From album
We Will Rock You
Queen · 1992 · Track 14
Details
TonalidadA
Compás4/4
Tempo99 BPM
Duración1:14
CompositorQueen / Jörgen Elofsson
ÁlbumWe Will Rock You
Año1992
Credits
Music Queen, Jörgen Elofsson
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The story behind
When Queen decided to include God Save the Queen on their 1975 album A Night at the Opera, it was not an original composition. What Brian May did was take the English anthem, a piece whose authorship dates back to unknown origins and has been attributed to figures like John Bull, and create his own arrangement. This arrangement, which lasts just over a minute, became a distinctive mark of the band's concerts. From 1974, with the Sheer Heart Attack tour, until the last performance in 1986 with the Magic Tour, the song played at the end of each show, marking the moment of farewell. May's version is characterized by his guitar technique, where he layered multiple tracks to emulate the sound of a violin, often using the small 'Deacy Amp' amplifier, created by John Deacon.
Beyond its use in concerts, Brian May's rendition of God Save the Queen transcended. In 2002, to celebrate the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the guitarist gave a memorable performance on the roof of Buckingham Palace. This version, partly inspired by how Jimi Hendrix performed the American anthem, demonstrated the versatility and impact of the piece. While the main melody is consistent, the anthem has a rich history of variations and is used in various ceremonies and as a national anthem in several Commonwealth realms, as well as in other countries. The 1974 recording featured the collaboration of Kris Fredriksson and Mike Stone as recording engineers, and was produced by Roy Thomas Baker, Brian May, Queen, and Roger Taylor.
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