TALON'S TAKE
Don't Stop Me NowWritten by: Freddie Mercury
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, tambourine, triangle, backing vocals
- Issued as a single in the UK where it hit #9 and in the US where it surprisingly only hit #86. Since then it's grown to be one of their more popular and long lasting songs. It also hit #10 in Ireland, #14 in the Netherlands, #35 in Germany, and #37 in Sweden.
- Surprisingly only played live through 1979 where it was mothballed until Brian joined McFly who covered the song in the UK during a performance of We Will Rock You and one of their gigs, and then of course brought back during the shows with Adam.
- In 2005 this was the named the greatest driving song by Top Gear magazine.
- For the longest time, Brian was known to have disliked the song (perhaps leading to the band not playing it). Brian and Freddie had awful rows about it as Freddie wanted it to be a guitarless song really and Brian did end up only playing a guitar solo while the rest of the song is piano/bass/drums. Much more recently, Brian would say that it wasn't that he didn't like the song, but more what it represented to him which was Freddie leading himself away from the band into a harder partying drug induced lifestyle that wasn't good for him.
QUOTES:
- "It’s very much Freddie’s pop side and I remember thinking, ‘I’m not quite sure if this is what we should be doing.’ I think there was also a feeling that it lyrically represented something that was happening to Freddie which we kind of thought was threatening him, and probably it was in a sense. But having said that, it’s full of joy and optimism…” – Brian May
OFFICIALLY RELASED ALTERNATE VERSION:
WITH LONG LOST GUITARS- ESSENTIAL and interesting.
- Brian turned the guitar mix back up so you can hear it. I honestly think I agree with Freddie for the studio version. It works better a bit sparser. Live though I agree with Brian which is how they played it live anyways.
OFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSION:
LIVE KILLERS VERSION- Audio only.
- Brian's guitars work better live!
UNOFFICIALLY RELEASED LIVE VERSIONS:
LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH 1979- Last live performance by Queen. And a good one!
BRIAN MAY + MCFLY - LIVE IN LONDON 2006- Not a big fan of the boy band, but I like Brian's entrance
QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT - LIVE IN KIEV - 2012- This song was one from Queen's catalogue that was tailor made for Adam I think. Interesting opening with Brian on guitar instead of Spike on piano.
CURIOSITIES:
FREDDIE MERCURY GOOGLE DOODLE- For Freddie's birthday, he became a full fledged Google Doodle! I LOVED it.
SHAUN OF THE DEAD CLIP- One of my favorite movies...the great horror/zombie parody comedy. This is my favorite usage of a Queen song in a film of all time - even including Wayne's World. Just awesome.
PERSONAL NOTES:
SUCH a fun song. I defy anyone to not tap their toes and/or singalong. Freddie at his crowd inducing best!
CHANCES:
Don't Stop Me Now......85% -- It worked well in London with Adam, I don't see any reason they wouldn't bring it back.
SUPPLEMENTAL:
Jealousyfrom
Jazz (1978)Written by: Freddie Mercury
Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano
Brian May - acoustic guitar
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums
- Issued as a single in the US and Russia only but did not chart.
- This track was never played live!
- According to the band there was a mistake that was left untouched for 23 years. The kick drum was missing from the mix. It was restored during the 2011 remastering (see below).
ALTERNATE RELEASED VERSIONS:
2011 REMASTERINGI couldnt' find a YT video for it but despite the talk about it it didn't change the sound all that much so not really necessary to listen to.
UNRELEASED VERSIONS:
INSTRUMENTAL LIVE TAKE DEMO- NECESSARY -- if you can get through the chatter
- Recorded at a convention complete with Greg Brooks saying Property Of Queen Productions.
- A very interesting take which includes a bridge section that would be cut and eventually would resurface during a later song,
Play The GamePERSONAL NOTES;
- Criminally underrated ballad. Wonderfully emotional vocals from Freddie. Although it is interesting to see a track without the Red Special, I do wonder what Brian could have added to it with a little wailing!
CHANCES
Jealousy......0% -- A song like this with no Red Special? Not going to happen live
BUT I thought it tied in nice being from the same album as Don't Stop Me Now.
