Released 25 January 1980 Recorded 1979 Length 3:48 | Format Vinyl record (7") Genre Rock | |
B-side "Let Me Entertain You (live)"
"Sheer Heart Attack (live)" (USA, Japan, Australia and Canada) | ||
"Save Me" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1980 album The Game. Written by guitarist Brian May, it was recorded in 1979, and released in the UK on 25 January 1980, nearly six months prior to the release of the album. "Save Me" spent six weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number eleven.
Contents
The song was played live from 1979 to 1982 and was recorded for their live albums, Queen Rock Montreal at the Montreal Forum, Quebec, Canada in November 1981 and Queen on Fire – Live at the Bowl at the Milton Keynes Bowl, Buckinghamshire, England in June 1982. The song is also included on Queen's Greatest Hits and Queen Forever albums.
History
Brian May wrote "Save Me" about a friend whose relationship with his wife had ended, and played piano, synths and guitars (electric and twelve-string acoustic) on it. Played live, the song would typically feature a short piano introduction absent from the studio version. Kerry Ellis included her version of the song on her debut album Anthems. She has also performed the song both on Anthems: The Tour (2011) and at various events with Brian May. When played live the piano playing role is switched from Brian May to Freddie Mercury to enable May to play his guitar solos.
Technical details
Musically, the song is complex, with the verses in the key of G major, and the chorus in the key of D major. An instrumental solo, in the related key of G major, serves as a verse.
Music Video
The video for the song was filmed at Alexandra Palace on 22 December 1979 and directed by Keith "Keef" MacMillan and features animation of a woman and a dove. The video would be the last to feature Freddie without a mustache as he would sport it starting with Play the Game, the next single, until 1987 when he shaved it for good for The Great Pretender music video.