classroom M 10, 13:30-14:30

The lecture will address lyrics of selected songs by British rock band Queen. While casual audiences tend to associate Queen with their mid-1980s musical style, especially at the beginning and the end of their studio career (1970-1991), their lyrics heavily drew on (pseudo-)biblical and mythological material, with recurring social, political and existential motifs and appeals. The lecture - partly based on a discussion with participants, who will be asked to familiarise themselves with the songs ("Jesus", "My Fairy King", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Innuendo") in advance - will track these motifs over the two decades of Queen's career and try to determine their possible functions, both from the perspectives of the songwriters and audiences.