Staying Power
Encyclopedia
"Staying Power" is the first track on the first side of Queen
's 1982 album
Hot Space
. It was written by lead singer Freddie Mercury
and is notable as being the only Queen song to have a horn section which was arranged by Arif Mardin
. The song is driven by a funk-styled synth-bass riff (played by Mercury
on an Oberheim OB-X
) beginning in D minor and modulating to E minor throughout the song. John Deacon does not play bass on this song—instead playing rhythm guitar on a Fender Telecaster
. Roger Taylor programmed a drum machine for the track. Brian May of course is on his Red Special
.
The song was released as a single in Japan and the US only.
and to an extent, on The Works Tour
. The live version of Staying Power is slightly different than the album version. Morgan Fisher
would take over the keyboard parts and replace the Oberheim with the Roland Jupiter 8. Taylor would replace the drum machine with acoustic drums. Also of note is that it would be the only song played live in which Deacon played rhythm guitar, as the bass was done via keyboard. With the electronics scaled back on the live version, the song is transformed into a funk rock
song—rather than a disco-influenced rock song that stays strong to its disco influences. The live version can be found on Queen Greatest Video Hits II DVD, Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl album and DVD and on the Hot Space 2011 deluxe CD album.
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...
's 1982 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Hot Space
Hot Space
Hot Space is the tenth studio album by British rock band Queen, released in May 1982. Marking a notable shift in direction from their earlier work, Queen employed many elements of disco, pop music, R&B and dance music on Hot Space, being partially influenced by the success of their 1980 hit...
. It was written by lead singer 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...
and is notable as being the only Queen song to have a horn section which was arranged by Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin
Arif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
. The song is driven by a funk-styled synth-bass riff (played by 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...
on an Oberheim OB-X
Oberheim OB-X
The Oberheim OB-X is an analog polyphonic synthesizer. It was the first Oberheim synthesizer that was created with internal prewired modules and not with the bulky SEM modules. Because of this, it was more functional for live performance, and therefore more portable. It was introduced in 1979 and...
) beginning in D minor and modulating to E minor throughout the song. John Deacon does not play bass on this song—instead playing rhythm guitar on a Fender Telecaster
Fender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
. Roger Taylor programmed a drum machine for the track. Brian May of course is on his Red Special
Red Special
The Red Special is an electric guitar owned by Queen guitarist Brian May and custom-built by May and his father. The Red Special is also sometimes named in reviews as the Fireplace or the Old Lady, both nicknames used by May when referring to the guitar. A guitar that would define May's signature...
.
The song was released as a single in Japan and the US only.
Live performances
This song was played throughout the Hot Space TourHot Space Tour
The Hot Space Tour was a concert tour by the English rock band Queen, supporting their 1982 album Hot Space. A DVD documenting the band's June 5, 1982 concert at the Milton Keynes Bowl outside London was released in 2004 as Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl...
and to an extent, on The Works Tour
The Works Tour
The Works Tour was one of the largest tours by the English rock band Queen. During this tour, Queen participated in the Rock in Rio festival in 1985; the concert was released on VHS but there has not been a worldwide DVD release as of 2011...
. The live version of Staying Power is slightly different than the album version. Morgan Fisher
Morgan Fisher
Morgan Fisher is an English keyboard player / composer, and is most known for being a member of Mott the Hoople in the early 1970s. However, his career has covered a wide range of musical activities, and he is still highly active in the music industry...
would take over the keyboard parts and replace the Oberheim with the Roland Jupiter 8. Taylor would replace the drum machine with acoustic drums. Also of note is that it would be the only song played live in which Deacon played rhythm guitar, as the bass was done via keyboard. With the electronics scaled back on the live version, the song is transformed into a funk rock
Funk rock
Funk rock is a music genre that fuses funk and rock elements. Its earliest incarnation was heard in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s by acts such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience , Eric Burdon and War, Trapeze, Parliament-Funkadelic, Betty Davis and Mother's Finest. The 1990s were known for acts...
song—rather than a disco-influenced rock song that stays strong to its disco influences. The live version can be found on Queen Greatest Video Hits II DVD, Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl album and DVD and on the Hot Space 2011 deluxe CD album.
Personnel
- Freddie Mercury: Lead Vocals, Oberheim OB-X
- Brian May: Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor: Drum machine, percussion, backing vocals
- John Deacon: Rhythm guitar
Additional credits
- Arif Mardin: "Hot and spacey" horn arrangement
- Morgan Fisher: Roland Jupiter 8 (during live performances)