You're My Best Friend (Queen song)
| "You're My Best Friend" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Queen | ||||
| from the album A Night at the Opera | ||||
| B-side | "'39" | |||
| Released | 18 May 1976 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Recorded | 1975 | |||
| Genre | Pop[1] | |||
| Length | 2:52 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | John Deacon | |||
| Producer(s) | Roy Thomas Baker and Queen | |||
| Queen singles chronology | ||||
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| A Night at the Opera track listing | ||||
|
12 tracks | ||||
"You're My Best Friend" is a song by the British rock band Queen, written by bass guitarist John Deacon. It was originally included on the album A Night at the Opera in 1975, and later released as a single. In the US, "You're My Best Friend" went to number sixteen.[2] The ballad[3] also appeared on the Live Killers (1979) live album and on the compilation albums Greatest Hits (1981), Absolute Greatest (2009) and Queen Forever (2014).
History
Deacon wrote the song for his wife, Veronica Tetzlaff. In this song, he plays a Wurlitzer electric piano in addition to his bass guitar work.[4] The characteristic "bark" of the Wurlitzer's bass notes plays a prominent role in the song. During live performances, a Grand Piano was used rather than an electric, and it would be played by Freddie Mercury, while Deacon played the bass guitar just like in the original recording.
The song was used in several TV shows and films such as Hot in Cleveland, Will & Grace, EastEnders, My Name is Earl, The King of Queens, the end credits of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, The Simpsons,[5] Shaun of the Dead, Peter's Friends, and The Secret Life of Pets.
Music video
The music video, directed by Bruce Gowers, shows the band in a huge ballroom surrounded by over one thousand candles, including a huge chandelier hung from the ceiling.[6] The video was filmed in April 1976 [6] at Elstree Studios, London. Additionally, Deacon is seen playing a grand piano rather than the Wurlitzer he used on the recording.[7]
Composition
The song was composed by John Deacon in the key of C major with a meter of 4/4, in swing feel.[8]
The album A Night at the Opera features songs of numerous styles, including this three-minute pop song.[1] Very unusual for the genre, there is no section appearing more than twice; characteristic of many Queen songs, as affirmed by Brian May.[9] On the other hand, in terms of phrases and measures, there are numerous repetitions or variants. The form is cyclic and very similar to that of "Spread Your Wings" (1977). Another similarity between the two songs is the lack of (real) modulation. The arrangement features 3 and 4-part vocal and guitar harmonies, bass (melodic approach), drums, and electric piano. This is Deacon's second recorded song and the first one released on single, some six months after the album-release. Mercury's lead vocal features lot of "special effects" (voice, rubato-ized rhythms, ornaments, slides).[8] Mercury hits two sustained C5s in the lead vocal track.
Queen comments on the record
The band answered Tom Browne on 24 December 1977 in a live BBC Radio One interview, regarding Deacon's control of the piano for the recording:
| “ | Well, Freddie didn't like the electric piano, so I took it home and I started to learn on the electric piano and basically that's the song that came out you know when I was learning to play piano. It was written on that instrument and it sounds best on that. You know, often on the instrument that you wrote the song on. | ” |
| — John Deacon[10] | ||
| “ | I refused to play the damn thing [the Wurlitzer]. It's tinny and horrible and I don't like them. Why play those things when you've got a lovely superb grand piano? No, I think, basically what he [John] is trying to say is it was the desired effect. | ” |
| — Freddie Mercury[4] | ||
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Certifications
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Year-end charts
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Personnel
Cover versions
- The Supernaturals, Come Again (compilation album, 1997)
- Giuliano Palma & the Bluebeaters, Long Playing (2005)
- Rock4, A Night at the Opera (2006), an a cappella cover of the Queen album
- Straight No Chaser, With a Twist (2010)
- Melvins, Everybody Loves Sausages (2013), as "Best Friend"
- Stevie Ann, single (2014)
- The Once, Row Upon Row of the People They Know (2011)
References
- 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "At Night at the Opera review". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition. Record Research. p. 513.
- ↑ "The best songs about friendship". 22 December 2017.
- 1 2 "You're My Best Friend by Queen". songfacts.com. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ↑ "Queen". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- 1 2 Promo Videos: You're My Best Friend. Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ↑ You're My Best Friend. Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- 1 2 |title=Queen Songs: You're My Best Friend Archived 17 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine.. Queen Songs. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ↑ "The Making Of The Prophet Song (Classic Albums)". YouTube. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ "You're My Best Friend". queenpedia.com. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- ↑ http://tsort.info/music/yr1976.htm
- ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You're My Best Friend". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ↑ "you%27re+my+best+friend | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
- ↑ "American single certifications – Queen – You're My Best Friend". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.
- ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
