It’s been a long while since Queen came up with a bona fide Anthem!. In fact, for years their shows ended with “We WIll Rock You” and “We are the Champions” and by 1986, they had been around for about 8 years.
So, I guess it was time for a big stadium piece, although it could be argued that “Radio Gaga” was sort of anthemic. But, not in the fist pumping, esteem building way.
Enter “Friends Will Be Friends”, the worst titled song in the entire catalog, as far as I’m concerned. Queen was never afraid of hitting the nail on the nose but this is so pandering to the Bar Mitzvah set that it’s embarrassing.
It’s schmaltzy in it’s mid-tempo Vegas-ism. It wastes NO time getting to that chorus, because that’s really all the song is: a chorus.
But it’s piffle. Written by….ready?
Deacon and Mercury.
Surprised? These two are not at their best when they write together. Everything comes out treacly and wimpy and useless.
Even Brian’s power chording and melodic solo seems bored and uninspired. Shoehorned into the sets as a singalong, “Friends” is one of the most obnoxious tracks Queen ever recorded. But it’s right in line with Mark III.
Grade: C
