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How to play “Another one bites the dust” by Queen?
“Another one bites the dust” is an iconic song by the British rock band Queen, released in 1980. It was written by the band's bassist, John Deacon, and is part of their eighth studio album titled “The Game“.
After attending a Queen concert in Los Angeles, Michael Jackson met Freddie Mercury backstage and suggested he release “Another One Bites the Dust” as a single. At the time, Queen was unsure whether the song would be well received by mainstream rock audiences, as it had a very funk and disco sound, different from their usual style. However, Jackson was confident that the song would be a huge hit.
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Queen's “Another One Bites the Dust” is characterized by several distinctive elements that define its style, tempo and structure. The style of “Another One Bites the Dust” combines elements of rock, funk and disco. The song is particularly notable for its funk groove and disco-influenced bass riff, which was relatively innovative for a rock band at the time. The absence of synthesizers and the use of guitar and studio effects add a rock dimension to the funk base of the song.
The tempo of the song is moderate, with a tempo of 110 beats per minute (BPM). This tempo contributes to its catchy and danceable groove. The structure of “Another One Bites the Dust” follows a classic pop/rock song pattern with some distinctive variations.
This song is one of Queen's most famous and stands out for its catchy rhythm and memorable bass riff. “Another One Bites the Dust” achieved enormous commercial success and helped propel the album “The Game” at the top of the charts. In the United States, the single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the group's biggest hits in that country.
The inspiration of John Deacon For this song comes from his interest in funk and disco music, particularly influenced by groups like Chic. The result was a unique fusion of rock and funk that appealed to a wide audience and demonstrated Queen's ability to experiment with different musical genres while maintaining their distinctive identity.
“Another One Bites the Dust” has also been recognized for its impact in popular culture, often being used in films, commercials and sporting events. The song remains a staple of Queen concerts and continues to captivate fans around the world.
It is reported that John Deacon's bass line was inspired by disco band Chic's “Good Times”. In an interview with NME, Chic co-founder Bernard Edwards said: “This Queen track came about because the bass player from Queen hung out with us in our studio.”
The recording sessions, produced by Reinhold Mack at Musicland Studios in Munich (West Germany), saw Deacon playing almost every instrument: bass, piano, electric guitar and handclaps. Roger Taylor added a drum loop and Brian May contributed guitar sound effects and an Eventide Harmonizer. There are no synthesizers in the song: all effects are created by the piano, electric guitars and drums, with the tapes playing in reverse at various speeds.
Finally, the sound effects were processed via the harmonizer. The effect of the harmonizer is clearly audible in the “swirling” sound just before the first word. During early live performances, Taylor sang the chorus, unlike the studio version performed entirely by Mercury. As the song gained popularity, the group could count on the audience to sing the chorus. After attending a Queen concert in Los Angeles, Michael Jackson suggested that Freddie Mercury release “Another One Bites the Dust” as a single.
At the 1981 American Music Awards on January 30, “Another One Bites the Dust” won Best Pop/Rock Single. The song also earned Queen a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, but lost to Bob Seger's “Against the Wind.” The music video for “Another One Bites the Dust” was filmed at the Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas on August 9, 1980. The song also appears on Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits album.
“Bite the dust” means to die or lose in a contest or game. The initial lyrics evoke a scene similar to a gangster movie, with “machine guns at the ready”. Later, the lyrics refer to a failed relationship with “another one bites the dust”. The singer decides not to let himself be defeated, “standing on his own two feet”. The song was used in an early version of Rocky III before being replaced by “Eye of the Tiger” from Survivor.
“When one of my idols, Brian May, attended one of our shows in Los Angeles in 1984, he brought up this subject,” recalled Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan, who Sylvester Stallone provided a copy of the film. “I offered to send him a copy of the tape, which I still have.”
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