Queen Bitch

When David Bowie set out to record Hunky Dory, he sought a different sound. After the experimentation of The Man Who Sold the World, for this album he opted for a more melodic palette with pop undertones, though still retaining boldness. Amid this process, Queen Bitch emerged—a track distinguished by its energy and direct approach, driven by the guitar. Unlike most songs on Hunky Dory, which rely on piano, here the guitar takes center stage, creating an atmosphere some have linked to glam rock and proto-punk. The song is a clear homage to The Velvet Underground, evident in its attitude and lyrical references, such as the mention of "Sister Flo" evoking "Sister Ray," or the nods of gratitude to "White Light" and "I'm Waiting for the Man".

The recording of Queen Bitch took place at Trident Studios in London between June and July 1971. It was a collaborative effort between Bowie and Ken Scott, featuring musicians who would later become known as The Spiders from Mars: Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass, and Mick Woodmansey on drums. Notably, although Rick Wakeman contributed keyboards to other parts of the album, he did not participate in this track. The structure of Queen Bitch begins with a countdown from Bowie, followed by an eight-bar introduction where the 12-string acoustic guitar gives way to Ronson’s electric one. The bass and drums enter to solidify the rhythmic foundation, while a second guitar blends into the left channel, adding textures described as clashing interestingly with the main guitar. Bolder’s bass line, for its part, jumps octaves and traverses the G scale in the verses, adding a distinctive movement.