With the YouTube mini series “Queen the Greatest”, which is devoted to a musical milestone of the British rock band every week, Queen had celebrated her great career. The 13th episode of the weekly documentary series dealt with the world hit “We Are The Champions” from 1977, which is represented on the album “News of the World”.
To date, the song is considered one of the largest rock and stadium anthems. He was even declared the most catchy song ever by the “Goldsmiths University” in London – as is reported in the Miniseries video. The band was also clearly aware that the track lacks the track in terms of modesty. As the video now proves.
“It is the most selfish and arrogant song I’ve ever written!”
For example, archive material shows how Roger Taylor is asked where the band’s modesty has remained. The drummer then replies: “Well, there are none. No modesty at all. After the taunts we get from the English music press. I mean who cares? We have nothing to lose now. “
Freddie Mercury is also asked in the video clip by a journalist about the content of the song, whereupon the former singer of the legendary band explains: “Oh, I am a cold, heartless manure. No, it represents absolutely nothing. It’s just pure advertising. Name it as you want. It is the most selfish and arrogant song that I have ever written! “
“We were dragged through hell by people, but we emerged as the winner”
In a previous interview, Brian May, in turn, goes into more detail on “We are the Champions”. “I think we were all a bit shocked because it sounded so arrogant. But of course it only takes a short moment to realize that ‘We are the champions’ not only mean I and my buddies. But we all. “
He adds: “But you know, it came from him and there was a kind of delicious arrogance in Freddie. And I think that if I’m honest – the very first meaning of it was probably that we, you know, were damn right. We were grinded by all types of hell by the people. But we emerged as the winner. “
This article was first published on January 15, 2021