Headlong (song)
Encyclopedia
"Headlong" is a song by the British rock band Queen
. Written by guitarist Brian May
, but credited to Queen, it was released as the third single from their 1991 album Innuendo
.
The song was initially to be recorded by Brian May for his then-upcoming solo album Back to the Light
(1992), but when he heard Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury
sing the track, he allowed it to become a Queen song.
The song was the first single to be released in the United States under their contract with Hollywood Records
on 14 January 1991, though it was not released in the United Kingdom for another four months (the first single in the United Kingdom was "Innuendo", which Hollywood eventually released in the US as a promotional single for radio stations). The song charted on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States at #3. The line "And you're rushin' headlong" from the chorus is somewhat lifted from the second verse of "Breakthru
", a single from Queen's previous album The Miracle, which contains the lyrics "I wanna rush headlong into this ecstasy".
The cover of one of the CD singles is inspired by Grandville
illustrations, as are all of the other singles from the album.
for "Headlong" was one of the final Queen videos shot with lead singer Freddie Mercury, though it was actually shot before the "I'm Going Slightly Mad
" video (released as the second single in the UK). The video showed the band in the studio performing the song (in a stage-like setup), as well as shots of the band working in the studio. The version of the song in the video includes an extra short section after the second chorus not released in any audio format to date.
The performance footage (Mercury wearing a yellow sweater) was shot in February 1991, while the other footage (of Mercury wearing two different blue shirts) was shot in late 1990 at Metropolis Studios in London (the exterior of which is shown at the beginning and the end of the video). This is also the last colour video of Freddie Mercury, whose health was declining due to the AIDS
which would claim his life on 24 November that year. The next video, "These Are the Days of Our Lives
", was recorded during May 1991 in black-and-white
.
Like all other videos for the Innuendo album, the "Headlong" clip was directed by Austrian director team DoRo
, consisting of Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher, who had been regularly working for Queen since the video to the 1986 single "Friends Will Be Friends
". They also directed the video to the only new output of the group as a three-piece, "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)
", released in 1997.
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. Written by guitarist Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
, but credited to Queen, it was released as the third single from their 1991 album Innuendo
Innuendo (album)
Innuendo is the fourteenth studio album by British rock band Queen. Released in February 1991, it was the final studio album to be released in Freddie Mercury's lifetime and is the last to be composed entirely of new material...
.
The song was initially to be recorded by Brian May for his then-upcoming solo album Back to the Light
Back to the Light
Back to the Light is the first solo effort of Queen's guitarist Brian May and his second non-Queen album. It was recorded between 1988 and 1992 at the Allerton Hill Studios, mixed at the Metropolis Studios and then released on September 28, 1992 in the UK...
(1992), but when he heard Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
sing the track, he allowed it to become a Queen song.
The song was the first single to be released in the United States under their contract with Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records
Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote...
on 14 January 1991, though it was not released in the United Kingdom for another four months (the first single in the United Kingdom was "Innuendo", which Hollywood eventually released in the US as a promotional single for radio stations). The song charted on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States at #3. The line "And you're rushin' headlong" from the chorus is somewhat lifted from the second verse of "Breakthru
Breakthru (song)
"Breakthru" is a song by British rock band Queen. Credited as being written by Queen, it was released in June 1989 from the album The Miracle. The single reached #7 in the UK, and peaked at number 6 in the Netherlands and Ireland, but failed to chart in the US...
", a single from Queen's previous album The Miracle, which contains the lyrics "I wanna rush headlong into this ecstasy".
The cover of one of the CD singles is inspired by Grandville
Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard
Jean Ignace Isidore Gérard , generally known by the pseudonym of J. J. Grandville, was a French caricaturist.-Life and work:...
illustrations, as are all of the other singles from the album.
Promotional video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Headlong" was one of the final Queen videos shot with lead singer Freddie Mercury, though it was actually shot before the "I'm Going Slightly Mad
I'm Going Slightly Mad
"I'm Going Slightly Mad" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by Freddie Mercury, it was released as the second single from the band's 1991 album Innuendo...
" video (released as the second single in the UK). The video showed the band in the studio performing the song (in a stage-like setup), as well as shots of the band working in the studio. The version of the song in the video includes an extra short section after the second chorus not released in any audio format to date.
The performance footage (Mercury wearing a yellow sweater) was shot in February 1991, while the other footage (of Mercury wearing two different blue shirts) was shot in late 1990 at Metropolis Studios in London (the exterior of which is shown at the beginning and the end of the video). This is also the last colour video of Freddie Mercury, whose health was declining due to the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
which would claim his life on 24 November that year. The next video, "These Are the Days of Our Lives
These Are the Days of Our Lives
"These Are the Days of Our Lives" is a song by English rock band Queen. It was written largely by their drummer Roger Taylor, and is the eighth track on the band's 1991 album Innuendo. It is harmonically and structurally one of the simplest songs of the band's catalogue...
", was recorded during May 1991 in black-and-white
Black-and-white
Black-and-white, often abbreviated B/W or B&W, is a term referring to a number of monochrome forms in visual arts.Black-and-white as a description is also something of a misnomer, for in addition to black and white, most of these media included varying shades of gray...
.
Like all other videos for the Innuendo album, the "Headlong" clip was directed by Austrian director team DoRo
DoRo Productions
DoRo Produktion Ges.mbH aka DoRo Productions is a film company based in Vienna, Austria. DoRo was named after the surnames of founders Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher.- History :...
, consisting of Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher, who had been regularly working for Queen since the video to the 1986 single "Friends Will Be Friends
Friends Will Be Friends
"Friends Will Be Friends" is a song performed by Queen and written by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, included on the album A Kind of Magic. It was the band's 30th single in the UK upon its release on 9 June 1986, reaching number 14 in the UK....
". They also directed the video to the only new output of the group as a three-piece, "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)
No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)
"No-One But You " is a song recorded by the remaining three members of the British rock band Queen following the death of singer Freddie Mercury. Guitarist Brian May – the writer of the song – and drummer Roger Taylor share lead vocals...
", released in 1997.
Chart performance
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Singles Chart | 25 | 11 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 43 | 8 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 25 | 2 |
| UK Singles Chart | 14 | 4 |
| U.S. Mainstream Rock Charts | 3 | ? |