Justin my Queen loving Brother, I too happened to be raised on Queen. Brian's guitar sounds were the first I can remember as a child. My three favourite bands are The Beatles, Queen and Extreme. I love all the wonderful music dearly. So, I put it to you Justin, please review the Queen Medley by Extreme from the Freddie Tribute show... Ps I'm one of the lucky ones to have witnessed you with Extreme playing Queen. And yes Hot Leg. Thank you for showing love via the medium of your channel.
Epic episode !! Question: Justin, What's your highest note singing with the guitar without using falsetto?and What's your highest note singing falsetto ? Great episode ! Queen is stellar and cosmic. The Darkness bring some of that vibe which is awesome.
I recently accidentally bought Queen II whilst restarting my vinyl collection, thinking I was buying greatest hits 2. The best mistake I've ever made, opened my eyes to the early stuff.
It was recently placed second to last in a rank of their worst to best albums. Obviously, whoever came up with that list , and the reasons for it ranking so low is a total cretin ! Either that, or one of the "Greatest Hits" crowd who only rated the albums based on what their favourite Queen songs are and which album they appear on ! The reasons they gave for the ranking proved categorically that they knew absolutely nothing about not just Queen, but music in general. My favourite album of all time. It influenced a lot of major rock and metal stars including Dave Grohl.
Queen hits are great, but Queen albums are how they're designed to be heard, and the album tracks are SO GOOD, often surpassing their hits, and traversing EVERY genre you can imagine. The best band that ever existed. 4 musical geniuses.
@@simonlaing7646 for sure, they stood on the shoulders of giants. We could do the 'no X but for Y' for eternity: no beatles without Buddy Holly, or Little Richard, no rock'n'roll but for blues, no blues but for jazz, no jazz but music hall etc etc etc all the way back to tribal and ecclesiastical music. None of that makes the forerunner better; which i think was the point you were trying to make? No the successor is 'better' just different evolutions that will speak to different tastes.
@@Asheanae See, but you asked for it by stating, "The best band that ever existed." That's a massive statement (some would call it hyperbole), which kind of invites a response such as the one you received. However hyperbolic your statement was, though, I do tend to agree with you, however I would phrase it as, "One of the best bands that ever existed." However, I cannot argue with someone's opinion, so I won't. And in fact, it's not so different from my own. 🙂
@@simonlaing7646 No Beatles without the genius of JS Bach. They based much of their music on Bach and other classics too. So without Bach there is no beatles either.
I was fortunate enough to see Queen live 33 times between 1974 and 1986. The best live band I’ve ever seen, as they proved to the World at Live Aid in 1985. The first 4 albums are the best in my humble opinion! Other than their musical brilliance I have always felt that their secret weapon was having THREE excellent lead singers! Their famous harmonies are evident from their very first album, check out ‘My Fairy King’ from their debut album. 👍🏻
That's f'n dope man. What amazing memories you must have. I always say, if I had a time machine, I would spend years using it for concerts before I did anything meaningful with it LOL. I'd be at Woodstock, I'd follow Jethro Tull around the UK for a while, I'd follow Zeppelin around on their first couple US tours. So many shows LOL
I’ve seen Bowie, Deep Purple, The Stones and a shed load of other top bands, but Queen were something else, I particularly like their early albums. Saw 33 shows and not one of them was a bad one. 🇬🇧👑🇬🇧
Two of my strongest memories of my young childhood are watching them on TV at Live Aid and throwing the tantrum of all tantrums when my two Aunts - one who was only 10yrs older than me, and therefore more like an older sister to me - were heading off to see them play at Knebworth. They brought me back a t-shirt which was my prized possession for so many years - and still is though it definitely isn’t wearable anymore. My music taste was so very much effected by my Aunt, and barely by my parents. I just wish I’d been able to have a positive impact on my younger siblings music taste but they’re both utter lost causes for the most part!
@@HulaHula667 Knebworth was 1986 and that was the last time they ever played live with Freddie. I was at Knebworth, but having seen them twice at Wembley only days earlier I got very drunk. I bitterly regret that now, but at the time nobody would have guessed this would be their last live performance 😕 The first time I saw them was at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in March 1974. My first ever rock concert and I was only 13 😁
I recently showed a guy in my band all the songs Brian May sang with Queen. He’s 58 and grew up a fan but didn’t realize how much May wrote and how great they are. Leaving Home Ain’t Easy has been on my mix tapes since I started making them in 1983.
Sheer Heart Attack does it for me. Every time I hear that album (the whole album), it’s like listening to it for the first time. Just superb. You are right, they escape genre. That alone makes them special.
Love the channel. Absolutely fucking love your music. I don't want offend you, but I don't know how you slipped under my radar. I started watching your "Rides Again" channel then found your music. How the hell have I never come across "The Darkness". I binged your music videos and fell in love immediately with "Rock and Roll Deserves To Die" - just absolutely brilliant, man. The way you break down songs and know music theory is always a joy to watch. Sorry for sounding like.a fan-girl, but... what can I say? I haven't been this excited in a while.
The Darkness don’t really get their due (in the USA anyway) and are known as “the band with that one song from back in the day”. They haven’t put out a bad album yet, and their live shows look and sound top notch.
@@elburden I'm loving everything I'm seeing. I love the gutsy choices and the comedic intelligence, not to mention that amazing talent. I also think it's cool that there are brothers in this band. That's always a nice touch.
@@jamesbaskerville9800 Everybody has their own taste and appreciate what speaks to them. Justin knows his shit, no doubt. I have to disagree about liking their music - I think it's brilliant. I'm about his age from what I can tell, and the references to past genres are great. They have their own sound and very accomplished. And these guys can write some music. "Rock and Roll Deserves To Die" is just brilliant - both the song and the video.
@@elburden The Darkness don’t really get their due in the U.K. either. There was some buzz when they reformed for Hot Cakes but the mainstream has left them alone. It’s a shame really because they have released some great records most their records from 2015 onwards have been top notch and a lot of it has gone under the radar.
I absolutely LOVE Queen! The very first concert that I ever attended was Queen with Thin Lizzy (featuring Gary Moore) in support. I remember being blown away by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore and thinking how were Queen going to top them? Well, they certainly did! It was the Day At The Races tour (which lets you know that I am as old as dirt... lol), so they had a lot of their 'heavier' material on the set list (Ogre Battle, Stone Cold Crazy, Sweet Lady, The Prophet Song, White Man, etc.) as well as their lighter, bouncier "Queenie" (no other word for it) songs like Killer Queen, The Millionaire Waltz, Bring Back That Leroy Brown, etc.. and, of course, their hits at the time You're My Best Friend and Bohemian Rhapsody. That concert changed my life and I was lucky enough to see them all six times that they came to Montreal with Freddie (the Hot Space tour being the last). Roy Thomas Baker was so instrumental in their sound during the early part of their career. He obviously left an indelible mark on the band at that time because I believe that he didn't produce Day At The Races or News Of The World for the band, but eventually came back for Jazz. On a related note, I loved your band The Darkeness' second album, One Way Ticket To Hell and Back (produced by Roy Thomas Baker), and respectively disagree with you about the strength of the material. So many great songs on it, and really impressive vocals (the title track, Dinner Lady Arms, Hazel Eyes, Is It Just Me, etc.). I think you hit some of your highest notes on those songs). By the way, I saw your first concert here in Montreal at the Verdun Forum touring your first album, Permission To Land. I keep telling people that you played Hazel Eyes, which I could have sworn was called Eyes of Lies at the time. Could you verify that, or was it just a case of a Canadian not deciphering an Englishman's accent correctly. ;-)
I saw Queen at Live Aid and the Magic tour in Manchester. Saw them with Paul Rodgers too. Gary Moore at Rock City on Corridors Of Power at Rock City. Absolutely blew me away. All great gigs. Can't compare them though.
Freddie was truly a once in a life time talent, not many people would argue that he is the greatest front man in history, they say that at some point in your life you’ll realise you’re a queen fan, that happened to me as I got older.
It’s a lot of fun just watching you listen to Queen, especially knowing how much you love them and are influenced by them (you have them tattooed on your knuckles!). I would love a follow up video where you talk about the ways Queen influenced your songwriting.
Queen were so unique. I struggle to think of another band who covered so many different styles of music,Rock,metal,pop,funk and made it work. One of those few bands that regardless what type of music you are into,there is every chance you will like Queen. My personal favourite album is News of the World.
Jazz is probably my favourite Queen album - I listen to it all the time, it never gets old. Great vid Justin, thanks - it really shows how much you love Queen
Queen I and Queen II are my favourites. My dad loves Queen so I grew up listening to them. He's given me all his vinyl as he has replaced the albums with CDs. Yes, I have the poster you mention. They discussed the making of the video for that track on one of the VHSs dad had, probably one of the three Magic Years films. Halfords made them replace all the bicycle seats...
Brian May is one of my biggest guitar influences ever. That neo-classical, singing multi-layered guitar sound he has, using chord voicings so well in his solos to make individual notes sound full and harmonized? Chills every time. That's to say nothing of Freddie's absolutely once-in-a-lifetime vocal talent...
Been a Queen fan for 37 years and also grew up on these albums. Such a joy to watch someone talk about them with the same passion and affection that I have for these albums. Great episode.
I'll be honest, I rarely listen to either but I recognise that a very good proportion of the music I listen to owes a lot to them both. The rest all goes back to Sabbath.
Is it weird that after having all of their albums and being obsessed with this band for several years my favorite song by them was a very small almost under produced song called Cool Cat...Freddie's voice I guess, amazing on that little tune.
jazz is my favourite Queen album. i still remember the first time i listened dead on time. my jaws fell on the floor from the open chord and stayed down there until the final thunder. what a riff and what a tight band!
I love Jazz, as much as I love Hot Space, and as much as I love Queen II... Queen were amazing through their whole carer. Let's not forget about Innuendo, my absolute favorite. When you think about what was going on at that time. AMAZING
I grew up on all of the older Queen albums, and saw them in concert numerous times. There is something about Innuendo that really sticks with me. It is a great album, IMO.
Personally Queen is a band where I love everything, just put on Queen, anything, it's all so good and makes me happy. Genuinely a bunch of talented individuals at what they do/did They where the perfect recipe for a band
Jazz has always been one of my favourite Queen albums, also one of the first I ever owned. But one album I would truely love to see analysed is Hot Space. It deserves more love. I recently made an effort and gave it another go and now I absolutely love it. IMO it's just as brilliant as any of their other albums, just a slightly different direction. And Freddie's vocals are absolutely stellar.
Queen has been my favorite band since I was 11 years old and I saw Wayne's World. That scene changed my life and brought this amazing band into my life!
Justin my Queen loving Brother, I too happened to be raised on Queen. Brian's guitar sounds were the first I can remember as a child. My three favourite bands are The Beatles, Queen and Extreme. I love all the wonderful music dearly. So, I put it to you Justin, please review the Queen Medley by Extreme from the Freddie Tribute show... Ps I'm one of the lucky ones to have witnessed you with Extreme playing Queen. And yes Hotleg. Thank you so much for showing love via the medium of your channel.
I was going to mention that too. Extreme were about three only band who could play it. Nuno is incredible, and they recognize Queen for their greatness
I love this album with all my heart, thanks for your video 😻 you're an amazing artist and Im glad that you also love this masterpiece ❤ rock on you beautiful fella! 🤟
Justin I love your channel,I love Queen,fave band.The Darkness has lots of Queen influence and you are a wonderful musician.More importantly you are a nice man.
Love getting home from a long day and watching Justin do these breakdowns. They just cheer me up. If its not too presumptuous to make a request and if more Queen related content is to be had, I'd love to hear your take on "March of the Black Queen" someday. That Track blows my mind every single time. Cheers!
The first time I heard The Darkness in the early 2000s I felt the same thing that happened to me with Queen, love with the first note, with the first tone, the first chord. Simply magic. Thank you so much !
Love your channel and critique. As an amateur or hobbyist player and life long wannabe pop star. You have given me knowledge that has helped me grow and enjoy playing even more. It’s good to know there’s plenty more of us adults that don’t grow up but sideways and continue to love pop music all our lives. Your a pleasure to listen to and your educating me. Big love from a Mancunian who resides in Yorkshire.
Justin, I just wanted to let you know that OWT is one of my favorites albums ever, and was probably played more than Permission to Land in my teenage years! Each song is still a banger to me, and the record is still in heavy rotation on my listening days, played at least once a month front to back. Love you guys, can’t wait to see you in Houston in April!
Just listened to Jazz all the way through prompted by this lovely critique. So many fabulous songs, beyond the singles. Difficult to pick out a favourite, just sublime musicianship across the board. Thank you!
Love your comment on good parenting! I raised my daughter on Queen as well, and now that she is a musician herself, she always thanks me for introducing her to them at such a young age.
Queen was a ‘superband’ right out of the gate. Four magnificent players, each dedicated utterly to the song, selflessly building a whole greater even than their parts. They belong to a fairly exclusive club whose past works continue to grow and thrive decades after their last recording.
Whilst not my first Queen album, it was the first one I bought when it came out. Saw them on the tour for it in a large shed in Birmingham at age 14. Queued all day to stand 10 feet away from centre stage. You gotta love Queen.
Jazz was the one and only Queen album I had as a 12/13 year old boy and I played it to death. So even though I’ve got to know their other albums over the years, Jazz is the one I still have the most affection for. Such an inventive and amazing sounding record.
Their albums in general were adventurously unique and full of vastly contrasting styles of such high quality.. Filled with very appealing experimention as standard.
I remember as a kid being amazed how Queen could appeal to all my hard rock and heavy metal friends and still produce brilliant melodic popular tunes that could actually get played on the radio. They were impossible to neatly categorize. Queen were hands down the greatest live show I ever attended and was fortunate enough to catch them in 1980 at MSG.
I know this is 2 years old but it’s an awesome episode. Only discovered your channel lately and you’re keeping me entertained buddy. And as a massive queen fan from 12 years old I loved it. I’m 60 now and still obsessed. Thanks for the entertainment Justin. Oh and stop getting Queen wrong ha ha
I think Queen is divisive for one of the same reasons it seems The Darkness is divisive. There's a sense of playfulness and humor that some people seem to falsely conflate with the music being lightweight or somehow inauthentic, which is patently ridiculous. Like, if your music isn't absolutely straight-faced, it's fluff. You're either Radiohead or Weird Al. Not knocking Radiohead *or* Weird Al, but people do get weird about what music has cred as art and what doesn't. Surely, music is a form of a play that can be joyful or funny or whatever it wants to be.
lightweight is the least i would describe them. instead i know some people saying they are overproduced, always exaggerating or sometimes even too complex. but then that could just be an opinion of someone that doesn‘t know their huge and extremely diverse catalogue.
You said it perfectly Justin. Queen defied the laws of rock and paved the road THEIR way. Not many bands can say they were able to do so. Jazz has always been a top Queen record for me. Always loved your band, and love your commentary and insight into music. Thank you for what you do.
I love Queen for their daring songwriting. Utterly unique and so brave. I always imagine myself walking into band practice with a song like Bicycle Race and saying to my band mates "it goes like this .... I want to ride my bicycle" etc. They would have laughed and said 'um, no' ... I'm still not sure how they pull off making something that appears slightly daft, so utterly brilliant.
Best band ever. Period How about an interview with Brian May. I think you would have a much better conversation than any interview ever conducted with him. Unless he's weary of interviews at this point. I guess nobody could blame him. Anyway... just a thought ;) Cheers Mate
Justin, you are definitely speaking to my heart on this one; I love all of Queen's work, including their pop-oriented later explorations, but "Jazz" is an album that just explodes with exuberance. And "Mustafa" is easily my favorite track off the entire album.
They are the first band I really fell in love with, when I was about 16 22-ish years ago, it wasn't fashionable then but I didn't care. They're still my favorite band and it feels to me like they're more popular than ever now.
It's so awesome to listen to Justin Hawkins casually sing Queen lyrics and chords acapella, just like any other fan would while at home, except it's Justin Hawkins and he does a great Freddie Mercury !
Hey Justin, nice to be let into one of your biggest influences. Impressive how effortlessly you can rattle off the riffs and drum/vocal parts, and so we’ll, I’d say it’s a good indicator of how profound the effect it had on you, and how much time you would have spent in developing your skills. Keep up the good work mate!
I was the oddball in school in the early 90s when everyone was listening to rave music and I was a Queen fan. Thanks for posting Justin. Ive subscribed to your channel. Not only are you in a savage band but have great taste too! Thnaks for posting!
Honestly, queens experimentation is what i love about them. They could weave through different genres and always took the influences around them and made it their own.
To my mind, the 2" tape for Night at the Opera belongs in the a Museum, for it is truly a work of art. Every single tune on that record was unique, fit the theme of the record and was 100% wholly Queen. Literally a masterpiece by a group of true musical geniuses.
👏🤝🎶⚡️🔥 My fave track on Jazz has got to be ‘Dreamer’s Ball’! So many great songs in there, tho. Perhaps it’s not wise to choose just one as favorite… 🤔
The ‘guess who wrote it’ game is also a surprisingly engaging spectator sport! I’m envisioning a pub league: everybody just sitting, enjoying a pint, watching two folk sat on a stage listening to song snippets in a head-to-head.
Has anyone else noticed how Justin Hawkins is like the middle school music teacher who was so into music it was obvious in the teaching? Like he loved the subject, and he constantly smiled while singing along to whatever was on the lesson. I see you rock star Justin Hawkins, and I respect the middle school music teacher you got deep down.
Just a quick, or not so quick, funny story about JAZZ: My Dad, who worked in Manhattan in the 70s, would bring me home a new album now and again. I was obsessed with rock n roll....LPs, 45s, guitars and Mad Magazine/Wacky Packages. Anyway, upon release of JAZZ (I was 12 at the time), he kindly thought to buy me that one. He knew I was a Queen fan, and I was generally stoked about the new LP coming out. So here's the funny part, short and sweet as possible: He brought the album home to me in November. But, in a delightful twist of fate, or probably just a fortunate bit of perfect timing, he presented the brand new bagged record at a big "Thanksgiving" family dinner, inside a quiet and reserved restaurant. This fine dining holiday event included some extended, "much older" family members who I'd never met before. To the point.... as we were all waiting for the delayed entre to arrive, I decided to pull my new "JAZZ" out of the bag. Why not. After appreciating the cover art, I noticed the "poster inside" hype sticker. I think we all know where this is going... So I'll just cut this short by saying that my happily shocked and quite "vocal" response to the fantastic, mammalian photography on that salacious pink back poster, drew the instant attention of all the nice old ladies sitting at the long dinner table. It became a very awkward and memorable "scene" that's for sure. Obviously, I was overjoyed, while my usually outward and confident Dad just wanted to slide under the table. I realized this cringe inducing moment, but decided, why not go with it. So I held it up for everyone to see more clearly and said, "Happy Thanksgiving!!" No way I can think of the excellent JAZZ album without this indelible childhood memory in tow. Marc ⚡ p.s. "Mustapha" is brilliant!
Love hearing your sound bites from this classic album. I have all their early stuff on vinyl. Their material is so eclectic. As individuals they are all masters of their instruments and collectively they are the finest rock and roll band of their era. 💛😊
People look at me funny when I say this because they're so huge, but I always say Queen are underrated. The hits are so ubiquitous that the albums get overlooked.
This album and the single for We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You was my introduction to Queen. FBG is the theme song of my life. And my dad disappeared the poster when I hung it in my room at 9. Love every track. It just goes so many places. "Hey man, Jaws was never my scene, and I don't like Star Wars" is one of the greatest single snappy lines of all time. It's amazing to connect with people who love a particular album or art that you do also. Rock on.
Stoked to see you review this album. I played the cassette over and over all through my weekends and school holidays when I was about 14 years old. Mustapha was my favourite track. Loved the Arabic rhythms and language woven into rock ❤
Please do 'A day at the races' favourite album, especially the song 'you take my breath away' lyrical and melody making genius... a bit like yourself justin 👍
After carefully analizing this insight of yours about Freddie and the masterclass act that is Queen, i say" THANK YOU DARLING.VERY BEAUTIFUL" Seen Darkness many years ago at Melbourne sound wave festival, you guys rocked.
As always, I'm popping my Patreon link here - it's great, take a gander and see if anything takes your fancy on the tiers: www.patreon.com/jushawk
Justin my Queen loving Brother, I too happened to be raised on Queen. Brian's guitar sounds were the first I can remember as a child. My three favourite bands are The Beatles, Queen and Extreme. I love all the wonderful music dearly. So, I put it to you Justin, please review the Queen Medley by Extreme from the Freddie Tribute show... Ps I'm one of the lucky ones to have witnessed you with Extreme playing Queen. And yes Hot Leg.
Thank you for showing love via the medium of your channel.
@Justin Feel free to check out my Queen tribute from Ireland! Would love to get you up and play with us! Hope all is well!
Epic episode !! Question: Justin, What's your highest note singing with the guitar without using falsetto?and What's your highest note singing falsetto ? Great episode ! Queen is stellar and cosmic. The Darkness bring some of that vibe which is awesome.
My all time favorite Queen song is Death On Two Legs. Really wanna hear your take on this song!
Wear did you loot that shirt? I love it!
I recently accidentally bought Queen II whilst restarting my vinyl collection, thinking I was buying greatest hits 2. The best mistake I've ever made, opened my eyes to the early stuff.
It was recently placed second to last in a rank of their worst to best albums. Obviously, whoever came up with that list , and the reasons for it ranking so low is a total cretin ! Either that, or one of the "Greatest Hits" crowd who only rated the albums based on what their favourite Queen songs are and which album they appear on ! The reasons they gave for the ranking proved categorically that they knew absolutely nothing about not just Queen, but music in general.
My favourite album of all time. It influenced a lot of major rock and metal stars including Dave Grohl.
Good choice, especially since none of the remasters have truly done it justice.
One of the best
@@ianbeale2527 How’s Eastenders doing!
A brilliant mistake. Their early stuff was in fact phenomenal.
Queen hits are great, but Queen albums are how they're designed to be heard, and the album tracks are SO GOOD, often surpassing their hits, and traversing EVERY genre you can imagine.
The best band that ever existed. 4 musical geniuses.
Love Queen BUT no Beatles No Queen
@@simonlaing7646 for sure, they stood on the shoulders of giants.
We could do the 'no X but for Y' for eternity: no beatles without Buddy Holly, or Little Richard, no rock'n'roll but for blues, no blues but for jazz, no jazz but music hall etc etc etc all the way back to tribal and ecclesiastical music.
None of that makes the forerunner better; which i think was the point you were trying to make? No the successor is 'better' just different evolutions that will speak to different tastes.
@@Asheanae See, but you asked for it by stating, "The best band that ever existed." That's a massive statement (some would call it hyperbole), which kind of invites a response such as the one you received. However hyperbolic your statement was, though, I do tend to agree with you, however I would phrase it as, "One of the best bands that ever existed." However, I cannot argue with someone's opinion, so I won't. And in fact, it's not so different from my own. 🙂
@@simonlaing7646 No Beatles without the genius of JS Bach. They based much of their music on Bach and other classics too. So without Bach there is no beatles either.
Aside from The Beatles - TOTALLY agree
I was fortunate enough to see Queen live 33 times between 1974 and 1986. The best live band I’ve ever seen, as they proved to the World at Live Aid in 1985. The first 4 albums are the best in my humble opinion! Other than their musical brilliance I have always felt that their secret weapon was having THREE excellent lead singers! Their famous harmonies are evident from their very first album, check out ‘My Fairy King’ from their debut album. 👍🏻
Would give my left kidney to go back in time and attend justvone bar of just one song from jisy one Queen concert...
That's f'n dope man. What amazing memories you must have. I always say, if I had a time machine, I would spend years using it for concerts before I did anything meaningful with it LOL. I'd be at Woodstock, I'd follow Jethro Tull around the UK for a while, I'd follow Zeppelin around on their first couple US tours. So many shows LOL
I’ve seen Bowie, Deep Purple, The Stones and a shed load of other top bands, but Queen were something else, I particularly like their early albums. Saw 33 shows and not one of them was a bad one. 🇬🇧👑🇬🇧
Two of my strongest memories of my young childhood are watching them on TV at Live Aid and throwing the tantrum of all tantrums when my two Aunts - one who was only 10yrs older than me, and therefore more like an older sister to me - were heading off to see them play at Knebworth.
They brought me back a t-shirt which was my prized possession for so many years - and still is though it definitely isn’t wearable anymore.
My music taste was so very much effected by my Aunt, and barely by my parents. I just wish I’d been able to have a positive impact on my younger siblings music taste but they’re both utter lost causes for the most part!
@@HulaHula667 Knebworth was 1986 and that was the last time they ever played live with Freddie. I was at Knebworth, but having seen them twice at Wembley only days earlier I got very drunk. I bitterly regret that now, but at the time nobody would have guessed this would be their last live performance 😕 The first time I saw them was at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in March 1974. My first ever rock concert and I was only 13 😁
As a huge queen a fan since childhood it would be so cool to have a friend like Justin to just talk about Queen with all the time 😂
"Save Me" is an absolutely phenomenal song from The Game. Very inspirational
The video is one of the most AMAZING artistic music videos! Also their love performances of it are incredible. You just have to watch over and over
Nice mate....I also love "Dragon Attack" from "The Game" album as well.
Cheers from New Zealand.
I recently showed a guy in my band all the songs Brian May sang with Queen. He’s 58 and grew up a fan but didn’t realize how much May wrote and how great they are. Leaving Home Ain’t Easy has been on my mix tapes since I started making them in 1983.
Sheer Heart Attack does it for me. Every time I hear that album (the whole album), it’s like listening to it for the first time. Just superb. You are right, they escape genre. That alone makes them special.
That is my favorite as well! SO damn perfect!
Brilliant album, probably my favourite too
Nothing against Adam Lambert, but I think Justin would be an absolute natural shoe in for Queen+.
Justin is right where he belongs with the Darkness.
Love the channel. Absolutely fucking love your music. I don't want offend you, but I don't know how you slipped under my radar. I started watching your "Rides Again" channel then found your music. How the hell have I never come across "The Darkness". I binged your music videos and fell in love immediately with "Rock and Roll Deserves To Die" - just absolutely brilliant, man. The way you break down songs and know music theory is always a joy to watch. Sorry for sounding like.a fan-girl, but... what can I say? I haven't been this excited in a while.
The Darkness don’t really get their due (in the USA anyway) and are known as “the band with that one song from back in the day”. They haven’t put out a bad album yet, and their live shows look and sound top notch.
@@elburden I'm loving everything I'm seeing. I love the gutsy choices and the comedic intelligence, not to mention that amazing talent. I also think it's cool that there are brothers in this band. That's always a nice touch.
I don't like The Darkness at all, but Hawkins knows the lore and has the skills to deconstruct the songs he's listening to.
@@jamesbaskerville9800 Everybody has their own taste and appreciate what speaks to them. Justin knows his shit, no doubt. I have to disagree about liking their music - I think it's brilliant. I'm about his age from what I can tell, and the references to past genres are great. They have their own sound and very accomplished. And these guys can write some music. "Rock and Roll Deserves To Die" is just brilliant - both the song and the video.
@@elburden The Darkness don’t really get their due in the U.K. either. There was some buzz when they reformed for Hot Cakes but the mainstream has left them alone. It’s a shame really because they have released some great records most their records from 2015 onwards have been top notch and a lot of it has gone under the radar.
Freddie's performance of You Take My Breath Away live at Hyde Park is astounding.
I absolutely LOVE Queen! The very first concert that I ever attended was Queen with Thin Lizzy (featuring Gary Moore) in support. I remember being blown away by Phil Lynott and Gary Moore and thinking how were Queen going to top them? Well, they certainly did! It was the Day At The Races tour (which lets you know that I am as old as dirt... lol), so they had a lot of their 'heavier' material on the set list (Ogre Battle, Stone Cold Crazy, Sweet Lady, The Prophet Song, White Man, etc.) as well as their lighter, bouncier "Queenie" (no other word for it) songs like Killer Queen, The Millionaire Waltz, Bring Back That Leroy Brown, etc.. and, of course, their hits at the time You're My Best Friend and Bohemian Rhapsody. That concert changed my life and I was lucky enough to see them all six times that they came to Montreal with Freddie (the Hot Space tour being the last). Roy Thomas Baker was so instrumental in their sound during the early part of their career. He obviously left an indelible mark on the band at that time because I believe that he didn't produce Day At The Races or News Of The World for the band, but eventually came back for Jazz. On a related note, I loved your band The Darkeness' second album, One Way Ticket To Hell and Back (produced by Roy Thomas Baker), and respectively disagree with you about the strength of the material. So many great songs on it, and really impressive vocals (the title track, Dinner Lady Arms, Hazel Eyes, Is It Just Me, etc.). I think you hit some of your highest notes on those songs). By the way, I saw your first concert here in Montreal at the Verdun Forum touring your first album, Permission To Land. I keep telling people that you played Hazel Eyes, which I could have sworn was called Eyes of Lies at the time. Could you verify that, or was it just a case of a Canadian not deciphering an Englishman's accent correctly. ;-)
Queen with Thin Lizzy and Gary Moore? Slightly envious over here. That sounds lit.
Queen could never top Thin Lizzy, especially with Gary Moore 🤣
I saw Queen at Live Aid and the Magic tour in Manchester. Saw them with Paul Rodgers too.
Gary Moore at Rock City on Corridors Of Power at Rock City. Absolutely blew me away.
All great gigs.
Can't compare them though.
@@ThePsychedelicCinemaI saw them on that tour also, Thin lizzy was good, Queen was incredible. Unless you were there, your opinion is useless.
@@ThePsychedelicCinema
Comparing those two bands is like comparing kiwis to mangoes.
I met Brian after a gig in St Albans a few years ago. He signed the picture of himself in the cover of my old Jazz album. It will never be sold on.
Freddie was truly a once in a life time talent, not many people would argue that he is the greatest front man in history, they say that at some point in your life you’ll realise you’re a queen fan, that happened to me as I got older.
100%.
It’s a lot of fun just watching you listen to Queen, especially knowing how much you love them and are influenced by them (you have them tattooed on your knuckles!). I would love a follow up video where you talk about the ways Queen influenced your songwriting.
I love that idea!
Phenomenal album.. arguably their most undervalued one. Roger Taylor's drumming is particularly a stand out treat here.
Couldn't agree more!!
Roger is always great.
Queen is my favorite band. All time..
Queen were so unique. I struggle to think of another band who covered so many different styles of music,Rock,metal,pop,funk and made it work. One of those few bands that regardless what type of music you are into,there is every chance you will like Queen. My personal favourite album is News of the World.
If anyone doubts Queens credibility which I doubt many do they just need to watch their performance at live aid. #1 performance of the concert.
One can clearly hear the influence in your band, and it is sooo good to hear.
Jazz is probably my favourite Queen album - I listen to it all the time, it never gets old. Great vid Justin, thanks - it really shows how much you love Queen
Queen I and Queen II are my favourites. My dad loves Queen so I grew up listening to them. He's given me all his vinyl as he has replaced the albums with CDs. Yes, I have the poster you mention. They discussed the making of the video for that track on one of the VHSs dad had, probably one of the three Magic Years films. Halfords made them replace all the bicycle seats...
I bet he regrets that now as vinyl has become popular again! Hahahaha!
Brian May is one of my biggest guitar influences ever. That neo-classical, singing multi-layered guitar sound he has, using chord voicings so well in his solos to make individual notes sound full and harmonized? Chills every time. That's to say nothing of Freddie's absolutely once-in-a-lifetime vocal talent...
Been a Queen fan for 37 years and also grew up on these albums. Such a joy to watch someone talk about them with the same passion and affection that I have for these albums. Great episode.
The Beatles and Queen are the foundations of my musical tastes. Jazz is an excellent album from start to finish
The opening guitar on More Of That Jazz reminds me of The Beatles. I think Rog is a fan.
Ditto!!
I'll be honest, I rarely listen to either but I recognise that a very good proportion of the music I listen to owes a lot to them both. The rest all goes back to Sabbath.
Beatles, Queen and some Beach Boys ( Good vibrations ). Then, you've got to listen to Todd Rundgren.
Is it weird that after having all of their albums and being obsessed with this band for several years my favorite song by them was a very small almost under produced song called Cool Cat...Freddie's voice I guess, amazing on that little tune.
Deep cut there, and a good one too. 👍
Nice song, agree!
Queen It's Late from NOW is one of the most underrated songs... ever
Also love the T shirt but couldn’t find it anywhere online!
My fave album of theirs
All dead I bought it when it came out as in junior high era ? Or right before
jazz is my favourite Queen album. i still remember the first time i listened dead on time. my jaws fell on the floor from the open chord and stayed down there until the final thunder. what a riff and what a tight band!
Dead on time- absolutely electrifying piece of music.
@@pauldavid9351 and severely underrated
I love Jazz, as much as I love Hot Space, and as much as I love Queen II... Queen were amazing through their whole carer. Let's not forget about Innuendo, my absolute favorite. When you think about what was going on at that time. AMAZING
I grew up on all of the older Queen albums, and saw them in concert numerous times. There is something about Innuendo that really sticks with me. It is a great album, IMO.
Personally Queen is a band where I love everything, just put on Queen, anything, it's all so good and makes me happy.
Genuinely a bunch of talented individuals at what they do/did
They where the perfect recipe for a band
I agree, the happiness quotient of Queen is very high. Everything they did was hugely uplifting.
Jazz has always been one of my favourite Queen albums, also one of the first I ever owned. But one album I would truely love to see analysed is Hot Space. It deserves more love. I recently made an effort and gave it another go and now I absolutely love it. IMO it's just as brilliant as any of their other albums, just a slightly different direction. And Freddie's vocals are absolutely stellar.
'Dead on time' was apparently a nod to The Clash, who they loved.
Queen has been my favorite band since I was 11 years old and I saw Wayne's World. That scene changed my life and brought this amazing band into my life!
I love Jazz. I think Mustafa is one of Queen‘s greatest songs, and it’s so sad that it seems to be a that’s a track that’s completely overlooked.
Couldn’t agree more. Mustapha absolutely blew my mind the first time I heard it. Still does!
I was immediately reminded of The Lion King with both the opening and the title lol
Amazing! I can't wait to see your deep cuts. Huge Darkness fan but an even bigger Queen fan. 💜. Bring on White Queen and Flick of the Wrist
“You and I” on A Day at the Races is such an amazingly underrated song - that’s a John Deacon track. Fucking incredible
Justin my Queen loving Brother, I too happened to be raised on Queen. Brian's guitar sounds were the first I can remember as a child. My three favourite bands are The Beatles, Queen and Extreme. I love all the wonderful music dearly. So, I put it to you Justin, please review the Queen Medley by Extreme from the Freddie Tribute show... Ps I'm one of the lucky ones to have witnessed you with Extreme playing Queen. And yes Hotleg.
Thank you so much for showing love via the medium of your channel.
I also love Queen, Extreme and of course The Darkness! I'd love to hear Justin review Extreme too :)
I was going to mention that too. Extreme were about three only band who could play it. Nuno is incredible, and they recognize Queen for their greatness
Love this!!!!! I could listen to you talk about Queen all day...
I love this album with all my heart, thanks for your video 😻 you're an amazing artist and Im glad that you also love this masterpiece ❤ rock on you beautiful fella! 🤟
Justin I love your channel,I love Queen,fave band.The Darkness has lots of Queen influence and you are a wonderful musician.More importantly you are a nice man.
Love getting home from a long day and watching Justin do these breakdowns. They just cheer me up.
If its not too presumptuous to make a request and if more Queen related content is to be had, I'd love to hear your take on "March of the Black Queen" someday. That Track blows my mind every single time. Cheers!
I absolutely agree with you! March of the black queen is up there, one of the greats
Well, the whole second side of Queen II is second to none. And of course, first side is great too.
March is the ultimate Queen song!
The first time I heard The Darkness in the early 2000s I felt the same thing that happened to me with Queen, love with the first note, with the first tone, the first chord. Simply magic. Thank you so much !
Love your channel and critique. As an amateur or hobbyist player and life long wannabe pop star. You have given me knowledge that has helped me grow and enjoy playing even more. It’s good to know there’s plenty more of us adults that don’t grow up but sideways and continue to love pop music all our lives. Your a pleasure to listen to and your educating me. Big love from a Mancunian who resides in Yorkshire.
my dad had that poster up in his guest bathroom! haha.... Queen was my first concert. I was in 5th grade (for The Game). Incredible!
Queen are the ultimate band.
4 songwriters
Riffage
Really funny
Great performances
Incredible material
One of the best.
Four brilliant musicians as well.
Ha no.
The Beatles + Led Zeppelin = Queen
@@ThePsychedelicCinema no queen is the best
Facts.
I adore all of the Queen catalog, especially all of these mentioned here. I could listen to you talk about them all day.
Queen absolutely incredible. Even their lighting designers and photographers were the best around.
Yessssss! I’ve been hoping for a Queen vid!!!
Justin, I just wanted to let you know that OWT is one of my favorites albums ever, and was probably played more than Permission to Land in my teenage years! Each song is still a banger to me, and the record is still in heavy rotation on my listening days, played at least once a month front to back. Love you guys, can’t wait to see you in Houston in April!
Just listened to Jazz all the way through prompted by this lovely critique. So many fabulous songs, beyond the singles. Difficult to pick out a favourite, just sublime musicianship across the board. Thank you!
This is brilliant! I’d listen to you talk about Queen for hours! And anything else, really, but you+Queen is an absolute treat!
Love your comment on good parenting! I raised my daughter on Queen as well, and now that she is a musician herself, she always thanks me for introducing her to them at such a young age.
Man, I think I really missed out by sleeping on Jazz. That's a cool record and now I have to go track it down! Thanks Justin!
Queen was a ‘superband’ right out of the gate. Four magnificent players, each dedicated utterly to the song, selflessly building a whole greater even than their parts. They belong to a fairly exclusive club whose past works continue to grow and thrive decades after their last recording.
Whilst not my first Queen album, it was the first one I bought when it came out. Saw them on the tour for it in a large shed in Birmingham at age 14. Queued all day to stand 10 feet away from centre stage. You gotta love Queen.
I was fortunate enough to see Queen at Knebworth in 1985. The best gig I've ever seen and it was 37 years ago
Jazz was the one and only Queen album I had as a 12/13 year old boy and I played it to death. So even though I’ve got to know their other albums over the years, Jazz is the one I still have the most affection for. Such an inventive and amazing sounding record.
Can't wait on the queen deep dive. I respect your opinion greatly, mainly because of the humility in your delivery.
Their albums in general were adventurously unique and full of vastly contrasting styles of such high quality..
Filled with very appealing experimention as standard.
Thank you for reviewing this, Justin. You afforded me with a great trip down memory lane, A friggin great album.
I remember as a kid being amazed how Queen could appeal to all my hard rock and heavy metal friends and still produce brilliant melodic popular tunes that could actually get played on the radio. They were impossible to neatly categorize. Queen were hands down the greatest live show I ever attended and was fortunate enough to catch them in 1980 at MSG.
I know this is 2 years old but it’s an awesome episode. Only discovered your channel lately and you’re keeping me entertained buddy. And as a massive queen fan from 12 years old I loved it. I’m 60 now and still obsessed. Thanks for the entertainment Justin. Oh and stop getting Queen wrong ha ha
One of your best episodes yet. Queen are just amazing.
I think Queen is divisive for one of the same reasons it seems The Darkness is divisive. There's a sense of playfulness and humor that some people seem to falsely conflate with the music being lightweight or somehow inauthentic, which is patently ridiculous. Like, if your music isn't absolutely straight-faced, it's fluff. You're either Radiohead or Weird Al. Not knocking Radiohead *or* Weird Al, but people do get weird about what music has cred as art and what doesn't. Surely, music is a form of a play that can be joyful or funny or whatever it wants to be.
Well said 🙌
Whereas comedians joke about serious things all the time and get applause. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?
@@Tacko14 True. Audiences can have some pretty arbitrary boxes that that put artists into.
I agree. The Darkness is brilliant for how sincerely they have fun with their music.
lightweight is the least i would describe them. instead i know some people saying they are overproduced, always exaggerating or sometimes even too complex. but then that could just be an opinion of someone that doesn‘t know their huge and extremely diverse catalogue.
You said it perfectly Justin. Queen defied the laws of rock and paved the road THEIR way. Not many bands can say they were able to do so. Jazz has always been a top Queen record for me.
Always loved your band, and love your commentary and insight into music. Thank you for what you do.
I love Queen for their daring songwriting. Utterly unique and so brave. I always imagine myself walking into band practice with a song like Bicycle Race and saying to my band mates "it goes like this .... I want to ride my bicycle" etc. They would have laughed and said 'um, no' ... I'm still not sure how they pull off making something that appears slightly daft, so utterly brilliant.
I absolutely ADORE your enthusiasm. I too have such PASSION when discussing Queen!
Best band ever. Period How about an interview with Brian May. I think you would have a much better conversation than any interview ever conducted with him. Unless he's weary of interviews at this point. I guess nobody could blame him. Anyway... just a thought ;) Cheers Mate
Justin, you are definitely speaking to my heart on this one; I love all of Queen's work, including their pop-oriented later explorations, but "Jazz" is an album that just explodes with exuberance. And "Mustafa" is easily my favorite track off the entire album.
They are the first band I really fell in love with, when I was about 16 22-ish years ago, it wasn't fashionable then but I didn't care. They're still my favorite band and it feels to me like they're more popular than ever now.
Went and listened to the whole album right after watching this. Wow that is indeed a banger from start to finish!
Way back when I got introduced to your music because of your vocals that were kind of like Freddie! Plus amazing riffs and songs! Thanks Justin 👌👍
It's so awesome to listen to Justin Hawkins casually sing Queen lyrics and chords acapella, just like any other fan would while at home, except it's Justin Hawkins and he does a great Freddie Mercury !
Justin, you brighten up my day, so funny mate.
Hey Justin, nice to be let into one of your biggest influences. Impressive how effortlessly you can rattle off the riffs and drum/vocal parts, and so we’ll, I’d say it’s a good indicator of how profound the effect it had on you, and how much time you would have spent in developing your skills. Keep up the good work mate!
Please, please Justin can you review all the Queen albums, there all amazing.
I was the oddball in school in the early 90s when everyone was listening to rave music and I was a Queen fan. Thanks for posting Justin. Ive subscribed to your channel. Not only are you in a savage band but have great taste too! Thnaks for posting!
Honestly, queens experimentation is what i love about them. They could weave through different genres and always took the influences around them and made it their own.
Perfect way to spend a Monday night. Queen and The Darkness are both part of my musical education, so hearing one talk about the other is a pleasure.
To my mind, the 2" tape for Night at the Opera belongs in the a Museum, for it is truly a work of art. Every single tune on that record was unique, fit the theme of the record and was 100% wholly Queen. Literally a masterpiece by a group of true musical geniuses.
13:04 A-ha... loving the oblique Alan 'King of Norwich' Partridge reference there 😂
F**king loving this episode.. Was a die hard fan as a kid.. Still have all the cassettes on the loft 😂 Please do more queen album vids 👍🏼
My fav Queen album! I was hooked from when the mix changes from mono to stereo in Mustapha! What a change, a sonic boom!
👏🤝🎶⚡️🔥 My fave track on Jazz has got to be ‘Dreamer’s Ball’! So many great songs in there, tho. Perhaps it’s not wise to choose just one as favorite… 🤔
The ‘guess who wrote it’ game is also a surprisingly engaging spectator sport! I’m envisioning a pub league: everybody just sitting, enjoying a pint, watching two folk sat on a stage listening to song snippets in a head-to-head.
Can you please do this with all Queen albums? :D i really enjoyed this
Thank you, Justin, for highlighting this wonderful album, one of my all time favourites.
Queen is the type of band where if someone says they don’t like Queen you look at them funny.
I'd just walk away. Not worth my breath.
Has anyone else noticed how Justin Hawkins is like the middle school music teacher who was so into music it was obvious in the teaching? Like he loved the subject, and he constantly smiled while singing along to whatever was on the lesson. I see you rock star Justin Hawkins, and I respect the middle school music teacher you got deep down.
Just a quick, or not so quick, funny story about JAZZ:
My Dad, who worked in Manhattan in the 70s, would bring me home a new album now and again. I was obsessed with rock n roll....LPs, 45s, guitars and Mad Magazine/Wacky Packages.
Anyway, upon release of JAZZ (I was 12 at the time), he kindly thought to buy me that one. He knew I was a Queen fan, and I was generally stoked about the new LP coming out.
So here's the funny part, short and sweet as possible:
He brought the album home to me in November. But, in a delightful twist of fate, or probably just a fortunate bit of perfect timing, he presented the brand new bagged record at a big "Thanksgiving" family dinner, inside a quiet and reserved restaurant. This fine dining holiday event included some extended, "much older" family members who I'd never met before.
To the point.... as we were all waiting for the delayed entre to arrive, I decided to pull my new "JAZZ" out of the bag. Why not.
After appreciating the cover art, I noticed the "poster inside" hype sticker. I think we all know where this is going...
So I'll just cut this short by saying that my happily shocked and quite "vocal" response to the fantastic, mammalian photography on that salacious pink back poster, drew the instant attention of all the nice old ladies sitting at the long dinner table.
It became a very awkward and memorable "scene" that's for sure.
Obviously, I was overjoyed, while my usually outward and confident Dad just wanted to slide under the table.
I realized this cringe inducing moment, but decided, why not go with it. So I held it up for everyone to see more clearly and said, "Happy Thanksgiving!!"
No way I can think of the excellent JAZZ album without this indelible childhood memory in tow.
Marc
⚡
p.s. "Mustapha" is brilliant!
Love hearing your sound bites from this classic album. I have all their early stuff on vinyl. Their material is so eclectic. As individuals they are all masters of their instruments and collectively they are the finest rock and roll band of their era. 💛😊
People look at me funny when I say this because they're so huge, but I always say Queen are underrated. The hits are so ubiquitous that the albums get overlooked.
Now that was fun!! Listening to jushawk talk about really, really good music…brilliant!
Jazz is my favourite Queen album. It's utterly bonkers and brilliant! I also adore Queen II as it goes.
Justin comes off so likeable in these videos and it's great too hear how.much he loves Queen. Making me more of a fan of the Darkness
Love the T shirt btw
Yeah me too!
Ditto
This album and the single for We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You was my introduction to Queen. FBG is the theme song of my life. And my dad disappeared the poster when I hung it in my room at 9. Love every track. It just goes so many places. "Hey man, Jaws was never my scene, and I don't like Star Wars" is one of the greatest single snappy lines of all time. It's amazing to connect with people who love a particular album or art that you do also. Rock on.
Love Queen ….. I Also sing 🎤 for a Queen Tribute Band
Stoked to see you review this album. I played the cassette over and over all through my weekends and school holidays when I was about 14 years old. Mustapha was my favourite track. Loved the Arabic rhythms and language woven into rock ❤
Please do 'A day at the races' favourite album, especially the song 'you take my breath away' lyrical and melody making genius... a bit like yourself justin 👍
After carefully analizing this insight of yours about Freddie and the masterclass act that is Queen, i say" THANK YOU DARLING.VERY BEAUTIFUL"
Seen Darkness many years ago at Melbourne sound wave festival, you guys rocked.