Keeping themselves alive

Identifying and analysing Queen’s musical development, 1973–1980

Authors

  • Nick Braae University of Waikato Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.v9i3.27029

Keywords:

Analysis, History, Queen, Style, Idiolect

Abstract

This article is a study of British rock band Queen’s output between 1973 and 1980. It traces the changes in the band’s music through this era with respect to the notion of musical development. I consider Queen’s songs from three perspectives—style, the group’s cumulative idiolect, and the role of idiolect traits within songs—to suggest that each vantage point produces a different reading of Queen’s career trajectory. I further argue that the most appropriate reading of Queen’s development is in terms of an ‘expedition’ narrative, whereby the group explored new stylistic ground but marked these expeditions with the traits of its idiolect. Queen’s development is thus not a singular path from one point to another, but rather a wide-ranging musical journey with the group’s sonic imprint impressed on each stylistic turn.

Author Biography

  • Nick Braae, University of Waikato

    Nick Braae is currently an Academic Staff Member at the Waikato Institute of Technology, where he teaches music history, theory and composition. He completed his doctorate at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. His thesis was on the music of British rock band Queen. He has presented and published widely on the band, as well as on New Zealand popular music.

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Published

2016-09-08

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Braae, N. (2016). Keeping themselves alive: Identifying and analysing Queen’s musical development, 1973–1980. Popular Music History, 9(3), 248-269. https://doi.org/10.1558/pomh.v9i3.27029