Killer Queen

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  • Created by: LouiseB12
  • Created on: 10-09-17 16:10

Melody

  • Initially moves in small intervals get progressively wider (rising 6th in bars 6-7 and a rising octave in bars 20-21)
  • Bar 12 is repeated using a modified rising sequence to form bar 13
  • The same falling fifth motif is used in the chorus (forms a modified falling sequence)
  • Use of a portamento on the word 'queen' in bar 15
  • Word setting is almost entirely syllabic
  • Backing vocals sometimes include vocables
  • Lack of word painting, other than a slide to emphasise the sarcastic use of "queen" in the chorus. Phaser effect on "laser beam". 
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Rhythm

  • Compound quadruple metre - 12/8
  • Gives the rhythm a swing feel
  • Moderately fast tempo (112 dotted-crotchet beats per min)
  • Each verse and chorus begins with an anacrusis
  • Use of syncocaption (eg the tied notes in bars 3,7,8, etc)
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Texture

  • Gradually increasing in density from a light-textured start
  • Homophonic
  • Chordal texture for vocals at start and end of chorus
  • Brief contrapuntal fragments in the accompaniment (eg bar 62)
  • Guitar parts in parallel 3rds in instrumental after chorus (bars 23-26)
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Instrumentation

  • Lead vocal and backing vocals (overdubbed three and four part harmony)
  • Piano and overdubbed "jangle" piano
  • Guitar and overdubbed parts
  • Bass guitar (largely doubled by left hand piano part)
  • Drums and percussion like windchimes (bar 68) and triangle (bar 29)

Use of :

  • Vibrato (bar 7)
  • Tremolo (bar 26)
  • Pitch bend (bar 30)
  • Slide (bar 34)
  • Palm Mute (bar 69)
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Genre

  • Written in 1974 and is from the album "Sheer Heart Attack"
  • Rock song but has theatre and opera influences
  • Queen was formed in London in 1970

Members of Queen:

  • Freddie Mercury - lead singer and pianist
  • Brian May - lead guitar and backing vocals
  • Roger Taylor - drums and backing vocals
  • John Deacon - bass guitar
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Harmony

  • Mainly root position triads (with occasional inversions and 7th chords)
  • Chords are mainly diatonic (with occasional chromatic chords)
  • Use of expressive dissonance (eg bar 11)
  • Short tonic pedal at the start of each verse
  • Dominant pedal in the instrumental links
  • Multi-tracked vocals produce parallel harmonies
  • Descending chromatic scale in bars 7-9
  • Circle of fifths progression in bars 20-21
  • Bell chords in guitar parts in bar 55
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Tonality

  • E flat major
  • Some tonal ambiguity 
  • Verses start in C minor
  • Choruses are in B flat major
  • Both quickly modulate
  • Ends with a perfect cadence in E flat major
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Structure

Verse-chorus structure 

1. Finger click intro (bar 1)

2. Verse 2 (bars 2-14)

3. Chorus  (bars 15-22)

4. Instrumental (bars 23-26)

5. Verse 2 (bars 27-38)

6. Chorus with guitar solo (bars 39-50)

7. Verse 3 (bars 51-68)

8. Chorus (bars 69-78)

9. Outro (bars 79-end)

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