The CLTCL thread made me think about other songs with loads of legends surrounding them.
Here's a list of things we know for sure about Another One Bites the Dust:
* John Deacon wrote and composed it. It was originally about cowboys.
* Deacy played bass, piano and guitar.
* Crazy effects were generated via harmonisers, reversed tape, e-drums and console stuff. No synths.
* Drums were looped.
* Recorded at Musicland Studios in 1980, Mack produced.
* Queen decided to issue it as a single after MJ suggested it. Brian's roadie had already said it'd be a hit, but they didn't listen to him.
* John played his Music Man Stingray bass, which is now at HRC in Cleveland, OH.
* The studio version's speeded up a semitone.
* It's the band's best-selling single ever.
Things that are utterly false:
* Deacy wrote it for 'Off the Wall'.
* It's got prominent use of Roger's Oberheim OBX synthesiser.
* When played backwards, it says 'it's fun to smoke marijuana'.
* It's got synth-drums and/or drum-machines.
Anything to add, correct, discuss, ask, etc... feel free to contribute.
I would have to argue that the song, when played backwards, does sound like it's saying "It's fun to smoke marijauna." I doubt the band intended spreading this message, since, as far as I'm aware, they weren't affiliated with the drug. It was probably pure coincidence.
I remember some of the discussions about whether the song was pitched up ... to me it's moot point. Plenty of Beatles songs were tipped up or down in pitch and I reckon it's more an artistic decision than anything. John Lennon could've sung Strawberry Fields in the key that we hear it, but the process of pitch-shifting gives it a different feel.
Same goes for Another One Bites the Dust. Freddie could've hit any note in that song without aid of machine, but when a song is knocked up a semitone (or however much the track is, I can't remember) it gives it a kick.
Steven wrote:
I would have to argue that the song, when played backwards, does sound like it's saying "It's fun to smoke marijauna." I doubt the band intended spreading this message, since, as far as I'm aware, they weren't affiliated with the drug. It was probably pure coincidence.
To be honest to my ears it sounds like "Fun kids smoke marijuana" :-)
Zebonka12 wrote:
Same goes for Another One Bites the Dust. Freddie could've hit any note in that song without aid of machine,
Is this fact? i know there are some difficult notes in there, but couldn't he have hit them with one of many attempts in the studio?
(PS... this was one of the first Queen songs I tried in karaoke, after a mate just put me up for it without my knowledge... needless to say I got plenty of "pity" claps at the end. God, it's hard to sing lol)
Sebastian wrote:
* It's the band's best-selling single ever.
The best selling song by this best selling band comes from the unassuming bass player. amazing!
But did the sales of AOBTD really surpass Borhap? I thought the latter would have sold more, considering its multiple releases.
doxonrox wrote:
Wouldn't a truth be that the bass line was lifted from Chic's "Good Times"? That has to be more than a coincidence.
I dunno. The "doomp doomp doomp" bit is the same but the part that follows isn't a lift ...
I mean it's way less a lift than "I'm Down" was a ripoff of "Long Tall Sally". I'm sure the only reason the Beatles wrote "I'm Down" was that playing "Long Tall Sally" didn't give 'em any royalties.
Zebonka12 wrote:
Same goes for Another One Bites the Dust. Freddie could've hit any note in that song without aid of machine,
Is this fact? i know there are some difficult notes in there, but couldn't he have hit them with one of many attempts in the studio?
(PS... this was one of the first Queen songs I tried in karaoke, after a mate just put me up for it without my knowledge... needless to say I got plenty of "pity" claps at the end. God, it's hard to sing lol)
doxonrox wrote:
Wouldn't a truth be that the bass line was lifted from Chic's "Good Times"? That has to be more than a coincidence.
I dunno. The "doomp doomp doomp" bit is the same but the part that follows isn't a lift ...
I agree with Zebonka here. It's only three bass notes (well, one note played three times to be exact) that AOBTD and Good Times share. If you want to hear a rip-off of Good Times, go and listen to Rapper's Delight.