God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols Song)
| God Save the Queen | |
|---|---|
| Sex pistols | |
| publication | 1977 |
| length | 3:20 |
| Genre (s) | punk |
| Author (s) | Cook / Jones / Matlock / Rotten |
| Publisher (s) | Virgin Records |
| album | Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols |
God Save the Queen is a song by the English punk band Sex Pistols that was released on May 27, 1977. It was the second single released by the band and appeared on the album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
Story of the song
Contrary to some rumors, it was not planned by the band to release God Save the Queen for the silver jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II , the song - already written in 1976 - should originally be called No Future and should be released in March. Due to renewed problems with the record company A&M Records , which jumped in after being kicked out of EMI , the date was postponed until Virgin signed the band. The album cover was designed by the British artist Jamie Reid (* 1947) and shows a slightly alienated face of Elizabeth II. The title God Save the Queen is written over her eyes and the band name is written over her mouth. It was voted # 1 for best covers by rock magazine Q. After it was released, the BBC refused to play the song. There were also rumors that although the band had sold more singles than the number 1 at the time, they were still at number 2 so as not to embarrass the Queen in her anniversary year. Johnny Rotten, the singer of the band, commented on the meaning of the text:
“You don't write 'God Save The Queen' because you hate the English race, you write a song like that because you love them; and you're fed up with them being mistreated ... "
“You don't write 'God Save the Queen' because you hate the English race, you write a song like this because you love them; and you stink that she is being mistreated ... "
The public reaction after the release was mixed: on the one hand, the band was hostile, on the other hand, for example, Q magazine again chose the single as number 3 of the "100 songs that changed the world". The week of the Queen's Jubilee, the band gave a concert on a boat on the Thames ; she played Anarchy in the UK and God Save the Queen , among others , before the boat was boarded by police officers and some people were arrested.
With A&M Records already pressing a few singles before terminating their Sex Pistols contract, A&M's God Save the Queen pressings are currently the most valuable vinyl collectibles, priced over £ 8,000.
production
Like the first single Anarchy in the UK , this was also produced in the Wessex Studios. Although Sid Vicious had replaced Glen Matlock before recording, Steve Jones played bass. The b-side of the single is Did You No Wrong .
occupation
- Singing: Johnny Rotten
- Guitar and Bass: Steve Jones
- Drums: Paul Cook
- Producer: Chris Thomas
- Sound engineer: Bill Price
Cover versions
The song was several bands gecovert , including:
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d God Save the Queen on sexpistolsofficial.com .
- ↑ Sex Pistols cover tops chart ( en ) BBC News . March 14, 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ Bragg attacks Pistols' royal views ( en ) BBC News . May 27, 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ a b Sex Pistols Vinyl Reissue's 2007 ( en ) October 2002. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ Q - 100 Songs That Changed The World ( s ) Q . January 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ↑ Sean Hamilton: I'll give you £ 8,000 and that's my vinyl offer ( s ) The Sun . April 26, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012.