The Invisible Man (song)

"The Invisible Man" is a song by the British rock band Queen, written by drummer Roger Taylor but credited to Queen. The song is sung mostly by Freddie Mercury, with vocal contributions from Taylor. The song was released in August 1989 as the third single from the bands album The Miracle. Taylor claims that he got the inspiration to create the song while reading a book, and the bassline instantly came to his imagination. The song title was inspired by the H. G. Wells novel of the same name.[3]

For the 98 Degrees song, see Invisible Man (song).

"The Invisible Man"
Artwork for UK release
Single by Queen
from the album The Miracle
B-side
Released7 August 1989
Recorded1988
Genre
Length
  • 3:57 (album version)
  • 5:04 (early version with guide vocal)
  • 4:17 (video version)
  • 5:28 (12" extended version)
Label
Songwriter(s)Queen
(Roger Taylor)
Producer(s)
Queen singles chronology
"Breakthru"
(1989)		 "The Invisible Man"
(1989)		 "Scandal"
(1989)
Music video
"The Invisible Man" on YouTube

This song contains a distinction whereby all four band members' names are mentioned in the lyrics. The first being Freddie Mercury, followed by John Deacon. Brian May's name is then said twice (just before his guitar solo starts), and while saying "Roger Taylor", the first "r" is rolled to emulate the drums at the end of the verse. Mercury's name is announced by Taylor, and the other three by Mercury.

Music video

In the music video, a video game called "The Invisible Man" plays a large part, as a young boy is playing a game while the band (all dressed in black), who are the "bad guys" and Freddie Mercury (is their boss in the game, since he's the one who wears a virtual reality googles, while the rest of the band didn't, but instead of them wearing virtual reality googles like Freddie Mercury, they wear black shades instead) enters the real world and perform the song in his room. As they perform, the boy tries to shoot them with the game controller. From time to time, Mercury appears in various places in the child's room, vanishing before the boy can shoot him with the video controller. After Mercury emerges from the child's closet with his band in tow, John Deacon removes his cowboy hat and throws it to the floor. In perhaps a futile attempt to emulate him, the boy removes his baseball cap, and dons the other. The screen then shows an image of the band in the game once more, Deacon without a hat, and the child walks underneath them, with a "Game Over" message appearing.

A then-15-year-old Danniella Westbrook, who joined soap opera EastEnders the following year, appears in the video as the boy's sister.

Freddie Mercury's eyewear and John Deacon's cowboy hat were also used in the cover of their next single "Scandal".

Track listings

7" Single

A Side. "The Invisible Man" (Album Version) - 3:57

B Side. "Hijack My Heart" - 4:11[4]

12"/CD Single

A Side. "The Invisible Man" (Extended Version) - 5:28

2/B1. "Hijack My Heart" - 4:11

3/B2. "The Invisible Man" (Album Version) - 3:57

Personnel

Charts

References
  1. "THE INVISIBLE MAN". QUEEN: AN EXPLODED DIAGRAM. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  2. August 2016, Malcolm Dome29 (29 August 2016). "Queen albums ranked from worst to best". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  3. Purvis, Georg (2007). Queen: Complete Works. Reynolds & Hearn. p. 182.
  4. "Queen "The Miracle" album and song lyrics". www.ultimatequeen.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  5. "Queen – The Invisible Man" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie.
  7. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Queen".
  8. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  9. "Queen – The Invisible Man" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  10. "Queen – The Invisible Man". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  11. "Queen – The Invisible Man". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  12. "Queen: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Queen – The Invisible Man" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  14. "Jaaroverzichten 1989". Ultratop. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  15. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  16. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
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