"" () is a 1979 hit single by Queen , from their 1978 album '' Jazz ''. Words and music were by Freddie Mercury . It was recorded in August/September 1978 in Nice, France.
Musically, the song is based around Mercury's piano playing, with John Deacon and Roger Taylor providing a bass guitar and drums backing track. On the studio version, Brian May 's only guitar playing is in his guitar solo, however on live versions performed on the band's 1978 and 1979 tours, May would also play rhythm guitar throughout the rest of the song to add a rockier feeling to it. The song also provides an example of Queen's trademark style of multitrack harmony vocals for the chorus lines. Several recordings were laid over each other to achieve the final sound.
The lyrics have cosmic imagery describing feelings of power and exhilaration, for example "''I'm gonna go, go, go there's no stopping me / I'm burning through the sky yeah 200 degrees…"'', although more careful examination reveals numerous metaphorical or even blatant sexual references. The song has been described as what "may be the only overtly homosexual song the band did" {Link without Title}
The single reached #9 in the UK charts but only #86 in the US.
- The song is used, in a cut-down version, in the opening credits of '' Al Murray's Happy Hour ''. It is sung by Murray as he 'drives' though London on his ride-on bar. Murray also has a band on each week, who have to sing a Queen song at the end of the show, in the fourth show McFly sang "Don't Stop Me Now".
- In 2005, this song was voted as "The Greatest Driving Song Ever" by viewers of the BBC television program '' Top Gear '', but the trophy given to Roger Taylor (probably intentionally) was mis-engraved, reading ''Stop Me Now''.
- In 2006, the song was used as a score for Kirin Nuda ( Japan ese beverage) televised commercial featuring model Rinka or a breakdancing Takashi Okamura .
- In 2006, the song was played on '' American Dad '' in the episode, '' Roger 'n' Me '', when Stan and Roger were in Atlantic City .
- The 2004 horror/comedy " Shaun Of The Dead " featured the song near the end of the movie. The song played as three of the main characters circled around a zombie while hitting it over the head with pool cues in rhythm with the song.
- In summer 2006, UK Supermarket ASDA advertised their George back to school Range used school children singing an A Cappella version with Handclaps on a School Bus .
- Throughout the first half of 2006, Spanish communications operator Telefonica advertised their ADSL Internet connection using this song as a praise for the data-transmission ''speed'' (as to the Reprise , "''Don't Stop me Now''") offered.
- The song was also featured in the European version of '' Donkey Konga ''
- David Morrissey and Steve Pemberton sang it on '' Blackpool ''.
- At the end of his '' First Class Scamp '' DVD, Harry Hill dressed up like Freddie Mercury (yellow jacket and tracksuit) and sang this song.
- The song can clearly be heard blaring over the Shea Stadium speakers as replays are shown of Endy Chavez 's miraculous catch in the 6th inning of Game 7 of the 2006 National League Championship Series.
- The song is also in a scene of the National Lampoon film '' Blackball ''.
- The song was used in Dancing with the Stars, season 4, along with the professional dancers of the show while they danced "The Jive."
Notable cover versions include:
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