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Fat Bottomed Girls
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Fat Bottomed Girls
| cover = Queen Bicycle Race1.png
| alt =
| border = yes
| caption = UK single picture sleeve
| type = single
| artist = Queen
| album = Jazz
| A-side = "Bicycle Race" (double A-side)
| released = *13 October 1978 (UK)
*24 October 1978 (US)
| recorded = 1978
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = *Glam rock
*hard rock
| length = * (album version)
* (single version)
| label = *EMI (UK)
*Elektra (US)
| writer = Brian May
| producer =
| prev_title = It's Late
| prev_year = 1978
| title =
| title2 = Bicycle Race
| next_title = Don't Stop Me Now
| next_year = 1979
| misc =
}}
"'Fat Bottomed Girls'" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, the song appears on the band's seventh studio album 'Jazz' (1978) and later on their compilation album 'Greatest Hits'.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/r413002 Queen Greatest Hits]. AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2011. When released as a single with "Bicycle Race", the song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and number 24 in the 'Billboard' Hot 100 in the US.Whitburn, Joel (2006). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits'. Billboard Books.Roberts, David (2006). 'British Hit Singles & Albums'. London: Guinness World Records Limited.
The song is formed around an open bluesy, metallic guitar tuning, and opens with its chorus.Prato, Greg. "Fat Bottomed Girls". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2011. It was one of the few Queen songs played in an alternative (drop D) guitar tuning.[http://www.queensongs.info/the-book/songwriting-analyses/no-synth-era/jazz/fat-bottomed-girls.html Queen Songs Fat Bottomed Girls]. Retrieved 4 September 2011. The song's music video was filmed at the Dallas Convention Center in Texas in October 1978.[http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/videos/queenpromo.htm Queen Promo Videos Fat Bottomed Girls]. Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
Song and lyrical content
The two songs were released together on a double A-sided single, and both songs refer to each other. Near the end of "Fat Bottomed Girls", the song references "Bicycle Race", with Mercury shouting, "Get on your bikes and ride!" "Bicycle Race" reciprocates with the line "fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today".
'Cash Box' said it has "a solid thumping beat, soaring harmonies and sonorous guitar work."
Live performances
Queen performed "Fat Bottomed Girls" in concert from 1978 to 1982.[http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/jazz.html Queen live on tour: Jazz (Setlist)]. Queen Concerts. Retrieved 4 September 2011.[http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/gamena.html Queen live on tour: The Game (world)]. Queen Concerts. Retrieved 4 September 2011.[http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/hotspaceus.html Queen live on tour: Hot Space (world)]. Queen Concerts. Retrieved 4 September 2011. Since its release, the song has appeared on television and film, and has been covered by a number of artists.
The song was performed on the setlists of their Queen + Adam Lambert tours in 2012, 20142015, 2016 and 20172018 featuring Adam Lambert and at the iHeartRadio Music Festival 2013 as Queen + Adam Lambert featuring Fun.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIGJECUU2rE Queen + Adam Lambert featuring Fun performing Fat Bottomed Girls at iHeartRadio Festival 2013]. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
Other versions
The song featured a different vocal arrangement from the studio recording when performed live. In live performances, the lead vocals during the chorus were sung by Freddie Mercury and harmonized with an upper voice (Roger Taylor) and a lower voice (Brian May). In the studio version, there is no higher harmony. The lead vocals on the verses are sung by Freddie Mercury, while Brian May sings the lead vocals on the chorus.
The single version (which can be found on 'Greatest Hits', but not the 1992 US "Red Cover" version) omits the extended guitar interludes between the verses and fades out before the ending.[http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/songs/jazz.htm#fat Fat Bottomed Girls]. Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
Legacy
During an interview with 'The A.V. Club', Michael McKean stated that "Fat Bottomed Girls" was an influence for the song "Big Bottom" in the film 'This Is Spinal Tap.'
Sales and certifications
Personnel
*Freddie Mercury lead and backing vocals
*Brian May electric guitar, lead chorus, backing vocals
*Roger Taylor drums, backing vocals
*John Deacon bass guitar
Live recordings
*'Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl'
*'Return of the Champions'
*'Super Live in Japan'
*'Live in Ukraine'
*'Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack'
Chart performance
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
References
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