Killer Queen

"Killer Queen" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by pianist and lead singer Freddie Mercury, it was featured on their 1974 albumSheer Heart Attack, and also appears on the band's compilation album, Greatest Hits.[1]  When released as a single, "Killer Queen" was Queen's breakthrough hit, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and number 12 in the United States.[2] [3]  It was released as a double A-side in the UK, the US and Canada (where it reached number 15 in the RPM 100 national singles chart),[4]  with the song "Flick of the Wrist". In 1986, it was featured as the B-side to "Who Wants to Live Forever".[5]

Mercury commented that he wrote the lyrics first before adding the musical arrangements. The recording features elaborate four-part harmonies(particularly in the choruses, and also providing backing parts in the verses), and also an elaborate multitracked guitar solo by Brian May, including use of the "bell effect". The song, in the second line, mentions the phrase "Let them eat cake", a phrase (mis)attributed to Marie Antoinette: "Let them eat cake," she said, Just like Marie Antoinette. In an interview for a documentary video about Queen, Eric Hall, who promoted Queen in radio stations at that time, unveiled that the song was written about him. Eric Hall: 

Contents
[hide]  *1 Recording sessions  ==Recording sessions[ edit] == Besides using his grand piano as usual, Mercury overdubbed the song with an upright (credited as "jangle piano"), to give the track a vaudeville sound. At one point there are two bass guitars, one of which does a descending run. Contrary to songs for the first two Queen albums, this one was partly recorded outside England, at Rockfield Studios in Wales.[7] ==Queen on the record[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;">Freddie Mercury:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[8] <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;">Brian May: ==Live performances<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;">The song was played from 1974–78 live as part of a medley.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SHA_9-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[9] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ANATO_10-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[10] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ADATR_11-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[11] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NOTW_12-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[12]  In 1974, the song was played following "In the Lap of the Gods",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SHA_9-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[9]  and in 1975–76, the song was played after "Bohemian Rhapsody".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ANATO_10-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[10]  In 1977, the song was played as the introduction to a medley, followed by "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy",<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NOTW_12-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[12]  and in 1978, preceded "Bicycle Race".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[13]  In 1979, the band played most of the song, and after the guitar solo ended, the opening bars of "I'm in Love with My Car" were played.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[14]  The song was played at the Montreal Forum, Quebec, Canada in November 1981, and is recorded in the live album, Queen Rock Montreal.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[15]  In 1984 and 1985, during The Works Tour, it was reintroduced in a medley following a truncated version of "Somebody to Love".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[16] ==Chart performance<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Sales and Certifications<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Personnel<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;">On some performances Deacon provided backing vocals and played the triangle. ==Rock Band Music Gaming Platform<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.63636302948px;">The song was made available to download on December 7, 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic rhythm, and notably PRO mode which allows use of a real guitar / bass guitar, and MIDI compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to up to three-part harmony or backup vocals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-26" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[26] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:10.9090909957886px;">[27]
 * 2 Queen on the record
 * 3 Live performances
 * 4 Chart performance
 * 5 Sales and Certifications
 * 6 Personnel
 * 7 Rock Band Music Gaming Platform
 * 8 References
 * 9 External links
 * Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, jangle piano
 * Brian May - electric guitar, backing vocals
 * Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals, triangle, chimes
 * John Deacon - bass guitar