Queen for a Day - The Show Must Go On

Well, here we are. The last song (proper) of the Queen catalog. Yes, they released another album, a patchwork of older stuff, re-edits and demo redux, but this was the last album that the four agreed to. Freddie died the day after it was released, I believe. So, I'm not sure that I will touch the next record.

This album's closer is the perfect way to say goodbye. "The Show Must Go On" sounds like a perfectly crafter Mercury song, theatrical and grand. In fact, it was written by Brian, after hearing something Deacon and Taylor were working on. Here's the wikipedia entry:

"The initial chord sequence Taylor and Deacon were working on. The rhythm of the refrain is similar to "I Want it All". May decided to use the sequence and both he and Mercury decided the theme of the lyrics and wrote the first verse together. From then on May finished the lyrics, completed the vocal melody and wrote the bridge, inspired by Pachelbel's Canon. Some keys and ideas were suggested by the producer, too. 
The song chronicles the effort of Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life."


So, in effect, it was written by the entire band. And that is entirely apropos.

It starts off haunting and sad, musically and the lyrics match perfectly. It's impossible to listen to this song and not to choke up realizing Freddie is singing about his end and how, despite that impending doom, music, theatre, the band, the craft, it all goes on. And it should.

(On a side note, I am struck by how the first song of the band's is "Keep Yourself Alive" and the last one is so much a closing of the book on a life. Perhaps that one.)

"The Show Must Go On" might be the grandest finales in rock history. Queen got to write it's final chapter and did it was brilliance and grace. Even the song tries as hard as it can to not end, because none of them, nor us, want it to.


His soul is painted like the wings of butterflies, he can fly.....

Indeed.

Grade: A+

Queen for a Day - Bijou

I had a friend who had this album on Vinyl. In the early 90s I didn't know anyone who still listened to, let alone bought, vinyl. And he said that this song was highly truncated on black plastic.

He missed out. It's a pretty nice piece.

The whole point of the song was an exercise to invert the roles of guitar and vocals. The guitar took the verses and the words took the place of an instrumental break.

Truth be told, the lyrics and melody is actually pretty nice. I wouldn't have minded a ballad built around that. And, since Brian is such a brilliant guitarist it's a nice example of his prowess. And surprising that he never did any purely instrumental work prior, save for Flash Gordon.

The song doesn't really need the lyrics. But Freddie's so wonderful that hearing him is always a treat.

That this is the penultimate song on his last proper album is bittersweet. In retrospect, it comes across like a eulogy for a loved one. Freddie's contribution being almost ghostly remembrance. Brian saying goodbye.

Grade: B+

Queen for a Day - The Hitman

After the debacle os singing an ode to his CAT, Freddie started and Brian finished a rousing rocker ala "I Want it All". It's all riffage and muscle and meat. When he died, I figured the song was some descriptor of the disease, but now, 22 years later, I think maybe it's just a song. The lyrics are pretty awful, "Trouble in the east, Trouble in the west, Struggle with the beast, what a thief what a pest. Come back mother, nuke that sucker.".

But, heck it was never going to be played live, right? So, who cared? At this point, the guys are just trying to put stuff out to mark time to the end. And it goes on.....and on....and on....with an unmemorable guitar solo. It's metal sludge at it's 90s-est.

"The Hitman" is easily forgotten.

Grade: C-

Queen for a Day - Delilah

The dying lead singer wrote a song for his cat. The drummer didn't want to include it on the album because it's well, a song about a cat. The singer pleaded. It's on the album.

It's a song about a cat.

It's so much a song about a cat that the lead guitar solo sounds like a crying...cat.

It must have been recorded close to the end of the album because Freddie can barely hit any notes without sounding strained. Especially when he's chiding his...cat....for peeing on Chippendale furniture.

It's not the nadir of Queen but it's pretty damned close.

Grade: D+

Queen for a Day - These Are the Days of Our Lives

Now, he's something astounding. A Roger Taylor song that I really really like. A song that reminisces about the, well, days of their lives, and does so by harkening back to one of Freddie's loveliest tracks, "Love of My Life", with the "I still love you" refrain.
The last video Freddie ever made, and he was far too sick to hide it at that point.

I heard this song pumped through the sound system of a Food4Less in the early, early 90s. I was sort of appalled that my favorite band had become no more than muzak fodder. At the same time I was sort of thrilled because it meant that Queen was once again accepted in the US. Wayne's World sort of did that for Queen fans a few years earlier. But, the fact that this song could make it in America was a vicarious win for me.

Grade: A

Queen for a Day - All God's People

If I am not mistaken, this is the first Queen song since the first record to have a song with a co-writer credit outside of the band. That first musician was Tim Staffel, the original bassist for Smile, the band that became Queen.

This time it's Freddie's "Barcelona" collaborator, Mike Moran. Since the song came out of those sessions, it's not really much of a surprise.

Nor is the subject matter.

There was a song on the first album called "Jesus". Then Night at the Opera had "The Prophet's Song". The band, or some of the members, seem to have always been a wee religious. And, Freddie was dying, after all.

Again, starting with a prepositions is not my favorite. "So, all you people.....".

But I do like "Prime Minisiters" to fit the time sig. On the other hand...."Let us be thankful! He's so incredible!" is bad.

This is an exercise that, indeed, belongs on the more operatic in scope Barcelona. Wafting from faux Opera to even fauxer blue eyed gospel, the weight of the subject matter is no match for the wimpyness of the attack. This is filler of the highest order.

But, you know, Freddie's dying and all.....

Grade: C-

Queen For a Day - Ride the Wild Wind

Roger likes cars. He likes danger. He likes a steady, driving, pulsating beat.
I think we all got that, um...15 years before.

Still and all, it's a lot better than the arpeggiating crap he used to give us. In this case, it's like "Breakthru" Pt. II.

It's a dumb song, but a fun one nonetheless.

Grade: C

Queen for a Day - Don't Try So Hard

Opening with a preset sound on a synthesizer...is that genius or laziness? The Korg that Freddie was using had an opening preset that he used in that way.

Fine. Whatever. If your muse is now someone else's programming startup sound of a machine...whatever. How's the song?

Pretty pedestrian ballad version of the same sentiments from "Keep Passing the Open Windows" by way of Pink Floyd's The Wall. I'm just getting that from the Sgt. Major passage. It's probably not that at all, but if Freddie is going to be that lazy in crafting this tune, I'm not sure I should spend much energy reviewing it.

It's a pretty piece at times, it sure changes it's direction a lot. For a piece of piffle it does reach for the cheap seats. But that's also part and parcel with the BIG DRUM sounds of the era.

Less a song than an exercise.

Grade: C

Queen for a Day - I Can't Live With You

Another Brian May rocker, but this time it sounds like a mid-tempo R&B jam that is fused with a metal approach but deep inside it's really just a middle of the road track.
The lyrics are pretty mediocre, the playing just as much so. I used to think it was a Taylor track because he's so featured on the bridge's vocals. That's how much I never liked this song.

Not a favorite. Kind of latter day crappy. Sounds like something that would have been written for "The Works

Grade: C

Queen for a Day - Headlong

It is a pet peeve of mine when a song starts with the word, "And". As though there was something that was said before but there wasn't so it just sounds...off.

This is a latter day May rocker. In fact, he was supposed to record it for his Back to the Light album but liked the way Freddie sang it.

When the lyric comes, "He used to be a man with a stick in his hand" I can't help think that that man is Freddie, with his bottomless microphone stand.

Taken as a metaphor for his condition it works even better. He IS "rushing headlong out of control" and there really is "nothing you can do about it".

Musically speaking, there's not a lot more going on than an above average crunchy metal blues rocker. It's nice to hear the Red Special in full force, a four on the floor beat behind it. No tricks, maybe a little bit of studio panning here and there, but it's a nice showcase for May's particular talents, which seemed to get lost a bit in recent years. The man can play that damned thing.

Grade: A