Top 20 Greatest Queen Songs of All Time

Queen II (1974)

We kick things off with a little bit of heavy Queen, a song that was originally birthed as an instrumental on their first album, but given new life on the band's sophomore effort, "Queen II." The song has a proto-metal gallop going on, with plenty of flashy guitar, a commanding vocal performance by Freddie Mercury and the sort of chest-beating fantasy lyrics that were indicative of that early Queen sound. It's a slight distance from the wild experimentation and genre-bending for which the band would become known years down the line, but that really doesn't matter too much when a song like "Seven Seas of Rhye" rocks this hard.

Queen (1973)

We're gonna keep it old school a little while longer. Our next pick hails from Queen's self-titled debut, released in 1973. Brian May's guitar takes center stage here, again bringing that heavy metal thunder that works perfectly with Roger Taylor's cannon-fire drums. Meanwhile, Mercury's unique lyricism sees him wielding phrases like "Belladonic haze" with a straight face, and there's also a badass, multi-tracked harmony guitar solo from May. The whole thing feels very emblematic of that excessive '70s heavy rock sound, which certainly permeated the early years of the band.

Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
This is it: perhaps the heaviest Queen jam to ever get pressed to wax, and a headbanging precursor to the thrash metal boom of the 1980s. Yes, "Stone Cold Crazy" really does get that fast; Brian May's fingers sound like they're practically blistering trying to keep up to Roger Taylor's double-time drumming. It’s like they're trying to race each other to the end of the song. The song is also short and sweet, a two minute jam that jettisons the progressive arrangements of the first two Queen albums in favor of a heads down, no BS approach. "Stone Cold Crazy" was even covered by metal legends Metallica, proving that Queen influenced musicians from across genres and generations.

The Miracle (1989)
Fast forwarding a bit to the twilight years of Queen's career with Freddie Mercury, "I Want It All" has "single" written all over it. It hits you in the face right from the get-go with an a cappella chorus, before May's guitar flares up. Truthfully, "I Want It All" is proof of how astonishing the band was at songwriting, as this 1989 jam shows no sign of any sort of writer's block or hesitancy. The arrangements are confident and bold, with an unexpected fast section proving that Queen wasn't going quietly into the night. May's leads are melodic and in charge, while Mercury sounds amazing, despite his failing health. Consider "I Want It All" a Queen song that just gets better with age.

Hot Space (1982)
We haven't yet given much space to discuss Queen bassist Roger Deacon, so let's rectify that, shall we? The man might have been the band's secret weapon, from backing vocals, songwriting and musical chops. Case in point? This huge hit single collaboration between the band and David Bowie, a song where the real star of the show just happens to be THAT BASS LINE. It's simple but effective bass playing that gets the point across without stepping on the toes of Mercury and Bowie. "Under Pressure" presents the entire band firing on all creative cylinders. Sure, there might be another famous Deacon bass line you're thinking of that we'll highlight down the line, but for now, let's just revel in "Under Pressure."

Ok, so we thought about whether we should combine our next two entries into one, but then realized that they’re both so killer, we just had to split them up. "Bicycle Race" was part of a double A side single released by Queen in 1978, and it's indicative of the band's cheeky sense of humor. The song utilizes a call-and-response vocal with plenty of pop culture references. But it also uses layers of voices to create an operatic tone similar to another big Queen hit we'll discuss later. "Bicycle Race" has a nice, frantic little solo from May in the middle, but make no mistake: this is the Freddie Mercury show all the way.

Another a cappella intro? Check. Another heavy riff from Brian May? Double check. Freddie Mercury being incredibly charismatic and awesome? Well, that one's a no brainer. "Fat Bottomed Girls" was the other end of that aforementioned double A single, and is the brawny, blues-swinging counterpart to the whimsy of "Bicycle Race." It's notable for being one of the few times Queen tuned down to drop D for a song, as they usually played in straight E. Honestly, it works so well that fans might wonder why they didn't try it out more often. The arrangements are fairly meat-and-potatoes here, but that's why "Fat Bottomed Girls" works so well: it's just big and fun.

The Queen albums "A Night At the Opera" and "A Day At the Races" were both known for their stylistic experiments. The band was drifting away from their progressive and heavy rock roots. The latter album did feature this quintessential Queen jam for your pleasure, however- a fun look back at the band's harder roots. "Tie Your Mother Down" isn't quite proto-metal, but more of a fun and heavy glam track, cut from the cloth of contemporaries like Sweet or Mott the Hoople. May and Mercury make a great team on the song, with Brian's hard riffing and Freddie's layered vocals taking that sweaty swagger all the way to the bank.

We've all heard our fair share of Queen songs get utilized in commercials, but "I Want to Break Free" is sort of the blueprint for that idea. It's an unabashed pop song with a super catchy chorus. The song is still hanging on to the band's synth experiments from the "Hot Space" album, but the songwriting is there in spades, with an almost lackadaisical reggae beat from songwriter John Deacon. The bassist’s love of soul and funk is in there, too, as "I Want to Break Free" is pretty much the furthest thing from a heavy rock, but who cares? It's a great song that's stood the test of time.

The Highlander: where there can be only one…(or two in this case), because Queen was closely connected with this franchise. Fans will likely remember the hard rockin' "Princes of the Universe," but our next entry is all power ballad, baby. "Who Wants to Live Forever?" is a resonant, emotional ballad that takes place at a point in the film where the heart of its immortal protagonist, Connor MacLeod, is breaking as the years take his beloved wife Heather. There's plenty of pomp, circumstance and bombast as Queen is backed by orchestral arrangements from composer Michael Kamen. We defy anyone to get out of this one without wiping at least one tear from their eyes.

Queen going full progressive rock. This is the quickest way to describe "March of the Black Queen," an incredibly complex song that's sort of a dry run for the epic that would be "Bohemian Rhapsody." This song pretty much has it all: crazy time signatures, layers of vocals, heavy riffs and movements that make it feel like a mini-rock opera of sorts. Unfortunately, it's complexity made it something that would never be played live in its entirety, with the band usually choosing to perform snippets of it in medley form. "March of the Black Queen" is more of a studio experiment, an album track that may have been released as a single, but it is perhaps the least commercial song in the band's catalog.

"Radio Ga Ga" is one of those special songs that's probably known more for its iconic live performances than anything else. But when that live performance was one as immense as Queen at Live Aid...well, it just sort of all makes sense. The song itself is pretty brilliant on every level. tAnd this is thanks in large part to songwriter Roger Taylor's honest and nostalgic lyrics about growing up with music and entertainment on the radio.It's a sentiment that was a talking point back in the early days of the video age, and one that echoes now in the days of streaming and declining physical media. "Radio Ga Ga" may be a percussion heavy song, but it's emotional resonance is one that's continued on through the years.

We're starting to climb the charts now on our list, reaching the absolute top of the mountain when it comes to Queen classics. "Don't Stop Me Now" is one of those gems, a fan favorite that seems to possess all of the elements that make a Queen song great. Brian May has a ripping solo, Taylor and Deacon drive home the rhythm section, while Freddie Mercury's piano playing serves as the glue that holds it all together. Mercury's lyrics are breezy and fun, while his vocal performance is amongst the strongest ever put to record. Simply stated: there's no stopping this one from being an all time fan favorite.

What's not to like about "Killer Queen?" It's a classic in that laidback and quirky way Queen could be when they wanted to—and it’s a nice break from all the hard rock bombast. Songwriter Freddie Mercury makes sure the layered vocals are in check, while Brian May loads up a melodic and simple selection of lead runs that compliment the main melody. "Killer Queen" is theatrical and exaggerated, yet authentic; a picture perfect snapshot of where Queen was during their "Sheer Heart Attack" period: in flux, but large and definitely in charge.

Sometimes, the simplest songs are the best ones. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is one of those tracks, a semi-acoustic jam that's indebted to classic rock 'n roll in the vein of Elvis Presley, mixed with a little rhythm and blues for good measure. The arrangement is super simple, yet leaves room for a fun little guitar solo from Brian May. The lion's share of the hook, however, is in that aforementioned acoustic verse. There's plenty of backing vocals and handclaps that make the song fun, too; it’s a nice respite from all of the studio experiments and progressive ballyhoo.

Queen's got soul. Or, at least that's what the band was going for with this next smash hit. "Somebody to Love" is sort of a fun counterpart to the band's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody." That song went full opera with its arrangements, while this track sits back in the pocket with a more measured approach to groove. Mercury's voice is full of passion and life, while that final section of the song with all of the vocals coming to a crescendo... it never fails to give you chills. Although we love the songs yet to come on this list, "Somebody to Love" is a dark horse musical masterpiece that gives them each a run for their money.

See, we TOLD you we'd get back to that bass line, didn't we? "Another One Bites the Dust" is the band's best selling single, thanks largely to its dance-friendly vibe and the disco culture that inspired its composition by John Deacon. It's a sparsely arranged song that hinges on that thumping bass hook, while Mercury sings 'n scats over it with plenty of style to spare. There's also a funky bit of playing from Brian May for some added flare, but make no mistake, "Another One Bites the Dust" is ALL about that bass.

"Innuendo" was Queen's last studio album with Freddie Mercury, and "The Show Must Go On" was the final track. It's finality isn't lost on fans, either, which is perhaps why it possesses even more emotion. It's honestly difficult to listen to this mid-paced power ballad without tearing up a little bit thinking about what could've been, had we not lost Mercury. His vocal is so incredibly strong, despite his physical frailty. Songwriter Brian May makes his guitar lead sing right alongside Freddy in a way that's absolutely chill-inducing. By the time Freddie's final note rings out, there isn't a dry eye to be found.

If you've been to a live sporting event, you've heard both "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." If you've ever been to a karaoke bar, you've heard "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." They're two Queen songs that have just remained a part of our culture since their initial release back in 1977. As a result, it's easy to forget how unique they are, from the stomp-stomp-clap of the former, to the triumphant power-balladry of the latter. "We Are the Champions", in particular, is a perfect storm of sorts for all of the Queen members’ talents, but both are deserving of their status as all-time classics.

Because, honestly, what ELSE could have been number one? "Bohemian Rhapsody" is a classic rock staple, and a musical masterpiece that took chances and reaped the rewards. It's important to remember that songs with the length of "Bohemian Rhapsody" simply weren't played much on the radio in the mid-seventies, yet Queen stuck to their guns. The complex arrangements and treatment of musical movements ensured that the band would never be seen simply as a "hard rock" act ever again, and their future was sealed as masters of their craft. Queen was truly the sum of their creative parts, and this absolute stunner presents all of those parts in perfect working order.