Welcome to the eighth insertion of DEMUR®, a series where we will be highlighting some of the most interesting topics in all of art. This week we’ll be turning back the clock to 1997, with the head banging, anarchy preaching, rock n’ roll theme song; ‘God Save the Queen’ by the Sex Pistols themselves.
‘God Save the Queen’ is a track so far beyond contempt, it turned the punk rock scene mainstream for a short period of time. Originally titled “No Future”, the song kicks off with the obnoxious strings of Steve Jones and gritty underlying bass chords by Glen Matlock. Flat percussion carries the repetitive tempo set in motion by Paul Cook and the abrasive voice of lead singer John Lydon preaches “God Save the Queen” at the 20 second mark. As the song progresses, the provocative lyrics spill of angst and passion, belting “God save the queen - The fascist regime - They made you a moron - A potential H bomb”. Lydon is attempting to communicate with the monarch, warning of the growing unease towards the aristocracy, most significantly found in the suppressed lower-class.
Despite later claims citing the song was without ill intention, the Sex Pistols happened to release the single just 12 days prior to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. This, in unison with growing popularity surrounding the brand, ultimately skyrocketed the single into the mainstream, in hand reaching the vast public eye.
Malcolm McLaren, the Sex Pistols manager, began working with James Reid to establish a singles cover, featuring a defaced queen and ransom lettering atop. He then took the group’s work into the real world, chartering a vessel on June 7th - the official Queen’s Silver Jubilee. McLaren took the band down River Thames while playing the record live, in front of the Queen’s pageantry - only for police to be called, and a variety of members arrested.
This stunt of repression added fuel to the punk driven fire, shooting the single to #2 on the Official UK singles chart, reaching #1 on the UK’s NME Chart and finally being banned by the BBC. The ironic restraint those in power shackled ‘God Save the Queen’ with is truly what caused the original outrage embedded in the lyrics of that very single.
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