Queen- '39 REACTION & REVIEW

[@JoePauley]

That last line, though... "For my life still ahead, pity me." Just gorgeous and sad.

[@jamesadkisson7510]

Sci Fi folk song. Oh so many years ago. I couldn’t believe how smart, how creative, how beautiful. Queen was touching and inspirational.

[@tkengathegrateful4844]

In some ways, I see it as the flip side of Neil Young's "After the Gold Rush" - very different musically, but the line "Well I dreamed I saw the silver spaceships lying ..." and "Flying Mother Nature's silver seed to a new home in the sun" ties them together for me. In many ways, the same sorrow and longing. Thanks to Queen, we now know what the astronauts in that silver spaceship experienced.

[@EmmanuelPehau]

"Your mother's eyes, from your eyes, cry to me" may well be the greatest lyric in pop music history.

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

I completely agree. Clever, and yet so deeply touching! 😉

[@marcelkrug8839]

A nice trivia from Wikipedia: "The song is the 39th album track released by the band when counting each album track from the debut album onwards."

[@marciebulsaraorcutt]

I did NOT know that, how clever!

[@JamesHowe]

I've always enjoyed this song. The lyrics are so smart and the simple instrumentation gives it the 'old timey' feeling while actually having the song be about space travel. I remember seeing them perform this in concert. They would set up basically a kick drum for Taylor and the rest of the band would come to the front of the stage creating a simple quartet. It was a nice way to perform the song live.

[@simonspeak9288]

‘In the land that our grandchildren knew’ is a great 🤯 line too.

[@bigjapi1]

The VIBE that this song has is GREAT. I love it

[@Hairmetallurgist]

Brian May, Queens's guitarist, wrote this song as a thought experiment with time travel. Dr. May has his PhD in astrophysics, and the song is a wonderful blending of science and art.

[@daveheesen9174]

my favorite Queen song

[@vespoint]

Mine too!

[@billbitterman9487]

A rare Queen song with Brian May on lead vocals. Wonderful acoustic 12strings in the mix. And…a time travel theme. What a great song

[@bensteckler6698]

Brian May has a doctorate in Astrophysics. This song is about time dilation. The way time passes slower for astronauts traveling near the speed of light.

[@ragnarmyhr7238]

Queen ! From Bohemian Rhapsody to '39. What an album..

[@Sassypaws4927]

Brian, of course, is singing in the studio version but Freddie sings it during live performances.

[@juliannetomlinson]

Queen never disappoint.

[@DonaldMains]

Another great song in the incredibly eclectic and high quality songs of A Night at the Opera. Folk, Pop, Ballad, Dance Hall, Dixie Land, Hard Rock and Opera all on one album.

[@Morthoron1]

A story about space travel near light speed, and the relative differences between time spent in space as opposed to time spent on earth. The space travellers barely aged, whereas all the people they knew on earth are long dead. "Your mother's eyes from your eyes cry to me," indicates the astronaut recognizes his child (or grandchild, more likely). It's a clever nod to folk tales like Rip Van Winkle, but updated for space travel.

[@dannylgriffin]

Yep, this is one of Queen's best songs!

[@mariobaert8346]

So happy I grew up in the time that this band and so many others started, each Queen album (except for "Flash") is a time travel to the past for me. In the Netherlands their first hit song was Killer Queen. Loved it and it was the first time I heard Queen. By the time Bohemian Rhapsody was released I had actually saved enough of my weekly pocket-money and I was able to purchase my first "pop/rock" album (the very first was an Elvis -Greatest Hits album with a red cover) at the age of 14. Even my parents and younger sisters loved (most) of the album! What a ride they have provided with the variety of styles and prog-like songs. Fan forever!

[@sarahzentexas]

One of my favorite Queen songs 💜 Nice reaction!

[@edwardmeradith2419]

Shimmering recording 😘

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

Nice description! 👌

[@scottclark7309]

Love this song. It just shows queen could do anything. They were so unique. R.I.P FREDDIE WE MISS YOU

[@marciebulsaraorcutt]

I’ve always loved this!! It’s one of a handful where I actually prefer Brian’s voice… It just fits the song. THANK YOU!🖖

[@stephendennis5911]

When you get to the track the prophets song you need to continue to the next song love of my life

[@jerkedevries]

That would be best indeed eh, or go back half a minute when we start Love of my life

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Totally agree, Stephen. Two great songs but the transition is just so right.

[@kentnottingham9635]

Yes Please!

[@benjisandoval5640]

Always loved seeing this live with a stripped down version of the band...they would all come up front and play. Roger with a single bass drum and tambourine, Freddie would sing and it was just awesome! Check it out - kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3aUfpuBhNWAbqM

[@jackiec859]

Not merely my favorite time travel song. It's so much more.

[@lidiavilasecaperramon6983]

the best reaction I've ever read about this great song

[@markferrett700]

Time travelling classic👏👏...the production on this album is second to none.....brilliant stuff.

[@Nidels]

Good, good, good...I feel like a cowboy listening to this hehehe

[@tullfan2560]

In some of their early songs, Jethro Tull also do the acoustic guitar mixed high in the foreground with the grungy guitar mixed lower in the background pushing through to take the lead later on. It's such an interesting effect.

[@maraboo72]

Indeed an incredible wide musical spectrum.

[@Habichiwoowoo]

By the time this album came out, I'd already been a science fiction fan for many years and was familiar with the idea of Einstein's theory that the faster one travels the slower time marches on. I had to explain this song to my friends. Still love it. It's one of my oldest daughter's favorite heartbreaking love songs. Along with Boy Down the Road by Seals & Crofts and Diary by Bread...

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Diary is so poignant.

[@kenl2091]

Not sure that it's just a theory - one of the laws of physics now? The song does illustrate the depth of songwriting and vocal talent in the band - matched only by the Beatles and 10cc, I reckon.

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

Nice little folksy diversion on an album full of surprises. May doesn't have the strongest of voices, but here he sounds just fine. This was my very first album, a present for my ninth birthday purchased a week after its release, by my hip dad, who was a big Queen fan himself. Nice reaction Justin! 👍

[@markallen2984]

Great song. One of the reasons why “Night At The Opera” is by far their best album. Nothing Queen ever did afterwards even close. In my view they became a singles band after this LP

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

A magnificent album, but i've always preferred 'A Day At The Races'. There's just something about that record that i can't adequately explain, although 'The Millionaire Waltz' is one of my top 5 Queen songs!

[@marciebulsaraorcutt]

My favorite Queen albums are actually Innuendo and Made In Heaven… but the reason I love Queen is for their VARIETY and that they have something for every different music taste… Even Freddie & Montserrat and opera🖖

[@79BlackRose]

@@Owlstretchingtime78 Yes, A Day At The Races was their best album in my opinion.

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

@@79BlackRose 👍

[@LillyRose924]

I absolutely love 39 and Night At The Opera, but thats drastic to say NOTHING they did afterwards comes close to it. I love A Kind of Magic, Innuendo, The Works, Miracle. I have a deep love and appreciate for their music and I could never compare their works. It would be unfair to do so because they always tried different things for their albums.

[@melvinwomack3717]

I never skip tracks on this album but I will say and although it's not a popular opinion the prophet song is the highlight of this album 2:38

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

It's a popular opinion with me. 👌

[@melvinwomack3717]

@@Owlstretchingtime78 it is a true heavy metal track

[@delorangeade]

I would have expected that to be a popular opinion. It's a strong contender for Queen's best track.

[@melvinwomack3717]

@@delorangeade it was ahead of it's time.if they had dropped it in the 80s or 79 it would totally fit the time and been a hit. The guitar chords Bass and Rodger Taylor drumming it feels like it could be a Dio song from 83 imo 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

@@melvinwomack3717 I would agree with that.

[@matthewhoag2609]

Definitely one of my favorite Queen songs. Love May’s voice here. Cheers!

[@Darnaguen]

Despite the bittersweet story, this song always feels like a warm soft blanket or the first, warm springtime sun. And it's always a joy to hear Brian sing.

[@DavidImiri]

That is such a fantastic song! Never fails to get me, so rousing, with such heart, and such a quirky sci-fi theme. One of my all time favs by Queen for sure, count-em-on-one-hand favorites.

[@kathrynmitchell4344]

One of my favorite lines is from later, in Show Ust Go On: My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies, like fairy tales of yesterday that fade but never die. I can fly, my friends! The show must go on..

[@ViciousTuna69]

I freakin LOVE this song! Thank you for reacting!

[@jerkedevries]

Yes, the full harmonizing is great: the drums pause even to give it an extra accent

[@jerkedevries]

The superhigh voice is Taylor’s which is nice since there isn’t much drumming

[@delorangeade]

This might be Brian May's best song. Clever progression in the middle section, and as a science fiction fan I got to pat myself on the back for immediately understanding the lyrics.

[@andrewouellette4998]

Not too many songs about relativity. It is unique and a thinker.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Quite the song here glad to see you continuing with this album such a joy to tune in love you

[@tullfan2560]

My favourite song ... still after all these years ... from A Night At the Opera!

[@submandave1125]

This song always makes me think of “Forever War”

[@ViciousTuna69]

JP, you nailed it! The transition at 2:25 is one of the best of ANY song I've ever heard! ❤

[@GinMae]

Thanks for this... it's a Brian May song... he does most of the vocals, but Roger does those incredible high harmonies.. it's really about "space travel".. lol... such a great song... appreciate your listen!

[@XFLexiconMatt]

The fact the Queen and Brian May would be clever enough to write a Sci Fi Folk song, hats off to them. It is so deceptively simple, it evokes one mental picture, like Columbus sailing the Ocean blue, then it gets that great intellectual twist.🙂🙏

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

I will if I May, travel ahead to the day. That I leave this world behind and travel through time to 2039. What would I see as I look around apprehensively? A shattered land, or a garden grand. With humans and animals at play? Great song from a great record, play on! Peace & Love.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Brian's best lead vocal. And the song is a great foot-stomper!

[@bensteckler6698]

I've always liked the structure of the rhyme in the chorus Sand Hand Land Grand, how the gap between rhymes decreases. I think May did this to drop a hint about time dilation.

[@lltbg]

Greatest Queen song

[@-davidolivares]

Great beautiful space folk rock tune. As Isaac Hayes would say,”this is a deep tune “. Awe, it’s been Dune before in movies like The Time Machine, nonetheless, it’s Interstellar.

[@faithwithoutprejudice2380]

You should look up the live version with George Michael and Queen on the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert ❤😊

[@rodolfovargas3504]

39"...... is 39 number discography!

[@LeChaunce]

It isn't mentioned in the Wikipedia article, but in a Making Of documentary for the album, Brian May does say that Roger Deacon's falsetto during the instrumental break was meant to evoke the theramin from all those science fiction movie soundtracks from the 1950s.

[@yvrkid7070]

Roger Taylor.

[@LeChaunce]

@@yvrkid7070 D’oh!

[@davidcopson5800]

Another great reaction from the best. Keep up the good work.

[@JustJP]

Appreciate it David!

[@davidcopson5800]

@@JustJP You're more than welcome JP.

[@merlinscat]

Love this especially the double bass

[@kuntumlaleanqueezer]

Great Queen reaction

[@jaybird4093]

I think Brian May did a good job with his compositions for this album. They’re all pretty good with The Prophet’s Song being the pinnacle, IMO.

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Hi Justin. Dave from Across The Universe (well, who knows?!). Trust an astrophysicist to write a brilliant science-fiction song, but given Einstein's Theory of Relativity (please don't ask!), maybe Dr May thought about the factual possibilities. Excellent analysis of the track, JP, and I agree that the blending of the vocal harmonies with Brian's guitar is magical. P.S. my song ref Across the Universe is by The Beatles.

[@daveheesen9174]

look for this live with Brain May on vocals

[@MisterWondrous]

While I would never race out and buy this 45, I thought it really cool within the cradle of its context. The record showcases their many hats, and this one seemed like a Stetson.

[@ChuckDrennen]

This is about space travel.

[@kentnottingham9635]

Sweet Lady would be next on this album. I played side one til I wore it out and decide to do side 2. Queens best ni my opinion but Queen 2 is a pretty close second.

[@JosephHuntelvisnspiders]

Christopher Nolan's Interstellar in 3 and a half minuets. :)

[@dbriddie9525]

A Live favourite..........

[@rodolfovargas3504]

39 is Intellestelar movie

[@courtneywallace871]

It’s still crazy to me that in England, Queen is more highly regarded than The Beatles. There’s something just kind of blech about someone who doesn’t like Queen.

[@lemming9984]

I wouldn't say Queen ARE more highly regarded than The Beatles. Depends on the generation of the listener, obviously. Queen are more of my generation, growing up through the 70s, but I rate the Beatles just as much.

[@peteharper2687]

It's not surprising that Brian May would write a scifi song based on time dilation as he has a PhD in astrophysics. He was also a "science team collaborator" with NASA's New Horizons Pluto mission.

[@cosmiccat6708]

Brian May is a lovely guy, as well as being a super talented one. He is also very passionate in his work as an animal rights campaigner.

[@jerkedevries]

Yea the fox hunting which always reminds me of a well known movie in which someone is chased by a fox hunt party and dies. But that being said, the song Hounds of love by K Bush transforms it into a love song

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

​@@jerkedevriesDon't forget the hedgehogs! 😁

[@pairofpints]

Tenacious D do a much better song called 39

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

I doubt that, but i'll give it a listen.

[@lemming9984]

"Tenacious D" ?? Sounds like an STD!

[@tuskact4overheaven873]

Most overrated band ever

[@mikedown1250]

Worst track on the album. Did not fit in anywhere and this album was their first step from metal rock to pop and lots of cash. They went from Sheer heart attack to Beer farts at the back.