Tater Thoughts

Freddie delivers a powerhouse vocal performance in his touching and dramatic declaration " It's a Hard Life ". Incorporating operatic and ballad elements, this song echoes several earlier Freddie compositions and continues his journey of love. It's also a welcome return to Queen's no-synths approach, with all the boys returning full force to their respective instruments and w...

The heaviest tune on The Works, " Tear It Up " comes at us hard and fast, courtesy of Brian's composition genius and Freddie's aggressive vocals. It echoes many previous Queen tracks (and not all of them are Brian numbers) but we welcome its unabashed sexiness and rousing, gritty rock 'n' roll vibe. It even mentions a previous well-known Queen song. Not a lot is said abou...

Roger's first big hit with Queen, " Radio Ga Ga " kicks off The Works with invigorated, celebratory energy; and of course, nostalgia. Inspired by a phrase blurted by Roger's young son Felix, this song has become an anthem that features classic Queen enthusiasm and heart, with a healthy dose of synthesizers. It's the most atmospheric we've heard the boys, and despite the i...

After the lackluster response to funk-infused Hot Space , Queen took a break and came back fresh, uniting with enthusiasm to create their 11th album, The Works . For the first time, the boys made a conscious decision to rely on their tried and true rock 'n' roll style while retaining some of their recent and more minimal pop and dance vibes. They "played it safe" to reaffirm thei...

In the ever-changing rapidly shifting digital world, social media is one element that never sits still. And as sentiments change and concerns arise and questions are asked, I had to ask myself...how do I feel about the social media platforms I use? When I'm on them, how does that affect me? And when you're on social media, how do you feel? The good news is...if something's not working for you, the...

The synth bass. The dynamic compositions. The attitude. The vocals. When I listen to Queen's tenth album and its many funky and danceable twists and turns, one man stands out to me more than the rest. We're reminded that his ability to perform in every genre ever is innate, and his confidence and swagger are through the roof. From his impressive falsetto to his album art concept, this man epitomiz...

Evolved from a Queen demo called " Feel Like ", and fueled by an iconic bassline, " Under Pressure " is the miraculous unplanned collaboration between Queen and David Bowie that continues to win new fans. Its universal relevancy makes it a timeless piece of intense urgency contrasted with cautious optimism. Bowie's experimental approach to songwriting ignited Queen's talents, and what we ended up...

This rare Freddie Mercury/John Deacon co-write almost included improvised vocals from another notable performer. But perhaps, it was for the best that they were removed? " Cool Cat " is a minimally funky and jazzy number that perfectly encapsulates that groovy era. Roger and Brian sit this one out, but in Freddie and John's capable hands, this song jives and moves along comfortably, endlessly list...

It's sad that as we age, we may feel as though we matter less; that the best is behind us, that we're past our prime. We may feel nostalgic and regretful for opportunities missed and goals unmet. But our perspectives also shift, and what mattered so much suddenly doesn't anymore. We change, but in some ways, we don't. We still feel, deep within, the same way our younger selves did. And I hope we r...

Brian's previous passionate reflection culminates in " Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love) ". He brings acoustic and electric guitars, synths and keys, and even provides lead vocals at a crucial moment; as well as haunting backing accents. Freddie's lead vocals are some of his most natural, tender and dynamic. John's bass arrangement includes surprising movement. And Roger's drumming echoes m...

Roger's second offering on Hot Space (and the first Queen single release written by him), " Calling All Girls " takes us on a poppy rock ride. The boys are all playing real instruments again, bopping along as Freddie sings loud and clear for all to hear. Roger even adds some guitar feedback as Brian provides sparkling and jiving guitar layers. The song's video may not have pleased at least half th...

An ode to John Lennon's artistry, Freddie's " Life is Real (Song for Lennon) " is also a stunning and affecting confession from our frontman. It's a beautifully constructed ballad with aching phrases of doubt and fear: A revealing admission. All of the boys shimmer here, with shocking restraint that still evokes. Roger's delicate drums, John's lyrical bass, and Brian's soulful guitar all make thei...

Is there a part of your life that looks and feels completely alien? You might be asking yourself how you got there, how it happened; maybe how you let it happen. If that's the case, it's time to assess. It's time to reflect, to ponder, to navigate. Get feedback. Get help. And when it's time to make a decision, take a step forward in confidence to something new, and better.

Brian's second contribution to Hot Space, " Put Out the Fire " is the most Queen song on the album. All four boys are back in classic form, on live drums and gritty guitar (including a stellar guitar solo) and rolling bass glissandos. Freddie sounds fabulous in his aggressive full voice register, and we get a welcome return of layered vocal harmonies. This song sounded epic in its abbreviated live...

Roger's first contribution to Hot Space calls us to stand and take " Action This Day ". It's a poppy, dance rock number with new wave inflections and contrasted vocals between our composer and our frontman. John is totally absent, as Rog performs many of the instruments (including synth bass) and Brian jives with Roger on electric guitar tradeoffs. This sounded stunning on a stage , and audiences...

Never has Queen been more sexed up than Freddie's second contribution to Hot Space, " Body Language ". Driven by Freddie's synth bass performance and extraordinarily aggressive and dynamic vocal, this is almost a solo piece; with Brian and Roger making brief appearances (John may be totally absent). Fans were stunned this slinky and minimal dance number was the lead single for Hot Space. But live...

It's been another incredible year on my podcast, and I have you to thank! So, thank you . I'm so grateful you've stuck around, and you've tuned in. To know you're there...it helps keep me going. So here's a plethora of thanks, some ideas for future episodes, and a few bits of encouragement and silliness for you.

With the recent shifts in the Twitterverse, I started thinking about the history of the platform, what it was like over a decade ago when I joined it, and what it's become. The bottom line? It's not the same. Social media is nothing like it was years ago, neither is the world. And neither are we. We've changed, along with everything else. We have the power to drive change. So how can we do that in...

John's first contribution to Hot Space, " Back Chat " is locked in dance as the album's funkiest and poppiest number. Its catchy bass groove and rhythm guitars (as well as programmed drums and synths) were all played by John. Freddie takes the lyrics and attacks them all the attitude and accusation, flying in staccato arrangements and expressive soulful moments. Brian and Roger appear in brief fla...

Never a single, never played live (why!), Brian May's " Dancer " continues kicking off Queen's Hot Space with edge and an experimental metal dance jive. Parallel guitar harmonies surround programmed drums and a synth bass; all contributed by Brian, our composer. Freddie's aggressive vocals, rounded out by fun harmonies from Brian and Roger, take center stage. And surprisingly, John is nowhere to b...

Let's get straight to the point. I've been seeing some questionable, insensitive content shared in the midst of the devastation from Hurricane Ian. My thoughts have been bouncing around in my brain, and I have to talk about it. This isn't just about a storm. It boils down to this...when you share something, what is your intention?

Leave it to Freddie Mercury to bring the heat with " Staying Power "; the funky Hot Space opener that leaves nothing to the imagination . Our composer contributes not just all vocals (delivered in driving staccato fashion) but also a groovy synth bass. A surprise appearance of energized brass bounces off of Freddie's playful vocals. Guitar contributions from both Brian and John create a balance of...

Despite hesitation from a band member or two and disagreements about musical direction, following the massive success of "Another One Bites the Dust", our boys take sparse, rhythm-driven and funky arrangements to surprising extremes on their 10th album, Hot Space . Incorporating heavy synthesizers and more drum machines, Queen stunned press and fans alike, alienating hard rock lovers with a comple...

We all have moments of opportunity. Something comes our way and it's a rare chance to take it on and make a difference. So why do we hesitate? Why do we shy away? Why do we chicken out?

The boys' one and only soundtrack album includes impressive contributions from every band member, but one man almost single-handedly saw it through. Not only did he push to include film dialogue in the songs and visit with the orchestra during recording, he was the writer behind the album's only single, as well as its impressive closing number. And when he plays his Red Special? There's passion an...