"Save Me" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1980 album The Game. Written by guitarist Brian May, it was recorded in 1979, and released in the UK on 25 January 1980, nearly six months prior to the release of the album. "Save Me" spent six weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 11.Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited It was the band's first single release of the 1980s.
The power ballad was played live from 1979 to 1982Queen live on tour: Crazy tour: Setlist Queen Concerts. Retrieved 5 July 2011Queen live on tour: The Game (world): Setlist Queen Concerts. Retrieved 5 July 2011Queen live on tour: Japan 1981: Setlist Queen Concerts. Retrieved 5 July 2011Queen live on tour: Hot Space (world): Setlist Queen Concerts. Retrieved 5 July 2011 and was recorded for their live albums, Queen Rock Montreal at the Montreal Forum, Quebec, Canada in November 1981 and Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl at the Milton Keynes Bowl, Buckinghamshire, England in June 1982.Queen Rock Montreal Allmusic. Retrieved 16 July 2011 The song is also included on Queen's Greatest Hits,Greatest Hits Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 16 July 2011 and Queen Forever albums.
History The song was recorded in the summer of 1979 in Munich. During an interview for the radio show In the Studio with Redbeard, May stated: "I wrote ['Save Me']—to cut a long story short—I wrote it about a friend, someone who was going through a bad time, and I imagined myself in their shoes, kind of telling the story. Someone whose relationship is totally fucked up and how sad that person was."
Technical details Musically, the song is complex, with the verses in the key of G major, and the chorus in the key of D major. An instrumental solo, in the related key of G major, serves as a verse.
Music video The video for the song was filmed at Alexandra Palace on 22 December 1979 and directed by Keith "Keef" MacMillan and features animation of a woman and a dove. The video would be the last to feature Mercury without a moustache until 1984, as he would sport it starting with the next video for "Play the Game"
Personnel Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals Brian May – acoustic and electric guitars, piano, synthesizer, backing vocals Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals John Deacon – bass guitar Additional musicians Reinhold Mack – additional synthesizer
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1980) Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1980) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 98 Italy (FIMI) 96 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 60 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 80
References
External links Official YouTube videos: original music video, Live at the Bowl Lyrics at Queen official website