my review of innuendo

Pompous, superficial, and shallow. Three words commonly used to describe Queen’s output. However, in this case, it could not be further from the truth. Innuendo, Queen’s 14th studio album, was released on February 4th 1991. At the time speculation was rife throughout the tabloids in regards to lead singer Freddie Mercury’s health. The main belief was that the star was dying of AIDS, despite personally declaring he was fine. He had become a virtual recluse however and the tabloids stalked him for the latest shocking pictures of his condition.

The album itself had been a long and tortuous process. Recording had begun in March 1989 and wasn’t concluded till November 1990, which was due to Mercury’s rapidly declining health. Under these circumstances, it would be understandable to think the album to come out of this would be weak and lacking. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The tracks on the album display far more depth and emotional context than any other Queen release so far. For many years known as a band which went for catchy anthems with little depth behind them, this was a radical departure. Musically the band are in as fine form as ever, including Mercury, whose vocal performance is astounding considering he was sometimes too ill to stand for more than 30 minutes at the microphone stand.

There were 12 songs on the album. The title track, Innuendo, is a song rightly deserving the coveted “epic” label. Running in it over 6 minutes, it mixes a variety of styles, including a Spanish guitar solo part way through. The different sections to the song make it a truly exciting listen, from the opening drum roll which sets the scene, to Mercury’s final line in the song “whatever will be, will be”.

These are the days of our lives, track 8 on the album, is a very poignant song. Lyrically it’s about someone looking back on their life, remembering the good old days and all they’ve achieved. When the album first came out, it was interpreted as simply a love song. However after Mercury’s death, it became clear the true meaning behind the song, which adds that extra dimension to it. The final line in the song, “I still love you”, spoken by Mercury, is often thought of as his goodbye.

Despite this, the whole album is not a morbid listen. There are two trademark queen rockers early on in Headlong and I Cant Live with You. Fast paced, guitar led, these are throwbacks to the classic queen days. Track 9 is a true oddity, titled Delilah. Penned by Freddie Mercury, it is an ode to his cat. Its quirky and cute, some had reservations of this track, but on an album so full of strong feelings, it is a welcome interlude. His cats meant everything to him, so even the most cynical listener shouldn’t be critical of the inclusion of this track

Don’t try so hard,(track 5), at first listen doesn’t even sound like Queen. A song which is pretty soft for the most part, bar a guitar solo towards the end, lyrically it is imparting simple advice for life. If life is feeling too much for you, don’t try so hard, there’s always tomorrow. Again, a radical departure from a band never considered sentimental or heart felt. This fact helps make it a very refreshing listen.

All Gods People, sees the band venture into another musical dimension. The song is gospel based, but tinged with the usual Queen sound. The vocals on this track are very strong and the best on the album. Another radical departure from the accepting Queen sound, but an amazing song which has true power behind it.

As the album draws to a close, the sense of finality begins to set in. after all, all four of them in the studio knew this would be their last album together. How to bring the end a 20 year career must have really pushed their musical limits. But after all the band had achieved, is it any wonder they rise to the occasion?

Prior to the rather emotional ending, there is another rock tune. Entitled the Hitman, it could probably be classed as one of their tradition

The appeal of the album should not stop at fans. It is simply a true classic. It deals with an issue which confronts us all, the inevitable call of death. Through the course of the album you sense frustration, desolation, regret, as well as acceptance and the preparation to face the unknown. As well as that, there are some lighter diversions which help make the album listenable, the rays of light in amongst the darkness.

Innuendo is not like any other of the preceding 13 queen albums. A fitting title, for Innuendo is implying something without spelling it out, which in essence is the entire album.


I did this for english langaueg cw. please give me feedback. its only a first draft so it will be altered.

wow well done!!
that all sounded very profesional, as well as the track review it delves slightly into queen themselves and what they may or deffo! would of been going thru with regards to freddie,

innuendo is my all-time gem i fucking love that album, its full of power and heartbreaking emotions,

once again well done!

wow well done!!
that all sounded very profesional, as well as the track review it delves slightly into queen themselves and what they may or deffo! would of been going thru with regards to freddie,

innuendo is my all-time gem i fucking love that album, its full of power and heartbreaking emotions,

once again well done!

oooooops sorry guy'z and galz a bit of a doubler(wiggles gigar)

anyone else who has any comments id welcome them

thanks again:)

You have done a wonderful job. Kudos and good luck!

I knew I was gonna come back to add something cause I forgot it. Anyhow, I noticed that you didn't mention I'm Going Slightly Mad or Ride the Wild Wind. I could understand not mentioning the latter (it's not one of my favorites), but did you intend to leave out Slightly Mad? It showcases their incredible diversity in composition (sounds a bit like Andrew Lloyd Weber if you ask me). You could add Ride and make Delilah a new paragraph. Op! You forgot a period at the end of that paragraph. :)

In the third paragraph, I'd suggest that you say in the previous decade (you know, the 80's). It's a bit much to compare the 70's and 80's songs and say they are so similar. The 70's have so much integrity, and depth (Bohemian Rhapsody, Love of My Life, Liar, You Take My Breath Away, the album A Night at the Opera). Surely you don't mean all these are piddly, emotionless anthems. It is true that Innuendo "display(s) far more depth and emotional context than any other Queen release so far". So keep in mind that Freddie's vocal performance is epitomized (if that's a word) on this album (esp. in The Show Must Go On). The sentence regarding his performance "...whose vocal performance is astounding. (Then something to the effect of...) even more so considering he was sometimes...". You can really tell he's giving it his all and that shouldn't be down played in the review.

I'm confused in the first paragraph "despite personally declaring" do you mean publicly?

For descibing Innuendo (the track) I would take out the 'in it' in the 3rd sentence.

For the Don't Try So Hard you make your argument again that Queen wasn't "sentimental or heart felt". Again, I ask you to consider Love of My Life, You Take My Breath Away, or other songs about love.

Grammar-wise, I don't see any problems.

Hope my ideas help. Let us know how you do!

well I started it initally and tried to write about Im going slighty mad. and it was a bit chaotic. I just couldnt get the words out, so I deleted it and didnt risk trying again as I got stuck first time. I wrote it in about an hour, so it is a bit muddled till the final paragraph.

Stereotypically queen arent thought as heartfelt and sincere. I know there were the few 70s songs, but it rather loses its impact when I acknowledge it.

*WOW* awesome post

I thought you were omitting those sentimental songs to make your argument stronger. I see your point and am not going to tell you you have to change eveything about your review. It is very good. Too bad about Going Slightly Mad. That's one of my favourites. From the context of your review, I'd love to read your thoughts on that one. Perhaps you could post just the Slightly Mad part so we could read it. Who knows, maybe we can help you with that too.
:)

This was a good read, well done.

It's very good, my only criticism would be that it's a bit one-sided perhaps? But that's opinion anyway, if you think that all the songs are good, then of course it's fine, but I'd have reserved some criticism for some of the songs.

I concur, nice job! Innuendo is truly magnificent...I think I'll listen to it when I wake up tomorrow.

A very good review.

Off topic a little, I have never understood why there seem to be several people who don't like Ride the Wild Wind. It's one of my favourites on Innuendo. I love the beat and rhythm to it. Just like Breakthru - love the rhythm to that as well. I'd have liked to have heard the live interpretations of these two songs. Brian, Rog and Paul are you listening? Won't the same without Fred singing them, but that ain't gonna happen, so we have to hope for the closest we can get...