From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Queen Bitch" is a song written by David Bowie in 1971 for the album Hunky Dory. Bowie was a great Velvet Underground fan, recording a cover of "I'm Waiting for the Man" in 1967 (which still remains unissued, though there is the live version on "Bowie at the Beeb" that immediately follows "Queen Bitch"). This song is a tribute to them and Lou Reed. It starts with Bowie counting down to his acoustic guitar before Mick Ronson's thrashy guitar riff enters. The song's arrangement, featuring a melodic bass line, a tight drum pattern, choppy distorted guitar chords, and an understated vocal performance by Bowie, provided the template for the glam rock style which features prominently on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, his seminal 1972 follow-up to Hunky Dory.
While the main riff is similar to the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane", it is actually lifted from Eddie Cochran's Three Steps To Heaven.[1] (a posthumous #1 hit single in the UK in 1960).
[edit] Live versions
[edit] Other releases
- B-side of the UK release of the single "Rebel Rebel" in February 1974.
- B-side of the US release of the single "1984" in April 1974.
- It was released as a picture disc in the Fashion Picture Disc Set.
- Featured on the soundtrack to the film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
- Appears in the music video game Rock Band as downloadable content in a 3-song pack along with other David Bowie songs "Moonage Daydream" and "Heroes".
- Is featured in the soundtrack of skateboarding video game skate.
[edit] Cover versions
[edit] References
