Kip: I have to preface this list by saying I can't think of a band where such a list would change so drastically depending on the day and my mood.

 

10. “March of the Black Queen” - When first exploring Queen in the music magazines, a common theme was that one wasn't a true Queen fan if Queen II wasn't your favorite album. Guess I wasn't, as I never got there with the album, but from the first listen to “March of the Black Queen,” I found it just an epic tune. It had the grandiose instrumental vibe and Freddie Mercury's delivery of “...it's like going up to heaven and then coming back alive” never fails to raise goosebumps. An early classic.

 

9. “Don't Stop Me Now” - This song always seemed like Freddie Mercury's statement of purpose. All gas, no breaks and just completely self-indulgent, it apparently wasn't a favorite of Brian May's, only because it seemed to promote a self-destructive lifestyle. He wasn't wrong. There's even defiance in the way Mercury enunciates the title. A defining Queen tune.

 

8. “Tie Your Mother Down” - Because of my adolescent predilection for straight ahead rock songs, I could never get on board with all of Queen's diverse catalog, but distinctly remember thinking “HERE we go” upon dropping the needle on this classic album opener. A driving riff segueing into a dirty lyric was right up my teenage alley. Even the power chord punches in the middle elicited immediate air guitar playing. A song that worked even better live. Love this.

 

7. “Spread Your Wings” -  I have always loved “story” songs and this one grabbed me from the first listen. Before I had the vocabulary to express it, I felt the cinematic quality of this song. I had visuals of every character and could just feel the melancholy almost hopelessness of the protagonist. John Deacon had to be proud of the composition of this piece, as the instruments, vocal delivery and angst of the song are just spot on. A beautiful, sad song that just begged for a video.

 

6. “The Show Must Go On” - Written and performed while Freddie Mercury was in the midst of his AIDS awfulness, this song is both massively powerful and incredibly sad. With the feeling of a one spot light Broadway finale, Mercury's vocal delivery is simply awe inspiring. A wonderful epitaph that I wish hadn't been necessary. An all-time classic.

 

5. “I Want It All” - While written later and delivered with much more vitriol, “I Want It All” felt a bit like a sequel to “Don't Stop Me.” Another piece that felt like a response to friends, critics and writers who were (rightly?) warning Mercury of the consequences of his hedonistic life-style, even the more rocking guitars in this feel like a defiant rebuttal. Another Queen classic that invited crowd participation. A true anthem.

 

4. “Somebody to Love” -  This would have normally fell into the too “pap” file for me, but from the get go, I loved this song. The piano melody immediately grabbed me and I think most teenagers could relate to the theme. The jaunty vibe of the music contrasts with the melancholy, almost desperate lyrics. A perfect vehicle for Freddie in every way. Another band defining piece.

 

3. “Hammer to Fall” - This came out after I had rather fallen off the Queen bandwagon. I honestly first heard Extreme do this for the Freddie tribute concert and immediately fell in love with the riff. The Nuclear War warning lyrics were rather lost on me, as I was just enamored with the straight ahead nature of the song and the title, which I thought was SO rock and roll. I have a VERY short list of songs that I wish I had gotten to play live on guitar, but this one definitely falls in that category.

 

2. “Stone Cold Crazy” - This was the only Queen song my older brother's band did live and it always went over well in that setting, which was weird, as it is almost impossible to dance to. That massive riff leads into the bizarre, tongue twisting lyrics just works perfectly, as does the key change leading into the guitar solo. An absolute raver, almost “punk” in its delivery. And I hated Metallica's version. A quintessential Queen song for me. The only Queen song I ever learned to play on guitar.

 

1. “Death on 2 Legs” - The first Queen song I ever heard and it definitely elicited a “who is THIS?” response from me. That descending guitar riff with the piano underneath is one of the most ominous sounds I've ever heard, which was perfect considering the actual manner in which Freddie almost SPIT out the lyrics. A “love” letter to an early, sleazy manager, the song could serve as a thesaurus while searching for terms to describe a reprehensible person. Even in my youth, I could hear underneath the anger, the sadness in the betrayal Freddie felt. Was amusing to hear the censoring of the lyrics on their later live album, as the manager allegedly threatened a defamation suit. This was also my introduction to Brian's entirely unique guitar sound. Oh, how I love this song.

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Jeff: One thing about Queen that always strikes me different than so many other bands that we have discussed is how much bigger they are now than they were in the 70’s. When I was in high school Queen were successful, more with the guys at first, then they branched out with Night at the Opera and captured even more kids’ attention. Then in the 80’s they lost a lot of steam in their popularity here in the states. But what a ride it has been for this band! Today they are one of the world’s most popular bands and still top streaming charts each year. My daughter, who is 20, would look at all the bands we have written about on this site and Queen would be the only one she has songs on a playlist to. Their staying power has been incredible. I wouldn’t have predicted it back in the day.

 

 

10. You Don’t Fool Me – I’m a bit sentimental, but this is one of the last vocals that Freddie Mercury ever recorded.  It would easily fit right onto their Hot Space album, which many people cannot stand, it is not a rocker by any stretch of the imagination! So, you’re not going to bang your head to this, but this track is so beautifully recorded, put on your headphones, close your eyes and just disappear into the production…it is a sonic marvel!

 

9. Dragon Attack – This is just a great catchy funky groove that I still appreciate to this day! What I like about Queen is, there’s just so much to pay attention to with most of their songs. This one is no different. The tone on Brian May’s guitar is perfect. You might think how could this repetitious bass line be in the top 10? Pay attention at 2 minutes in…excellence!

 

8. ‘39 - This song is a little more Peter, Paul and Mary than Queen, but that contrast it was is so excellent about the band. I mean this track is on the same album that opens with “Death on Two Legs”. ’39 sounds like it was written and performed in the late 1950’s (except the lead guitar). I grew up with my dad playing folk music on the family stereo, I actually enjoyed a lot of what he played so this track came easy to me in being a favorite. 

 

7. Another One Bites the Dust – I never listened to radio that much in my life so I didn’t grow sick of many hit songs. I was always playing my own cassettes or albums at home. I just was never into letting a stranger pick out my music. So, I saved many big hits from being ruined for me.

 

6. Stone Cold Crazy (1991 Bonus Remix) – The original version of this song doesn’t do anything for me, but I really took notice when this remix version came out on the 1991 edition of Sheer Heart Attack. This remix is just awesome. Everything is just turned up to 11 and the song has so much more power now. I wish more bands were open to creative remixes of their work. This is a great example of the possibilities!

 

5. Tenement Funster – I’m a big fan of Roger Taylor’s voice and just the cool swagger that this song projects. I always included this song on cassettes for friends who wanted to rock out.

 

4. Back Chat – Wow, somebody is going to tar and feather me for putting a song from the Hot Space album on the top 10 list. I agree that 95% of Hot Space is not that good, but you threw the baby out with the bathwater by missing this song. When I want to disappear into a musical moment I put on headphones and this is one of my faves to withdraw into.

 

3. Bohemian Rhapsody – Once again, since I didn’t do radio, this multimedia hit didn’t get ruined for me. What can I say about this song, but call it a masterpiece of production and songwriting.

 

2. Fight From the Inside – Another Roger Taylor masterpiece. And he plays everything himself!!! This track always sounds more like early Queen to me, like it belongs on the Sheer Heart Attack album.

 

1. The Show Must Go On – This song just grabs my soul and hits me on so many levels. If this song doesn’t touch you, you might want to check for a pulse!

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Mark: For me Queen had already reached mythical status by the time I became aware of them. They were on the level of all the big names such as Led Zeppelin, Genesis, the Who and of course the Partridge Family. Kind hard to pin down as to what kind of band they were as well… a heavy hard rock band? Sure, they could heavy hard rock your face off. Maybe it’s a part time lovey- dovey balladeer whispering romantically as you rip each others clothes off for a Tuesday nooner? I think so… a prog rock spectacle with melody so sweet as to make Sergei Rachmanioff weep in wonder? Absolutely! One more… maybe a vaudeville act straight out the lights of 1940’s Broadway, rubbing elbows with such icons as the Marx Bros, Burns and Allen, Abbot and Costello, and Shields And Yarnell? Yes please! At this point I would think it unkind to marginalize Queen.  At some point you just need to let their music wash over you. Ok, my top ten! Yay I’m excited!

 

# 10 One Vision

From the synthy 80’s intro to the monstrous guitar work throughout. I love this tune!

 

#9 Sheer Heart Attack

Is this Queen in the troughs of a punk spasm? Super-fast and melodic. Sign me up.

 

#8 Great King Rat

When I first heard this I thought this was the heaviest tune ever. There’s even a cowbell section. Great tune.

 

#7 I’m in Love With My Car

I’ve always been into Rodger Taylor’s raspy soulful singing. Without him it wouldn’t be the same band. Remember: Cars need love too.

 

#6 Killer Queen

Freddie mercury at his finest. For me it has that vaudevillian treatment that I crave.

 

#5 ‘39

This wonderful tune comes at me from the left field. Even in a band as diverse as Queen this song shouldn’t fit, but it does perfectly. 12 strings rule!

 

#4 Radio Gaga

I think I fell in love with video and then the song. I’m a huge fan of Metropolis the movie (it’s a masterpiece) so it just clicked for me. and if you look really really close you can glimpse the band flying through the skyline. Time travel? Yes, I believe so.

 

#3 Flick of the Wrist

For me this one has it all. Vocals galore, guitars akimbo and Freddie stalking the hallway just outside your door.

 

#2 The Prophet

For me this one always reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. Epic.

 

#1 Now I’m Here

This is my favorite Brian May riff.  Out of his vast heavy guitar catalog this one rings true.

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