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Rating: The Queen band was formed at the end of the '60s from the union of guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, singer Freddie Mercury, and finally, in 1971, bassist John Deacon. They gained a certain fame in the London clubs and the surrounding areas where they presented a music style oriented towards hard rock, on one hand, and glam rock, on the other.
The egocentric character of the singer, Freddie Mercury, greatly helped build the group's fame. The shows were well-curated, and the band members dressed in eccentric outfits: Freddie Mercury was famous for his tight-fitting suits, black or white, and his long hair, while Brian May for his long Indian-style costume and his eternal curly hair.
In 1972, Queen had the opportunity to record audio tracks in the new recording studios, the De Lane Studios. They seized this chance immediately, and in 1973 their debut album, Queen I, was released, with a cover depicting the band's leader, Freddie Mercury, in pose, struck by a beam of light; the background was purple. The album is a blend of different musical styles, from hard rock to glam rock and progressive rock. The album opens with Keep Yourself Alive, a track introduced by a superb solo from the Red Special, Brian May's guitar, capturing the rock spirit of the band in a sharp riff. The chorus is very catchy. The lyrics, penned by Brian May, encourage people to always be themselves despite the pressures from others. This rock piece is followed by a sweeter song, written by Brian May during his time with Smile, the guitarist's first group, in collaboration with Tim Staffell, Smile's singer. The third song on the album, Great King Rat, is a very hard rock piece, in which Freddie Mercury showcases his full vocal quality. It lasts 6 minutes and is a tribute to rock; the eccentric singer's lyrics contain clear religious references that might unsettle some. Great King Rat is followed by My Fairy King, a piece written by Brian May, with highly imaginative lyrics telling of a wonderful world destroyed by evil.
The standout track, however, is Liar, a true hard rock gem, written by Freddie Mercury, characterized by a long instrumental opening that leads into the band's leader's falsetto singing. The Night Comes Down is a more introspective song, written by Brian May, which mentions Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds described by the Beatles in 1967. The only piece written by drummer Roger Taylor, Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll, has a very fast pace and the lyrics are a direct critique of the worn-out rock world of those times. This is followed by Son and Daughter, dominated by the entire band's choruses. The penultimate song on the album is titled Jesus, and the lyrics, written by Freddie Mercury, revisit the themes of Great King Rat. In the lyrics, the singer ironically comments on the figure of Jesus and his followers. The album closes with a short instrumental that will reappear in the following album, Queen II, in a more evolved and better-known form.
A good album as a start, an anthem to rock and what it represented at the time. The critics were not very enthusiastic about the work and the band itself at first. Already the sound is very evolved and it is clear that the group is not joking, but truly wants to conquer the masses with magnificent shows and entertaining music. Queen I is a good album that introduces the four to the world.
Tracklist and Lyrics
04 My Fairy King (04:08)
In the land where horses born with eagle wings
And honey bees have lost their stings
There's singing forever
Lions den with fallow deer
And rivers made from wine so clear
Flow on and on forever
Dragons fly like sparrows thru' the air
And baby lambs where Samson dares
To go on on on on on on
My fairy king can see things
He rules the air and turns the tides
That are not there for you and me
Ooh yeah he guides the winds
My fairy king can do right and nothing wrong
Then came man to savage in the night
To run like thieves and to kill like knives
To take away the power from the magic hand
To bring about the ruin to the promised land
They turn the milk into sour
Like the blue in the blood of my veins
Why can't you see it
Fire burnin' in hell with the cry of screaming pain
Son of heaven set me free and let me go
Sea turn dry no salt from sand
Seasons fly no helping hand
Teeth don't shine like pearls for the poor man's eyes
Someone someone has drained the colour from my wings
Broken my fairy circle ring
And shamed the king in all his pride
Changed the winds and wronged the tides
Mother Mercury Mercury
Look what they've done to me
I cannot run I cannot hide
06 Seven Seas Of Rhye (01:15)
Fear me, you lords and lady preachers
I descend upon your earth from the skies
I command your very souls, you unbelievers
Bring before me what is mine
The seven seas of Rhye
Can you hear me, you peers and privy councilors
I stand before you naked to the eyes
I will destroy any man who dares abuse my trust
I swear that you'll be mine
The seven seas of Rhye
(Sister) I live and lie for you
(Mister) do and I'll die
You are mine, I possess you
Belong to you forever (Ever, ever, ahh)
Storm the master marathon I'll fly through
By flash and thunder fire I'll survive
(I'll survive, I'll survive) Then I'll defy the laws of nature
And come out alive
(Then I'll get you)
Begone with you you shod and shady senators
Give out the good, leave out the bad evil cries
I challenge the mighty Titan and his troubadours
And with a smile
I'll take you to the seven seas of Rhye
I'd like to be beside the seaside
I'd like to be beside the sea
Where the brass drums play
I'd like to be beside the seaside
I'd like to be beside the sea
07 Liar (06:25)
I have sinned dear Father
Father I have sinned
Try and help me Father
Won't you let me in?
Liar
Oh nobody believes me
Liar
Why don't they leave me alone?
Sire I have stolen
Stolen many times
Raised my voice in anger
When I know I never should
Liar
Oh ev'rybody deceives me
Liar
Why don't you leave me alone?
Liar I have sailed the seas
Liar from Mars to Mercury
Liar I have drunk the wine
Liar time after time
Liar you're lying to me
Liar you're lying to me
Father please forgive me
You know you'll never leave me
Please will you direct me in the right way
Liar liar liar liar
Liar that's what they keep calling me
Liar liar liar
Listen are you gonna listen
Mama I'm gonna be your slave
All day long
Mama I'm gonna try behave
All day long
Mama I'm gonna be your slave
All day long
I'm gonna serve you till your dying day
All day long
I'm gonna keep you till your dying day
All day long
I'm gonna kneel down by your side and pray
All day long and pray
All day long and pray
All day long and pray
All day long all day long all day long
All day long all day long all day long
All day long all day long all day long
Liar liar they never ever let you win
Liar liar everything you do is sin
Liar nobody believes you
Liar they bring you down before you begin
Now let me tell you this
Now you know you could be dead before they let you
10 Jesus (03:44)
And then I saw Him in the crowd
A lot of people had gathered round Him
The beggars shouted the lepers called Him
The old man said nothing
He just stared about him
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
Then came a man before His feet he fell
Unclean said the leper and rang his bell
Felt the palm of a hand touch his head
Go now go now you're a new man instead
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was a leader of man
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
It all began with the three wise men
Followed a star took them to Bethlehem
And made it heard throughout the land
Born was a leader of man
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down to see the Lord Jesus
All going down
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