Review Summary: That’s where ‘1982’s’ “Hot Space” comes in. Of any of all ‘Queen’s’ efforts, this was the one where they tried to get rid of any lingering’s that was ‘Queen of the 1970’s.’
So, here it comes. What is referred to many as Queen’s ‘worst album.’ It basically finished off any following they had in America, and nearly destroyed them ‘worldwide,’ but after listening to the album (and taking my time to digest it in its entirety), then the one conclusion I can make is… you should never listen to the fans… well not all of them, anyway.
You could probably put Queen Fans into four different sections:
1. Those who just like the hits they hear on the radio,
e.g. “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We will Rock you,” “We are the
Champion,” “Another one bites the dust,”
2. Those who collect all the albums religiously but aren’t too
keen on the hits because of too much radio exposure.
3. Fans that like the hit singles, and enjoy watching Queen live,
because they’re an entertaining live band.
4. Queenoholics, they buy all the albums (including
compilation, and live albums), probably been to some live
shows too.
Although these are distinctively different groups they all had one thing in common and that was they had an expectation from Queen’s music. It was usually a rock/pop based guitar/piano intro, that had a cool guitar solo in the middle, and usually the song would be catchy.
“The Game,” the bands previous effort to this, had included some elements of ‘funk music’ but they were layered in with typical Queen tracks such as “Play the Game,” and “Save Me,” that ended the album on a typical Queen manner. The biggest hit songs from that album, “Crazy little thing called love;” and “Another one bites the dust,” although a different style to what Queen had done before, they were still distinctively ‘Queen.’
That’s where ‘1982’s’ “Hot Space” comes in. Of any of all ‘Queen’s’ efforts, this was the one where they tried to get rid of any lingering’s that was ‘Queen of the 1970’s.’ They were determined to move with the times. And yes “Hot Space” does sound dated now but it’s a far superior effort to let’s say the dreadful “News of the World,” or “Jazz” albums, and one can argue it is better than “A day at the races,” for simply striving to be different.
Perhaps the albums biggest mistake is that if you think of Queen’s earliest efforts such as “Sheer Heart Attack,” and “A Night at the Opera,” then each was a progression towards the other. Whilst ‘Queen’ had reinvented themselves with ‘The Game,’ and seemingly the first cut from the album, ‘Under Pressure,’ (which was actually released in ‘1981,’ a year before “Hot Space” came out) then you recognise that the brilliant ‘David Bowie’ collaboration was actually a musical move forward from songs such as ‘Dragon Attack’ and ‘Another one bites the dust,’ and still remains to this day one of the bands best tracks.
As for the album ‘Hot Space’ though it becomes another ‘re-invention’ this time into more ‘electronic,’ and pure pop music, there are elements of classic ‘Queen’ later in the album, but strangely this is what turns out to be “Hot Space’s” main weakness.
And because it is a re-invention, like “The Game,” it has the same problems where some of the new sounds work better than the others. But perhaps the biggest let off for Queen fans was that whilst before, even on “The Game,” despite the new sound, there was still a ‘Brian May guitar solo,’ or ‘Queenesque,’ ‘Piano/Guitar anthem,’ all this has been replaced with pure ‘Pop Music,’ although admittingly not necessarily ‘bad Pop.’
The first track “Staying Power” therefore must have come as a huge surprise. It’s instant horn/sax solo that precedes the song, in the beginning and middle sections, was certainly a shock to the system, (even to me) and I had to check that this was an actual ‘Queen’ album when I first listened to it all those years back. Saying that, the song does get better with continuous listens, and despite it being their weakest opener since “Mustapha” on “Jazz,” it certainly isn’t as bad as some of the Queen fandom would have you believe.
“Dancer,” is just as good, and by the time it comes to this song the listener has usually adjusted to the new sound of the album. It’s about wanting to party, and have a good time, despite people not inviting you to their party. It has a similar sound to that of “Staying Power,” but more funk, and a brief ‘Brian May’ guitar solo in the middle.
The first great song on the album though is the funky “Back Chat.” It’s kind off an extension of “Another one bites the dust,” but with a bit more bite. It’s also good to hear John Deacon strut his stuff for a change like he did for “Bites the Dust” too. The song ends on a ‘Rolling Stone’ style rap where Freddie reinstates about people who talk about him behind his back. It kinda reminded me of the middle section of ‘The Stones’ ‘1978’ hit ‘Miss You.’
The next song ‘Body Language,’ is an electronic based song. It was the second single from the album, and divided many fans at the time of its release. And why could this be? Well I do have some theories. First, was its provocative sexual under text, (Although I can’t remember too many people complaining about Fat Bottomed Girls), the second was that it was a song made basically for the dance scene, and biggest crime of all… no Brian May or distinctive guitar solo.
Admittingly, the song isn’t that bad, it’s actually a good dance track, and is certainly not their worst ever single release, ‘Spread your Wings’ comes straight to my mind. The problem for die hard ‘Queen’ fans probably was that this wasn’t the Queen they were brought up with, for the casual fans, the song was probably a bit too risqué.
Also if you think about the general ‘Queen radio listening audience,’ it is unlikely that they ever bought a Queen album, (Except maybe Greatest Hits) and might have bought the odd single or two, but the problem is that ‘Greatest Hits’ represents an album of in some way or another ‘radio friendly’ Queen songs, and Body Language was hardly radio friendly. This means with this single alone they probably alienated their die-hard and casual audience in one blow.
Anyway, moving on, the first obvious filler of the album comes in the form of “Action this Day.” It attempts to be an anthem but sadly falls way short, not even the attempted, epic synthesizer effects of the middle section can save this one.
Another filler is “Put out the Fire,” which reverts the album back to the traditional Queen Pop/Rock sound, and although on the surface, it seems like a good rock song about banning guns, it has no actual long term redeeming features, and you eventually think back to Queen songs that did it better (Keep Yourself Alive, Now I’m Here, Fat Bottomed Girls).
“Life is real (Song for Lennon),” despite its good intensions, is sadly one of the weakest songs of the albums. It foolishly reverts back to the problems the band had with “News of the World,” and “Jazz,” where they would re-hash poor medley or ballad numbers that really weren’t sung with any heart or soul, and even when Freddie blurts out ‘Life is a bitch,’ it turns out too little, too late.
“Calling all girls,” is perhaps the weakest and aimless Pop song on the album. The song is basically repeating itself throughout about ‘some message’ but sadly can’t decide or care if the message is love or not, and at the end it just suddenly ends… Yeah whatever.
The album really lifts of with the brilliant “Las Palabras de amor (The Words of Love).” This is really a sweet song, and the synthesized, keyboard intro is a real gem too. It’s a Brian May written song in tribute to their South American fans and the gentle guitar parts in this are really to be treasured. It also feels like a extension of the “Love of my Life” live acoustic version that can be found on “Live Killers.”
“Cool Cat,” is average filler. Freddie does a decent soul impression and although it’s a decent version of soul music, that’s all the sound turns out to be, decent.
The album ends with the brilliant ‘David Bowie’ collaboration “Under Pressure.” I discussed this song earlier and I still stand that it’s definitely one of Queen’s strongest numbers. The song itself hit ‘number 1’ in the UK and many other territories, despite peaking at a disappointing ‘29’ in the US.
So that’s “Hot Space,” and here’s its ‘Hot’ recap.
STAYING POWER
Decent, if not good pop song. Shocks you first listen, but it does grow on you. 3/5
DANCER
As good as Staying Power, so it gets the same mark. 3/5
BACK CHAT
Cool beat, cool song. 4/5
BODY LANGUAGE
Different for Queen, although different isn’t necessarily bad. 3/5
ACTION THIS DAY
Falls a bit short of being an anthem. 2/5
LIFE IS REAL (SONG FOR LENNON)
Despite its good intentions, it’s still a bad song. 1/5
PUT OUT THE FIRE
Average, rock filler. 2.5/5
CALLING ALL GIRLS
A pitiful Pop song. 1/5
LAS PALABRAS DE AMOR (THE WORDS OF LOVE)
Wonderful song, one of the best on the album. 5/5
COOL CAT
Ok I guess, but only ok. 2/5
UNDER PRESSURE
One of Queen’s best songs. 5/5
That gives “Hot Space” a ‘Hot’ average of 2.86.
Compared to others.
Queen 2.7
Queen II 2.59
Sheer Heart Attack 3
A Night at the Opera 3.96
A day at the races 2.59
News of the world 2.4
Jazz 2.3
The Game 3.15
TO CONCLUDE
It was hard to decide what grade to give this, because I didn’t hate this album, I just felt there weren’t enough sparks in it. Yes a lot of the songs were good versions of Pop, but other than “Back Chat,” “Las Palabras de Amor,” and “Under Pressure,” there were no exceptional songs.
Saying that, it is a sad ‘Queen’ album too. After this, because of “Hot Space” being a commercial flop, the band would never dare to move forward with their music, and after this, it would be back to business as usual, in other words, just recycling what they had done before. Oh of course they’d still make some great songs, they always have, but “Hot Space” spelled the end of any ambition musically the band may have had.
2.5/5
