolkien. So glad you're doing it.
I like how it also kind of slightly touches on heavy metal
true both Freddie and Brian were inspired to write about fairytales like LZ
Well LZ was already very fond of JRRT: _Misty Mountain Hop_ , _Over the Hills..., maybe some others.
@@sandenson I'd say more like Damascus Steel ;-)
Is Ogre Battle technically the first ever thrash metal song too? Its pretty speedy.
1973-1980 + Innuendo are best albums from Queen.
Brighton Rock
The Millionaire Waltz
The Prophet's Song
Ogre Battle
Stone Cold Crazy
Father To Son
It's Late
Totally masterpieces.
I'm ashamed to have never heard this. I'm 36 and have loved Queen since being around 5 due to my Mother... It seems I have some more Queen to discover! This is fantastic.
Ashamed, you should be excited and lucky. What a find!!!
Dive down the Queen rabbit hole. 18 albums and so many masterpieces it’s astonishing! Also check out Freddie’s 2 solos Mr. Bad Guy and his opera album Barcelona.
Queen II is simply a masterpiece. The whole of the black side segues into each song...I would highly recommend starting at Ogre Battle and listening through to Seven Seas of Rhye in one go, I promise you won't be disappointed. Love the channel BTW and was so stoked to see you pick this song up, my second favourite Queen song. The Fairy Fella's Masterstroke is my favourite and comes before this one on the album.
I love the whole album from the start to the finish. White side compliments Black side perfectly.
When you hear "Black Queen" and "Funny How Love Is" back to back, uninterrupted, it's a magical moment. Everything builds to that great crescendo then just stays right up there straight through the next song, like you're soaring. It's just perfect. I'll never understand how some can dislike FHLI, especially how well it follows TMOTBQ.
Also, as you point out, the connective musical elements threading through this song started on the previous album. It follows thus:
My Fairy King
The March Of The Black Queen
In The Lap Of The Gods
Bohemian Rhapsody
Somebody To Love
Each song was more ambitious than the last for Freddie, where he challenged himself and the band in terms of writing and production.
The Millionaire Waltz, the perfect follow up to Bohemian Rhapsody imo.
Totally agree. An unjustly overlooked masterpiece!
And after millionaire waltz it has to be directly followed up by your my best friend
Millionaire walts is the shiiiiiiit. Fucking love that song so much.
it's 100% Brian May just taking the piss and enjoying himself on his guitar. Magical.
@@dmen89 And don't forget Deaky's magnificent counterpoint to Freddy's piano
Queen II is an awesome album from beginning to end. Masterful musicianship and beautuful sound. I am a long-time fan. They are heroes in my life.
Early Queen albums are phenomenal ll being my favorite. Bassist John Deacon is just incredible on these albums & you’re right no one else sounds like Queen.
March of the black queen is my favourite queen song, it’s a masterpiece
Queen II is a great album. Ogre Battle was my favorite as a kid
Ogre Battle is great!
The father of Power Metal genre
This song is one of my all time favourites!! I always think of it as a multiorgarsmic song
Queen is so much a part of me that I only now, in my fifties, realise what a weird, seemingly chaotic music it can be. Grew up with them since I was about six or seven because my two older brothers and my nephews were big queen fans, to the exclusion of almost everything else at the time. It’s cool to hear them with new ears when someone is reacting to them for the first time. Appreciate them even more if that’s possible.
Thank you for bringing Queen to th channel
Try The Prophet's Song, Ogre Battle
But all the 70s álbuns.
I would love to see Doug's reaction of The Prophet's Song!
@@itstrivial1522 it's one of my favourites, just love it
Yeah The Prophet Song is amazing, would love for him to analyse the middle vocal Canon!
Man, I REALLY APPRECIATE that you went on into Funny How Love Is. Without it, March of the Black Queen simply can’t be allowed to finish. And a song that is such genius does not deserve to be simply cut off at the end of where the tracks change over. Thank you!
Thank you for this one, Doug. One of the greatest Queen songs, no doubt about it.
Please do “The Millionaire Waltz”! This amazing piece reminds a lot of classical music
Another vote for the Prophet Song here. On the same album as Rhapsody and always overshadowed by it.
Yup totally
Always thought it was a better song than rhapsody,sort of a prelude to it
"The Prophet's Song" is a MASTERPIECE!!! 🤘🤘🤘🔝🔝🔝❤❤❤ Greetings from Italy!!! 😉
Every song on "A night the opera" is overshadowed by Bohemian rhapsody.
"Wait, this can't be the end..."
Remember riding my Schwin to the record store to buy this...I was 12 and hung out with the older guys in the neighborhood, more than a few of whom were would-be musicians. Such good times! Freddie's vocals, Brian's guitar work completely captivated and motivated me! Was soon to get my first Strat, which led to much joy and not much critical acclaim!!! Yet still! Oh how I miss those 70s!
Thanks dude, well chosen!
😂 great reaction, wow!! I love Queen's diversity, and the 4 of them together just magic ♥️
Im simply obsessed with Queen they're all I have listened to for years and years all day everyday
I totally get it!!!
i have managed to be obsessed with a few bands ,,, i like to think of myself as mr rainbow in that respect
it is a lie ... im an obsessive ... pallas ... genesis ...
Another fantastically interesting song is "Innuendo," from the album of the same name. It was their last complete studio album.
TMOTBQ is my absolute favourite Queen song. It's like an actual symphony!😍
And now you must listen White Queen from the other side to get the whole picture... :)
Such a glorious masterpiece! Welcome to the huge iceburg that is Queen! Their music and its effect on crowds are just magical! The best part of Queen is they don't have just one genre, they don't mean one thing: they are timeless, cross genres, topics, and even now their music is a breath of air because of their pure genius talent. You name the type of music, they have played/sung it! They all brought brilliant ideas to the table and its incredible how sometimes the lyrics would often delve into the philosophical!! Since this was from their second album, who knows what kind of music sorcery was cooking that would eventually either flesh out into something or be tossed into the waste basket. In the first three albums, it was arranged mucically that each song would more often than not segue into the next on the record. March of the Black Queen is so intense it was rarely sung live and only a small portion was sung as part of a medley. I think "funny how love is" is more about how there isn't one difinitive way to define/explain it or how unpredictable it can be, how to display love a significant other (regardless of heterosexual or homosexual) and how the outcome of that love may be, whether the couple stay together for however long, get married or the love becomes toxic, etc. These early works just show, not only how wonderfully talented they are but also how perfectly they blended together and how they seemed incomplete without eachothe! Alongside having his opportunities to sing lead live and on albums, drummer Roger Taylor often sang high falsetto notes in their early years and it was incredible! Brian May has also sung lead on several songs and during concerts and has a beautiful voice too! I like your interpretation on those lyrics of "March of the Black Queen". In their early work, they wrote a lot of fantasy/mythology-themed songs. In fact, when Freddie and his sister were kids, they created their own "Tolkien-esque" fantasy world called the "Kingdom of Rhye" and he told her stories, etc. Some believe Freddie took those childhood memories and wove them into his songs. Alongside "March of the Black Queen", ther such songs include "Lily of the valley", "Nevermore", "ogre Battle" (live at the odeon is outstanding!), and "my fairy king". "White Queen" live at the hammersmith by Brian May is so mystifying and "Fairy Feller's masterstroke is a beautiful of a famous 19th century painting. The kingdom of Rhye is most prominent in the song "The seven seas of Rhye". Here is a link for life at the rainbow th-cam.com/video/ZGXlXIoU1aU/w-d-xo.html! There are so many amazing studio tracks and superior live renditions, there are enough to make your head spin, especially when it comes to deciding your favorites! I love Adam Lambert also! He fits Queen like a glove! He's got the vocal chops, stage presence and his chemistry with Brian and Roger is just infectiously electric! Adam has more than proven himself a worthy addition to the Queen family. I love his personality, voice and his chemistry with the band (especially his comedy/vaudeville bits with Brian). Plus, you don't get called a GFG (Gift from God) by Brian May himself for nothing! On top of that, Brian and Roger started calling him their “slightly younger brother” during 2019/early 2020 rhapsody tour. I don't think anything beats that! Without a doubt, even now, Queen isn't just a band of musicians, composers and singers, but wizards: the effect their music has on the soul and of course their power on crowds is a pure magic only they can deliver! In case you haven't already, I highly recommend the documentaries-The days of our lives th-cam.com/video/y2NOyPI8_m8/w-d-xo.html and "The Show must go on, the Queen and Adam lambert story" on Netflix. I certainly hope you explore more of the vast and epic works of Queen!
The Queen iceberg what awesome description of their talent simply endless.
How about “Innuendo”? Features a flamenco-ish guitar solo by Steve Howe from YES. Amazing song!!!
BTW, Roger has an insane falsetto-he’s usually singing the almost-comically high harmonies...
@roger marques It doesn't get more mainstream than Queen, though
flamenco guitar solo by Brian May and Steve Howe
My favorite Queen song, without a doubt. A masterpiece!
Next on the list: The Prophet’s song!
The early Queen albums are really interesting. I would suggest The Prophet's Song.
A lot of Queen songs in the 70's were harmonically flowing.
They were, kind of a progressive band.
I also consider them as "kind of prog rock", but they (unlike Genesis or Yes) were never generally considered as such.
Doug, I have been a Queen fan since I was a young boy, How I missed this I'll never know! Outstanding piece of music by, in my opinion, the single greatest band of all time. No other bands have come close, either before or since and I think that its a testament to the unique qualities that each member of the band brought to the table.
Now that you've started with Queen, you have to do Innuendo! you won't be disappointed - There might even be a bottle of Single Malt in it for you!!!!!!
If you don’t know the Album, you should definitely check it out. Great stuff
I've got the album on CD somewhere but I've never listened to it all. Being seduced by night at the Opera, a kind of magic, and Innuendo makes you forget the classic early material.
My fairy king or Prophets song would be great, my favorite Queen songs with March of the black queen.
YESSSS to THE PROPHETS SONG & MY FAIRY KING
I can't believe you did this song!!!!! 🤘🤘
Thank you!!
I saw Queen perform "March of the Black Queen" & "White Queen" in 1977. It was amazing!
I distinctly remember the first time I heard this album, and particularly this song. First my headset exploded, then my 13 year-old brain exploded. Thank you.
Queen II remains of of my favorites and this is an unheralded masterpiece. These guys were so far ahead of their time, they're still ahead of them. These vocal arrangements, no vocaltune, layered 3 times to create this infamous blend. Back then, you actually had to work to achieve this and they were in their early '20's!!! Think about that!!! For as much credit as they get, they still don't get the credit they deserve as true pioneers and contributors to the prog-/hard rock/metal genre.
Their body of work is as strong as ANYONE's in the history of popular music. And I'll rank it with Beatles, the Bee Gees, Zeppelin and Floyd. They were that varied, that good and that unique.
I don't know how technically good Freddie was as a pianist, but he truly had an interesting style. Maybe a comment on that? I kinda wished he'd have highlighted that part of his talent on later albums which he didn't. Brian has said he was always self-conscious of his piano playing. But the intro was 'Seven Seas' of "Death On' are such mood setters.
So Happy you picked this one.. 😍 Welcome in early Queen.. Some other masterpieces to discover..
I'm Queen's addicted since 1986. This reaction thrilled me, also because QueenII is one of my favorite album. Thank you.
Early Queen ... fantastic !
Queen : the most loved band here in Brazil.
"Queen II" was the first album i bought, in 1986. I'm 54 years old now.
Love the show, Doug! "QUEEN II" is a simply brilliant statement from front to back - thanks for checking out "TMOTBQ"!
I'm amazed this is still on your page! Queen are notorious blockers. Great synopsis.
Listen "Innuendo" next time. Magnificent song from Queen
I love listening to this going left and right in headphones. Why does nobody do this any more?
Queen II is my favorite Queen album. The opening three songs (“Procession”, “Father To Son”, “White Queen”), which flow from one to the next, are possibly the best three song punch other than the end of Abbey Road.
Love watching you discovering march of the Black Queen for the first time. I've been listening to this for over 46 years. Welcome aboard.
That has always been one of my favorite songs. That song has more tempo changes then most bands have in an entire album.
"A little bit of love and joy" has been my motto ever since this work or music. Thank you.
I agree Queen has a unique sound that can't be copied. They are definitely rock music but don't fit in any of the subgenres. I myself think they're like "opera rock".
lol
Queen never did rock opera
do not talk about things you do not know
Progressive rock
I’ve been anxiously waiting for you to react to Queen! An incredible catalog obvs. More more more!
They carried the "black"/"white" motif on to later albums as well: The white cover on "A Night at the Opera" and the black cover on "A Day at the Races" - even though based on the names you would think they were the reverse.
I recently discovered your channel! I allready respect you soo much for looking at this masterpiece.
To me the greatest moment in music/album history is the floaty-switch from ogre battle to Fairy Fellers to Nevermore to the GRAND FINAL MARCH of the Black Queen! To me Queen hit the hardest in the 70s! An album that inspired me to become a musican! Thank you again for this clip! Cheers from switzerland
YESS! HE DID IT!
For more Queen, the most obvious pick would be White Queen from the same album. Both the studio version and the live version of Hammersmith Odeon are really, really great.
3 other pieces by them that are really interesting musically are Innuendo (which you might have heard already since it was a big hit), The Prophets Song, it's from the same album as Bohemian Rhapsody and it's their longest piece on any studio album, and finally The Millionaire's Waltz, another musical masterpiece from the album A Day At The Races. Where March Of The Black Queen is often regarded as BoRhaps predecessor, this one is seen by some as its successor.
For some other songs by them I really think you would enjoy:
-Save Me
-Spread Your Wings
-Sail Away Sweet Sister
I think White Queen is my favourite track. Black Queen is outrageous and schizophrenic but White Queen is simple and beautiful.
My favorite Queen song. I love how this song and Ogre Battle inspired my favorite game ... Which is called Ogre Battle lol .
Fantastic stuff, Doug!
Quenn are, in my opinion, one of the greatest bands. One of their strengths was that every member contributed and was responsible for numerous hit songs. Such an amazing collaboration of talented musicians who managed to fit together perfectly.
Please do more Queen songs!
Millionaire Waltz, The Prophet's Song, Innuendo and The Show Must Go On are some of the ones I would recommend.
Had to tune in for this one. I think your interpretation of the lyrics is very on point. I'm a guitarist with a BA in classical guitar, but started as a heavy rock/metal player. Loved this album since I was about 7 yrs old. I'm 54. You have a great ear. It makes me realize how genius level the album actually is, yet it flows and transitions so effortlessly on the listener..Nice one! I still rock and play classical too. Cheers.
So glad you did this. Love this song and this was one of the first albums I ever bought. Almost all of the songs are fairy tales. Father to Son is about a king passing down the kingdom to his son. White Queen is about a magical beautiful Queen. Ogre Battle is what the title sounds like. The Fairy Fellers Master Stroke is fairy royalty gathering around to watch a fairy crack open a walnut with a hammer. It's a beautiful and creative album that's really a prog rock album for Queen.
I love watching these videos because all of the awe I already had for Queen is properly explained.
Queen are very good at harmonically messing with your head, especially if you are trying to figure out Freddie's piano changes for guitar. Brian May is no slouch either when it comes to relatively sophisticated composition. Somebody once told me that Seaside Rendezvous was the trickiest Queen song to learn to play on guitar. I tried it. The joke is that there is no guitar on the original recording.
Love this song!!
Next one has to be "The Millionaire Waltz."
Pure art🤘
That was a brilliant reaction. This is my favourite Queen song and I listened to this album as a teenager and loved it. I searched your reaction to this as I wondered how you would react - the harmonies are just amazing on that song. Thanks Doug x
You should try The Prophet Song by Queen.
That is an amazing song!!!! Up there with MOTBQ definitely.
Loved seeing a reaction from a trained musician and listening to you follow the chord progressions, etc. It's wonderful to see someone recognize the musicianship and intricacies of Freddie's writing. Look forward to seeing more of your reactions.
I was introduced to Queen through my cousin who is four years older than I am in the mid seventies. Of course it was "A Night At The Opera" we were listening to. I was a fan of Queen immediately. The next album I bought was Queen II and this was my favourite song. The album is much underrated. Thank you for this video.
The albums were enormously popular in the 1970s, not underrated at all. Big sellers. But it's nice to see a young generation appreciating Queen's early albums.
My favorite song from my most favorite album of all time! A must listen! Thanks for giving it a listen and spreading the love of early Queen. ❤❤❤
Preps to the one who recommended tjis masterpiece. Queen II it's ridiculously good. One of my favorite songs (Nevermore) lasts just 1:38 and i can't believe how good it is.
That's Queen II. It goes beyond expectations.
I can play Nevermore on piano and the intro from this song. This is one of their best three albums. I Love it so much.
Great one ! Queen has been one of my absolute 1st bands i completed loving with all their discography.
Same album : "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" another HUGE one !
"The fairy feller's master-stroke and Nevermore" goes just like this too. You should check this. You could also react to "The prophhet's song"
Indeed: the lyrics from ‘funny…’ are great (as well)
Fastest listen that there ever was. The best band, and a song from their best album.
For all of the incredible things that Freddie Mercury is remembered and praised for, I think one of the things that should be talked about more is what an accomplished pianist he is. And as someone who has played since I was three years old, I find his piano compositions endlessly fascinating and challenging. He was classically trained at boarding school, but later in life, he absolutely put his own spin on it. There will truly never be another like him.
If you ever get into Album Reactions, this is definitely one you MUST hit! Like a classic Floyd album, the songs move into each other! If not, at least get Ogre Battle, The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke, and Nevermore together as that is the single greatest medley Queen ever did!
In the early days, before the Arena Rock and Synth Rock they did, Queen were a Prog/Metal band (Prog and Metal, not Prog Metal, to avoid confusion) that actually had a strict policy against using synthesisers. They were very experimental and up to the par of Yes, Genesis, and Pink Floyd. A Day At The Races was their last album to feature a dominating Progressive sound. Like many Prog bands at the time, they couldn't go on doing long Prog songs once Punk hit the scene. So they simplified their sound and eventually gave into the Synth crave of the early 1980s. They did return to their Prog roots by their last few album after Live Aid, especially on Freddie's last album with them Innuendo in 1991, the year he died.
This song, like many Queen songs, was never explained the meaning. The most plausible and common theory has to do with a villainous or flamboyant baker from Victorian-era England, as Freddie was a big fan of the Victorian Era at this time and even constructed the many songs, including the entirety of Side Black off of his original fantasy land called Rhye, which technically makes Queen II, or at least Side Black, a concept album. Whomever this baker is, they seem to have power over everyone who consumes her creations, possibly alluding to a Witch or even a Gypsy of some sort. Though the lyric video here censors it, this song actually made buzz on social media a while back due to the use of the phrase "a little n*gger-sugar", as opposed to the changed "a little bit of". What most don't understand is that that phrase is an old term from Victorian-era England to name Brown Sugar, due to the colour of the sugar (and possibly due to African slaves stomping on it and some belief that their colour washed off on it, which apart from that being quite hard to believe, is also not supported by any real evidence).
Definitely hit some more Queen from this era! It's probably safe to assume you've heard the big hits, so I'd recommend The Prophet's Song, Ogre Battle/The Fairly Feller's Master Stroke/Nevermore (medley), White Queen (As It Began), The Millionaire Waltz, and Death On Two Legs! Also, if you like Ragtime and Dixieland Jazz, Good Company and Bring Back That Leroy Brown! Just a fun treat those two!
Great info re: Victorian influence, thanks. Bring Back That Leroy Brown is a masterpiece! Also Dreamer's Ball and My Melancholy Blues.
It's funny that you mention Innuendo. The song (not the album) is such a dark song, and suddenly Flamenco-style guitars. I love that!
Are you thinking of Sweeney Todd who was the barber who helped bake "meat pies" at Mrs Lovett's Bakery?
@@amadeusm740 Not familiar with in detail with Sweeney Todd, though I've heard the name many times.
You mentioned Queen "giving into the synth craze," but they were never specifically anti-sent. The only reason they even specifically mentioned that there were no synthesizers used on the record was because people didn't believe them that they were making the sounds with only vocals, guitars, and sound engineering and and effects pedals. They didn't use synthesizers, not as a matter of policy or of hatred, but just because they didn't think the synthesizers of the time could make the kind of sounds that they wanted and sound good while doing it. They weren't wrong. They knew how to make the sounds they wanted with the things that they knew how to use instead. Once the technology caught up, they started using synthesizers. They used them well, in fact. They used them better than a lot of the garbage New Wave bands did. They used them to supplement the band. It wasn't like they compromise their ideals to do it because they never had any such stated ideals.
This may not even be what you mean, but it's something that I've heard expressed many times by many others, so I'm just putting this out there. It bugs me as much as people trying to claim that the movie 300 is historical or sin City is good or...I dunno, that The Game was somehow worse than Jazz because it uses synths.
i've just watched two of your Queen reactions....totally transfixed by your reactions and observations...and your musical knowledge. Great stuff!!
I've been a Queen fan since the beginning and still love the genius of those first 5 albums much more than some of the obvious 80's hits. Queen II was an astonishing album to my 12 year old ears at the time - anybody not familiar with this album should definitely give it a serious listen.
Was handed Jazz and Night at The Opera in 1980. It's been 41 years This is new for me too. Thanks.
To understand The March of the Black Queen, you must understand Freddie's background. He was born in Zanzibar which is a beautiful and exotic island known for 2 things: as a "Spice Island" and one of the largest slave ports in the Indian Ocean. Freddie, along with sister Kashmira. played along the waterfront (where he created the fantasy world of "The Seven Seas of Rhye") and listened to the stories of the island past about the slave trade.
One story was of a young boy signed on a slave ship as the powder monkey (a boy whose job was to ferry gunpowder from the powder magazine in the ship's hold to the artillery pieces). The story tells of the boy's initial excitement when he first saw Zanzibar ('It's like going up to heaven and coming back alive"). The smells and beauty overwhelmed him,
The boy had been taught that his country was noble and slavey was its right but now he confronted with reality, he begins questioning the racism of the British culture. He is confused and conflicted but in the end, chooses to follow the Black Queen (I'll be your bad boy, I'll be your bad boy, I'll do the march of the Black Queen).
This story must have resonated with the creative brain of Freddie and somewhat haunted him until he could express it in music. I believe that is the way that Freddie dealt with many of his demons, to mold them into imaginary he could communicate and control in his music.
.
This is revivalist history to suit the times of today. Freddie and his family loved the British culture, for them Britain was a save heaven from prosecution and rebellion. His father worked for the British government. Freddie has said if he could choose he would have been born in London at the age of 17 when he first arrived in Britain. The Black Queen is a pirate Queen, the song is full of Victorian words. Waterbabies, are fantasy creatures from a Victorian book. Powder monkeys also comes from the Victorian age. It starts with calm before the storm, just before the attack of the Black Queen. There are still waterbabies magical creatures playing in the water, and everything is peacful. Then there is a battle at sea, "Blue powder monkeys, praying in the dead of night. Here comes The Black Queen poking through the pile". The protagonist is captured by the Black Queen. She tortures them, "Black on, black on, every finger nail and toe
we've only begun, begun, make this, make that, keep making all that noise".
Pulling out your nails are methods of torture. And then she begins to seduce the protagonist. He struggles with the decision, "In each and every soul lies a man and very soon, he'll deceive and discover, but even till the end of his life, he'll bring a little love." He says he is about to deceive his side, but he will do it for love. He has fallen in love with the Black Queen's command and power.
He swears fealty to her completely. "
My life is in your hands, I'll fo and I'll fie, I'll be what you make me, I'll do what you like I'll be a bad boy, I'll be your bad boy, I'll do the march of the Black Queen.
In last part he thinks about his old life and what he will miss, he does feel slightly sad about it, but he is prepared to forget his old life.
@@ZENOBlAmusic What are you trying to say? That Freddie wasn't born on Zanzibar and never heard any of the stories about the slave ships? Or are you saying that his admiration for the British Culture (and he did love Britain) means he was immune to the feeling and emotions of a young boy when confronted with the realities of slavery on a British ship?
Or are you saying that Freddie could never identify with contrary emotions and how reality can produce a conflicting mental state?
Despite the fact that Freddie was excited when his family was forced to leave Zanzibar for London, he still was conflicted by the fact that he never quite feel he fit into the British culture.
Yes, he was British but he was also a Parsee and he was proud of his Persian heritage. That alone was a situation that produced conflicting emotions in his life.
In addition, he had been forced by circumstances (by his own admission) to learn how to maneuver his life on his own between the multiple diverse forces in his life. He was sent to boarding school over 7400 away from his home at the age of 8. The school he attended was a Christian boarding school outside of Bombay (Mumbai), India where most of the students were English boys whose families were living in India.
Freddie was a Parsee raised in a conservative, Zorastarian family from Zanzibar.
His family's dream for him was to become a lawyer, find a nice girl, and raise a family. Freddie grew up to be a bisexual/gay, musically gifted, world-renowned rock star who raised cats.
His life was full of contrary forces and conflicted emotions.
@@Sassypaws4927 I have seen this type of analysis or speculation about The March Of The Back Queen. You got that answer from a blog. Which is fine, I am not saying there is anything wrong with it. But this blog, or analysis don't know their own history. Historically these ideas does not bare any truth. Some groups of people do have a tendency to relate a lot of topics to slavery these days. This is not something people did in the 50's, 60's and 70's.
There are a few very obvious problems with this whole premise, if you know and understand a bit of history.
Slavery was fully outlawed in Britain and the British colonies in 1805. Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890, that is 85 years after Britain had fully abolished slavery. They didn't just abolish slavery they actually fought wars against slavery. (The debt Britain incurred from fighting slavery was only fully paid off by British citizens in 2018, after over 200 years). Zanzibar is mostly a Moslem country, most of their historical dealings was with Middle Eastern countries, not with Britain.
Zanzibar is on East coast of Africa. The British and Americans got their slaves from the West coast of Africa. Slaves for these Western countries came mostly from The Kongo, Nigeria and Cameroon. If you look at a map of Africa you will understand why this is the case. The Western countries had direct and easy access to the West coast of Africa, they did not have much easy access to the East coast of Africa.
Who did have access to the East coast of Africa? Saudi Arabia and Middle Eastern countries had quick and easy access to the East coast of Africa. The Middle East used and created far more slaves then Western countries ever did.
That is the big problem with this premise and analysis.
It is the Arabs who mostly ruled and occupied Zanzibar through the years. Being a British colony actually relieved the citizens of Zanzibar from Arab rule at the time. The conflict between Africans and Arabs almost immediately escalated as soon as Britain decided to abandon Zanzibar. That is why Freddie and his family had to fled the island. There was about 70 000 Arabs and Indians on Zanzibar at the time, 20 000 of them were killed in this revolution. That means 29% of the Indian and Arab population was killed. If Freddie had any torments from his upbringing, you would think a revolution would be a big torment. Freddie likely knew people where killed in this revolution.
The Arab and Parsee population did not mix much with the African population. The African population were mostly servants to them.
Most of Freddie's fellow student were Indian in the boarding school, not English. Freddie's friends were Indian, you can look at pictures from the school to see this. British culture was revered in India at the time. That is where Freddie learned all of the Victorian stories and phrases that he used in his early music. Freddie saw very little from his parents during this time, he saw his parents around 3 times from the age 7 - 16. He was really mostly exposed to the Anglican church in his childhood, (mass was compulsory and he sang in the church choir), far more then Zoroastrianism. When he returned to Zanzibar he was sent to a Catholic church. He had issues with abandonment, because he had so little contact with his parents.
The only slight reference in the song to slavery is n**** sugar. This is not actually a reference to slavery. Coarse and unrefined brown sugar was sometimes called n**** sugar, during the Victorian times in unrefined company. Using oil and rubbing someone with coarse sugar or salt was actually a method of torture. In the song it is the Black Queen who orders her minions directly, to use oil and sugar in order to torture the captives. No, the Black Queen is not physically black. She is called The Black Queen because she is suppose to be an evil character. As the villain in the story she uses words such as n***** sugar.
Of course Freddie had his problems and conflicts, but you cannot use ideas from today and supplant them on someone like Freddie, who did not grow up with these issues. You can do it, but you will never really understand his way of thinking if you assign ideas and motives to him which would not have been there.
As someone who actually live in Africa, I have never heard stories of slave ships. I can perhaps give an explanation for that. The truth is that it was fellow Africans who mostly sold people into slavery. There was and still are warring tribes, they sold their captured enemies into slavery. And there is still slavery in Africa and in the Middle East. I think people who live in Africa understands this very well for the most part.
But this is just a personal perspective, so it might not be relevant to every situation.
I am not trying attack or target you. As I said, I know where you got this interpretation from. Not everyone is being taught a lot of history these days and people are often not that interested in history. So these are very easy mistakes to make, and they always come from an area of compassion or empathy. You can verify all of this information.
This thread... man some dedicated people. I like it.
Source, or is all this just speculation?
Thought I’d heard everything from Queen, then this. Wow, time for a deep dive. Thanks to all who suggested this one!
Two more songs with multiple sections: Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run which you most likely already know and 10cc from the 1975 album The Original Soundtrack: One Night in Paris - which you may not know
One Night In Paris by 10CC is fabulous. Douglas should review that - I'd love to see that.
So cool that you are being edumacated in the ways of Queen. An epic journey unfolds before you - don't stop you now, you're having such a good time! ☺
Ooh, one of my favourite Queen tracks!
Generally, early Queen is just brilliant. As in, every song from the first two albums is a masterpiece. Some are better than others, purely to my personal taste, but there's no "bad", just "brilliant" and "even brillianter".
So glad you've done a Queen reaction Doug! And I must echo the other poster who've suggested The Prophet's Song, it is truly excellent.
You may want to consider these gems also:
Doin' Alright
Jesus
White Man
Dead on Time
The whole Queen II album is amazing
You really should do the whole Black side as a whole as all the songs run together.. From Ogre Battle through The Fairy tellers Masterstroke to The Seven Seas of Rye
Its a true masterpiece. March of the Black Queen is just the starter pack
Thanks Doug, that was great. I have been a Queen fan since the mid 1970's and had never heard that one (could not afford to buy albums back then!) I am learning so much about music through your reactions, keep it up please!
IMO Queen 2 was Queen's best work, I absolutely love it!
Queen put together multilayered song structures bolstered by rich, royal, intense vocal & guitar and overdubs. The rich melodic lead guitar passages often reflect the name of the band, sort of a nod to the British tradition of royalty, king & queen. Listening to Queen songs is like listening to a catalogue of musical passages and phrases that are familiar, but often times presented with a twist. Like changing majors to minors, and constructing unexpected melodies that progress in a different and clever way, and tempo changes not normally heard in popular music.
As a youngster listening to Queen I and Queen II, thier music was mesmerizing. It still is.
Most underrated Queen song
I remember hearing this for the first time all those years ago and my mind almost exploding with pleasure.
Doug, you should do the whole BLack side, coz it is an Opera in the words right meaning, several pieces put together as an larger entety.
I was thinking similar but went towards Side White. Maybe my favorite Queen album.
Fist of all, greetings from Brazil.
My dear and beloved professor - yah, you teach me soooooo3 much. You have no idea!
This is one of my favourite Queen songs! I am writing it BEFORE watching your video! After I watch it, I will write you again! Greetings