Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 53^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen.

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 53^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, performed by Queen.

“This thing called love / I just can’t handle it.” Facts, Freddie Mercury, facts! Commitment can be frightening! The late, great Queen front man continues singing on “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “This thing called love / I must get ‘round to it / I ain’t ready / Crazy little thing called love.”  Mercury penned this no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, which appeared as the fifth track from The Game (1980). Much simpler than many of Queen’s other classics, due to being composed in the bathtub, and limited guitar skills by Mercury, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” sounds like it hailed from a previous era of music as opposed to the late 1970s/early 80s. Stylistically, the song can be described as rockabilly, or, at a minimum, inspired and emulating the style.

The chorus marks one of many memorable moments from “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” In the first verse, Mercury informs us love “Cries (like a baby) / It swings (Woo, woo) / It jives (Woo, woo) / It shakes all over like a jellyfish.” In the second verse, Freddie states, “I gotta be cool, relax, get hip / And get on my tracks,” ultimately deciding to “Take a long ride / On my motorbike until I’m ready.” Between the two verses, in the bridge, his baby has him feeling some type of way – crazy, fever, sweaty! Of course, you can’t mention “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” without the famous lyric, “Until I’m ready (Ready Freddie)” which appears in the third verse – a repeat of the second. Mercury plays acoustic guitar on this track, but Brian May plays as well, performing the solo between the second and third verses. Deep analysis isn’t required with “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” – it speaks for itself.

Queen // The Game // Hollywood // 1980

Queen, Crazy Little Thing Called Love: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 53 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Hollywood; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]