Appreciation and questions post for Dont Lose Your Head.

This one seems to have a bad reputation among Queen fans. A somewhat easy, synth based song with no soul.

Personally i like it. It boosts my adrenaline, i find it very atmospheric and innovative for 80's trends, Freddie's performance is top-notch and ALSO  makes driving while listening it loud quite a dangerous task !

Now 2 questions:

1) Do we know anything about  Joan Armatrading's  involvement with the song?
( from wiki: "Don't Lose Your Head" was composed by Taylor and features Joan Armatrading in a vocal cameo) 

2) Is there any subtance in this rumor i found on you tube?

"the song is about John Deacon being pulled over one night, being absolutely and completely drunk. This is where the song originated from etc.
... John was going through a tough period in his private life back then in 1985 / 1986 and was very "thirsty" for most of the time...... even during the Magic Tour."

PS. An intrumental  cover that i think does the song some justice :Queen - Don't Lose Your Head - Full HD Guitar Cover 1080p
( check out his channel. He does a very good guitar work in Queen tracks)

Overall does anyone like the song or the or even the instumental version of it,  A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling?

It's awful. The lyrics are probably the worst I've heard from Roger and that's saying something! Perhaps in the whole Queen catalogue only The Call has worse lyrics.

It also bears a resemblence to a much better song, Fred's solo effort, Love Kills, so I don't know why one is good and one so terrible,

Great melody and rythm with awesome vocals from Freddie. Sure, the lyrics aren't great but how many listens to queen because of the lyrics?

A Dozen Red Roses for My Darling is a decent rendition of the melody, but I personally think that DLYH is the worst song in Queen's entire catalogue, and there's a few contenders up there!!

Whatever you do, don't listen to Queen II and then expect anyone to say this song is good.

When the well is dry, it's dry..

Djdownsy wrote:
A Dozen Red Roses for My Darling is a decent rendition of the melody

Indeed, one of the most interesting b-sides Queen ever put out. Has a bit of a mid 80's Genesis feel to it.

Does anyone know who played what on that version, or if all 4 even played on it for that matter?

Stelios, I absolutely love Don't Lose Your Head. I think it is proof, alongside Love Kills, that Queen were also a killer synth pop band when they wanted to.

And yes, I can prove it is dangerous driving to it.
Thank God me and my 1980s friend did not get hurt. Our car stopped offroad very few inches from two trees, one at each side of the car. Strangely enough, his name is Roger and I can tell you that is not a common name in Brazil, where we live.

@Bob: of course I prefer Queen II. :)

Cheers,

Ogre-

Awesome song!

this thread is living proof of the diversity of opinion.

i've never considered DLYH - musically and lyrically - anything more than dog dirt.

there's really no accounting for taste

Love it. - superba cheese!

brENsKi wrote: this thread is living proof of the diversity of opinion.

i've never considered DLYH - musically and lyrically - anything more than dog dirt.

there's really no accounting for taste

 I also believe that musically and lyrically is not  that special.
Its in the ambience this track creates were it holds its power.
Production-wise is also powerfull. And Freddie as always treats it, for what it is, with great artistry.

By the way i just realised that it feature the lyrics " Don't drink and drive my car, Don't get breathalised " wich is tottaly irrelevant to its Highlander concept.
So that rumor i stated in the first post about Deacon, may be true.

It's a filler.

I like the song.
Great lyric also,

Remember love conquers..
Remember ,
love walks through walls.

Jesus walked through walls. After his resurrection!

I like the song, it took me some years, though. Especially the "Don't drink and drive..."-bit. Freddie sings so wonderful - maybe his best period vocally. The song is also different from the other Queen songs, which I like. I don't like the A Kind of Magic album very much, but this song is one of the high lights for me, along with Pain is so close to Pleasure (but they are excused since it's a sound track).