The Queen song “Fat Bottomed Girls” is an integral part of the million-selling “Greatest Hits” collection from 1981. The 1978 track from the “Jazz” album is an evergreen that, despite its title, in German “Girls mit big butts”, not only from Ballermann-Druffis, but also from “Normalos” and female fans of the British band whooped or sang along.
The “Best of” has now been made available on Yoto, a digital jukebox for children. The Yoto Player, as the site advertises, plays audiobook stories, music, activities, sound effects, radio, and podcasts for kids. “A safe way for kids to discover amazing things,” it says. What’s missing: “Fat Bottomed Girls”. Without explanation. It’s likely that the subject of “fat girls” – with Queen meaning “girls” more colloquially, i.e. singing about grown women – could be too sensitive for some young listeners. Body shaming comes to mind here.
“This timeless collection contains 16 classic tracks to rock out and is one of the best-selling albums of all time with over 25 million copies sold!” Yoto continues. “It’s the ideal introduction to the music of Queen for young music lovers and the perfect soundtrack for dance parties in the kitchen, singalongs on the road, air guitar sessions in bed… and much more.”
Then comes a warning: “NOTE: Please note that the lyrics in some of these songs contain adult themes, including occasional references to violence and drugs. These are the original and unedited recordings. While no profanity is used, we encourage parental discretion when playing this content to younger children.”
A song like “Bohemian Rhapsody” with lines like “Mama, just killed a man / Put a gun against his head / Pulled my trigger, now he’s dead / Mama, life had just begun / But now I’ve gone and thrown it all.” away” seems to be less of a concern, according to the Yoto team. Also “Another One Bites The Dust” about gang violence: “Steve walks warily down the street / With the brim pulled way down low / Ain’t no sound but the sound of his feet
Machine guns ready to go”.
“Fat Bottomed Girls, written by guitarist Brian May, explores a young man’s fondness for fuller women. As recently as 2008, Brian May said of “Mojo,” “I wrote the song with Freddie Mercury in mind, which is how you do it, especially when you’ve got a great singer who likes big butt girls…or guys.”
An insider told the Mail on Sunday: “The music industry talks about it, nobody can understand why such a good-natured, funny song can’t be accepted in today’s society. It’s madness gone mad. Why don’t we value people of all shapes and sizes the way society dictates, rather than abolish it. It’s outrageous.”
Already in 1978 it wasn’t easy with this track. Released as a double A-side with “Bicycle Race”, the cover featured a scantily clad woman on a bicycle, with a voluptuous rear end in Maurer’s cleavage. The music video got Queen in trouble because women rode naked in it and the bike rental owners then insisted on new saddles.
Track listing “Greatest Hits 1” on Yoto:
Bohemian Rhapsody
Another One Bites The Dust
killer queen
Bicycle Race
You’re My Best Friend
Don’t Stop Me Now
save me
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Someone To Love
Now I’m Here
Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
play the game
Flash
Seven Seas Of Rhye
We Will Rock You
We Are The Champions