The Show Must Go On (Queen song)
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| "The Show Must Go On" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Queen | ||
| from the album Innuendo | ||
| Released | 14 October 1991 | |
| Format | 7"/12", CD single | |
| Recorded | 1990-1991 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:31 | |
| Label | Parlophone (Europe), Hollywood Records (US) | |
| Writer(s) | Queen (Brian May[1]) | |
| Producer(s) | Queen and David Richards | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Queen singles chronology | ||
| "Headlong" (1991) |
"The Show Must Go On" (1991) |
"These Are the Days of Our Lives" (1991) |
"The Show Must Go On" is a song by English rock band Queen, featured as the twelfth and final track on their 1991 album Innuendo. Although guitarist Brian May[1] claims to have written much of the song, it is credited to Queen. The song chronicles the effort of someone continuing to perform despite approaching the end of their life.[2] The title is derived from the phrase "the show must go on", and may be in reaction to the numerous press speculations about lead singer Freddie Mercury's declining health since the late 1980s. Much of the lyrics and imagery of the song can also be construed to be a reflection on life and imminent death. It is regarded as one of Queen's most emotive, powerful songs by many fans.[2]
It was released as a single in the United Kingdom on October 14, 1991, just six weeks before Mercury died. Following Mercury's death in November 1991, the song re-entered the British charts and spent longer in the top 75 than it did on its original release. A live version with Elton John on vocals appeared on Queen's Greatest Hits III album.
Contents |
[edit] Songwriting process
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After listening to John Deacon and Roger Taylor playing the chord sequence that later on would be the basis for almost the entire song, Brian May sat down with Freddie Mercury and the two of them decided the theme of the song and wrote some lyrics. May wrote down the rest of the words as well as the melody, and put a bridge with chord sequence inspired by Pachelbel's canon.
Demo versions featured May singing, having to sing some parts in falsetto because they were too high, but Mercury recorded them without problems. To this day, both Brian May and many fans regard this vocal performance as one of Mercury's finest ever.
For the record, May sang most of the backing vocals (including the very last line) and played Yamaha DX-7 synthesiser as well as guitar. Producer David Richards suggested the key-shift in the third verse.
"The Show Must Go On" is the only Queen composition that has been sung by Taylor, May and Mercury. Mercury sang it in the album version, and both May and Taylor sang it in each one's solo tours.
[edit] Promotional video
Due to Mercury's deteriorating health at the time, no new footage of the lead singer could be shot; thus, the video was conceived and realized as a montage of clips spanning Queen's entire (video clip) career from 1981 to 1991.
Like all other music videos for Innuendo, the video was directed by Austrian director team DoRo, consisting of Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher, who have been regularly working for Queen since the video to their 1985 single "One Vision". They also directed the video to the only new output of the group as a three-piece, "No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)", released in 1997.
[edit] Cover versions
- The song was one of many used in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge!, performed by Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman.
- The music was recorded in 2006 by Divinefire for their album Into a New Dimension.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b http://www.brianmay.com/works/works.html
- ^ a b http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:ph77gjwr16p9
