Poll: Favourite song written by John Deacon?

" if I had to pick one John song it would be If You Can't Beat Them."

Really? The lack of 'You and I' in the poll screams 'QUEEN NEWBIE!!!'


The best Queen single never released.

The Real Wizard wrote:
Of the 10,000+ Queen and related tracks I've heard (studio and live), the BBC version of Spread Your Wings is in the top five.

Agreed. The version of It's Late from that session is stunning too - god only knows why they didn't put it on the NOTW bonus disc

To be honest, I have a hard time believing You and I is a John Deacon song. All those time changes and dramatic moments aren't really John are they? I bet this was a really simple song given the Queen treatment by Fred and Brian. That said, you're right: it's a masterpiece. Closely followed by Spread your Wings and If you cant join them, beat them.

You and I (Why is that not here!!??
Spread Your Wings
You're My Best Friend
Need Your Loving
Another One Bites the Dust
Back Chat
If You Can't Beat Them
One Year of Love
Misfire
In Only Seven Days
I Want to Break Free

Holly2003 wrote:
To be honest, I have a hard time believing You and I is a John Deacon song. All those time changes and dramatic moments aren't really John are they? I bet this was a really simple song given the Queen treatment by Fred and Brian. That said, you're right: it's a masterpiece. Closely followed by Spread your Wings and If you cant join them, beat them.

I never really thought about that. I always thought that was more of a result of being influenced by Freddie and Brian's writing and/or being a more confident songwriter after Best Friend became popular. If Freddie or Brian did have significant impact, it's credited to John so, since there's no concrete reason to believe otherwise, it should be assumed that it's John's song.

Also, *You're >:-(

Probably follows from their pre-MIRACLE agreement. Seems like someone else had their hands in it too but the initial piano and constant bass upbeat vibe seem all John. YOU AND I is great. ... and another that was never performed, right?

waunakonor wrote:

Holly2003 wrote:
To be honest, I have a hard time believing You and I is a John Deacon song. All those time changes and dramatic moments aren't really John are they? I bet this was a really simple song given the Queen treatment by Fred and Brian. That said, you're right: it's a masterpiece. Closely followed by Spread your Wings and If you cant join them, beat them.

I never really thought about that. I always thought that was more of a result of being influenced by Freddie and Brian's writing and/or being a more confident songwriter after Best Friend became popular. If Freddie or Brian did have significant impact, it's credited to John so, since there's no concrete reason to believe otherwise, it should be assumed that it's John's song.

Also, *You're >:-(

Yes, that's also very possible. Mind you, I prefer my version of events as it makes me look smart instead of you :)

Mooghead has got it spot on, yet again. It has to be 'You And I', one of the best songs they ever recorded, also of my favourite album.
Also the inclusion of 'One Year Of Love', is he having a laugh or what?

mooghead wrote:

" if I had to pick one John song it would be If You Can't Beat Them."

Really? The lack of 'You and I' in the poll screams 'QUEEN NEWBIE!!!'


The best Queen single never released.

Thanks for your DOUBLE post.

Another one that everyone seems to have forgotten, is Need Your Loving Tonight, or is there only me that likes that song? But then I do have The Game in my top 5 Queen albums, Although I was a bit confused when I first heard AOBTD when it came out at the time, but that's a favourite of mine too.
I also agree about Spread your wings, at the BBC, definitely a far superior version of the song, cos I don't like the album version at all.

horse feathers wrote:

Another one that everyone seems to have forgotten, is Need Your Loving Tonight, or is there only me that likes that song?

No, I like that song one too, but I like You and I better, so I didn't mention it.

Also excluded: Misfire and In Only Seven Days.

My faves are In only seven days, Misfire and You and I.
But I really, really love ALL of his tunes.

Holly2003 wrote:

Spread Your WIngs is great and the Livekillers version is one of my favourite live songs. However, if I had to pick one John song it would be If You Can't Beat Them. The live version of that track from Cologne 1979 is amazing and Brian does a fantastic job.

Good call.

Ooh yeah - forgot about Need Your Loving Tonight! Great, simple but effective song perfectly suited to The Game album.

In Only Seven Days really is a good'n for me. Need Your Lovin' Tonight and If You Cant Beat Them are good too!

In Only Seven Days has to be one of their weakest songs from the 70's, but I kind of like it. It has a simplistic charm to it I guess, particularly in the lyrics, which paint a pretty vivid picture with how bluntly narrative they are. I like Misfire too, it's cool to hear John and Brian's electric guitar work in such close contrast, and it's got a nice melody to it.