2- Killer Queen - Queen Flashcards

1
Q

Killer Queen Context

A

written by Freddie Mercury
Released Nov 1974
Queen band formed in London
First single form that album
“sheer heart attack”

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2
Q

When was it written

A

1974

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3
Q

Melody Killer Queen

A

Many syllabic text setting
Backing vocals- words and vocalisation (e.g. bar 8-9) to the sound of “ooh” and bar 18 sound “ba”
Starts manly Conjunct
Falsettto –> spoken text in vocals
start many small leaps of a 3rd or 4th
Bar 7-8 shows an altered descending sequence
Verse and Chorus conjunct and wide angular leaps
Leaps - rising rising major sixth (bar6-7) - large leaps e.g. octave bar 62
Sequences
Anacrusis
Portamento
Word painting “drive you wild”
Slides upwards on word “queen”
Vibrato
Pull offs

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4
Q

Slides defintion

A

Sliding from note to the other

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4
Q

Slides defintion

A

Sliding from note to the other

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5
Q

Bends definition

A

A musical note that is varied in pitch

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6
Q

Pull offs Defintion

A

A string is plucked by “pulling” the string off the fingerboard with finger used to fret the note

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7
Q

Vibrato Definition

A

A rapid, slight variation in pitch in singing that produces a stronger or richer sound

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8
Q

Syllabic Definition

A

When singing, each syllable has a note

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9
Q

Vocables Defintion

A

Use of syllables that have no meaning

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10
Q

Conjunct Definition

A

Where a melody moves by steps and not by leaps.

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11
Q

Anacrusis Defintion

A

An upbeat

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12
Q

Portamento Defintion

A

A slide from one note to another, especially in singing

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13
Q

Articulation Killer Queen

A

-

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14
Q

Falsetto Definition

A

Spoken text in vocals

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15
Q

Dynamics Killer Queen

A

Mf

16
Q

Texture Killer Queen

A

Homophonic
Use of imitation
use of layering
three- part texture during guitar solo
Use of panning (e.g. bR 42-43 - backing vocals)
Antiphonal - e.g. bar 67-68

17
Q

Antiphony Defintion

A

Swapping between different musical groups.

18
Q

Hocketting Defintion

A

An effect produced by dividing a melody between two parts, where notes in one part coinciding with rests in the other.

19
Q

Structure Killer Queen

A

Verse Chorus Structure

Verse 1 - start with 6 finger clicks
- first phrase is four bars in length

Chorus 1 - chorus 8 bars in length

Instrumental - Guitar 1 and 3 play in thirds using slides and vibrato

Verse 2 - 4 part basking vocals, drum enters early with drum roll with guitar 2 -

Bar 31- 33 has an inner chromatic descending pattern - main vocals spoken text for dramatic effect bar 38

Chorus 2 - shorter - first 5 bar phrase

Guitar solo - starts mimicking the lead part

Verse3 - 7 1/2 bar longs-

Chorus 3 - added guitar solo

Outro - music fades over a Eb major

20
Q

Guitar solo

A

starts
mimicking the lead part of the chorus
expand into a three part guitar solo
descending pattern of chord sequence
guitar uses imitation
three part texture
hocketting effect
harmony extended with a repeated imperfect cadence for two bars

21
Q

Harmony and tonality Killer Queen

A

Eb major
Opening - C minor - closed o nan Eb major chord
tonality ambiguous at times
many passing modulations
strengthen by perfect cadences by often followed by parallel shifts moving to a new key
most chords in root position
first and second inversions in chords
Seventh chords - bar 4
Altered and extending chords bar 47
pedal - bar 27
Extended chords
Circle fo fifths - bar 20

22
Q

Circle of 5th definition

A

The relationship between notes where the tonality or chords jump by a 5th each time

23
Q

Chromatic scale defintion

A

A scale using all semitones

24
Q

Pedal defintion

A

A note which is sustained or repeated while chords change, often resulting In dissonance.

25
Q

Instruments Killer Queen

A
  • Piano, electric guitar and drums
    • Electric guitar–> distortion, reverb, panning, multi-tracking, Wah- whah ( bar 63), overdubbing backing vocals e.g. bar 23, panning,
    • 4 part guitar - overdubbing creates a rich texture
    • Guitar plays slides, bends, pull- offs and vibrato
    • Jungle piano
    • emphasised backbeat - keeps time
    • Snare drum rolls bar 28
    • Snare drum semi-quavers to build excitement bar 67
    • Open hi-hat cymbal rolls bar 26
    • Falsetto - artificial high voice bar 22
26
Q

Rhythm, tempo, metre

A

Moderate tempo
Dotten crotchets
pulse of 112 bpm
12/8 time signature- compound quadruple time
Swung feel
occasional 6/8 bar - effect of extending phrase length
Verse and Chorus starts with anacrusis
Syncopation frequent bar 44
Triplets bar 18

27
Q

Tonality Killer Queen

A

E major
Modulates to Bb major at chorus