Queen: Killer Queen

Question 1

Instrumentation and timbre

Answer 1

• the band includes vocals, piano, electric six-string and bass guitars, and drums
• a falsetto vocal range of two octaves and a minor third
• overdubbing is used for four part vocals and three part guitar passages
• reverb and stereo panning were added to the vocals in the recording studio
• pitch bends, slides, palm muting and light distortion feature in the guitar part

Question 2

Form and Structure

Answer 2

Killer Queen follows a standard popular music structure:

verse 1
chorus 1
instrumental link
verse 2
chorus 2
verse 3
chorus 3
outro

Question 3

Dynamics

Answer 3

-the song is performed at a comfortable mezzo forte (mf), although this is not written on the score

Question 4

Melody

Answer 4

• each verse and chorus begins with an anacrusis
• the melodic phrasing is not always symmetrical
• stepwise melodic movement
• sequences feature in bars 12 to 13 and 20 to 21
• the text setting is syllabic
• Melismas are used for ornamentation, for example in bars 34 to 35 on the lyric ‘inclined’

Question 5

Texture

Answer 5

• melody-dominated homophony

- imitation in bar 62 between the guitar and vocal

Question 6

Metre, tempo and rhythm

Answer 6

• Killer Queen is in a 12/8 compound time that creates a swung feel
• there are bars where the metre changes to 6/8, such as in bars 10 and 11
• a tempo set at 112 bpm
• the syncopation helps the melody reflect the theatrical energy of the piece

Question 7

Harmony and tonality

Answer 7

• a circle of fifths chord progression starting on A major
• extended chords and pedals
• the tonic key is E♭ major
• the verse briefly begins in the relative minor of C and the choruses are in B♭ major