Back Chat

"Back Chat"
"Back Chat"
	UK single picture sleeve
Single by Queen
from the album Hot Space
A-side	"Back Chat" (Extended Version) (A Side for the 12" version)
B-side	"Staying Power"
Released	9 August 1982 (UK); 22 November 1982 (US);
Recorded	1981 – 1982
Genre	Funk rock
Length	4:31 (album version); 4:10 (single version); 6:55 (12" extended version);
Label	EMI (UK); Elektra (US);
Songwriter(s)	John Deacon
Producer(s)	Queen; Reinhold Mack;
Queen singles chronology
Music video
	"Back Chat" on YouTube

"Back Chat", written by the bass guitarist John Deacon, is the track most influenced by funk on the 1982 Queen album Hot Space. The song sets a great example of how Deacon was strongly pulling the band into dance orientated genres such as R&B, Disco, and funk.^[2] It reached #40 on the UK Singles Chart, #18 in South Africa^[3] and a #19 entry in Ireland.

The track was performed on the Hot Space Tour at a faster tempo, with a more rock-oriented arrangement. "Back Chat", the title, is an English idiom referring to "impertinent or impudent replies, especially to a superior".^[4] In a Rolling Stone album review, the critic John Milward described the musical style of the song as: "a hot rock-funk tune, with guitar tracks as slick as an icy dance floor."^[5]

Track listings[]

7" Single

A Side. "Back Chat" (Single Version) - 4:10

B Side. "Staying Power" - 4:10^[6]

12" Single

A Side. "Back Chat" (Extended Version) - 6:55

B Side. "Staying Power" - 4:10

Personnel[]

Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitar solos
Roger Taylor - electronic drums
John Deacon - bass guitar, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, synthesizer, drum machine

Chart performance[]

Chart (1982)	Peak position
Ireland (IRMA)^[7]	19
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[8]	18
UK Singles (OCC)^[9]	40
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[10]	69

References[]

^ "Ultimate Queen". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk.
^ Obrecht, Jas. "Brian May Interview". Guitar Player (January 1983). Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
^ "backchat". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
^ John Milward, "Queen: Hot Space", Rolling Stone, 10 June 1982
^ "Queen "Hot Space" album and song lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Back Chat". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (Q)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
^ "Queen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Back Chat". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

External links[]

Official YouTube videos: original music video, Live at The Bowl
Lyrics at Queen official website

This 1980s rock song–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[1] "Ultimate Queen". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk.

[BMI-2] Obrecht, Jas. "Brian May Interview". Guitar Player (January 1983). Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2011.

[3] "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.

[4] "backchat". Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 7 May 2013.

[5] John Milward, "Queen: Hot Space", Rolling Stone, 10 June 1982

[6] "Queen "Hot Space" album and song lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_Queen-7] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Back Chat". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

[8] "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (Q)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 October 2020.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Queen-9] "Queen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

[sc_West_Germany_Queen-10] "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – Back Chat". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 August 2020.

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