Which Queen song represents what the band is all about and who they were?

For myself personally so don't go slagging me, i would say "Somebody to Love" was the sheer essence of Queen, it was regal, pomp, brash, with that blistering Brian May guitar solo and the mock opera backing vocals which was very Freddie, all wrapped up in Taylors thrashing of cymbals and deacon's tight bass playing and it represented what Queen was all about. Obviously we got a taste of all this type of formula from Queen 2 which was a grand sound, and even today Brians guitar playing does not sounds a s regal as it used to back then which maybe because he does not use the old valve amps like he used to. So come on guys which song do you think was the spirit of Queen ?

Not easy for me to answer this but personally i will pick innuendo. Also i remember that in one interwiev someone ask freddie very similiar question. not remember what exactly he answer but something like each songs represent bitt of what queen is about. hope understand me :)

...Millionaire Waltz tieing with Bo Rhap.

Marlamir, yes i remember someone asking Freddie years ago, why choose Queen as a favourite band and Freddie regally replied "Because Queen offers a wider span of music than most other bands" He was correct of course as no other band has crossed over from Heavy rock to Disco !

[QUOTE] [b]happystar wrote:[/b]

"Somebody to Love" ... the mock opera backing vocals which was very Freddie, [/QUOTE]

Surely "mock gospel choir" backing vocals?

[QUOTE] [b]happystar wrote:[/b]

as no other band has crossed over from Heavy rock to Disco ![/QUOTE]

Off the top of my head ---

Van Halen -- Dance the Night Away
Kiss -- I Was Made for Lovin' You

Don't forget Queen have done a lot of different styles of music, from Heavy Rock, Rockabilly, Pop, Love Ballads, Punk Rock, Disco, yes i understand Kiss & Van Halen have done fluffier things than hard rock but Queen have done a bit of everything in between. They were the most experimental band around !

Yes they dabbled in a number of styles and that was certainly a strength and selling point. However, a case could be made that the Beatles, The Who, Zappa, Floyd, Rush, Muse, Bowie etc also experimented (to use your word) in different styles and techniques, maybe to greater effect. The Beatles did a lot to bring Eastern music to popular attention in the USA, for example, even though they weren't the first to do so. Compare Tomorrow Never Knows to Mustapha: no contest! The Beatles virtually invented heavy metal with Helter Skelter. They wrote ballads, reggae (after a fashion), rock, raga etc. The Doors' The End was a great experiment in psychedelic raga rock. Zepp's Kashmir incorporated north African rhythms. Page experimented with folk tunings to a greater degree than Brian. The Rain Song is a great example of that.

Anyway the answer to this question has to be Bo Rap of course, since we're only allowed one song to cover two decades of their career, but Brian's trying very hard to make it WWRY.

Don't forget 10 cc. They're the nearest comparison to Queen as far as genre crossing and vastly underrated.

I'd say 'Doing All Right' or 'Father to Son'.

Father to son is great choice i must say

[QUOTE] [b]happystar wrote:[/b]

Brians guitar playing does not sounds a s regal as it used to back then which maybe because he does not use the old valve amps like he used to.[/QUOTE]

I thought he still used the same self customised AC30 valve driven cabs.....what does he use now instead?

As far as i am aware Brian was sick and tired of the old valve amps exploding and causing chew on stage and i think now he is all circuit board amps! (Master Marathon Runner) i think The Sweet came as close to Queen than 10cc. The Sweet were very hacked off with Queen nicking there sounds that on one of there album covers "Give us a wink" they put on the sleeve that "Queen were a load of wankers" lol

I would like to name March of the Black Queen, but realistically it's Bohemian Rhapsody