Home

Much-loved Queen song mysteriously dropped from band’s Greatest Hits collection

Katie HindPerthNow
CommentsComments
One of Queen's best-loved songs has been pulled from their Greatest Hits collection.
Camera IconOne of Queen's best-loved songs has been pulled from their Greatest Hits collection. Credit: The West Australian

It is one of Queen’s best-loved songs but Fat Bottomed Girls has been mysteriously dropped from the group’s new Greatest Hits collection.

The 1978 track, which was written by guitarist Brian May, has been enjoyed by generations of fans as a humorous and hard-rocking tribute to a young man’s appreciation of fuller-figured ladies.

But 45 years later, it appears that lyrics such as ‘left alone with big fat Fanny, she was such a naughty nanny, big woman, you made a bad boy out of me’ and ‘fat bottomed girls, you make the rockin’ world go round’ have been hit by the woke cancel culture.

It was such a popular hit for Queen that it appeared fourth on the band’s original 1981 greatest hits album along with Bohemian Rhapsody, Don’t Stop Me Now and We Will Rock You.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
Queen
Camera IconQueen Credit: Michael Putland/Getty Images

But last week it was nowhere to be seen when Universal Records announced they would be releasing a version of the record on Yoto, the new audio platform aimed at young people.

The move has left music industry insiders bemused, with bosses insisting that Fat Bottomed Girls has wrongly been singled out as it is ‘merely a bit of fun’.

One insider said: ‘It is the talk of the music industry, nobody can work out why such a good-natured, fun song can’t be acceptable in today’s society.

‘It is woke gone mad. Why not appreciate people of all shapes and sizes like society is saying we should, rather than get rid of it.

It’s outrageous.’ Fat Bottomed Girls has long sparked debate about the suitability of its lyrics, and the promotional material that accompanied the release.

Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls.
Camera IconQueen's Fat Bottomed Girls. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

The original sleeve for the song, which was taken from Queen’s album Jazz, featured a scantily clad female riding a bicycle but was altered after some stores refused to stock it.

The new version was the same image with knickers drawn over the woman.

May told Mojo magazine in 2008: ‘I wrote it with Fred in mind, as you do, especially if you’ve got a great singer who likes fat bottomed girls... or boys.’

The newly released Yoto greatest hits album, released in collaboration with Queen’s record label Universal, is aimed at introducing the band to a younger audience.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails