Music With A “Q”! So Much More Than Queen! But “Killer Queen” Of Course!
I wanted to share some songs with the letter “Q”, either songs or Artists using this letter – and of course, the iconic band Queen is top of tongue…but there is smooch more – but don’t worry, “Killer Queen” is on the way as well!
“Quiet Town” by Josh Rouse
Josh Rouse is a terrific singer/songwriter with a large catalog of great music.
His song “Flight Attendant” was featured in the Julia Roberts movie “Eat Pray Love”, but I want to share a song he wrote after moving to a small town in Spain in 2004, taking up residence in a “Quiet Town”, where he writes:
“I know somewhere
There is a party going down
Interesting people
Conversation to be found
I’ve lived in cities
Where there is no solitude
I’ve made some friends here
That I hope I never lose
But, for now
I want to stay in this quiet town…”
Of course, there is a tradeoff, as he notes:
“Ohhhh
Sometimes I miss the show
I learned a long time ago…”
Here is the terrific music video:
Here is a terrific greatest hits collection from his years with Rykodisc – he is worth checking out, and thanks to my friend Blair Butler for turning me on to him several years ago!
Here is more about his music:
I am a huge fan of rock bands that can incorporate a wide variety of instruments into their music, and here is one of the best:
“Questions 67 And 68” – Chicago
This 1971 hit captured the “Chicago” sound of the 70’s perfectly – lots of horns and great hooks…they had a number of great hit songs like “Color My World”, “Saturday In The Park” and “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” before they settled into a soft rock/pop groove later in their career.
Here is a great performance from French TV by the band in 1969!
The band formed in 1967 and was very political early on – their albums were produced by James William Guercio, who also made a movie in the early 70’s that became a cult classic:
“Electra Glide In Blue” tells the story of a Highway Patrolman, played by Robert Blake, who tries to solve a murder mystery – Guercio included several members of Chicago in the film, as this bike gang that confronts Blake.
This movie is terrific – you can see the trailer for it, plus lots of great trivia, here:
Next up, one of the early “boy bands” with a huge hit song:
“Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” – The Backstreet Boys
BSB formed in 1993 and had a decades-long run of soft pop hits, like this one:
“Quit playin’ games with my heart
Before you tear us apart (my heart)
Quit playin’ games with my heart
I should’ve known from the start…”
Here is the official music video:
Ah, classic boy bands, god bless.
In the 80’s, big hair bands were the rage, and if you had a killer hook – and a female lead singer – well, there was no limit to what you could do. Here’s a great example:
Quarterflash – “Harden My Heart”
This top 5 single from 1982 may be one of the most covered songs by any bar band with a female lead singer, and why not? An 80’s sound, great vocals, and a cathy hook…here is the classic 80’s looking music video – with classic 80’s hair:
Some “Heart” trivia: the song has been used in video games, TV shows, and in the 2001 movie “Wet Hot American Summer.”
Now, time to give you the ultimate “Q” band:
Queen – “Killer Queen”
There are so many songs I could have shared, but doesn’t this sum up their unique sound perfectly? See for yourself with this performance from “Top Of The Pops”:
I have a live Queen DVD from Wembley Stadium in London, and the massive crowd is mesmerized by the band – and by Freddie Mercury’s stage presence. Simply one of the greatest bands of all time.
Oh, and you didn’t think I was done, did you?
Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
How could I include Queen and to include this masterpiece? It’s simply one of the greatest songs in rock history. Queen has a library of some of the most interesting music of all time – from the hard-rocking “Tie Your Mother Down” to the pop majesty of “You’re My Best Friend” and of course, the massive rock anthem “We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions!”
But of course, nothing compares to the pop/rock symphony of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, forever immortalized in “Wayne’s World”, and one of the most interesting rock operas ever recorded…here is the classic music video:
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is from the album “A Night At The Opera” – a classic that has been re-released in an expanded form, so buy it – and see more of what’s on the album here:
Hope you enjoyed this look at the sound of “Q”!
