We all have a favourite Queen song, and my one is Fat Bottomed Girls.
To be honest with you all though, this song has only been my favourite Queen song for about 5 years.
Although I'm engaged to a huge Queen fan and have been for many years (since 2009 to Dale Tatnell) who some of you may know as Majesty's Quiz Master. This song, I don't remember ever hearing him play.
It wasn't until I saw the fantastic Queen Tribute Band-Majesty, back in August 2017 for the first time, when they performed at one of my local theatres, The Britannia Pier Theatre in Great Yarmouth, that this fab song was introduced to me.
The lyrics I think are amazing. It did take me a while to learn the song, I remember listening to it on my way to work for a couple of mornings while I was on the bus and constantly had the song on repeat.
I love seeing Majesty perform this song. I think Seth puts a lot of energy into it.
The below video was recorded by my Fiance Dale at the 2018 Halloween show held at the Scallywags Showbar in Skegness.
In October 2019 Dale and I saw the show in Bury St Edmunds. We were very lucky to be invited by Seth to watch the show on the stage in the wings. Seth said that we don't have to sit there through the show we can get up and come on stage and take photos, which was nice of him but I didn't feel very confident in doing that. I said to Dale, imagine if I do get up to take photos just as the curtain goes up and the audience will think who is that woman, Dale said don't worry about that, they will just say, that must be the fat bottomed girl.
Facts About This Song
This song was written by Brian May and was featured on Queens 1978 album Jazz and later it was on their compilation album Greatest Hits. This song was released as a single with Bicycle Race which reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and number 24 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.
Was released on 13th October 1978 in the UK and released on the 24th October 1978 in the US.
Fat Bottomed Girls was released as a double-A sided single with Bicycle Race. The two songs make reference to each other within the lyrics. In Fat Bottomed Girls, near the end, Freddie Mercury shouts 'Get On Your Bikes and Ride!' and in Bicycle Race, the lyric 'Fat Bottomed Girls, They'll Be Riding Today'
This song is about a young man who comes to appreciate women of a larger size.
Lyrics
Oh you gonna take me home tonight
Oh down beside that red fire light
Oh you gonna let it all hang out
Fat-bottomed girls you make the rocking world go round
I was just a skinny lad
Never knew no good from bad
But I knew love before I left my nursery
Left alone with big fat Fanny
She was such a naughty nanny
Hey big woman, you made a bad boy out of me
I've been singing with my band
Across the water, across the land
I've seen every blue eyed floozy on the way
But their beauty and their style
Went kind of smooth after a while
Take me to them naughty ladies every time
Oh, won't you take me home tonight
Oh, down beside your red fire light
Oh, and you give it all you got
Fat-bottomed girls you make the rocking world go round
Fat-bottomed girls you make the rocking world go round
Now I got mortgages and homes
I got stiffness in the bones
Ain't no beauty queens in this locality
But I still get my pleasure
Still got my greatest treasure
Hey big woman you gonna make a big man out of me
Oh, you gonna take me home tonight
Oh, down beside that red fire light
Oh, you gonna let it all hang out
Fat-bottomed girls you make the rocking world go round
Fat-bottomed girls you make the rocking world go round
Get on your bikes and ride
I remember my first listening to this legendary song, it was something indescribable, something that gave me goosebumps. I remember even using an machine translation online to fully understand the meaning of the song, because I hadn't moved from France to Britain yet and didn't understand English very well, but even without any special knowledge of the language, it was clear that it was something incredibly magical. Your blog reminded me of the emotions I had at the time. Thank you.
Brilliant blog Lyn, well done, I really enjoyed reading it. I look forward to seeing more from you. xx