My Sunday Song – “Innuendo” by Queen

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For My Sunday Song #221, we are starting the next set of 10 songs with the band Queen and first up is “Innuendo”. The song is the title track to their 1991 album ‘Innuendo’ which was their 14th studio album and for me their last proper studio album as Freddy died a short time later after its release. The song was the first single off the album and went to #1 in the UK and #17 in the US. I bought this album the day it came out and loved this song instantly.

The song was written by Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor and actually developed from a jam session that was going on by Brian May, John Deacon and Roger. It was very “Bohemian Rhapsody” with all the style changes and is actually longer than that song. It was pieced together from many different pieces, but when joined together it is a kind of magic. The lyrics are part tribute to Led Zeppelin’s ‘Kashmir’ (Roger’s part) and part shout out to the stories on Freddie’s health (Freddie’s part).

But it is the music that blows me away with it’s drum roll opening and eerie tones building until we get to Freddie’s voice. It is dark and haunting and then goes “Bolero style” with its flamenco guitars with help from Steve Howe of Yes and Brian May. Steve actually handles the solo part. There is full on orchestration which harkens back to ‘Bohemian” and then it rocks out. The orchestration was done all on keyboards by Freddie and David Richards the producer. It is progressive rock, 1991. It is one of those songs that has so much going on that you find little nuggets that you missed in the prior listens. It is a song that keeps on giving. Queen does excess well and this song screams excess and over-the-top and it works on so many levels. What an opening track to an album.

The song is full of epic goodness. If you haven’t heard this song you need to give it a listen as you are in for a treat. If you have , listen to it again and then let me know what you think. Is it a classic Queen song? I think so. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a Happy Sunday!

“Innuendo”

One, two, three, four

While the sun hangs in the sky, and the desert has sand
While the waves crash in the sea and meet the land
While there’s a wind and the stars, and the rainbow
‘Til the mountains crumble into the plain

Oh, yes, we’ll keep on trying
Tread that fine line
Oh, we’ll keep on trying. Yeah
Just passing our time

While we live according to race, color or creed
While we rule by blind madness and pure greed
Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion
Through the eons, and on and on

Oh, yes, we’ll keep on trying
We’ll tread that fine line
Oh, we’ll keep on trying
‘Til the end of time
‘Til the end of time

Through the sorrow, all through our splendor
Don’t take offense at my innuendo

You can be anything you want to be
Just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be

Be free with your tempo, be free, be free
Surrender your ego. Be free, be free to yourself

Ooh, ooh

If there’s a god or any kind of justice under the sky
If there’s a point, if there’s a reason to live or die
If there’s an answer to the questions we feel bound to ask
Show yourself, destroy our fears, release your mask

Oh, yes, we’ll keep on trying
Hey! Tread that fine line
Yeah, we’ll keep on smiling. Yeah!
And whatever will be, will be

We’ll just keep on trying
We’ll just keep on trying
‘Til the end of time
‘Til the end of time
‘Til the end of time

Written by Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor

34 thoughts on “My Sunday Song – “Innuendo” by Queen”

  2. I never did listen a lot after The Works but I do like some of their songs later in their career…this is one of them…and it’s not as worn out as their earlier ones.

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  4. Love it, love it, love it. This is the song that got me into Queen in 1991.

    I think one of the biggest thrills was seeing Robert Plant sing it with Queen in 92 at the Mercury concert. And then when he threw in some lines of Kashmir, I lost it.

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    1. I remember that, that was pretty cool. I really got in to them from the movie Highlander. It was that point, I went back in to deep dives in to their catalog and loved it all (except maybe Flash).

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    2. Although you had to have seen (or taped) the broadcast as it never made it to the official releases. I think Percy messed up some lyrics and wasn’t happy with his performance. Shame.

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  11. I’ve always loved this song. It’s one I point to whenever I’m making the statement that music doesn’t need to be fast to be heavy. The main riff just chugs and grooves and slaps you across the face. It wouldn’t be Queen without a weird left turn into some other musical landscape halfway through the song! Great song, great review!

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