"Back Chat", written by the bass guitarist John Deacon, is the track most influenced by funk on the 1982 Queen album Hot Space. The song is a prime example of how Deacon was strongly pulling the band into dance orientated genres such as R&B, disco, and funk.[4] It reached #40 on the UK Singles Chart, #18 in South Africa[5] and a #19 entry in Ireland.
The track was performed on the Hot Space Tour at a faster tempo, with a more rock-oriented arrangement. "Back Chat", the title, is an English idiom referring to "impertinent or impudent replies, especially to a superior".[6] In a Rolling Stone album review, critic John Milward described the musical style of the song as: "a hot rock-funk tune, with guitar tracks as slick as an icy dance floor."[2]
In 2022 Far Out magazine named the song as one of the 40 best songs released in 1982 alongside such songs as Come On Eileen and 1999.[7]
Track listings
7" Single
A Side. "Back Chat" (Single Version) - 4:10
B Side. "Staying Power" - 4:10[8]
12" Single
A Side. "Back Chat" (Extended Version) - 6:55
B Side. "Staying Power" - 4:10
Personnel
Instruments sourced from Queenvinyls.[9]
- Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
- Brian May - electric guitar solos
- Roger Taylor - Simmons drums
- John Deacon - bass guitar, electric guitars, Jupiter-8, Linn LM-1
Chart performance
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA)[10] | 19 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[11] | 18 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 40 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts)[13] | 69 |
References
- ^ "Ultimate Queen". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk.
- ^ a b John Milward, "Queen: Hot Space", Rolling Stone, 10 June 1982
- ^ Sage, Tyler (9 August 2022). "40 Years Ago: Queen Releases a Minor Gem in 'Back Chat'". Ultimate Classic Rock.
- ^ Obrecht, Jas. "Brian May Interview". Guitar Player (January 1983). Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ "backchat". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "A playlist of the 40 best songs of 1982". faroutmagazine.co.uk. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
- ^ "Queen "Hot Space" album and song lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ "From Harpsichord to Synthesizer and beyond: an introduction to Queen Organology". queenvinyls.com. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Back Chat". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (Q)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ "Queen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Back Chat" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
External links
- Official YouTube videos: original music video, Live at The Bowl
- Lyrics at Queen official website
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