Full Album Reaction: Great King Rat by Queen 

I always want to jump on a horse and ride out to battle when I hear this song.

Early Queen was so fantastic, I love all their music, but early was extremely unique. Great reaction

One thing about Queen is unlike other bands they don't play one note songs they give switch ups to grab you, shake you and pat you on the butt....SUPRISE

I am really enjoying watching someone being introduced to the weird and wonderful world of early Queen music. The sudden changes in tempo, tone or style within a track, make the thing Queen did with their albums work really well. When compiling an album, which songs and in what order was important, you can sit down and listen to any complete Queen album, and it works, even with multiple genres, it flows from one track to the next, sometimes to the extent that you don't notice your now listening to something else, for example I listened to 'Queen II' four or five times before reading the track list and discovering 'Nevermore' was not part of 'The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke'. Everything Queen did was a well crafted performance, even their 'best of' albums are organized to be listened to as a whole, not a collection of individual songs.

First venture into the weird side of Freddie’s mind. No idea what this is about. One thing I read said it was about his bad experiences at the boarding school he went to in India. Who knows, he made it a policy to not explain his songs.

so many tempo and key changes throughout the entire catalogue but especially in the early days when they were 4 young men starting out with all these brilliant over the top ideas! fun fact: Queens first album was provisionally titled deary me and Queen 2 was titled over the top, so much better titles than what they eventually picked! 👑✊🇬🇧

The song makes me feel like it's a horse running

In those days when you said "more cowbell", you got more cowbell.

He is going to lose his gourd over innuendo 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

Great reaction! This is the first song in Freddie's fantasy series. It is about a King who is dying, and everyone is trying to destroy his reputation with gossip and plotting, while he is on his death bed. The song is about propaganda, he is telling you that you shouldn't believe everything you are hearing about The Great King Rat. This song suffered the most from recording at Trident studio, the best version of this song is live at the Rainbow 1974. The live version is far better then the recorded version, because the drum sound is big. Trident studio was known for having a a drum sound where you can hear every drum beat crisply. It is completely the wrong sound for hard rock and metal. (I do think The Great King Rat is metal). Queen did not want this sound for their drums, but the engineers promised the band that is could be fixed post production. This turned out to be incorrect the sound of drums could not be fixed, so the drums sounds very small on this track, when it is suppose to sound huge and booming. The live version at the Rainbow 1974 has the perfect drum sound for this song, you guys should check it out. It was released on an album alongside a DVD that was released of the show, Unfortunately the footage of the song was lost, but luckily the audio was saved. This is one of my top 10 favourite Queen songs especially the live version.

Lots of changes for sure , just when you think it's over you get the change up. Brian and Roger always hated the way Roy Thomas Baker recorded the drums , that's the way I originally heard it when Queen became my favorite band way back late 74 , I was blown away by the first listen to Killer Queen / Flick of the Wrist 45 rpm that someone had given to my older brother , and I CONFISCATED ! 😉

Can’t wait for the reaction to this one 😂😂 absolutely loving these reactions x

I adore early Queen. Queen 2 was their best work until their second-to-last album, Innuendo.

Queen……worth waiting and enjoying 😍

When he says, "oh no" he knows whats up.

Yeah the wah wah effect 👍

Why do they do this??? Cause they are creative and talented music legends.

The abuse of the wah wah pedal during the solo is astonishing, to the extent that Hendrix would have bowed in reverence!

One of Freddies no surprise! Initially performed 70/71 first recorded Dec 71ve tracks on their demo then recorded in 72 for their first album which was released in 73 people love to speculate about his songs in particular ! I like you saying it's probably from the perspective of the rat 'corrupting peoples thoughts' we will never know what the inspirations are but a few people beleived in was about someone from a theatre group ? and they vote for their 'king Rat'! or maybe he was just thinking some people to hi behave like rats!?

Queen takes you on a journey.....

Every Queen music is a masterpiece!

Version of this song for BBC session is the best.

That wah-wah reminds me of Cream…Tales Of Brave Ulysses/White Room. I would love to see your reactions to the mighty Cream!

That middle solo is phenomenal. C

i just posted this song on FB. its has some of the best riffs in background .. been a top20 song since release. another is their song LIAR!!

Queen and Queen 2 were far and away the best of their music in my opinion. Queen 2 especially, not a bad track

Queen Is the best and this Song Is beautiful 😍😍

One of my favorite queen songs 🙏

I still don't understand why their first few albums were largely dismissed by critics.

Question from unlearn fan. Is the drum fadeout becoming of the Liar It's the same but I don't know the chords I love my fairy king. Millions and millions pianos 😀

I was like so frustrated whenever they shaker their hands and gave the song “oh no”😂

❤️ You Queen ❤️

Queen in realy Rock!

ahh sounds of my youth..

The call and response in the solo was clearly intentional ,to me it always sounded like the good and the bad debating 😅

Only Freddie 🤯🥰

Galloping like Iron Maiden 🙂

how can these not do air guitar?

What's this video is about?

When Queen were still doing music...