I was jamming to News of the World when someone mentioned that We will rock you was the least protentious song Queen did. Then I went in to a diatribe about how it was very cerebral and high concept like most of Brian May's song because it's about how you can be anyone in the world and they're making music for you. They'll rock you regardless of who you are regardless of race, religion or nationality. Then I got an insane look. I'm not crazy with my analysis of the song am I?
Actually I thought it was the reverse.
I thought I had heard and read Brian say in interviews that that is an anti war/anti violence/anti persecution song, about these intolerances throught the wages of man, and that regardless, you should hold your head high and that the words ''we will rock you'' are like an anthem of triumph over adversity and intolerance.
I think it could go either way. To each his/her own and all that.
Personally, I kind of figured it to be that anthemic tune that gets people fired up before or at a pro sports event.
Me being a Canucklehead, I can't help but think of it playing at the Air Canada Centre as the Toronto Maple Leafs are winning again.
go off on a bit of a tangent.......as I often like to :)
I have read some interpretation of Queen lyrics that just didnt make much sense at all to me.....
Like the reviewer in the All Music Guide calling We Are The Champions a 'gay anthem' or something like that........what the???
The King Of Rhye wrote: go off on a bit of a tangent.......as I often like to :)
I have read some interpretation of Queen lyrics that just didnt make much sense at all to me.....
Like the reviewer in the All Music Guide calling We Are The Champions a 'gay anthem' or something like that........what the???
I regularlu go on Allmusic.com too, and seeing as how that site usually is so reverential to and well informed about both Queen and Freddie..I was really surprised that they interpreted that song, that way.
Hmmmm
According to Brian May said WWRY is the circle of life wrapped up in a nice two minute package. I'd interpret that the first verse is a youngster who sings WWRY for fun, second verse is a young man singing it as a threat/statement about changing the world, third is resignation that things didn't quite work out as planned, so you just say fuck it. Innocence/optimism/reality. Birth/life/death.
Penetration_Guru wrote: This is fucking hilarious.
Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder & Helen Keller all arguing about which way up to hold a photograph...
yeah you think lol, I think BHM nalied it though, that post blew my mind because it seems to make perfect sense. This place is so educational.
BHM 0271, that was truly a remarkable writing. I had always interpreted WWRY somewhat along similar lines, but I would never have been able to write it the way you did. Especially your contrasts at the end of your post. Keep up the great work.
D is for LYSDEXIA! aren't the retarded baby animals great.
(sorry for the completely pointless and irrelevant post)
I'm not sure how We are the Champions can be about Aids, though. I mean, sure it must have been around by the time it was written but it was nowhere nearly publically recognised and Freddie certainly wasn't aware of him having it then (it said so in some interview with Mary Austin)he probably hadn't even caught it by then.
'We Are The Champions' is like most songs that Freddie wrote- it can be taken more than one way (oo-er missus!)
The Gay Anthem version holds true as does any person / group overcoming prejudice / adversity.
Taking the gay theme, these can all apply to prejudice suffered and the refusal to accept it :
'I've done my sentence but committed no crime'
'I've had my share of sand kicked in my face but I've come through'
'And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end'
'I consider it a challenge before the whole human race and I ain't gonna lose'
and much of the rest of the song can do too except the 'you gave me fame ...' etc., bit which is more personal.
Or it could be Nelson Mandela's life story written before the latter part occurred - maybe Freddie was a messenger from the future ? :-o
Equally they can apply to a team that has fought back against perceived 'better' opposition and won through - you take your choice on what you think is the true meaning ... discussions over it would no doubt please Freddie as he achieved what he wanted - no definitive answer.
On a similar theme, Freddie never wrote a specific male/female love song - all the love songs he wrote were not gender specific - they could have been male/female, male/male or even female/female. This is not counting 'Delilah' which is too much on the male/feline path for my liking ! ;-)
''I'm not sure how We are the Champions can be about Aids, though. I mean, sure it must have been around by the time it was written but it was nowhere nearly publically recognised and Freddie certainly wasn't aware of him having it then (it said so in some interview with Mary Austin)he probably hadn't even caught it by then.''
- I have a feeling that Lord Blackadder was making a sarcastic comment on the people that assume that almost every Queen song is about AIDS in some way or another.
dragonzflame wrote: ''I'm not sure how We are the Champions can be about Aids, though. I mean, sure it must have been around by the time it was written but it was nowhere nearly publically recognised and Freddie certainly wasn't aware of him having it then (it said so in some interview with Mary Austin)he probably hadn't even caught it by then.''
- I have a feeling that Lord Blackadder was making a sarcastic comment on the people that assume that almost every Queen song is about AIDS in some way or another.