Music With A “Q”! So Much More Than Queen! But “Killer Queen” Of Course!

I wanted to share some songs with the letter “Q”, either songs or Artists using this letter – and of course, the iconic band Queen is top of tongue…but there is smooch more – but don’t worry, “Killer Queen” is on the way as well!

“Quiet Town” by Josh Rouse

Josh Rouse is a terrific singer/songwriter with a large catalog of great music.

His song “Flight Attendant” was featured in the Julia Roberts movie “Eat Pray Love”, but I want to share a song he wrote after moving to a small town in Spain in 2004, taking up residence in a “Quiet Town”, where he writes:

“I know somewhere
There is a party going down
Interesting people
Conversation to be found
I’ve lived in cities
Where there is no solitude
I’ve made some friends here
That I hope I never lose
But, for now
I want to stay in this quiet town…”

Of course, there is a tradeoff, as he notes:

“Ohhhh
Sometimes I miss the show
I learned a long time ago…”

Here is the terrific music video:

Here is a terrific greatest hits collection from his years with Rykodisc – he is worth checking out, and thanks to my friend Blair Butler for turning me on to him several years ago!

Here is more about his music:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/18/josh-rouse-modern-musical-troubadour-from-1972-to-the-happiness-waltz-singing-in-spain/

I am a huge fan of rock bands that can incorporate a wide variety of instruments into their music, and here is one of the best:

“Questions 67 And 68” – Chicago

This 1971 hit captured the “Chicago” sound of the 70’s perfectly – lots of horns and great hooks…they had a number of great hit songs like “Color My World”, “Saturday In The Park” and “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” before they settled into a soft rock/pop groove later in their career.

Here is a great performance from French TV by the band in 1969!

The band formed in 1967 and was very political early on – their albums were produced by James William Guercio, who also made a movie in the early 70’s that became a cult classic:

“Electra Glide In Blue” tells the story of a Highway Patrolman, played by Robert Blake, who tries to solve a murder mystery – Guercio included several members of Chicago in the film, as this bike gang that confronts Blake.

This movie is terrific – you can see the trailer for it, plus lots of great trivia, here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/04/19/electra-glide-in-blue-forgotten-masterpiece-robert-blakes-best-role/

Next up, one of the early “boy bands” with a huge hit song:

“Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” – The Backstreet Boys

BSB formed in 1993 and had a decades-long run of soft pop hits, like this one:

“Quit playin’ games with my heart
Before you tear us apart (my heart)
Quit playin’ games with my heart
I should’ve known from the start…”

Here is the official music video:

Ah, classic boy bands, god bless.

In the 80’s, big hair bands were the rage, and if you had a killer hook – and a female lead singer – well, there was no limit to what you could do. Here’s a great example:

Quarterflash – “Harden My Heart”

This top 5 single from 1982 may be one of the most covered songs by any bar band with a female lead singer, and why not? An 80’s sound, great vocals, and a cathy hook…here is the classic 80’s looking music video – with classic 80’s hair:

Some “Heart” trivia: the song has been used in video games, TV shows, and in the 2001 movie “Wet Hot American Summer.”

Now, time to give you the ultimate “Q” band:

Queen – “Killer Queen”

There are so many songs I could have shared, but doesn’t this sum up their unique sound perfectly? See for yourself with this performance from “Top Of The Pops”:

I have a live Queen DVD from Wembley Stadium in London, and the massive crowd is mesmerized by the band – and by Freddie Mercury’s stage presence. Simply one of the greatest bands of all time.

Oh, and you didn’t think I was done, did you?

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”

How could I include Queen and to include this masterpiece? It’s simply one of the greatest songs in rock history. Queen has a library of some of the most interesting music of all time – from the hard-rocking “Tie Your Mother Down” to the pop majesty of “You’re My Best Friend” and of course, the massive rock anthem “We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions!”

But of course, nothing compares to the pop/rock symphony of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, forever immortalized in “Wayne’s World”, and one of the most interesting rock operas ever recorded…here is the classic music video:

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is from the album “A Night At The Opera” – a classic that has been re-released in an expanded form, so buy it – and see more of what’s on the album here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/23/queens-brilliant-night-at-the-opera-freddie-mercurys-musical-madness/

Hope you enjoyed this look at the sound of “Q”!

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