Y12 AS Pop Notes - I Want It All - Queen

I Want It All Analysis

Structure

Intro – verse 1 – chorus – verse 2 – chorus – bridge and guitar solo – chorus – coda based on chorus with guitar solo and actual fade

There are no structural surprises other than the bridge which is a complete change of style, modulating to B major and using synths.

Motivic Links

Keys

B minor (Aeolian mode) with a short modulation to D major at the end of each verse. B major in the bridge section.

Harmony

Melody

The melody is simple and built up by sequence using mainly conjunct motion. The anthem style chorus simply leads up and down the Aeolian mode, emphasising the rock style flattened 7^th.

Rhythm and Metre

A driving 4/4 beat is used. The rhythms are solidly on the beat. The chorus starts with an anacrusis and uses a repetitive motive. The bridge is more syncopated with much more complicated rhythms.

Texture and Instrumentation

Much of the song has a heavy rock feel to it – power chords, strong lead and rhythm work. The more gentle middle section uses fast synthesiser arpeggios. Even in a relatively straightforward song there are constant variations (including an effective stadium rock style voice and drums section) – the music never just repeats.

Context

From the 1989 The Miracle album, an album which credited all the songs as written by Queen, suggesting they wanted this to seem like a united band effort, rather than the work of individual songwriters. The feeling Freddie puts into the song may or may have not been influenced by his recent diagnosis of AIDS.