Songful Style | “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen

We are less than two weeks away from having to share an outfit inspired by Queen’s 1978 hit song “Fat Bottomed Girls” and still I have no idea what to wear. So now I must dig up all the information I can to get inspired and I am sharing that information with you to hopefully get you inspired to join us for this musical style challenge!

About Songful Style

Songful Style is an ageless style challenge series hosted by Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Marsha of Marsha in the Middle, and Suzy of Suzy Turner, The Grey Brunette (formerly The Grey Brunette).

Each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit. 

It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.

Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing! 

We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post. Then about a week or two later, I will share a detailed post like this one about the chosen song.

It was my turn to choose the song and since Freddie Mercury is one of my favorite human beings to have ever walked this earth, I wanted to pick a song by Queen. Like Freddie, I also have a very special affection for fat bottomed people. You see, I have the flattest bottom on earth and always wished I had a fatter bottom. Since God did not bless me with a fabulous bootie, I have always admired those who have beautifully plump and round butts. Fat bottomed girls really do make the rockin’ world go round! 

Video Inspiration

The Lyrics

“Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen

Oh, you gonna take me home tonight
Oh, down beside that red firelight
Oh, you gonna let it all hang out
Fat-bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round

Hey, I was just a skinny lad
Never knew no good from bad
But I knew life before I left my nursery (huh)
Left alone with big fat Fanny
She was such a naughty nanny
Heap big woman, you made a bad boy out of me

Hey, hey!

I've been singing with my band
'Cross the water, 'cross the land
I've seen every blue-eyed floozy on the way (hey)
But their beauty and their style
Went kind of smooth after a while
Take me to them dirty ladies every time

C'mon!

Oh, won't you take me home tonight?
Oh, down beside your red firelight
Oh, and you give it all you got
Fat-bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round
Fat-bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round

Hey, listen here
Now I got mortgages and homes
I got stiffness in the bones
Ain't no beauty queens in this locality (I tell you)
Oh, but I still get my pleasure
Still got my greatest treasure
Heap big woman you done made a big man of me (now get this)

Oh (I know), you gonna take me home tonight (please)
Oh, down beside that red firelight
Oh, you gonna let it all hang out
Fat-bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round (yeah)
Fat-bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go 'round

Get on your bikes and ride

Ooh, yeah, oh, yeah, them fat-bottomed girls
Fat-bottomed girls, yeah, yeah, yeah
Alright
Ride 'em come on
Fat-bottomed girls
Yes, yes, right

About the Band and the Song

Formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor, (later joined by John Deacon), Queen has become one of the most influential rock bands in music history. In fact, this band has won so many awards and nominations that the list needs its own Wikipedia page.

Before Queen, May and Taylor were members of a band called Smile which was formed in 1968. Mercury was a fan who encouraged the band to try different recording techniques and more elaborate stage shows, eventually joining them in 1970 and changing their name to Queen. In 1971, they recruited Deacon to play bass for Queen and they released their self-titled debut album in 1973.

Queen first charted in the UK with the release of their second album, Queen II, in 1974. It was their third and fourth albums, Sheer Heart Attack in 1974 and A Night at the Opera in 1975, that brought Queen international success. Their fourth album featured “Bohemian Rhapsody” which has won multiple awards and was voted “the UK’s favourite hit of all time” by the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book. Queen’s 1985 performance at Live Aid has been ranked among the greatest performances in rock history by multiple publications. Their August 1986 performance in Knebworth, England, would be Freddie Mercury’s last.

Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987 but kept his illness confidential while the band released two more albums over the next four years. On November 23, 1991, Mercury publicly announced his diagnosis. He died the following day of bronchopneumonia, a complication of AIDS. Queen released their fifteenth and final studio album posthumously featuring Mercury’s vocals in 1995. Deacon retired in 1997 while May and Taylor continue to tour as Queen+ featuring first Paul Rodgers on vocals and currently Adam Lambert on vocals. By the way, I love Adam Lambert almost as much as I love Freddie Mercury!

“Fat Bottomed Girls” was first released in 1978 on Queen’s seventh studio album, Jazz, and later on their 1981 Greatest Hits compilation album. When the song was released as a single with “Bicycle Race”, it reached number 11 on the UK Singles Charts and number 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100. When the two songs were released together on a double A-sided single, both songs referred to the other in their lyrics. At the end of “Fat Bottomed Girls”, Mercury yells, “Get on your bikes and ride!” and at the end of “Bicycle Race”, the line “Fat bottomed girls, they’ll be riding today” has been added.

“Fat Bottomed Girls” was written by guitarist Brian May and is formed around an open bluesy, metallic guitar tuning. The lyrics celebrate the narrator’s affection for curvy women. May wrote the lyrics with Mercury in mind because he knew of his great affection for large bottomed women! While “Fat Bottomed Girls” never topped any charts, it performed well reaching its highest position at number 7 on the Dutch, French, and Norwegian singles charts. In 2023, the song was deemed inappropriate for children and was thereby omitted from the band’s 2023 Yoto (a portable music player) greatest hits compilation.

Inappropriate or not, it has serious earworm powers just like most of Queen’s songs do! Fat bottomed girls, they sure do make the rockin’ world go round!

Album Covers and Other Photo Inspiration

I am going to share some photos from an article by Dear Freddie Mercury: Letters from a fan to Freddie Mercury. For more photos of Freddie’s iconic style, you can read the full article here.

You are welcome to do your own research if you need more inspiration or if you are interested in learning more. If you want to join us, we will be hosting a link party on Monday,May 27, 2024, where you can share your outfits inspired by Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls.”

Happy styling! 

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.