The March of the Black Queen

"The March of the Black Queen"
Song

"The March of the Black Queen" is a song by British rock band Queen. The song was composed by lead vocalist and pianist Freddie Mercury. It is the ninth track on their second studio album Queen II.

The song is one of Queen's most complex songs with more than eleven sections in the whole song. Many credit this song as more complex than their 1975 hit, "Bohemian Rhapsody".

Recording

Mercury wrote the song in 1973, shortly before recording the album.

The song is one of the two Queen songs (the other being "Bohemian Rhapsody") containing polyrhythm/polymeter (two different time signatures simultaneously 8/8 and 12/8) and a simpler polyrhythm around the end uptempo section, which is very rare for popular music. The lead vocals cover two and a half octaves (G2 - C5).

The song segues into the next track, "Funny How Love Is". This song ends with an ascending note progression, which climaxes in the first second of the following track.

Live performances

The song was too complex to be performed live, however, the hard rock section containing the lines "I reign with my left hand, I rule with my right..." etc. was usually included in a live medley (usually after "Killer Queen") with vocals by Mercury and Taylor, during the mid 1970's. In 1984-85, it would sometimes be played as a brief instrumental piece after "Somebody to Love" and before the "My Fairy King" opening.

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano
• Brian May - acoustic and electric guitars, tubular bells, backing vocals
• Roger Taylor - drums, co-lead and backing vocals
• John Deacon - bass guitar

External links

• Lyrics at Queen official website