Another One Bites the Dust

"Another One Bites the Dust"
Single by Queen
from the album The Game
B-side	"Don't Try Suicide" (US) "Dragon Attack" (UK)
Released	22 August 1980
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1980
Genre	Funk rock[1][2] disco[3]
Length	3:35
Label	EMI Elektra (US) Mute (UK)
Writer(s)	John Deacon
Producer(s)	Queen Mack
Queen singles chronology
"Play the Game" (1980) "Another One Bites The Dust" (1980) "Need Your Loving Tonight" (1980)

"Another One Bites the Dust" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by bass guitarist John Deacon, the song featured on the group's eighth studio album The Game (1980). The song was a worldwide hit, charting number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 (their second number-one single in the country), number two on the Hot Soul Singles chart and the Disco Top 100, and number seven on the UK Singles Chart.^[4][5] The song is credited as Queen's best selling single, with sales of over 7 million copies.^[6] This version was ranked at number 34 on Billboard's All-Time Top Songs.^[7]

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.^[8][9]

History

John Deacon's bass line was inspired by the song "Good Times" by the disco group Chic.^[10][11] 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".^[12]

Recording sessions were produced by Reinhold Mack at Musicland Studios in Munich (West Germany) and consisted of Deacon playing almost all the instruments: bass guitar, piano, rhythm and lead guitars and handclap percussion. Roger Taylor added a drum loop and Brian May contributed some noises with his guitar and an Eventide Harmonizer. There are no synthesisers used in the song: all effects are created with pianos, guitars, and drums, with subsequent tape playback performed in reverse at various speeds. Finally, some 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. 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.^[13] In early live performances, drummer Roger 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.

At the 1981 American Music Awards on 30 January, "Another One Bites the Dust" won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single.^[8] The song also garnered Queen a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.^[9] The band lost to Bob Seger's album Against the Wind.^[9] The music video for "Another One Bites the Dust" was filmed at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.^[14] This song is played when the basketball team the Chicago Bulls win a home game.^[15]

The boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. used the song while entering the ring on a chariot against Arturo Gatti as a way to annoy the pro-Gatti crowd in attendance.^[16]

Alleged backward masking

	"Another One Bites the Dust" (section) The claimed backmasked section of Another One Bites the Dust. "Another One Bites the Dust" (section) (reversed) The same section, reversed.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

In the early 1980s, "Another One Bites the Dust" was one of many popular rock songs that Christian evangelists alleged contained subliminal messages through a technique called backmasking. It was claimed that the chorus, when played in reverse, can be heard as "Decide to smoke marijuana",^[17] "It's fun to smoke marijuana",^[18] or "Start to smoke marijuana".^[19] A spokeswoman for Hollywood Records (Queen's current US label) has denied that the song contains such a message.^[20]

Queen comments on the record

“

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 Deacie having this idea, but Deacie 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 bit and took it to a new height, I think." - Brian May [21]

”

“

"I remember laying down the backing track with him 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 [21]

”

Use in medical training

"Another One Bites the Dust" was used in a study to train medical professionals to provide the correct number of chest compressions per minute while performing CPR. The song has close to 110 beats per minute, and 100–120 chest compressions per minute are recommended by the British Heart Foundation,^[22] and endorsed by the Resuscitation Council (UK).^[23]

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals
• Brian May – electric guitar
• Roger Taylor – drums
• John Deacon – bass guitar, rhythm guitar, piano

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Original release Chart (1980–81) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[24] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[25] 6 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[26] 9 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[27] 7 Canada (CHUM)[28] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[29] 1 France (IFOP)[30] 24 Germany (Media Control Charts)[31] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[32] 6 Israel[33] 1 Italy (FIMI)[34] 10 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 11 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 2 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[38] 3 Spain (AFYVE)[39] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 8 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[5] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[4] 1 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[4] 2 US Billboard Hot Soul Singles[4] 2 US Cash Box[42] 1 US Record World[43] 1

Reissues Chart (2003) Peak position France (SNEP)[44] 48 Chart (2011) Peak position Belgium (Back Catalogue Singles Flanders)[45] 13 Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[46] 72 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[47] 69 Canada (RPM Top 100 Singles)[48] 33 Italy (FIMI)[34] 60 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[49] 92 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[50] 68 US Cash Box[51] 1 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments United States (RIAA) (Physical)[52] Platinum 2,000,000^ United States (RIAA) (Digital)[52] Gold 1,156,000[53] *sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Order of precedence
Preceded by "Upside Down" by Diana Ross	US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single 4 October 1980 – 18 October 1980 (3 weeks)	Succeeded by "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand
	US Cash Box number-one single 4 October 1980 – 25 October 1980 (4 weeks)
	US Record World number-one single (first run) 4 October 1980 – 1 November 1980 (5 weeks)
Preceded by "Sailing" by Christopher Cross	Canadian RPM Top Singles number-one single 25 October 1980 – 15 November 1980 (4 weeks)
Preceded by "Boulevard" by Jackson Browne	Canadian CHUM number-one single 13 September 1980 – 11 October 1980 (5 weeks)	Succeeded by "Dreamer" by Supertramp
Preceded by "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand	US Record World number-one single (second run) 15 November 1980 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Lady" by Kenny Rogers
Preceded by "Qué será" by Ana Belén	Spanish number-one single 23 March 1981 (1 week)	Succeeded by "Johnny and Mary" by Robert Palmer

Hollywood Records Remixes

The first official remix of "Another One Bites The Dust" was Phase 5's Long Dusted B-Boy Version, which was released on the Hollywood BASIC compilation BASIC Beats Sampler in early 1992. The remix featured a new rap verse by Money-B of Raw Fusion and contained many samples from other records including, but not limited to, "Flash" by Queen themselves, "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow, "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim, "Good Times" by Chic, "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic" by Isaac Hayes and "It's Too Funky in Here" by James Brown. Dave Ogilvie edited the Phase 5 remix for inclusion on the April 1992 compilation BASIC Queen Bootlegs removing profanity from the rap verse and problematic samples due to copyright clearance. A separate remix by Onyx producer ChySkillz was due to appear featuring rap verses by Ice Cube, Hi-C and Manson. Ogilvie also recorded his own remix in sessions for the album, but did this not feature on the final tracklisting. All four versions have since leaked.

Wyclef Jean Remix

"Another One Bites The Dust (Wyclef Jean Remix)"
Single by Queen and Wyclef Jean featuring Pras and Free
from the album Greatest Hits III, Small Soldiers O.S.T and Ghetto Supastar
Released	20 November 1998(US) 20 January 1999(UK)
Format	CD single 12" single cassette
Recorded	1998
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:20
Label	DreamWorks
Writer(s)	John Deacon
Producer(s)	Queen Mack Wyclef Jean Jerry 'Wonder' Duplessis
Queen singles chronology
"No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)" (1997) "Another One Bites the Dust (Wyclef Jean Remix)" (1998) "Under Pressure (Rah Mix)" (1999)
Pras Michel chronology "What'cha Wanna Do" (1998) "Another One Bites the Dust" (1998) "Miss California" (2001)

In 1998, American rapper Wyclef Jean covered and remixed the song for the film Small Soldiers. His version also features rap verses from Pras Michel and Free, and music by Queen. The track also appears on Queen's compilation Greatest Hits III, released in 1999,^[54] and on Pras' debut album, Ghetto Supastar, released in 1998.

Background

It enjoyed the most success in the United Kingdom, where it entered the chart at number 5,^[55] its highest chart position, going on to spend six weeks on the chart. It also reached the top 10 in Finland. It charted number 18, number 23, number 50 and number 62 in New Zealand, Austria, Sweden and France, respectively. The music video for this version was directed by Michel Gondry. The song became Pras' third United Kingdom Top 10 hit from his debut solo album Ghetto Supastar, following the title track and follow-up single Blue Angels. However, Pras was not available for the filming of the video, and rapper Canibus recorded a new verse to take his place. This version was used only for the promotional video.

Tracklisting

• American CD single^[56]

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Radio Edit) (4:00)
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (LP Version) (4:20)
3. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Instrumental) (4:17)
4. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Acappella) (4:45)

• UK CD single^[57]

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (New LP Version) (4:20)
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Team 1 Black Rock Star Main Pass Mix) (4:46)
3. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Team 1 Black Rock Star Radio Edit) (4:17)

• German CD single^[58]

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Small Soldiers Remix) (4:20)
2. "Rock and Roll (Part 2) (Dutch Remix)" (instrumental) (performed by Gary Glitter) (3:51)
3. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Instrumental) (4:17)

• German CD single^[59]

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Radio Edit) (4:00)
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Instrumental) (4:17)

Chart performance

Chart (1998–1999)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[60]	23
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[61]	13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[62]	29
Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[63]	13
Canada (RPM Dance)[64]	22
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[65]	7
France (SNEP)[66]	62
Germany (Media Control Charts)[67]	46
Ireland (IRMA)[32]	11
Italy (FIMI)[68]	20
Japan (Oricon)[69]	23
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[70]	21
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[71]	21
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[72]	9
Norway (VG-lista)[73]	20
Poland (LP3)[74]	40
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[75]	50
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[76]	35
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[55]	5

Queen vs. The Miami Project

"Another One Bites the Dust (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Radio Edit)"
Single by Queen vs. The Miami Project
from the album Another One Bites the Dust (The Miami Project Remixes)
B-side	"Another One Bites the Dust (Original Version)"
Released	2006
Format	7" single CD single 12" single Digital download
Genre	House
Length	3:22
Label	Positiva
Writer(s)	John Deacon
Producer(s)	Queen Mack Cedric Gervais
Queen singles chronology
"Flash (Vanguard Mix)" (2003) "Another One Bites the Dust (The Miami Project Remixes)" (2006) "Say It's Not True" (2007)

The song was remixed again in 2006. The single reached the UK Top 40, peaking at number 31, credited to Queen vs The Miami Project.^[77] The lead remix was by Cedric Gervais & Second Sun for which a new video was filmed. Further remixes by Oliver Koletzki, A Skillz, Soul Avengerz and DJ Pedro & Olivier Berger were available on other formats.^[78]

Tracklisting

• 7" picture disc vinyl

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Radio Edit)
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Original Version)

• CD Single

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Radio Edit)
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Vocal Mix)
3. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Oliver Koletski Remix)
4. "Another One Bites the Dust" (A Skillz Remix)
5. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Soul Avengerz Remix)
6. "Another One Bites the Dust" (DJ Pedro & Oliver Berger)
7. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Radio Edit) (video)

• Digital Download EP

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Radio Edit)
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Cedric Gervais & Second Sun Vocal Mix)
3. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Oliver Koletski Remix)
4. "Another One Bites the Dust" (A Skillz Remix)
5. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Soul Avengerz Remix)
6. "Another One Bites the Dust" (DJ Pedro & Oliver Berger)

Chart performance

Chart (2006-2007)	Peak position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[79]	13
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[80]	3
Germany (Media Control Charts)[81]	88
Italy (FIMI)[68]	58
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[82]	30
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[83]	49
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[84]	9
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[77]	31

Sampling

In 1981, the track formed part of Grandmaster Flash's legendary proto-mashup "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" alongside popular breakbeats and samples from emerging hip-hop artists.

In 1997, the track was also sampled by Foxy Brown and Jay-Z on the Trackmasters remix of her single "I'll Be".

Wu-Tang Clan member U-God interpolated lines from the song in the opening verse to his song "Rumble".

Cover versions

In 1981, parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote a parody of the song titled, "Another One Rides the Bus". This version was recorded live on the Dr. Demento Show and was released on his debut album.^[85]

The song was in Kurt Cobain's classic rock setlist when he was growing up in Aberdeen, Washington, and on 10 October 1991, Nirvana briefly performed part of the song (without any vocals) at the beginning of their concert in Cleveland, Ohio just a few weeks after their breakthrough album Nevermind had been released.^[86]

Between 1991 and 1992, Ice Cube recorded his own hip-hop interpretation of the track for inclusion on the BASIC Queen Bootlegs album.

In 1997, Argentinean band Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas released a cover in Spanish titled "Otro Muerde el Polvo" included in a tribute record made by various Latin American and Spanish artists.

In 2004, Gwen Stefani sings the line "Another one bites the dust" on the Pharrell Williams-produced track "Hollaback Girl" from her album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. As she sings the line, the brass section briefly mimics John Deacon's familiar bassline. The track became a single the following year.

In 2010, the song was covered by the cast of Glee in the episode, "Funk".^[87]

Captain Jack version

"Another One Bites the Dust"
Single by Queen Dance Traxx featuring Captain Jack
from the album Queen Dance Traxx 1
Released	10 October 1996
Format	CD single 12" single cassette
Genre	Eurodance
Length	3:48
Writer(s)	John Deacon
Producer(s)	Udo Niebergall Richard Witte
Captain Jack singles chronology
"Little Boy" (1996) "Another One Bites the Dust" (1996) "Together and Forever" (1997)

In 1996, Queen Dance Traxx and German Eurodance group Captain Jack covered the song for the album Queen Dance Traxx 1 and released it as a single in October 1996. The song reached number 5 in Finland and peaked at number 12 in the Netherlands. It also reached number 33 in Austria, number 41 in Belgium and number 61 in Germany. The music video for this version was directed by Rudi Dolezal and was filmed in Berlin, Germany.

Tracklisting

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Radio Mix) – 3:48
2. "Another One Bites the Dust" (Club Mix) – 5:29

Remixed by Hal & Dj Ufuk a.k.a. Helmut Apel & Ufuk Yildirim

1. "Another One Bites the Dust" (DJs Extended Mix) – 6:23

Chart performance

Chart (1996–1997)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[88]	33
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[89]	41
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[90]	5
Germany (Media Control Charts)[91]	61
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[92]	12
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[93]	14

See also

• List of best-selling singles

References

External links

• Official YouTube videos: original music video, Live at Wembley, Live at the Bowl, Queen + Paul Rodgers
• Lyrics from Queen official website: version from Live Magic, version from Return of the Champions
• polyhex.com UK Singles Chart runs
• Full lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Queen singles discography Queen "Keep Yourself Alive" "Liar" Queen II "Seven Seas of Rhye" Sheer Heart Attack "Killer Queen" / "Flick of the Wrist" "Now I'm Here" "Lily of the Valley" A Night at the Opera "Bohemian Rhapsody" "You're My Best Friend" "Love of My Life" A Day at the Races "Somebody to Love" "Tie Your Mother Down" "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)" "Long Away" "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy" News of the World "We Are the Champions" / "We Will Rock You" "Spread Your Wings" "It's Late" Jazz "Bicycle Race" / "Fat Bottomed Girls" "Don't Stop Me Now" "Jealousy" "Mustapha" Live Killers "Love of My Life" (Live) "We Will Rock You" (Live) The Game "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" "Save Me" "Play the Game" "Another One Bites the Dust" "Need Your Loving Tonight" Flash Gordon "Flash" Hot Space "Under Pressure" (with David Bowie) "Back Chat" "Las Palabras de Amor" "Calling All Girls" "Staying Power" "Body Language" The Works "Radio Ga Ga" "I Want to Break Free" "It's a Hard Life" "Hammer to Fall" A Kind of Magic "One Vision" "A Kind of Magic" "Princes of the Universe" "Friends Will Be Friends" "Pain Is So Close to Pleasure" "Who Wants to Live Forever" "One Year of Love" The Miracle "I Want It All" "Breakthru" "The Invisible Man" "Scandal" "The Miracle" Innuendo "Innuendo" "I'm Going Slightly Mad" "Headlong" "I Can't Live With You" "The Show Must Go On" "These Are the Days of Our Lives" Made in Heaven "Heaven for Everyone" "A Winter's Tale" "I Was Born to Love You" "Too Much Love Will Kill You" "Let Me Live" "You Don't Fool Me" Queen Rocks "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)" / "Tie Your Mother Down" Greatest Hits III "Under Pressure (Rah Mix)" Non-album singles "Thank God It's Christmas" "Another One Bites the Dust (Small Soldiers Remix)" "We Will Rock You" (with Five) "We Are the Champions" (with Robbie Williams) "Flash (Vanguard Mix)" "Another One Bites the Dust (The Miami Project Remixes)" "Bohemian Rhapsody" (with The Muppets) Other songs "Doing All Right" "White Queen (As It Began)" "Ogre Battle" "The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke" "Nevermore" "The March of the Black Queen" "See What a Fool I've Been" "Brighton Rock" "Stone Cold Crazy" "Death on Two Legs" "I'm in Love with My Car" "'39" "The Prophet's Song" "Good Company" "Is This the World We Created...?" "Ride the Wild Wind" "Delilah" "Made In Heaven" "Mother Love" "Let Me in Your Heart Again" Book Category Portal Template WikiProject

Wyclef Jean Albums The Carnival The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book Masquerade Greatest Hits The Preacher's Son Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion If I Were President: The Haitian Experience Singles "We Trying to Stay Alive" "Guantanamera" "Gone till November" "Cheated (To All The Girls)" "Gunpowder" "Another One Bites the Dust" "New Day" "It Doesn't Matter" "911" "Perfect Gentleman" "Wish You Were Here" "Two Wrongs" "Pussycat" "Party to Damascus" "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" "Trap N Roll" "Divine Sorrow Promotional Singles "Anything Can Happen" "Bubblegoose" "Low Income" "Ghetto Religion" "Industry" "Take Me As I Am" "Fast Car" "Touch Your Button (Carnival Jam)" "Warrior's Anthem" "You Don't Wanna Go Outside" "More Bottles" "Election Time" Featured Singles "No, No, No" "In The Zone" "Maria Maria" "Loving You (Ole Ole Ole)" "One Nite Stand" "Shape of You (Reshaped)" "Learn Chinese" "Hips Don't Lie" "Nuestro Himno" "Dangerous" "You Know What It Is" "Five-O" "Valentine" See also Discography Barikad Crew Jimmy O The Fugees

Pras Albums Ghetto Supastar (1998) Win, Lose or Draw (2005) Singles "Avenues" (The Refugee All Stars featuring Pras) "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" "Blue Angels" "What'cha Wanna Do" "Another One Bites the Dust" (Queen and Wyclef Jean featuring Pras and Free) "Miss California" "Haven't Found" "Turn You On" "Pushin'" "Le Blues" "My Man" "Watch Out" "Untried"