Best Queen Single
Few rock bands have had a greater global impact than Queen. The British act, whose core line-up included Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon, and absolutely iconic frontman Freddie Mercury – emerged from scrappy prog-rock band in the early 1970s, to pop-rock superstars in the late 70s, to arena-rock gods in the 1980s, selling out shows on almost every continent. Queen’s Greatest Hits album from 1981 remains the best-selling album in United Kingdom history, and as of late 2024, has spent more than 600 weeks on the United States Billboard 200. Queen’s set at 1985’s Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium is regarded as one of the greatest rock performances of all time. While Queen’s golden age ended with the tragic death of Mercury in 1990, its legacy lives on more than 30 years later, and if there is any justice, will never diminish. So join us as the Great Pop Culture Debate attempts to name the Best Queen Single of all time.
Songs discussed: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Under Pressure,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “We Are the Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Somebody to Love,” “Killer Queen,” “Fat-Bottomed Girls,” “I Want to Break Free,” “Bicycle Race,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “I Want It All,” “Flash,” “The Show Must Go On.”
Join host Eric Rezsnyak, GPCD panelists Derek Mekita and Zack Derby, and special guest John Higgins, archivist and legacy consultant for Sir Elton John, as they discuss and debate 16 of the most revered songs by iconic rock band, Queen.
Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.
Match-Up 1: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (1) vs. “The Show Must Go On” (4)
Match-Up 2: “Killer Queen” (3) vs. “Somebody to Love” (2)
Match-Up 3: “Under Pressure” (w/David Bowie) (1) vs. “You’re My Best Friend” (4)
Match-Up 4: “Bicycle Race” (3) vs. “Radio Ga Ga” (2)
Match-Up 5: “Another One Bites the Dust” (1) vs. “Flash” (4)
Match-Up 6: “Fat-Bottomed Girls” (3) vs. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (2)
Match-Up 7: “Don’t Stop Me Now” (1) vs. “I Want It All” (4)
Match-Up 8: “I Want to Break Free” (3) vs. “We Are the Champions” (2)
Looking for all the nominated songs, as well as additional Queen favorites picked by our panelists? We made a playlist for you:
Want to play along at home?
Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Episode Credits
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panelists: Derek Higgins, Zack Derby
Guest Panelist: John Higgins
Producer: Curtis Creekmore
Editor: John Higgins
Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch
