Queen Discussion Thread

The March Of The Black Queen

Written by: Freddie Mercury

Musicians:

Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano
Brian May - guitars, tubular bells, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar
Roger Taylor - drums, lead and backing vocals





- This is the next step in the line of Bohemian Rhapsody It started last album with My Fairy King and continues here with it's tempo shifts and ballad moments, and rock moments.

- Roger gets lead vocal credits for the line:


- It was never performed live in full, however the rock section was performed as part of a medley through 1976. Then after that it was often quoted by Freddie during piano improvs.

- There has been some recent controversy as one of Freddie's lyrics was "nigger sugar". From what I've learned it was a common colloquialism for brown sugar at the time. Given that one of Freddie's role models was Jimi Hendrix and one of his best friends was Peter Straker - I have a hard time believing him racist but people are entitled to their opinion.

- The song does segue a bit from Nevermore but there is a separation so it isn't jarring. The ending is a bit abrupt here as well as it goes straight into Funny How Love Is

QUOTES:

- “Those were the days of the sixteen-track studios. Before when we did so many overdubs on 16 track, it was like we just kept piling it on and on. The tape went transparent because it just couldn’t take anymore. I think it snapped in two places as well.” – Freddie Mercury – 1977

- “We lasted recording that one until the tape went transparent. Genuinely!” – Roger Taylor – 1977

- “We spent ages and ages rehearsing this one - not very easy at all, I can assure you!” – John Deacon

ALTERNATIVE RELEASED VERSIONS:

DEEP CUTS VERSION


- ESSENTIAL listening (for the last :30).

- It is the SAME track but is given a standalone ending as it doesn't segue. The standalone bit just takes the final chord that is present during the album version but is played over by the instrumentation of the next song. It is a bit jarring as all of a sudden the music cuts off and there is only an AHHHHHH.

- Released on Deep Cuts: Volume 1: 1973-1976 an Island compilation intended to introduce listeners to non-Greatest Hits tracks from the first five albums.

UNRELEASED VERSIONS:

BBC SESSION 4 VERSION

- NOT essential listening.

- I couldn't find a YT video but that's because as far as Queen scholars are concerned, the band just used the album cut on the BBC session. That's not how it's supposed to work and the track may be very slightly remixed but for all intents and purposes it is the same track that fades out at the end to make up for the segue not being there.

TAKES 3-5
NO YT VID
- NOT essential listening.

- A collection of 3 takes placed in one track that was debuted at a Queen Convention with the usual Greg Brooks talking as well. They show Queen making a backing track of the song with Freddie dictating rhythm. Interesting listen once but not something for the ipod.

OFFICIAL LIVE VERSION:

LIVE AT THE RAINBOW - 1974


- Very short as it is only a part of the medley but still a fun glimpse - especially as it includes Roger's one line!


UNRELEASED LIVE VERSIONS:

LIVE AT HYDE PARK - 1976


- Much like the Rainbow one.

LIVE IN SUN CITY - 1984


- As before, Freddie toying with both this track and My Fairy King as part of a piano improv.

PERSONAL NOTES:

- I know I've said this a lot, but this really is one of my favorite Queen songs of all time. I always thought of this as a companion piece to White Queen (As It Began). Whereas that tune was about a true though unrequited love of a woman that embodied good, this is the tragic tale of love of an evil woman who though beautiful is demanding and overpowering.

- One of my favorite parts of Queen songs is when Freddie, Brian, and Roger share lead vocals during a song so when Roger comes in for a line it makes me smile

Next up is the Wall of sound track that is...Funny How Love Is

That would be Freddie! His high range is often quoted but he also had a very deep voice as well! He actually by far had the most power in the low ranges of anyone in the band. It is one of the reasons that often times Roger would sing the higher vocals in concert while Freddie would fill out the lower ranges even if that wasn't the melody...It gave it a thicker sound overall...

VERY complicated! Glad to see you enjoy RT! He tends to be forgotton, especially vocally. Many of the songs, especially live, I like because of Roger's backing vocals!

I'm sure there is although I haven't searched one out yet. I'll tell you what. I'll post Funny How Love Is tomorrow and then as a bonus cut, I'll see what I can do Seven Seas Of Rhye which is after Funny How Love Is IS technically Side Black, etc. but I always see it as kind of an epilogue and separate from the medley

Bonus time! As I promised Gabby:)

I couldn't find all the tracks in ONE BUT I did find 2 YT Videos.

1st is - Ogre Battle/Fairy Feller's Masterstroke/Nevermore

and then since there is somewhat of a pause a second video of March Of The Black Queen/Funny How Love Is





:D