What genre is Queen?

What Genre Is Queen?

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Being one of the most iconic bands ever, Queen makes people want to know more about the group, like their history, their songs, and their style. One question that often pops up is: What genre is Queen? The answer might depend on how deep you’re ready to go down the rabbit hole of music genres. If you want a short answer:

If you’re wondering why it’s considered art rock, or you’re not even sure what that genre is about, I’ll cover it here.

What Genre Does Queen Belong To?

Queen is one of those bands that doesn’t fit into a single genre. Unless, of course, you call them a rock band and be done with the entire discussion. But that’s kind a cop-out, because rock is just a way too broad of the genre. So naturally people are looking for a more specific category, or sub-genre. And that’s when things get interesting.

While at their core Queen is Rock band, their music draws from so many styles, that it’s hard to label them with just one category. I mean, just open a playlist of their greatest hits and listen to it yourself – their music is so multifaceted, it has so many colors and different musical elements. They’re really a mix of everything.

But there is a sub genre, that actually fits Queen’s style best: Art Rock. It really combines those key elements that define Queen’s sound. It’s build upon experimenting and implementing different styles like opera, pop, classical, funk and others – all the things Queen’s been doing throughout their history.

Btw, I have a playlist of their best songs right here if you want to explore it now:

15 Best Songs by Queen - Full Playlist

What Is Art Rock All About?

Art rock is one of the more captivating subgenres or rock because it’s experimental and creative. I look at it as a mindset – disregarding of the rules of traditional rock music. Art rock is not afraid to borrow from other genres like classical, opera, jazz and even theater. In fact, that’s where its strengths lie.

Art rock emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a more experimental branch of traditional rock music. It helped to push the boundaries of conventional songwriting and arrangements with artists like Pink Floyd, David Bowie, King Crimson and Genesis.

In the hands of talented bands this subgenre truly feels like art. It creates an atmosphere and the vibe that’s different form conventional rock. And Queen is a perfect example of this. They created sound that was more dramatic, epic, and more distinct from other artists of their time. You can feel it in their songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” – it’s a one-of-a-kind experience, it’s an art show.

Queen’s Best Art Rock Songs

These songs show how Queen invented their ow style, and how their music turned into some of the greatest art rock ever.

Bohemian Rhapsody (Released in 1975, Album: A Night at the Opera)

Ultimate Queen’s song that has everything great art rock is known for. It features unexpected and complete melody switches, prominent operatic sections, unconventional lyrics, a crazy-good guitar solo, beautiful piano parts, and of course Freddie Mercury’s unique vocals that go from high to low and back again. This composition is the poster child of the subgenre.

Innuendo (From 1991 album: Innuendo)

Yet another vivid example of the art rock style perfected by Queen. This is a 6-minute wonder that takes you on a ride like no other. It’s an experience you have to live through, even if you’re not a Queen fan. This track combines rock, flamenco, orchestral, and heavy metal in a single complex arrangement. The song’s motif keeps shifting, but it somehow maintains its magical vibe throughout the track.

Who Wants To Live Forever (Released in 1986, Album: A Kind of Magic)

Probably in my Top 3 favorite songs by Queen, this is yet another art rock masterpiece. It’s often described as a power ballad, which I wouldn’t argue with either. But the complex composition, building from a soft intro into an epic culmination, the profound theme of the song, the addition of orchestral elements, and Freddie Mercury’s powerful vocals – all that creates an extraordinary dramatic vibe which screams: art rock. And on a side note, this is one of the best soundtracks ever. My fellow fans of the Highlander (1986) movie will understand.

How Queen’s Music Evolved Over Time

Queen is one of those bands that truly defy being labeled. First, because they blended so many genres of music to create their own unique sound. And second, because the band’s musical style changed significantly over the years. So, if you wanted to categorize them, the correct way would be to do it album by album, or even period by period.

They started in the early 1970s with a mix of rock and hard rock. Brian May’s signature guitar riffs and solos on early albums like Sheer Heart Attack (1974) and A Night at the Opera (1975) set the tone for the band’s classic sound.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Queen became more experimental. They started to add elements from a variety of genres. For example, you can clearly hear disco influences in “Another One Bites the Dust.” There’s also plenty of funk and pop in “Hot Space” 1982. During this period the group leaned heavily into synthesizers and electronic elements.

The groups sound continues to evolve through the late 1980s and into the early 1990s.  They produced tracks that were even more clearly art-rock and progressive rock.  Elements of synth-pop, flamenco, pop rock in the albums like The Miracle (1989) and Innuendo (1991).

The group’s sound continued to evolve through the late 1980s and into the early 1990s. They produced tracks that leaned even more clearly into art rock and progressive rock, with elements of synth-pop, flamenco, and pop rock featured in albums like The Miracle (1989) and Innuendo (1991).

Conclusion

Queen is one of the greatest music bands for a reason. They’re a perfect example of what makes rock so special. Time and time again, they showed that music is a powerful form of art, and that breaking the rules is not just okay it can lead to marvelous results. They proved that drawing inspiration from other genres can create something absolutely epic. And they also helped elevate art rock to a new level.

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