This incredible song was bassist John Deacon's creation. John was often called Queen's 'secret weapon', because he has the most incredible bass lines including Under Pressure which Ice stole. You can now begin to understand how and why they wrote such diverse songs, with all 4 members contributing! Queen wasn't going to release it as a single till Michael Jackson heard it and insisted it would be a hit. After this hit #1 in the US, Brian May and Roger Taylor have said they showed up at some shows with a huge percentage of their audience black. Because it was radio, they thought Queen was a black group playing funk! This is what makes Queen's music so great! They made music that crossed all boundaries, which is what music is supposed to do...bring us all together!! Great reaction!
It really is great to see people from all walks of life discovering Queen for the first time! I've noticed that even folks who's preference for completely different genres of music, are discovering, and really liking Queen! You're so right, music truly can bring folks together!
Michael Jackson heard the demo and said "you need to release this as a single" and Queen was dubious/ This was their highest rated single in the US ever!!!! Number 1!
It was written by John Deacon, the bass player, as well!! John has always been the Dark Horse of the van that could come up with the greatest songs out of nowhere.
Another great reaction! As to what the song is about, the story goes that John Deacon wrote this after watching a TV documentary about the St Valentine's Day massacre in the 1930s, a huge mob hit. When John brought the song in to the group they were hesitant to do it. They finally decided to record it. It barely made it onto the album and was not the single, Crazy Little Thing Called Love was. After the album was released, it was Michael Jackson who convinced them they needed to release it as a single. It was also Michael's inspiration for Beat It.
Oh man. If you loved the studio version, you're gonna LOSE it when you see the live version at Wembley! Looking forward to seeing your reaction to it tomorrow!
Yes, Queen has *all* the greatest songs of ALL TIME. Many other wonderful musicians, but if stranded on the proverbial desert island, all we need is QUEEN. They bring it all!!!
You go, Girl, I love when you find out that it is a Queen song, and you stating that you know this song, but didn't realize that it was a Queen song, love your reactions to all of there songs, you have really got the talent to do reactions like this, and yes a lot of people don't realize that it is Queen, Deakey wrote it, and it was there best selling song as of date, it the USA, it is stilled played to this date...and now since the movie, more and more fans are starting, love ya girl, you rock, from this ole lady in her 70's
You got it right. By the time this song was released, I'd been a Queen fan since they were first introduced to America with "Keep Yourself Alive" in 1974. Saw them live twice, met Freddie at the hotel they were staying in (don't ask), had all their albums but... I was driving in my VW bug, my first car, and this song came on the radio and I had to pull over. I thought it was Queen-- I KNEW it was because of Freddie's voice, but this blew me away. I couldn't fucking believe it. I'm so appreciative of you and all of the younger people getting to know this stupendously iconic frontman and band. Just having walked the Earth with them when Freddie was alive, breathing the same air, was an honor and a privilege. God, how I've missed Freddie since 11/24/91. Love you man, you fucking legend!
Beyond amazing! It was written in 1980, on Queen's 8th album "The game". Some people think its about tumultuous relationships ending or a cowboy shootout or the st. valentines day massacre, no one really knows for sure.
yes he was inspired by freddie to write songs, thus making them the great band of all times, only band where each member writes hits after hits after hits, and timeless!
Just a few facts about Another One Bites the Dust. Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game (1980). Queen bassist John Deacon recalled that he’d written a “light-hearted” set of lyrics to go with his song “Another One Bites the Dust,” but had to change his approach after the band recorded the backing track. It appeared on their 1980 album The Game and became their second No. 1 hit in the U.S. and also spent more time in the Top Ten than any other single of that year. However, it went through some changes of direction first, as Deacon told Uncle Joe Benson on the Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show. “To ‘bite the dust’ is a cowboy phrase, and that’s all I had at first - just the line,” the John said “When we went in the studio I actually had a set of lyrics that nobody had ever seen. I hadn’t shown them to anybody, I was so embarrassed about them!” He recalled they were “all about cowboys,” adding: “there’s a little story, and at the end of each verse, another one bit the dust.” Things changed in the band’s recording studio in Munich, Germany. “We did the backing track and it was sort of a bit heavier, whereas the cowboy thing was a bit more light-hearted and humorous,” Deacon said. “So I decided to change the lyrics; I had to come up with three different verses for it.” The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, from 4 October to 18 October (their second number-one single in the country). The song spent 15 weeks in the Billboard top 10 (the longest running top ten song of 1980), including 13 weeks in the top five, and 31 weeks total on the chart (more than any other song in 1980). It reached number two on the Hot Soul Singles chart and the Disco Top 100 chart, and number seven on the UK Singles Chart. The song is credited as Queen's best-selling single, with sales of over 7 million copies. This version was ranked at number 34 on Billboard's All-Time Top Songs. The song won an American Music Award for Favorite Rock Single and also garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. John Deacon's bass line was inspired by "Good Times" by the disco group Chic. In an interview with NME, Chic co-founder Bernard Edwards stated, "That Queen record came about because that Queen bass player ... spent some time hanging out with us at our studio." Recording sessions - produced by Reinhold Mack at Musicland Studios in Munich (West Germany) - consisted of Deacon playing almost all instruments: bass guitar, piano, electric guitar, and hand claps. Roger Taylor added a drum loop and Brian May contributed noises with his guitar and an Eventide Harmonizer. There are no synthesizers in the song: all effects are created by piano, electric guitars and drums, with subsequent tape playback performed in reverse at various speeds. Finally, sound effects were run through the harmonizer for further processing. The effect of the harmonizer can be heard clearly in the "swirling" nature of the sound immediately before the first lyric. In early live performances, Taylor sang lead on the chorus, as opposed to the studio version sung entirely by Mercury. As the song became more well-known, the band could rely on audiences to sing the chorus by themselves. After attending a Queen concert in Los Angeles, Michael Jackson suggested to Freddie Mercury backstage that "Another One Bites the Dust" be released as a single. Comments by Queen about the song. I'd been wanting to do a track like 'Another One Bites the Dust' for a while, but originally all I had was the line and the bass riff. Gradually, I filled it in and the band added ideas. I could hear it as a song for dancing but had no idea it would become as big as it did. "The song got picked up off our album and some of the black radio stations in the US started playing it, which we've never had before. Michael Jackson actually suggested we release it as a single. He was a fan of ours and used to come to our shows. -John Deacon” “ A fantastic bit of work from Freddie really. "I mean, I remember Deacy having this idea, but Deacy doesn't sing of course, so he was trying to suggest to Freddie how it should be and Fred just went in there and hammered and hammered until his throat bled, making... you know, he really was inspired by it and took it to a new height, I think. -Brian May” “ I remember laying down the backing track with John and... he really wanted the drums as dry as they could possibly be, so I just stuffed it all with blankets and made it as dead as I possibly could and very low tuned. -Roger Taylor” “ Credit for the song should go to Michael Jackson in many ways. He was a fan and friend of ours and kept telling me, "Freddie, you need a song the cats can dance to." John introduced this riff to us during rehearsal that we all immediately thought of disco, which was very popular at the time. We worked it out and once it was ready, played it for Michael. I knew we had a hit as he bobbed his head up and down. "That's it, that's the gravy. Release it and it will top the charts," he said. So we did and it did. -Freddie Mercury"
Many years ago I was driving home from an event. An old time boogie woogie song started playing on the radio. Result $50 speeding fine (doing 51 in a 40 zone).
You're reaction to this song is priceless. I just love your enthusiasm for all the Queen songs you've done but this one is awesome. I think this was number one in the US for three weeks in 1980. I look forward to your reaction to the live version. The hard part is choosing which live concert; they're all awesome and of course never the same. John really doesn't get the credit he deserves. He wrote some big hits. Please, please react to Fat Bottom Girls live at the Bowl. Freddie is in great shape vocally and physically. That whole concert is full of energy. Then there's Montreal, oh good grief all their concerts are good.
When this song came out it was so popular you couldn’t go anywhere with out hearing it . It was literally EVERYWHERE. For like 9 full months constant airplay. The song that comes after this onI believe this bass line is a variation on one by The Sugarhill Gang called Rappers Delight which came out on Sept 16, 1979. John Deacon the bass player and Freddie both had a love for disco and funk. So I think that’s where this bass line took its inspiration from. Another One Bites the Dust was released August 22, 1980. This album was on The Game album. THIS album made Queen a worldwide success. For this moment in time Queen ruled the planet. The planet....
1980. This album, 'The Game' was the very first album I ever bought with my allowance when I was 9. I took it to school during Show & Tell day. Haha! 😎
I don’t know about other baseball teams but whenever my NY Yankees struck out a batter, they played this!! EVERYONE would sing it!! You are going to have a very long Queen playlist, you will love them all!! Missed your live chat, but hi and thank you again!! Sending ❤️!!
Freddie said black americans thought they were a black american band on this one. when they played LA there were tons of Black Americans who were totally shocked that they were white!
It was the Black stations that picked it up and started playing it first, thinking they must be a black group. Just shows good music doesn't have racial limits.
Can you imagine what it must of been like when this song came out and it was played as last song at the clubs for years? Well I can, cuz I was there and I danced my butt off. It was so much fun! Your reaction was also fun. I'm a lil late but great reaction. I was 20-21 when this song came out and almost 61 now so you can see how long the song has been out. Still one of my favs.
The band had been together about 10 years when this song was released in 1980 from the game album. " play the game" & " Crazy Little Thing Called Love" we're also on the album and Crazy Little Thing Called Love was written by Freddie Mercury in the bathtub with a drum machine & Another One Bites the Dust was written by John Deacon who likes softer but funky kind of music. It was funny when Michael told them they should release the single, and the drummer was telling him " naw, you must be crazy because we're not even sure it's going to be on the album yet." It was released sometime around August or September of 1980, and it went quadruple-platinum the United States and you couldn't get away from this song because it was number one in the United States for 31 weeks in a row!! UNREAL.. thank you Michael Jackson and Queen.
You should create your own version of this! Especially if it moves you. John deacon was way ahead of his time and loved disco/pop music like this. These are his lyrics and his music! Obviously he created the iconic bass line that everyone knows. He's very quiet and stays in the background but deserves ALL the respect!
Queen's career with the classic four line-up lasted from 1971 - 1991 when Freddie died. This song came out in 1980, from their album Play The Game. Wyclef Jean did a cover of this in the late 90's.
Your reaction is beautiful! ❤ The make my hardcore Queen-fan heart happy! 🎶❤ I beet Freddie will fuckin love it, to have a fan like you!!! And the way you love his and his bands music.
We danced to this at discos/ clubs, at home parties, at school events...! I was 10 when this came out and it played on the radio a lot!!! At slumber parties we would put this on repeat (record players) and dance all crazy. The problem was if you danced too much the record player would skip or the record would get scratched. So we had to be careful or my mom would yell from downstairs to ‘cut out all that racket!’ Lovingly of course- she loves Queen and when this song came she did her thing which was extremely embarrassing for me!!
there are over 2-00 songs which Queen composed then there are the solo stuff - you are on a journey your eats will love you forever - BTW "who wants to live forever" is a total must
This song was composed by John (Deacy) Deacon, the Queen bass guitarist. He first came up with that iconic bass riff and then wrote the rest of the sound around it. According to Deacy, the lyrics were inspired by the St Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929 where the murder of seven members and associates of Chicago's North Side Gang occurred in a Lincoln Park garage. Actually, Roger (the drummer) didn't originally want to record the song. He thought it sounded too "disco" but Freddie really liked it so he pushed hard for it. When they laid down the tracks of the music, Deacy was surprised how funky and gritty if sounded and he rewrote his original lyrics to fit with the earthy sound of music. According to Brian (lead guitarist), Freddie really a very clear image of what he wanted it to sound like and nearly made his throat bleed in singing it as he kept re-recording each phrase of the lyrics until he was satisfied that his voice sounded hard and funky enough.
Hope your elbow has survived. Careful Faith, listening to Queen can be dangerous. LOL. This song was on The Game album, 1980, and comes in right after Dragon Attack. Both songs have very strong bass riffs and it made for a great segue.
Really love your enthusiasm when doing Queen reactions! There really are so many more great live performances available, so hopefully you'll continue to make Queen reaction videos. Thank you again for the great videos, and I look forward to seeing many more! Peace and love to you! 😃
you got the queen fever.. there is nothing like it.. I do love that you have the energy and passion.. you cant fake that.you are a queen fan welcome to the club.. i really regret never seeing them live but was very young and grew up on it
I read that when the song came out radio stations didn't know it was a white group they were playing on black stations it goes to prove that this song covers all racial boundaries every age group everybody I've ever knowing that heard this song loved it
I love how much you love Queen!! Every member of Queen had a number one hit, this was John Deacons. I was wondering if you wanted to go way back into the Queen discography. If you do you can try a very mood song that definitely will give you feels! “White Queen” a night at the Odeon 1975. Not only are Freddie’s vocals on point, in the middle of the song you get about 3 minutes of Freddie showing his skills on the piano. Beautiful music in this section.
So my other favorite ‚funk‘ Queen song is Dragon Attack. They do this live at Montreal in 81 and we’re just jammin. Written by Brian May. BTW we have gotten to their earlier prog (progressive) rock stuff like March of the Black Queen... you are in for a treat. Thanks again for taking a ride in the Queen train!!!
I cant wait to see your reaction to "You Take My Breath Away" studio version by Queen. Judging by how you freak out over the harmonization you damn well may have a stroke when you do react to it.
I love both versions. I love Hyde Park because it's basically just Freddie doing want he does best - sing and play the piano. And of course the harmonies in the studio are just amazing.
LOVING your reactions!!! Can't wait to see you everyday! You bring me smiles every time I see you. Excited to see what step you take next on this Queen journey.
In an interview, Roger Taylor said he was surprised when Michael Jackson told them to release this as a single...they had no idea what a huge hit they had on their hands. Great reaction!
You were right...I remember the first time I heard this on the radio. I was in school, and the teacher was cool as ice cream. He had a little radio in the room...I was 12 or 13.... The radio had a little static. Then, as you were imagining, this came on. I started noticing this was something new, and it was on a pop station. I listened all the way through and looked around the classroom. Nobody knew what it was. I HAD to hear it again, but none of us knew the title or the group. Couldn't call in and ask the radio station without knowing what it was... Later it came on again, and it sounded so tight, so cool... And the static made us listen even closer. It made the song better, like the did it to cut through static, and the static enhanced it! I picked up "bites the dust," but wasn't sure what else it said. So I went to the mall, to an actual record store to buy the 45. I said, " do you have 'when everyone bites the dust?' ". Yeah, I got it wrong... But they knew what I meant. The clerk said "no we are sold out. Special order only." I said I was going to check to see if they had it at the other store in the mall, and he told me they were sold out also. so I ordered it and I had to wait a week and believe me I was there the day it arrived. This was the song that got me into Queen and I'm glad it did
I've so enjoyed watching you fall in love with Queen, I've been a fan for a very long time. Freddie loved Opera and actually wrote an entire album for a Soprano he had enormous respect for. I would love to see your reaction to this live performance of the title track ua-cam.com/video/7icIbZYvEtk/v-deo.html I know you'll know about the copyright implications, I'm afraid I know nothing. Just watch and enjoy in private if there's a problem :)
Excited you're doing the live version, make sure you do the Wembley 1986 version as it's the best one ...... he is sooo cool doing it ....love your reviews too xxx
I love your reactions and enthusiasm! I told you this was a hit!!!! I told you!! I said if you wanted some funk then do this song! Queen is so diverse and unique because all band members write songs and contribute. Please do the Wembley live version! There is also the Montreal version which is also def worth seeing but I prefer the Wembley version!
This hit was number one on every chart except country, fun fact: some black Americans thought that it was by a black group until they went to the concert and saw four white guys, lol. Deaky made Roger tape his drums to get the right sound and Freddie lacerated his vocal cords to get it just right for Deaky. Go Deaky.
As someone much older then you - this song brings back memories of a nerdy 12/13 year old boy at a roller skating rink skating to this song trying to look all cool :)
Oh, and Who Wants to Live Forever live Friday night at Wembley or live in Budapest. Exceptional song both the studio version and live version. Another song written by Brian.
Another interesting point is that John Deacon had been hanging around with Chic and was hugely influenced in this song by "Good Times". It's not the same base line, but you can see the influence.
Im so happy when you playing Queen it make me so happy. Like Brian say Queen is my happy place and we all shood let our candle always burn. For me is Queen the champions. My greatings from norway 🇸🇯👑😻🐾🍂🍁🌌📡🛰️🔭
This would have been one of Queens earlier songs. It was the bass guitarist John Deacon's idea. It was released in 1980 and was a great hit. When to number one in the US billboard... Yet another great from Queen
Absolutely one of their best songs. Timeless. And if you love this one, also check out "My Baby Does Me" and "The Rain Must Fall". And you should also check out "White Man"
Go on with the pearls! "Radio GAGA", "I want to break free", "Show must go on", "Miracle", "Hammer to fall"! EDIT - Well... any Queen's song is just insta top tier of music. For the "last one choice" - do Breakthru. Freddie is a freakin god of movement and voice in Breakthru. PS. Love ya! Keep being yourself!
I see you've been indoctrinated to the Queen cult... Best things, NO AUTOTUNE, Freddie didn't need a damn thing. The coolest, slickest, most memorable arrangements. Welcome to the Queen fan cult. That beat has been sampled dozens of times. Everybody loves that hook.
Interesting thing: I have heard that when one is forced to perform cardiac "compressions" - it is said to use this BEAT as a rhythm -- OR, also "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees -- odd juxtaposition - either someone is about to "bite the dust" or "stay alive" -- SAME beat, though :) I guess it depends upon which song/rhythm you are most familiar -- :)
Dragon Attack for sure. The live, Montreal version is great fun for the crowd - fabulous and epic, but actually the studio version showcases some intense musical sequences they couldn't reproduce on stage. Each has its place in Queen folklore :) And then you want to listen to White Man off the A Day at the Races album. If you thought they delivered variety, that track (studio version unquestionably) will convince you of their extraordinary genre diversity.
Fan is short for fanatic. imo thats when you want to know as much as possible about that person or group. imo not a lot of people are truely worth studying but Queen certainly is. I watch docu's about music artists and groups and even if its 90 mins total, and i only get about 2 mins of new information, its worth it to me. They are also one of the few bands who are educated in music. Like in went to the conservatory for music.
Queen has so many great tunes and never got a Grammy.This song came from "The Game" another good tune from that album is "Play The Game" would love to see your reaction to this.
Love Cool Cat, fun and funky sound made by John and Freddie. It was also supposed have been David Bowie but he bowed out because he didn't think the song was any good. How wrong he was.
Now you know why I’m a huge fan of John Deacon in particular... in comparison to his previous writings, this came as a huge surprise. And the FUNK. Our quiet little bassist revealed previous hidden depths.
Alison Randall yes, I did know that... in fact, in the recording session, Deaky played almost everything, Roger programmed a drum loop, and Brian’s only actual guitar work was “noises”. Despite them showing Brian doing that “chunky” strumming in the video, it was actually John’s playing in that part. (Brian did it a bit differently in true live performances--but studio, it was all John)
I’m Weak For Deaky yes I heard that too. The same for Backchat. I think it’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition for he deserves. But then he is and has been a modest man. Brian May said that the guitar part was one of the hardest parts to play on stage.
Many have claimed that it was about the AIDS crisis where so many people were dying by the hundreds, and no one knew why. HIV wasn’t well understood and it was considered a death sentence. This may or may not be true. This came out in 1980 in their album “The Game.”
This song came out in 1980. Written by bassist John Deacon, it wasn't going to be released as a single, and Brian and Roger thought it wasn't "rock-y" enough and the fans wouldn't like it. Michel Jackson heard it and some "black" radio stations picked up on it (not realising it was a white British band, but thinking they were black!) and the rest is history. I think between Bo Rap, We Are The Champions, Bites The Dust and Rock You you have 4 of the greatest best known songs in the whole world. I think only some Beatles and Elvis songs come close. Yes some modern songs have more views on You Tube, but they only appeal to certain demographics. EVERYONE knows these songs..... You need to watch the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, don't treat it as a documentary tho. as its not all factually correct (I would say about 80% correct, but some of the timelines are screwed around for dramatic purposes - for example the AIDS diagnosis came after Live Aid, not before as in the movie). But it does give you a flavour of Queen's history.
Please please pleeeease react the live version of this in 1981 at Montreal. The 1985 Wembley stadium concert is good but NOTHING beats Montreal IMHO. As you say, it’s freaking bomb 😂
This incredible song was bassist John Deacon's creation. John was often called Queen's 'secret weapon', because he has the most incredible bass lines including Under Pressure which Ice stole. You can now begin to understand how and why they wrote such diverse songs, with all 4 members contributing! Queen wasn't going to release it as a single till Michael Jackson heard it and insisted it would be a hit. After this hit #1 in the US, Brian May and Roger Taylor have said they showed up at some shows with a huge percentage of their audience black. Because it was radio, they thought Queen was a black group playing funk! This is what makes Queen's music so great! They made music that crossed all boundaries, which is what music is supposed to do...bring us all together!! Great reaction!
Lolli Nelson everything I wanted to say. Thank you Lolli!
@@kimberlydeore2530 Thank you Kimberly, that's the nicest thing someone has said to me in awhile!!
It really is great to see people from all walks of life discovering Queen for the first time! I've noticed that even folks who's preference for completely different genres of music, are discovering, and really liking Queen! You're so right, music truly can bring folks together!
@@jaidenobrien Tha is true Jaiden!
@@lollinelson5549 You are welcome although I wish that people would say nice things to each other a bit more often!
Michael Jackson heard the demo and said "you need to release this as a single" and Queen was dubious/ This was their highest rated single in the US ever!!!! Number 1!
It was written by John Deacon, the bass player, as well!! John has always been the Dark Horse of the van that could come up with the greatest songs out of nowhere.
oh truly, just like freddie said ..miss deacy darling
Another great reaction! As to what the song is about, the story goes that John Deacon wrote this after watching a TV documentary about the St Valentine's Day massacre in the 1930s, a huge mob hit. When John brought the song in to the group they were hesitant to do it. They finally decided to record it. It barely made it onto the album and was not the single, Crazy Little Thing Called Love was. After the album was released, it was Michael Jackson who convinced them they needed to release it as a single. It was also Michael's inspiration for Beat It.
There's so many Queen/Freddie Mercury songs that will absolutely blow you away. Another great song to react to would be "The Show Must Go On"
Oh man. If you loved the studio version, you're gonna LOSE it when you see the live version at Wembley! Looking forward to seeing your reaction to it tomorrow!
Yes, Queen has *all* the greatest songs of ALL TIME. Many other wonderful musicians, but if stranded on the proverbial desert island, all we need is QUEEN. They bring it all!!!
You go, Girl, I love when you find out that it is a Queen song, and you stating that you know this song, but didn't realize that it was a Queen song, love your reactions to all of there songs, you have really got the talent to do reactions like this, and yes a lot of people don't realize that it is Queen, Deakey wrote it, and it was there best selling song as of date, it the USA, it is stilled played to this date...and now since the movie, more and more fans are starting, love ya girl, you rock, from this ole lady in her 70's
You got it right. By the time this song was released, I'd been a Queen fan since they were first introduced to America with "Keep Yourself Alive" in 1974. Saw them live twice, met Freddie at the hotel they were staying in (don't ask), had all their albums but... I was driving in my VW bug, my first car, and this song came on the radio and I had to pull over. I thought it was Queen-- I KNEW it was because of Freddie's voice, but this blew me away. I couldn't fucking believe it. I'm so appreciative of you and all of the younger people getting to know this stupendously iconic frontman and band. Just having walked the Earth with them when Freddie was alive, breathing the same air, was an honor and a privilege. God, how I've missed Freddie since 11/24/91. Love you man, you fucking legend!
Queen so diverse because every member wrote hit songs. Luckily Freddie could sing anything they wrote.
Beyond amazing! It was written in 1980, on Queen's 8th album "The game". Some people think its about tumultuous relationships ending or a cowboy shootout or the st. valentines day massacre, no one really knows for sure.
The first verse reminds me of a mob hit, lol
John Deacon the bassist..So glad he was also John Deacon the song writer!
yes he was inspired by freddie to write songs, thus making them the great band of all times, only band where each member writes hits after hits after hits, and timeless!
Just a few facts about Another One Bites the Dust.
Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game (1980).
Queen bassist John Deacon recalled that he’d written a “light-hearted” set of lyrics to go with his song “Another One Bites the Dust,” but had to change his approach after the band recorded the backing track.
It appeared on their 1980 album The Game and became their second No. 1 hit in the U.S. and also spent more time in the Top Ten than any other single of that year.
However, it went through some changes of direction first, as Deacon told Uncle Joe Benson on the Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show.
“To ‘bite the dust’ is a cowboy phrase, and that’s all I had at first - just the line,” the John said “When we went in the studio I actually had a set of lyrics that nobody had ever seen.
I hadn’t shown them to anybody, I was so embarrassed about them!”
He recalled they were “all about cowboys,” adding: “there’s a little story, and at the end of each verse, another one bit the dust.”
Things changed in the band’s recording studio in Munich, Germany.
“We did the backing track and it was sort of a bit heavier, whereas the cowboy thing was a bit more light-hearted and humorous,” Deacon said.
“So I decided to change the lyrics; I had to come up with three different verses for it.”
The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, from 4 October to 18 October (their second number-one single in the country).
The song spent 15 weeks in the Billboard top 10 (the longest running top ten song of 1980), including 13 weeks in the top five, and 31 weeks total on the chart (more than any other song in 1980).
It reached number two on the Hot Soul Singles chart and the Disco Top 100 chart, and number seven on the UK Singles Chart.
The song is credited as Queen's best-selling single, with sales of over 7 million copies.
This version was ranked at number 34 on Billboard's All-Time Top Songs.
The song won an American Music Award for Favorite Rock Single and also garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
John Deacon's bass line was inspired by "Good Times" by the disco group Chic.
In an interview with NME, Chic co-founder Bernard Edwards stated, "That Queen record came about because that Queen bass player ... spent some time hanging out with us at our studio."
Recording sessions - produced by Reinhold Mack at Musicland Studios in Munich (West Germany) - consisted of Deacon playing almost all instruments: bass guitar, piano, electric guitar, and hand claps.
Roger Taylor added a drum loop and Brian May contributed noises with his guitar and an Eventide Harmonizer.
There are no synthesizers in the song: all effects are created by piano, electric guitars and drums, with subsequent tape playback performed in reverse at various speeds.
Finally, sound effects were run through the harmonizer for further processing.
The effect of the harmonizer can be heard clearly in the "swirling" nature of the sound immediately before the first lyric. In early live performances, Taylor sang lead on the chorus, as opposed to the studio version sung entirely by Mercury.
As the song became more well-known, the band could rely on audiences to sing the chorus by themselves.
After attending a Queen concert in Los Angeles, Michael Jackson suggested to Freddie Mercury backstage that "Another One Bites the Dust" be released as a single.
Comments by Queen about the song.
I'd been wanting to do a track like 'Another One Bites the Dust' for a while, but originally all I had was the line and the bass riff.
Gradually, I filled it in and the band added ideas.
I could hear it as a song for dancing but had no idea it would become as big as it did.
"The song got picked up off our album and some of the black radio stations in the US started playing it, which we've never had before. Michael Jackson actually suggested we release it as a single.
He was a fan of ours and used to come to our shows. -John Deacon”
“ A fantastic bit of work from Freddie really.
"I mean, I remember Deacy having this idea, but Deacy doesn't sing of course, so he was trying to suggest to Freddie how it should be and Fred just went in there and hammered and hammered until his throat bled, making... you know, he really was inspired by it and took it to a new height, I think. -Brian May”
“ I remember laying down the backing track with John and... he really wanted the drums as dry as they could possibly be, so I just stuffed it all with blankets and made it as dead as I possibly could and very low tuned. -Roger Taylor”
“ Credit for the song should go to Michael Jackson in many ways.
He was a fan and friend of ours and kept telling me, "Freddie, you need a song the cats can dance to."
John introduced this riff to us during rehearsal that we all immediately thought of disco, which was very popular at the time.
We worked it out and once it was ready, played it for Michael.
I knew we had a hit as he bobbed his head up and down.
"That's it, that's the gravy. Release it and it will top the charts," he said. So we did and it did. -Freddie Mercury"
tnxsomuch for sharing this great info...for the love of queen..
This is my favorite reaction Chanel look forward to your reactions.
I have said it so many times great reaction you are fun.😂😍
Many years ago I was driving home from an event. An old time boogie woogie song started playing on the radio. Result $50 speeding fine (doing 51 in a 40 zone).
I make a point of never playing Queen or Meatloaf when driving 😂😂😂😂
You're reaction to this song is priceless. I just love your enthusiasm for all the Queen songs you've done but this one is awesome. I think this was number one in the US for three weeks in 1980. I look forward to your reaction to the live version. The hard part is choosing which live concert; they're all awesome and of course never the same. John really doesn't get the credit he deserves. He wrote some big hits. Please, please react to Fat Bottom Girls live at the Bowl. Freddie is in great shape vocally and physically. That whole concert is full of energy. Then there's Montreal, oh good grief all their concerts are good.
If it dropped now it would be a hit. Agreed. Some songs never grow old
When this song came out it was so popular you couldn’t go anywhere with out hearing it . It was literally EVERYWHERE. For like 9 full months constant airplay. The song that comes after this onI believe this bass line is a variation on one by The Sugarhill Gang called Rappers Delight which came out on Sept 16, 1979. John Deacon the bass player and Freddie both had a love for disco and funk. So I think that’s where this bass line took its inspiration from. Another One Bites the Dust was released August 22, 1980. This album was on The Game album. THIS album made Queen a worldwide success. For this moment in time Queen ruled the planet. The planet....
1980. This album, 'The Game' was the very first album I ever bought with my allowance when I was 9.
I took it to school during Show & Tell day. Haha! 😎
They did loose their’s mind,just like you did.The beats and song definitely timeless!!!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
You have to watch another one bites the dust live at Wembley...you will love it!!!!
Hard to believe it's 40 years old.
Freddie is the "Grandfather of Rap" right here.
Yes dear, Thankyou!!! Please do the live from Montreal, with Now i'm Here and Dragon Attack. And Stone cold crazy Live is also amazing. ❤❤
Think of the bass lines to Billie Jean and Thriller which came out 2 years later. Who enfluenced who?
Janetjrfan Yes, Micheal has said he was influenced by this song forBillie Jean and Thriller!
I agree with you. I also saw a Michael Jackson spin in place on a Queen video. I guess we know the connections were Freddie to Michael.
woah really..tnxmuch appreciate all the infos...learn a lot from y'all..
Yes, I am 75 and just became a Queen fan within the last year. I find that I learn new things every day and am enjoying the adventure!
I don’t know about other baseball teams but whenever my NY Yankees struck out a batter, they played this!! EVERYONE would sing it!!
You are going to have a very long Queen playlist, you will love them all!!
Missed your live chat, but hi and thank you again!!
Sending ❤️!!
''You're my best friend'' is one of those songs you've heard in your lifetime and didn't know is a Queen song too.
Freddie said black americans thought they were a black american band on this one. when they played LA there were tons of Black Americans who were totally shocked that they were white!
It was the Black stations that picked it up and started playing it first, thinking they must be a black group. Just shows good music doesn't have racial limits.
Can you imagine what it must of been like when this song came out and it was played as last song at the clubs for years? Well I can, cuz I was there and I danced my butt off. It was so much fun! Your reaction was also fun. I'm a lil late but great reaction. I was 20-21 when this song came out and almost 61 now so you can see how long the song has been out. Still one of my favs.
If you enjoyed this song then you would definitely enjoy Dragon Attack as well.
**Zenobia** YES!!
**Zenobia** DOUBLE YES !
Omg yes!!!
Live at Montreal!!
The band had been together about 10 years when this song was released in 1980 from the game album. " play the game" & " Crazy Little Thing Called Love" we're also on the album and Crazy Little Thing Called Love was written by Freddie Mercury in the bathtub with a drum machine & Another One Bites the Dust was written by John Deacon who likes softer but funky kind of music. It was funny when Michael told them they should release the single, and the drummer was telling him " naw, you must be crazy because we're not even sure it's going to be on the album yet." It was released sometime around August or September of 1980, and it went quadruple-platinum the United States and you couldn't get away from this song because it was number one in the United States for 31 weeks in a row!! UNREAL.. thank you Michael Jackson and Queen.
Dragon attack has another amazing bass line.
You should create your own version of this! Especially if it moves you.
John deacon was way ahead of his time and loved disco/pop music like this. These are his lyrics and his music! Obviously he created the iconic bass line that everyone knows. He's very quiet and stays in the background but deserves ALL the respect!
Queen's career with the classic four line-up lasted from 1971 - 1991 when Freddie died. This song came out in 1980, from their album Play The Game. Wyclef Jean did a cover of this in the late 90's.
Every Queen song was ahead of it’s time.
Your reaction is beautiful! ❤
The make my hardcore Queen-fan heart happy! 🎶❤
I beet Freddie will fuckin love it, to have a fan like you!!!
And the way you love his and his bands music.
We danced to this at discos/ clubs, at home parties, at school events...! I was 10 when this came out and it played on the radio a lot!!! At slumber parties we would put this on repeat (record players) and dance all crazy. The problem was if you danced too much the record player would skip or the record would get scratched. So we had to be careful or my mom would yell from downstairs to ‘cut out all that racket!’ Lovingly of course- she loves Queen and when this song came she did her thing which was extremely embarrassing for me!!
there are over 2-00 songs which Queen composed then there are the solo stuff - you are on a journey your eats will love you forever - BTW "who wants to live forever" is a total must
This song was composed by John (Deacy) Deacon, the Queen bass guitarist. He first came up with that iconic bass riff and then wrote the rest of the sound around it. According to Deacy, the lyrics were inspired by the St Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929 where the murder of seven members and associates of Chicago's North Side Gang occurred in a Lincoln Park garage.
Actually, Roger (the drummer) didn't originally want to record the song. He thought it sounded too "disco" but Freddie really liked it so he pushed hard for it. When they laid down the tracks of the music, Deacy was surprised how funky and gritty if sounded and he rewrote his original lyrics to fit with the earthy sound of music.
According to Brian (lead guitarist), Freddie really a very clear image of what he wanted it to sound like and nearly made his throat bleed in singing it as he kept re-recording each phrase of the lyrics until he was satisfied that his voice sounded hard and funky enough.
On their greatest hits CD there is a remake of this song with Wyclef Jean rapping to this beat with some of Freddie's vocals
In the late 70’s early 80’s ..we thought it was cool too...but another one bites the dust !!!
Hope your elbow has survived. Careful Faith, listening to Queen can be dangerous. LOL. This song was on The Game album, 1980, and comes in right after Dragon Attack. Both songs have very strong bass riffs and it made for a great segue.
Really love your enthusiasm when doing Queen reactions! There really are so many more great live performances available, so hopefully you'll continue to make Queen reaction videos. Thank you again for the great videos, and I look forward to seeing many more! Peace and love to you! 😃
you got the queen fever.. there is nothing like it.. I do love that you have the energy and passion.. you cant fake that.you are a queen fan welcome to the club.. i really regret never seeing them live but was very young and grew up on it
I read that when the song came out radio stations didn't know it was a white group they were playing on black stations it goes to prove that this song covers all racial boundaries every age group everybody I've ever knowing that heard this song loved it
I love your passion for music. I also love that your generation is finding my generations music. Yes I'm 65
I love how much you love Queen!! Every member of Queen had a number one hit, this was John Deacons. I was wondering if you wanted to go way back into the Queen discography. If you do you can try a very mood song that definitely will give you feels! “White Queen” a night at the Odeon 1975. Not only are Freddie’s vocals on point, in the middle of the song you get about 3 minutes of Freddie showing his skills on the piano. Beautiful music in this section.
So my other favorite ‚funk‘ Queen song is Dragon Attack. They do this live at Montreal in 81 and we’re just jammin. Written by Brian May. BTW we have gotten to their earlier prog (progressive) rock stuff like March of the Black Queen... you are in for a treat. Thanks again for taking a ride in the Queen train!!!
I cant wait to see your reaction to "You Take My Breath Away" studio version by Queen. Judging by how you freak out over the harmonization you damn well may have a stroke when you do react to it.
Holly West yes Studio version! The harmonies kill me!
Yes The studio
I'd love to see the comparison of the harmonizing of thse studio version to the stripped back, ethereal version live at Hyde Park 1976.
I love both versions. I love Hyde Park because it's basically just Freddie doing want he does best - sing and play the piano. And of course the harmonies in the studio are just amazing.
Do the live version in Wembley
This was the first Queen album where the band utilized synthesizers.
LOVING your reactions!!! Can't wait to see you everyday! You bring me smiles every time I see you. Excited to see what step you take next on this Queen journey.
Live at Wembley 1986 is the way to go 😂 ❤️Freddie❤️
In an interview, Roger Taylor said he was surprised when Michael Jackson told them to release this as a single...they had no idea what a huge hit they had on their hands. Great reaction!
You were right...I remember the first time I heard this on the radio. I was in school, and the teacher was cool as ice cream. He had a little radio in the room...I was 12 or 13.... The radio had a little static. Then, as you were imagining, this came on.
I started noticing this was something new, and it was on a pop station. I listened all the way through and looked around the classroom. Nobody knew what it was.
I HAD to hear it again, but none of us knew the title or the group. Couldn't call in and ask the radio station without knowing what it was...
Later it came on again, and it sounded so tight, so cool... And the static made us listen even closer. It made the song better, like the did it to cut through static, and the static enhanced it!
I picked up "bites the dust," but wasn't sure what else it said.
So I went to the mall, to an actual record store to buy the 45. I said, " do you have 'when everyone bites the dust?' ". Yeah, I got it wrong... But they knew what I meant. The clerk said "no we are sold out. Special order only." I said I was going to check to see if they had it at the other store in the mall, and he told me they were sold out also. so I ordered it and I had to wait a week and believe me I was there the day it arrived.
This was the song that got me into Queen and I'm glad it did
I've so enjoyed watching you fall in love with Queen, I've been a fan for a very long time. Freddie loved Opera and actually wrote an entire album for a Soprano he had enormous respect for. I would love to see your reaction to this live performance of the title track ua-cam.com/video/7icIbZYvEtk/v-deo.html
I know you'll know about the copyright implications, I'm afraid I know nothing. Just watch and enjoy in private if there's a problem :)
If you think the studio version has you going nuts, just wait until you watch the live version from Wembley tomorrow.
Excited you're doing the live version, make sure you do the Wembley 1986 version as it's the best one ...... he is sooo cool doing it ....love your reviews too xxx
Later in their career, coz Fred already had the short hair & moustache look.
70's Freddie is quite regal with all that long hair.
"barcelona" "i want it all" "i want to break free" "those were the days" "you take my breath away" "love of my life" loads more.
If this song dropped today if would blow up. It applies to all aspects of life
I love your reactions and enthusiasm! I told you this was a hit!!!! I told you!! I said if you wanted some funk then do this song! Queen is so diverse and unique because all band members write songs and contribute. Please do the Wembley live version! There is also the Montreal version which is also def worth seeing but I prefer the Wembley version!
This hit was number one on every chart except country, fun fact: some black Americans thought that it was by a black group until they went to the concert and saw four white guys, lol. Deaky made Roger tape his drums to get the right sound and Freddie lacerated his vocal cords to get it just right for Deaky. Go Deaky.
You can really hear why Wyclef Jean did a rap version of this! With a beat like that, you can't fail!
I have this on vinyl record,lol.
Played it all the time, I was 7❤🎤
As someone much older then you - this song brings back memories of a nerdy 12/13 year old boy at a roller skating rink skating to this song trying to look all cool :)
One of the stories I heard was John Deacon talking about when relationships break up, another one bites the dust!
So look forward to your reactions. It’s pretty hard to dissect the meaning of many of their songs. Sometimes better to just enjoy 😊
I used to roller skate in 80s when I was 13,it was the jam on Friday nights,hell yeah!!😄😄😄
Oh, and Who Wants to Live Forever live Friday night at Wembley or live in Budapest. Exceptional song both the studio version and live version. Another song written by Brian.
Another interesting point is that John Deacon had been hanging around with Chic and was hugely influenced in this song by "Good Times". It's not the same base line, but you can see the influence.
Im so happy when you playing Queen it make me so happy. Like Brian say Queen is my happy place and we all shood let our candle always burn. For me is Queen the champions. My greatings from norway 🇸🇯👑😻🐾🍂🍁🌌📡🛰️🔭
This would have been one of Queens earlier songs. It was the bass guitarist John Deacon's idea. It was released in 1980 and was a great hit. When to number one in the US billboard... Yet another great from Queen
Oh, you just wait! More songs of theirs are even on a higher level!🤗
Did you hit your funny bone?😝
Absolutely one of their best songs. Timeless. And if you love this one, also check out "My Baby Does Me" and "The Rain Must Fall". And you should also check out "White Man"
Go on with the pearls! "Radio GAGA", "I want to break free", "Show must go on", "Miracle", "Hammer to fall"! EDIT - Well... any Queen's song is just insta top tier of music. For the "last one choice" - do Breakthru. Freddie is a freakin god of movement and voice in Breakthru. PS. Love ya! Keep being yourself!
I see you've been indoctrinated to the Queen cult... Best things, NO AUTOTUNE, Freddie didn't need a damn thing. The coolest, slickest, most memorable arrangements. Welcome to the Queen fan cult. That beat has been sampled dozens of times. Everybody loves that hook.
Interesting thing: I have heard that when one is forced to perform cardiac "compressions" - it is said to use this BEAT as a rhythm -- OR, also "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees -- odd juxtaposition - either someone is about to "bite the dust" or "stay alive" -- SAME beat, though :) I guess it depends upon which song/rhythm you are most familiar -- :)
Faith...you should do "Mother Love" its Freddies last recording. It might make you cry...so amazing!!!
Also watch "You Take My Breath Away" live at Hyde Park 1976
Some of these songs are just for listening pleasure, never really interpreted the lyrics, loved the beat and got into the groove
Brilliant reaction 😁 Your enthusiasm is contagious!
Please react to In the Lap of The Gods and Seven Seas of Rhye, live at Wembley
Hear the show must go on icoinic song, the last song recording with Freddie. Great reaction from Argentina,
This is a CLASSIC!!!
I agree Warren it is def a classic for sure!!😊❤️
Dragon Attack for sure. The live, Montreal version is great fun for the crowd - fabulous and epic, but actually the studio version showcases some intense musical sequences they couldn't reproduce on stage. Each has its place in Queen folklore :) And then you want to listen to White Man off the A Day at the Races album. If you thought they delivered variety, that track (studio version unquestionably) will convince you of their extraordinary genre diversity.
If you're going to listen to Live please do the live in Montreal. The music itself is great but Freddie makes it even more entertaining.
Fan is short for fanatic. imo thats when you want to know as much as possible about that person or group. imo not a lot of people are truely worth studying but Queen certainly is. I watch docu's about music artists and groups and even if its 90 mins total, and i only get about 2 mins of new information, its worth it to me. They are also one of the few bands who are educated in music. Like in went to the conservatory for music.
Queen has so many great tunes and never got a Grammy.This song came from "The Game" another good tune from that album is "Play The Game" would love to see your reaction to this.
Back then we bought entire albums.
Freddie really got in to this song
Written by john who had all ways been in to funk
The guitar part on this
Was played by john
When you do the live version of this song, "another one bites the dust ",do the Wembley live concert, 1986.
You might like "Cool Cat", slower beat but awesome.
Love Cool Cat, fun and funky sound made by John and Freddie. It was also supposed have been David Bowie but he bowed out because he didn't think the song was any good. How wrong he was.
ua-cam.com/video/kToCuYfkGI4/v-deo.html
It was number in the us charts and black charts too !
Number 1 lol
I could be in the worst plane crash ever, survive with all my bones broken and if this was playing I’d still be head bobbing to this song!!🤣🤣
You need to thank Michael Jackson because he got Queen to release hit they never thought it would amount to much 🥳
Yo yo you have to do Queen "love of my life" live in Rio..... 200,000 people sing along.... You must😁😁😁😁
I love the duet Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson "There must be more to life than this"
Now you know why I’m a huge fan of John Deacon in particular... in comparison to his previous writings, this came as a huge surprise. And the FUNK. Our quiet little bassist revealed previous hidden depths.
I’m Weak For Deaky He was brilliant. Do you know he’s the one playing the acoustic guitar as well as the bass.
Alison Randall yes, I did know that... in fact, in the recording session, Deaky played almost everything, Roger programmed a drum loop, and Brian’s only actual guitar work was “noises”. Despite them showing Brian doing that “chunky” strumming in the video, it was actually John’s playing in that part. (Brian did it a bit differently in true live performances--but studio, it was all John)
I’m Weak For Deaky yes I heard that too. The same for Backchat. I think it’s a shame he doesn’t get the recognition for he deserves. But then he is and has been a modest man. Brian May said that the guitar part was one of the hardest parts to play on stage.
Many have claimed that it was about the AIDS crisis where so many people were dying by the hundreds, and no one knew why. HIV wasn’t well understood and it was considered a death sentence. This may or may not be true. This came out in 1980 in their album “The Game.”
This song came out in 1980. Written by bassist John Deacon, it wasn't going to be released as a single, and Brian and Roger thought it wasn't "rock-y" enough and the fans wouldn't like it. Michel Jackson heard it and some "black" radio stations picked up on it (not realising it was a white British band, but thinking they were black!) and the rest is history.
I think between Bo Rap, We Are The Champions, Bites The Dust and Rock You you have 4 of the greatest best known songs in the whole world. I think only some Beatles and Elvis songs come close. Yes some modern songs have more views on You Tube, but they only appeal to certain demographics. EVERYONE knows these songs.....
You need to watch the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, don't treat it as a documentary tho. as its not all factually correct (I would say about 80% correct, but some of the timelines are screwed around for dramatic purposes - for example the AIDS diagnosis came after Live Aid, not before as in the movie). But it does give you a flavour of Queen's history.
Please please pleeeease react the live version of this in 1981 at Montreal. The 1985 Wembley stadium concert is good but NOTHING beats Montreal IMHO. As you say, it’s freaking bomb 😂