These Are the Days of Our Lives

1991 single by Queen

"These Are the Days of Our Lives"

Artwork for US release

Single by Queen
from the album  Innuendo
A-side| "Bohemian Rhapsody"
B-side| "Bijou" (US)
Released| 5 September 1991
Recorded| March 1989 – November 1990
Studio|

* Metropolis (London, England)
* Mountain (Montreux, Switzerland)

Length| 4:13
Label|

* Parlophone (Europe)
* Hollywood (North America)

Songwriter(s)| Roger Taylor
Producer(s)|

* Queen
* David Richards

Queen singles chronology
| "I Can't Live with You"
(1991)  | "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
(1991)  | "The Show Must Go On"
(1991)

|
|

* * *

"Stone Cold Crazy"
(1991)  |

* * *

"Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
(1991)  |

* * *

"Ride the Wild Wind"
(1992)

|
|

Second Issue

Artwork for 1991 UK release

Music video
"These Are the Days of Our Lives" on YouTube

"These Are the Days of Our Lives" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Although credited to the whole band, it was largely written by their drummer Roger Taylor, and is the eighth track on the band's 1991 album Innuendo.[1]

The song was released as a single in the United States on Freddie Mercury's 45th birthday, 5 September 1991, and as double A-side single in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 9 December, in the wake of Mercury's death, with the Queen track "Bohemian Rhapsody". The double A-side debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and remained there for five weeks, topped the Irish Singles Chart for six weeks, and reached number 16 in Germany. The song was awarded a Brit Award for British Single of the Year in 1992.[2] In 1999, it was included on Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.[3]

## Background

[edit]

Reminiscing on the past, Roger Taylor penned the song as Freddie Mercury's health was deteriorating. As a teenager, Taylor had known Mercury since the late 1960s when they worked together at Kensington Market in London before the two (along with Brian May) founded Queen in 1970.[4] The opening chorus in the song reminisces, with "Those were the days of our lives", while the second chorus refers to the present, "Cause these are the days of our lives".

> I was sitting at home in a rather reflective mood and I did know that Freddie was ill, and I think it came out of that slightly melancholic mood. I guess I was trying to put an optimistic slant on it in a way—those were the days then. And these are the days of our lives—Today is more important than yesterday.

> — Taylor speaking to Absolute Radio in 2011.[5]

## Music video

[edit]

The video was the last Queen video to feature Freddie Mercury in person before his death on 24 November 1991. Rudi Dolezal and Hannes Rossacher of DoRo Productions filmed the music video at studios in London on 30 May 1991.[6]

> He knew how ill he was, and that this was the last time he'd ever be in front of a camera. He must have had terrible pain, but you don't see that. You just see a man and his destiny. Regardless [of] whether he was in pain or not, he always delivered. He didn't want any special treatment.

—Video director Rudi Dolezal in a 2019 interview with People magazine on Mercury's last video.[7]

Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon were present at the shoot; Brian May was filmed later in the year and added in digitally, as he was out of the country on a promotional tour at the time of the shoot. Following rumours about Mercury's health, the video was filmed and released in black-and-white to hide the full extent of his illness.[7]

In the video, Mercury wears a waistcoat with pictures of cats that was made for him by Queen costume designer Diana Moseley. With his farewell look straight at the camera as the song ends, Mercury whispers "I still love you", directed to his fans, which are his last words on camera.[6][8][9] Video director Dolezal had been told beforehand to keep things speedy due to Mercury's ailing condition, but before shooting wrapped, Mercury requested one more take for the last lyrics of the song: "Those days are gone now but one thing's still true / When I look and I find I still love you". Jordan Runtagh for People writes, "On the last line, he summons all his strength for a final heroic pose before collapsing into himself with a soft laugh. Staring through the camera, he whispers a final "I still love you" before snapping his fingers, walking out of frame with a flourish".[7] Dolezal comments, "In these last few seconds of that song, he gives us a résumé of his whole life: 'I was a big superstar, but don't take it too seriously.' And then, 'I still love you,' which is to the fans. Then he walks out of life. Even in his last moments, he planned his exit artistically. That's how he wanted it to be."[7]

The US version of the video features animation produced by Walt Disney Studios, as Queen's North American record label, Hollywood Records, is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.[10] Another video version was released in 1992 to promote the Classic Queen compilation album in the US, combining old footage of the band from 1973 to 1991 plus the performances of the band from the US aired video.[11]

## Live performances and covers

[edit]

The song was first played live on 20 April 1992 at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, sung by George Michael and Lisa Stansfield.[12] The live version was included on the 1993 EP Five Live, credited to 'George Michael with Queen & Lisa Stansfield'.[13]

The song was played on the 2005/2006 Queen + Paul Rodgers tours with vocals provided by Roger Taylor. On stage the song was accompanied by a video of the band in their early days in Japan, including many shots focusing on past band members Freddie Mercury and John Deacon.[14]

The song was used on 1 July 2007 at the Concert for Diana held at the redeveloped Wembley Stadium, London in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died almost 10 years earlier.[15] At the end of the concert, a video montage of Diana as a child was presented while the song was playing in the background.[15] A cover version by Petula Clark is included on her 2008 compilation album Then & Now.

## Reception

[edit]

Ron Hart of Rolling Stone wrote that "the conga-driven synth ballad 'These Are the Days of Our Lives' is Innuendo's most significant single [...] A ballad in the vein of 'Love of My Life,' it was a song that carried a significant amount of weight given the frailty of Mercury's appearance in the black-and-white video, later compounded when unreleased colour footage from the filming emerged in Days of Our Lives."[16]

## Track listings

[edit]

First Issue

CassetteNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "These Are the Days of Our Lives"| 4:10
2.| "Bijou"| 3:36

US Modern rock promotional singleNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "These Are the Days of Our Lives"| 4:18
2.| "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (Edit)| 3:54

US Contemporary hit promotional singleNo.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "These Are the Days of Our Lives"| 4:10

Second Issue

CD, CT, 7"No.| Title| Length

|
|

1.| "Bohemian Rhapsody"| 6:00
2.| "These Are the Days of Our Lives"| 4:15

## Personnel

[edit]

Queen

* Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, keyboards[17]
* Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
* Roger Taylor – drums, keyboards, backing vocals
* John Deacon – bass guitar

with:

* David Richards – keyboards, programming

## Accolades

[edit]

Year  | Ceremony  | Award  | Result

|
|
|

1992  | Brit Awards | British Single of the Year  | Won

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (1991–1992)  | Peak
position

|

Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] | 40
Germany (GfK)[19]
with "Bohemian Rhapsody" | 16
Ireland (IRMA)[20]
with "Bohemian Rhapsody" | 1
UK Singles (OCC)[21]
with "Bohemian Rhapsody" | 1
Chart (2021)  | Peak
position

|

UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[22] | 81

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (1991)  | Position

|

UK Singles (OCC)[23] | 2
Chart (1992)  | Position

|

UK Singles (OCC)[24] | 15

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Silver  | 200,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[26]
with "Bohemian Rhapsody"  | Platinum  | 600,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history

[edit]

Country  | Date  | Format  | Label  | Catalog no.

|
|
|
|

First Issue
United States  | August 1991  | Promo CD-R (Modern Rock / Alternative radio) | Hollywood Records | PRCD-10061-2
5 September 1991  | 7-inch, CS | 64868 4 (7-inch)
HR-64868-4 (CT)
1991  | Promo CD-R (Contemporary hit radio) | PRCD-8390-2
Second Issue
Europe  | 9 December 1991  | 7-inch, CD, Cassette  | EMI, Parlophone | 016 2046497, QUEEN 20 (7-inch)
2046492, CDQUEEN 20 (CD)
300201 4 (CS)
United Kingdom  | 2046497, QUEEN 20 (7-inch)
2046492, CDQUEEN 20 (CD)
2046494, TCQUEEN 20 (CT)
Australia  | 1992  | CT  | TC-2046494
Japan  | 8 July 1992  | CD  | TOCP-7259

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Innuendo – These Are The Days Of Our Lives". UltimateQueen. Retrieved 25 June 2011
2. ^ "The Highs and Lows of the Brit Awards". BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2011
3. ^ Queen - Greatest Hits III Allmusic. Retrieved 25 April 2021
4. ^ "Roger Taylor "I remember"". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
5. ^ "Queen interview: Roger Taylor on These are the Days of our Lives". Absolute Radio. YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
6. ^ a b Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock. p.224. Voyageur Press, 2009
7. ^ a b c d "Freddie Mercury's Final Bow: Director Rudi Dolezal Recalls the Queen Legend's Poignant Last Video". People. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
8. ^ "Queen's Greatest Videos". Channel 4. 1999. Episode 1/1. 50 minutes in. (Roger Taylor)
9. ^ "Final Freddie Mercury performance discovered". The Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2011
10. ^ DVD Docum – These Are The Days Of Our Lives Queen Collection. Retrieved 16 July 2011
11. ^ Queen Album: Classic Queen MTV. Retrieved 16 July 2011
12. ^ "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert: These Are the Days of Our Lives". Retrieved 24 June 2011
13. ^ Ewing, Tom (9 March 2012). "George Michael and Queen – Five Live EP". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
14. ^ "Review: Queen and Paul Rodgers on tour". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
15. ^ a b "Old and new stars celebrate Diana". BBC. Retrieved 16 July 2011
16. ^ "Remembering Queen's Last Masterpiece, 'Innuendo'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
17. ^ Elias, Jason. "These Are the Days of Our Lives". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
18. ^ "Queen – These Are the Days of Our Lives" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
19. ^ "Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Bohemian Rhapsody / The Days of Our Lives". Irish Singles Chart.
21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
22. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
23. ^ "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 11 January 1992. p. 20.
24. ^ "Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. 16 January 1993. p. 8.
25. ^ "British single certifications – Queen – These Are the Days of Our Lives". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
26. ^ "British single certifications – Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody/ These Are the Days". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 September 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Official YouTube videos: Queen + Paul Rodgers (live), at Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (with George Michael and Lisa Stansfield)
* Lyrics at Queen official website

* v
* t
* e

Queen songs

Queen|

* "Keep Yourself Alive"
* "Liar"

Queen II|

* "Seven Seas of Rhye"

Sheer Heart Attack|

* "Killer Queen"
* "Now I'm Here"
* "Flick of the Wrist"
* "Lily of the Valley"
* "Stone Cold Crazy"
* "Brighton Rock"

A Night at the Opera|

* "Bohemian Rhapsody"
* "You're My Best Friend"
* "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to...)"
* "I'm in Love with My Car"
* "'39"
* "Sweet Lady"
* "The Prophet's Song"
* "Love of My Life"
* "Good Company"
* "God Save the Queen"

A Day at the Races|

* "Somebody to Love"
* "Tie Your Mother Down"
* "Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)"
* "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy"
* "Long Away"

News of the World|

* "We Will Rock You"
* "We Are the Champions"
* "Spread Your Wings"
* "It's Late"
* "Sheer Heart Attack"

Jazz|

* "Bicycle Race"
* "Fat Bottomed Girls"
* "Don't Stop Me Now"
* "Mustapha"
* "Jealousy"

The Game|

* "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
* "Save Me"
* "Play the Game"
* "Another One Bites the Dust"
* "Need Your Loving Tonight"

Flash Gordon|

* "Flash's Theme"

Hot Space|

* "Under Pressure"
* "Body Language"
* "Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love)"
* "Calling All Girls"
* "Staying Power"
* "Back Chat"

The Works|

* "Radio Ga Ga"
* "I Want to Break Free"
* "It's a Hard Life"
* "Hammer to Fall"
* "Is This the World We Created...?"

A Kind of Magic|

* "One Vision"
* "A Kind of Magic"
* "Princes of the Universe"
* "Friends Will Be Friends"
* "Pain Is So Close to Pleasure"
* "Who Wants to Live Forever"
* "One Year of Love"

The Miracle|

* "I Want It All"
* "Breakthru"
* "The Invisible Man"
* "Scandal"
* "The Miracle"

Innuendo|

* "Innuendo"
* "I'm Going Slightly Mad"
* "Headlong"
* "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
* "The Show Must Go On"
* "I Can't Live with You"
* "Ride the Wild Wind"

Made in Heaven|

* "Heaven for Everyone"
* "A Winter's Tale"
* "Too Much Love Will Kill You"
* "I Was Born to Love You"
* "Let Me Live"
* "You Don't Fool Me"
* "Made in Heaven"
* "Mother Love"

Queen Rocks|

* "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)"

Queen Forever|

* "Let Me in Your Heart Again"
* "Love Kills"
* "There Must Be More to Life Than This"

Other songs|

* "Thank God It's Christmas"
* "Face It Alone"

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Brit Award for Song of the Year

1970s|

* "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen / "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum (1977)

1980s|

* "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell (1982)
* "Come On Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners (1983)
* "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club (1984)
* "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985)
* "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears (1986)
* "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys (1987)
* "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley (1988)
* "Perfect" by Fairground Attraction (1989)

1990s|

* "Another Day in Paradise" by Phil Collins (1990)
* "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode (1991)
* "These Are the Days of Our Lives" by Queen (1992)
* "Could It Be Magic" by Take That (1993)
* "Pray" by Take That (1994)
* "Parklife" by Blur (1995)
* "Back for Good" by Take That (1996)
* "Wannabe" by Spice Girls (1997)
* "Never Ever" by All Saints (1998)
* "Angels" by Robbie Williams (1999)

2000s|

* "She's the One" by Robbie Williams (2000)
* "Rock DJ" by Robbie Williams (2001)
* "Don't Stop Movin'" by S Club 7 (2002)
* "Just a Little" by Liberty X (2003)
* "White Flag" by Dido (2004)
* "Your Game" by Will Young (2005)
* "Speed of Sound" by Coldplay (2006)
* "Patience" by Take That (2007)
* "Shine" by Take That (2008)
* "The Promise" by Girls Aloud (2009)

2010s|

* "Beat Again" by JLS (2010)
* "Pass Out" by Tinie Tempah featuring Labrinth (2011)
* "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction (2012)
* "Skyfall" by Adele (2013)
* "Waiting All Night" by Rudimental featuring Ella Eyre (2014)
* "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (2015)
* "Hello" by Adele (2016)
* "Shout Out to My Ex" by Little Mix (2017)
* "Human" by Rag'n'Bone Man (2018)
* "One Kiss" by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa (2019)

2020s|

* "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi (2020)
* "Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles (2021)
* "Easy on Me" by Adele (2022)
* "As It Was" by Harry Styles (2023)
* "Escapism" by Raye featuring 070 Shake (2024)
* "Guess" by Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish (2025)

* v
* t
* e

UK Christmas number-one singles in the 1990s

* "Saviour's Day" (Cliff Richard, 1990)
* "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (Queen, 1991)
* "I Will Always Love You" (Whitney Houston, 1992)
* "Mr Blobby" (Mr Blobby, 1993)
* "Stay Another Day" (East 17, 1994)
* "Earth Song" (Michael Jackson, 1995)
* "2 Become 1" (Spice Girls, 1996)
* "Too Much" (Spice Girls, 1997)
* "Goodbye" (Spice Girls, 1998)
* "I Have a Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun" (Westlife, 1999)

* Complete list

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work

|

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template