TikTok has become one of the most influential platforms in music. In fact, Axios details how the social media app has helped push artists like Doja Cat to the top of the charts.
And while new artists and musicians have a pretty good grasp on how to use technology and social media to reach and connect with their fans, the same can’t be said for the older acts — particularly those who reigned before the digital age. This is why it’s especially surprising to see Queen, one of the longest-running and most established bands in the music industry, dipping their toes into the Gen Z-dominated app. Read on as we talk about Queen’s move to TikTok!
Let us give you a quick refresher on one of the biggest bands in history, originally led by vocalist Freddie Mercury, who passed away in 1991. Many new fans may recognize Mercury thanks to the recently released biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, which depicted the singer in all his glory as one of the most influential figures in music. Indeed, Mercury is known for his flamboyant characteristics and unbeatable showmanship, which helped catapult the band to the very top.
Another iconic member of the band is the lead guitarist, Brian May. While “genius” isn’t a word that we casually throw around, Gala Bingo explains that Brian May might just be a genius in more ways than one, as the lead guitarist also has a PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London. He even ended up releasing his own song, “New Horizons,” to honor NASA’s spacecraft of the same name. Don’t let his science skills overshadow his incredible music ability though, as May continues to share his out-of-this-world guitar talents with the latest iteration of Queen, together with original drummer Roger Taylor.
Roger Taylor is one of the most important drummers in rock music history. A little known fact about Taylor is that he also helped write Queen’s biggest hits such as “Under Pressure,” “Radio Ga Ga,” and “A Kind of Magic.” Despite his age, he still currently tours with Queen, along with their long-time collaborator Adam Lambert.
Adam Lambert, whom you may know for his stint on American Idol, has been touring with Queen since 2011. And while he isn’t an official member, he’s done a pretty good job filling in for the late Freddie Mercury. As reported in an article on the BBC, the band’s live album with Lambert even put them at the top of the UK album charts for the first time in 25 years.
TikTok and Queen
As we mentioned, Queen’s move to TikTok was a bit surprising, as you don’t really see bands of their stature make use of the platform. However, the band and their partners at Universal Music believe in its ability to introduce the band’s music to a new, younger audience.
As such, the band’s music was made available for creators to use in their TikTok videos. The social media platform commemorated this partnership through the hashtag #SingWithQueen, which inspired millions of TikTok users to create videos of themselves singing along to the band’s biggest hits. All around the world, clips with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Another One Bites The Dust,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “We Will Rock You,” “Under Pressure,” “We Are The Champions,” “I Want To Break Free,” “Somebody To Love,” “Killer Queen,” and “Radio Ga Ga” started popping up on the platform. This is living testament to the band’s enduring sound and influence — not to mention proof that TikTok as a platform is unparalleled in its impact, too.
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