No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)
{{short description|1997 single by Queen}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young)
| cover = No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young) (Queen single - cover art).gif
| alt =
| caption = Artwork for UK release
| type = single
| artist = Queen
| album = Queen Rocks
| A-side = We Will Rock You (Rick Rubin Remix){{cite web |title=Queen Hollywood Records remix lyrics |url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/hollywood-records-remixes.htm#We%20Will%20Rock%20You%20(Rick%20Rubin%20Remix) |website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
| B-side = *"Tie Your Mother Down" (Single Version)
- "Gimme The Prize" (Instrumental Remix For 'The Eye') (The CD single features a slightly different track listing, with "We Will Rock You" (Rick Rubin) and "Tie Your Mother Down" being swapped){{cite web |title=Queen UK Singles Discography 1992-2017 |url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/discography/singles-3.htm#No-One%20But%20You%20(Only%20The%20Good%20Die%20Young) |website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
| released = 1997 (Europe), {{start date|df=yes|1998|1|5}} (UK)
| recorded = October 1997
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 4:13
| label = Parlophone (UK)
| writer = Brian May
| producer = Queen
| prev_title = You Don't Fool Me
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Another One Bites The Dust (Wyclef Jean remix)
| next_year = 1998
}}
"No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young)" is the final single recorded by the British rock band Queen. Recorded and released in 1997, six years after the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury, it is the only Queen recording to feature a three-piece lineup: guitarist Brian May (who wrote the song), drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist John Deacon.{{refn|group=nb|While being the only song to be recorded by the three surviving members at the time after Freddie's death, there are several Queen songs that Freddie Mercury never sang neither as a lead vocalist and/or backing vocalist when he was alive.}}[https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-10-best-queen-songs-freddie-didn-t-sing "10 classic Queen songs that Freddie Mercury didn't sing"]. Louder Sound. Retrieved 19 October 2023 May and Taylor share lead vocals. The song was released on the album Queen Rocks and it was also released as a double a-side single with "Tie Your Mother Down". It was later included on the compilation album Greatest Hits III.
This song was also the last recording to feature Deacon, who subsequently retired from public life,{{cite web |title=John Deacon profile |url=http://www.queenonline.com/john_deacon |access-date=7 June 2019 |agency=Queen Online}} the last original Queen song to reach the Top 40 of some European countries{{refn|group=nb|After the release of this song, the band's following singles were mainly collaborations with other artists, notably the boy band Five and Paul Rodgers, the lead vocalist of numerous bands: Free, Bad Company, The Firm, and The Law.}} and last original release from the band until 2014's Queen Forever.
Background
Brian May finished writing "No One but You (Only the Good Die Young)" in early 1997, after Queen reformed for a one-off appearance with Elton John at the Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. It was dedicated to Mercury and all those who die too soon.[https://queenarchives.com/qa/xx-xx-1997-no-one-but-you/ "Queen Press Release - No One But You"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922093838/http://queenarchives.com/qa/xx-xx-1997-no-one-but-you/ |date=22 September 2019 }}. Queen Archives. Retrieved 15 June 2014 In 2019 on his Instagram page May revealed that it was during his visit to Montreux in 1996 to unveil a statue in Mercury's honour that he was first inspired to write the song.[https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Q2qxhl-PV/ "Brian May Instagram post November 24th 2019"] It was originally written for a potential May solo project, which eventually evolved into the album Another World. He sent the demo of the song to Roger Taylor, who by his own account put it in a drawer and forgot about it.Queen Rocks EPK After eventually hearing it, Taylor suggested that it could be turned into a Queen song. Taylor's contribution was to change the tempo and make the lyrics less specific to Mercury.
Music video
The music video was produced by DoRo and filmed at Bray Studios, Berkshire on 29 October 1997. It was shot in black and white, and featured only the three remaining members of Queen in the studio.{{cite book |last1=Purvis |first1=Georg |title=Queen: Complete Works |date=2007 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |page=221}}
A second version was also made, and is a completely different edit, featuring sepia-tinted footage of Mercury through all his years with the band. This version was featured on both Queen Rocks: The Video and Greatest Hits III VHS releases, both of which were released in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
Track listings
7" Single
A1. "No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)" - 4:13
A2. "We Will Rock You" (Rick Rubin Remix) - 4:59{{Cite web|title=Queen Hollywood Records remix lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/hollywood-records-remixes.htm#We%20Will%20Rock%20You%20(Rick%20Rubin%20Remix)|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
B1. "Tie Your Mother Down" (Single Version) - 3:44{{Cite web|title=Queen "A Day At The Races" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/a-day-at-the-races.htm#Tie%20Your%20Mother%20Down|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
B2. "Gimme the Prize" (Instrumental Remix for 'The Eye') - 4:01{{Cite web|title=Queen: The Eye|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/queen-the-eye.htm#Gimme%20The%20Prize%20(Kurgan%27s%20Theme)|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}}
CD Single
1. "No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)" - 4:13
2. "Tie Your Mother Down" (Single Version) - 3:44
3. "We Will Rock You" (Rick Rubin Remix) - 4:59
4. "Gimme the Prize" (Instrumental Remix for 'The Eye') - 4:01
Personnel
- Brian May - lead vocals on first and third verses, backing vocals, piano, electric guitar{{cite news |title=Queen's 50 UK singles – ranked! |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/26/queen-freddie-mercury-50-uk-singles-ranked |access-date=12 April 2019 |work=The Guardian}}
- Roger Taylor - lead vocals on second verse, backing vocals, drums
- John Deacon - bass guitar
Chart positions
| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1997–98) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Dutch40|26|artist=Queen|song=No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)|access-date=21 August 2020}} |
| {{singlechart|Dutch100|33|song=No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)|artist=Queen|access-date=3 August 2020}} |
| {{singlechart|Germany|75|song=No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)|artist=Queen|songid=11823|access-date=3 August 2020}} |
| {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|13|song=No-One but You/Tie Your Mother Down|artist=Queen|artistid=21275|note=Released with Tie Your Mother Down|access-date=3 August 2020}} |
Kerry Ellis version
{{Infobox song
| name = No-One but You
| cover = No-One_but_You.PNG
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Kerry Ellis
| album = Wicked in Rock
| released = 19 March 2005
| recorded = 2002
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Orchestral
| length = 5:20
| label = Duck Productions
| writer = Brian May
| producer = Brian May, Steve Sidwell, Justin Shirley-Smith
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = I'm Not that Girl
| next_year = 2010
}}
In 2002, Brian May worked with stage actress and singer, Kerry Ellis, to record an orchestral version of the song as it appears in the musical, We Will Rock You, where Ellis played the role of Meat. In the musical, it is sung by a woman, who after the ensemble have recalled the names of a number of musicians who died young, will culminate in saying the name "Freddie" as a tribute to Freddie Mercury. This version of the song was made only available to download on the official Queen website on 19 March 2005 and failed to chart. However, it was later included on her extended play Wicked in Rock and subsequently featured on her debut album Anthems.
In 2004, the Spanish stage actress and singer Eva María Cortés recorded the same orchestral version in Spanish to promote the Original Madrid Cast Recording of We Will Rock You.
=Credits and personnel=
- Kerry Ellis – vocals
- Brian May – writer, producer, arranger, piano, guitars, bass
- Roger Taylor – drums (sticks)
- Keith Prior – drums (brushes)
- Justin Shirley-Smith – co-producer, engineer, mixer
- Kris Fredriksson – Pro Tools
- Joshua J. Macrae – additional Pro Tools
- Steve Price – engineer
- Tom Jenkins – Pro Tools
- Jake Jackson – assistant
Track recorded at Sphere Studios, Olympic Studios and Allerton Hill
- Steve Sidwell – orchestra arranger and conductor
- The London Session Orchestra – orchestra
- Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
Orchestra recorded at Air Studios, Lydhurst Hall
Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
References
{{Reflist|1}}
{{Queen singles}}
{{Kerry Ellis}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Songs written by Brian May