Queen » Tracks » I Want to Break Free

Queen – I Want to Break Free (4:13)

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About This Track

“I Want to Break Free” is a song performed by Queen, which was written by bassist John Deacon. According to the I Want To Break Free Songfacts, he wrote it from the male perspective of the women’s liberation movement. It featured on their 1984 album The Works. In the UK Chart, it peaked at number 3, and remained in the chart for fifteen consecutive weeks from its release in late April 1984. Most of the song follows the traditional 12 bar blues progression in E Major, a rare thing for a Queen song. The synth solo is played by Fred Mandel – live, however, May played it on guitar.

Two differing versions of the song are in circulation. The version on The Works is in fact shorter than the single remix by 61 seconds, because of a fade-in synthesiser introduction and a longer solo in which both the synthesiser and guitar feature separately. This is in contrast to “Hammer to Fall”, a song which was edited down by thirty seconds from the album version to be released as a single. The promotional 45 sent to radio stations by Capitol Records had both versions on either side. However, Queen’s name and the song title were deliberately left off one, so the labels read “Special Single Mix (Queen 4:21)” and “Special Single Mix-Edited (3:59).

The music video, directed by David Mallet, was a parody of the southern British soap opera Coronation Street. During part of the video, the band members dressed in drag, as mildly similar characters found in the soap at the time; Mercury’s character was loosely based on Bet Lynch, while May’s character was based on Hilda Ogden.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Greatest Hits
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  • Greatest Hits II
    Queen Play
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  • The Works
    Queen Play
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  • Greatest Hits Platinum Collection
    Queen Play
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  • solidsnake102

    john deacon scares me in drag :)

    Friday morning

  • appidydafoo

    :)

    last month

  • klinikromantik

    ne güzel şarkı yapmışsınız lan.

    last month

  • incultojurgis

    Wind of Change by the Scorpions is a related track? IWTBF isn't even a power ballad...

    last month

  • BlueOclock

    I like, you like, we like, they like.....everybody like!

    March 2012

  • maryisfab

    One of the most kick ass songs ever!

    March 2012

  • magnoliamagmay

    i used to sing " WE'VE GOT TO BREAK FREE" with my friend jenny when we were in school. yeah idk it seemed to fit at the time XD

    March 2012

  • geprgeharrison

    кажется,я обожаю эту песню

    March 2012

  • RRRRRicardo

    This is also considered rock? I don't like rock at all, apart from a few Queen songs, like this one! :-)

    February 2012

  • kikikirsche

    ja

    February 2012

  • Bandit17C

    The video is hysterical. Who knew Roger Taylor looked so good in drag?

    February 2012

  • Mike_SCR

    A melhor música gay da história.

    February 2012

  • intotheskyline

    A-wesome.

    February 2012

  • deviltohell

    I love the video :D

    January 2012

  • LauraVanV

    my favourite song as a kid <3

    January 2012

  • Barely-A-Vapor

    I have to be sure when I walk out the door.. Oh how I want to be free! <3

    January 2012

  • farfafarf

    I want to bake free!

    December 2011

  • srv_

    One of the greatest Queen songs!

    December 2011

  • crawlpalmetto

    The snare is so great! And that solo is rather brilliant.

    December 2011

  • tape_rewinder

    goosebumps

    December 2011
See all 485 shouts

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