Keep Yourself Alive (May)

Queen's career didn't get off to the most auspicious of starts: two years passed between the line up that would seem them through the next twenty years (Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon) coming together and the release of this, their first single. This then subsequently failed to chart and their first album (imaginatively titled "Queen") also failed to set the charts. Which isn't to deny that Queen were making headway, especially as a live act. But considering their later domination of the charts, it's a small beginning. Especially when compared to nowadays, when new bands and acts are somehow expected to reach number one with their first single.

Anyway, Queen's first single is not bad, but not one that seemed destined to set the world alight, and gives very little hint of what was to come. It's a fairly standard rock number, penned by May, which seems designed to show off each of the bands talents: as might be expected, no other melody/harmony instruments get a look in except Brian's "Red Special" guitar and John's bass and Roger is treated to a solo all of his own about half-way through.

It's all very energetic and everything, but... it feels a bit flat. Freddie's vocal is rather stilted, he seems to hold rather too strongly to the precise rhythms without letting his vocal flow as he would later do. Brian pulls out a few of his guitar tricks, giving quite an array of sounds, from the scratchy introduction to the vast, echo-y runs during the solo, but holds off the incredibly flashy stuff. John and Roger's rhythm base is excellent as ever (John Deacon could be one of the most under-rated pop musicians ever), but even they can't give this song much life.

It's never wise to look too deeply into Queen's lyrics (as anyone trying to dissect Bohemian Rhapsody will tell you). This appears to be about an older, wiser head passing on advice to his younger friend (a father-son image)? Which contrasts completely with the fast-paced, youthful energy the track tries to display. The notion of Freddie singing the line "Well they folks are telling you, 'Be a superstar' /But I tell you just be satisfied to stay right where you are" and meaning it is faintly ridiculous, given his overwhelming desire to become a star. And what the heck does 'beladonic' mean?

All in all, not a bad single by any means, but definitely the sound of a band trying to establish themselves... 6

Video: Queen perform the song, in a studio. And that's about it. Freddie's performance seems somehow stilted and wooden, especially compared to the way he would later throw himself around the stage at every available opportunity.