"Fat Bottomed Girls" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, the song appears on the band's seventh studio album Jazz (1978) and later on their compilation album Greatest Hits.Queen – Greatest Hits. AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2011. When released as a single with "Bicycle Race", the song reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and number 24 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It is one of the band's best-known songs.Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. Billboard Books.Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. London: Guinness World Records Limited.
The song is formed around an open bluesy, metallic guitar tuning, and opens with its chorus.Prato, Greg. "Fat Bottomed Girls". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 September 2011. It was one of the few Queen songs played in an alternative (drop D) guitar tuning.Queen Songs – Fat Bottomed Girls. Retrieved 4 September 2011. The song's music video was filmed at the Dallas Convention Center in Texas in October 1978.Queen Promo Videos – Fat Bottomed Girls. Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
Song and lyrical content The song celebrates the narrator's attraction to curvier women. "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race" were released together on a double A-sided single, and the songs refer to each other. Near the end of "Fat Bottomed Girls", Mercury shouts, "Get on your bikes and ride!" "Bicycle Race" reciprocates with the line "Fat bottomed girls, they'll be riding today".
Reception Cash Box said it has "a solid thumping beat, soaring harmonies and sonorous guitar work." Record World said that it combines "inventive lyrics and harmonies" with class.
Live performances Queen performed "Fat Bottomed Girls" in concert from 1978 to 1982.Queen live on tour: Jazz (Setlist). Queen Concerts. Retrieved 4 September 2011.Queen live on tour: The Game (world). Queen Concerts. Retrieved 4 September 2011.Queen live on tour: Hot Space (world). Queen Concerts. Retrieved 4 September 2011. Since its release, the song has appeared in television and film, and has been covered by a number of artists.
The song was performed on the setlists of Queen + Adam Lambert's tours in 2012, 2014–2015, 2016 and 2017–2018, as well as 2023 and at the iHeartRadio Music Festival 2013 as Queen + Adam Lambert featuring Fun.Queen + Adam Lambert featuring Fun performing Fat Bottomed Girls at iHeartRadio Festival 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
Other versions Queen's live performances of the song featured a different vocal arrangement from the studio recording. In live performances, the lead vocals during the chorus were sung by Freddie Mercury, with two harmony parts, the upper sung by Roger Taylor and the lower by Brian May. In the studio version, there is no upper harmony part; the lead vocals on the verses are sung by Mercury, while May sings the lead vocals on the chorus.
The single version (which can be found on Greatest Hits, but not the 1992 US "Red Cover" version) omits the extended guitar interludes between the verses and fades out before the ending.Fat Bottomed Girls. Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
Legacy During an interview with The A.V. Club, Michael McKean stated that "Fat Bottomed Girls" was an influence for the song "Big Bottom" in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap.
Personnel Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals Brian May – guitars, lead vocals on chorus, backing vocals Roger Taylor – drums, backing vocals John Deacon – bass guitar
Live recordings Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl Return of the Champions Super Live in Japan Live in Ukraine Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1978–1979)PeakpositionAustrian Singles Chart21British Singles Chart11Canada RPM Top Singles17Dutch Singles Chart7French Singles Chart7German Singles Chart27Irish Singles Chart10Norwegian Singles Chart7New Zealand 20US Billboard Hot 10024US Cash Box Top 10018 Chart (2018)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1979)PositionCanada139US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)156 Chart (2019)PositionUS Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)58
Certifications
References
External links Official YouTube videos: original music video, Live at the Bowl, Queen + Paul Rodgers Lyrics at Queen official website (from Queen Rocks)