What Album Covers Are Really Trying To Tell Us: 1: Queen - Greatest Hits
I mean its clear what Queen’s Greatest Hits Volume III was trying to tell us: they did not have that many hits. Brian May’s ad jingle (Driven By You), The Great Pretender and some Wyclef Jean old man rap cover barely pads the thing out. But sometimes album covers have secrets, which need to be teased out*. Take Queen’s Greatest Hits (as an example, though feel free to shoplift it and then destroy in the usual manner):
Pretty cheap graphic design as befits the early eighties, yes? The four stations of this anti-crucifix, vaguely reminiscent of the horrible Bohemian Rhapsody video, but on the whole just a cheap cash in disk with a knocked off cover. THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK. But look closer. The disembodied diamond, at a slight angle, what does that remind you of? Anything? How about…
Yes, clearly this album cover is telling us that rather than a somewhat fey rock band, Queen were actually intergalactic super-villains. Clearly the designer is suggesting that rather than being allowed to unleash their super-powered guitar rock evil anthems on the world, they should be imprisoned in the Phantom Zone. Surely the name Freddie Mercury was a hint to his extraterrestrial origins (I believe he also reveled in the supervillain name “Mr Farenheit”).
Leaving them at large was clearly risking the kind of destruction witnessed in Superman II. One can only be thankful that the President of the USA was never made to “Kneel before Mercury”. One can only imagine the horrors what would have ensued.
*Don’t even start with Abbey Road. There are no hidden secrets on the Abbey Road album cover, and the only significance of Paul in no shoes is that someone should have strewn the zebra crossing with broken glass.
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Travis Simons on December 29th, 2006
Wow, are you ever an idiot! Judging by your opinions on two of the greatest bands that have ever surfaced on this planet makes it sound like you’re one of the people who are rushing out to buy Paris Hilton’s new album.
FT's LeboviciAB84 on January 8th, 2007
You’re new here, then?
Roger Nowt on July 2nd, 2007
Good one, that.
zrcalo on July 17th, 2007
it is also clear that the guy in the top right corner must be a regeneration of “the Doctor” hence, being a timelord from the planet gallifrey.
it is also evident that Travis Simons is also an extraterrestrial in his evident thinking of Paris Hilton, evidently he works in a post office.
bravo for showing what queen is truely about! Torchwood would be proud.
Fidel J. on August 12th, 2007
This stuff is great.
QueenFan on November 1st, 2007
You’re actually saying that queen DIDN’T have many hits?
You should be shot in the face fucktard.
Queen is awesome, and still is.
Fucking die cunt.
jessica on November 2nd, 2007
if you hate music so much, why do this .. FOOL
Tom on November 3rd, 2007
If you like Queen so much why dont you go and live there?
gato diablo on June 23rd, 2008
well said