History Music / Innuendo

''Innuendo'' is the fourteenth studio album by Music/{{Queen}}, released in 1991, and the last both completed and released during lead singer Music/FreddieMercury's lifetime (most of the material for ''Made in Heaven'' was already recorded, but Mercury died before he could finish "Mother Love"; the final verse is sung by Brian May as a result).

* EpicRocking: The title track "Innuendo", which runs to over 6 and a half minutes long.

Upon release in February, the album was received like any other Queen album post-''Hot Space'': fairly well by British audiences, lukewarmly by American ones, and tepidly by critics on both sides of the pond, who called the album's music banal and cartoonish. However, Freddie Mercury's confirmation of his battle with AIDS the following November and his death just hours later brought the album's content into a whole new and far more voyeuristic light, as it became more than abundantly clear that ''Innuendo'' was Mercury writing his death dirge. As a result, ''Innuendo'' rapidly skyrocketed in stature, and is now considered one of Queen's greatest works.

* GoOutWithASmile: "These Are the Days of Our Lives" was written and released shortly before Freddie Mercury's death. At the end of the music video (filmed in black and white to de-emphasise his frailty) Freddie looks directly at the camera and whispers 'I still love you', his last ever words on camera. The fans all knew he was saying goodbye, and we cried.

* GrandFinale: A million times "The Show Must Go On", but really the whole album qualifies. It's so much this trope that some fans actually consider ''[[PosthumousCollaboration Made in Heaven]]'' an optional epilogue of sorts so that this album (and specifically, this track) doesn't lose its "ultimate final farewell" status.

* GrandFinale: A million times "The Show Must Go On", but really the whole album qualifies. It's so much this trope that some fans actually consider [[PosthumousCollaboration "Made in Heaven"]] an optional epilogue of sorts so that this album (and specifically, this track) doesn't lose its "ultimate final farewell" status.

By this point, Mercury's death of AIDS was an all-too-clear inevitability, and as a result much of the album acts on a musing on his own rapidly-approaching mortality; so heavily was his health declining that the music videos for "I'm Going Slightly Mad" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" were shot in black-and-white to obscure Mercury's gaunt appearance, and the latter featured him isolated to one spot with limited amounts of movement, because he no longer had the strength to perform as wildly as he was known for. Eventually, Mercury's health declined so heavily that he was unable to perform on-screen at all, leading to "The Show Must Go On" simply receiving a clip compilation rather than a proper music video.

* ShoutOut: The lyrics of "Innuendo" (which were started by Freddie, but were mostly Roger's work) are intended as a shout-out to "Kashmir" by Music/LedZeppelin.

''Innuendo'' is the fourteenth studio album by Music/{{Queen}}, released in 1991. It is best known for being the last Queen album released whilst Music/FreddieMercury was still alive. It produced several hit singles: "Innuendo", "Headlong", "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "The Show Must Go On" and "These Are The Days Of Our Lives".


Freddie's death from AIDS in November 1991 makes this album both bittersweet and uneasy listening depending on the song, as it has several references to his impending death throughout.

[[AC: Side One]]

# "Innuendo"
# "I'm Going Slightly Mad"
# "Headlong"
# "I Can't Live With You"
# "Ride The Wild Wind"

[[AC: Side Two:]]

# "All God's People"
# "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"
# "Delilah"
# "Don't Try So Hard"
# "The Hitman"
# "Bijou"
# "The Show Must Go On"

* RevisitingTheRoots: Arguably. Compare songs like the title track and "All God's People" to the stuff Queen would write on their debut AKA very religious subtext-y stuff that never really shows up on any other albums.

* VideoFullOfFilmClips: Eventually, Freddie's health had deteriorated so much that he couldn't make a new video. So, the video for "The Show Must Go On" is composed entirely of clips from previous Queen videos.

* CantLiveWithThemCantLiveWithoutThem: The entire point of "I Can't Live With You", [[CaptainObvious as it were.]]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/71iryn9bi8l_sx355.jpg]]

* SongStyleShift: Midway through "Innuendo", the Middle Eastern sounding song gives way to some classical guitar that sounds very influenced by Greek folk music.

* SanitySlippage: "I'm Going Slightly Mad", which has a bit of unfortunate RealitySubtext to it with Freddie's increasingly poor health probably bringing on these feelings.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Through the sorrow all through our splendor, Don't take offence at my Innuendo.'']]

* OneSceneWonder: Steve Howe plays a few second of flamenco guitar on the title track, but that's one of the most famous parts of the song and album.

[[caption-width-right:350:''Innuendo.'']]

'''''Innuendo''''' is the fourteenth studio album by Music/{{Queen}}, released in 1991. It is best known for being the last Queen album released whilst Music/FreddieMercury was still alive. It produced several hit singles: "Innuendo", "Headlong", "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "The Show Must Go On" and "These Are The Days Of Our Lives".

The album was regarded upon release as Queen's heaviest, darkest record since the early 70s. Whilst Freddie had not mentioned his illness publicly at the time, lyrically, the album is full of references to fighting against illness yet coming to terms with impending death. It is not without humour, however, as both "I'm Going Slightly Mad" (filled with various comedic lines) and "Delilah" (written for Freddie's cat) add some levity in the album.

Freddie's death from AIDS in November 1991 makes this album both bittersweet and uneasy listening depending on the song.

* DarkerAndEdgier: This album was easily the darkest Queen release, a fact which ensured that its singles don't get much airplay. It "helps" that this was the last Queen release Freddie oversaw during his lifetime.
* EpicRocking: The title track "Innuendo", which runs to over 6 and a half minutes long. Despite only running 4:24, "The Show Must Go On" is considered one of Queen's great epics too.

* DarkerAndEdgier: This album was easily the darkest Queen release, a fact which ensured that its singles don't get much airplay.

* SelfDeprecation: "I'm Going Slightly Mad".

* TearJerker: None more so than "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", which effectively serves as Freddie's parting song (even though it was largely written by Roger).

* Tearjerker: None more so than "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", which effectively serves as Freddie's parting song (even though it was largely written by Roger).

Innuendo is the fourteenth studio album by Music/{{Queen}}, released in 1991. It is best known for being the last Queen album released whilst Freddie Mercury was still alive. It produced several hit singles: "Innuendo", "Headlong", "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "The Show Must Go On" and "These Are The Days Of Our Lives".

[[AC: Side One:]]

# Innuendo
# I'm Going Slightly Mad
# Headlong
# I Can't Live With You
# Ride The Wild Wind

# All God's People
# These Are The Days Of Our Lives
# Delilah
# Don't Try So Hard
# The Hitman
# Bijou
# The Show Must Go On

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: "Delilah", sung to Freddie's cat, which features a 'meow' solo.
* ChristmasRushed: Averted. The band finished, and intended it to be released in late 1990, but it was delayed because Freddie was too busy with his treatment at the time.

* EpicRiff: "Innuendo", "Headlong" and "The Hitman" are full of them.

* ExecutiveMeddling: It was decided for the vinyl release that several tracks be edited in order to release the album on one LP, rather than two. In addition, "Don't Try So Hard" was moved to the middle of side two.
* HarsherInHindsight: The whole album, but especially "I'm Going Slightly Mad". Freddie's mental faculties were indeed deteriorating due to his condition.
* NightmareFuel: Several tracks fit this, as Freddie and the rest of the band were trying to come to terms with his death.
* NostalgiaFilter: "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"
* Self-Deprecation: "I'm Going Slightly Mad"

* Tearjerker: None moreso than "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", which effectively serves as Freddie's parting song (even though it was largely written by Roger).

1. Innuendo
2. I'm Going Slightly Mad
3. Headlong
4. I Can't Live With You
5. Ride The Wild Wind

6. All God's People
7. These Are The Days Of Our Lives
8. Delilah
9. Don't Try So Hard
10. The Hitman
11. Bijou
12. The Show Must Go On

BigLippedAlligatorMoment: "Delilah", sung to Freddie's cat, which features a 'meow' solo.
ChristmasRushed: Averted. The band finished, and intended it to be released in late 1990, but it was delayed because Freddie was too busy with his treatment at the time.
ChristianRock: "All God's People" is a rare example of Queen doing this.
DarkerAndEdgier: This album was easily the darkest Queen release, a fact which ensured that its singles don't get much airplay.
EpicRiff: "Innuendo", "Headlong" and "The Hitman" are full of them.
EpicRocking: The title track "Innuendo", which runs to over 6 and a half minutes long. Despite only running 4:24, "The Show Must Go On" is considered one of Queen's great epics too.
ExecutiveMeddling: It was decided for the vinyl release that several tracks be edited in order to release the album on one LP, rather than two. In addition, "Don't Try So Hard" was moved to the middle of side two.
HarsherInHindsight: The whole album, but especially "I'm Going Slightly Mad". Freddie's mental faculties were indeed deteriorating due to his condition.
NightmareFuel: Several tracks fit this, as Freddie and the rest of the band were trying to come to terms with his death.
NostalgiaFilter: "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"
Self-Deprecation: "I'm Going Slightly Mad"
SongStyleShift: Midway through "Innuendo", the Middle Eastern sounding song gives way to some classical guitar that sounds very influenced by Greek folk music.
Tearjerker: None moreso than "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", which effectively serves as Freddie's parting song (even though it was largely written by Roger).

Innuendo is the fourteenth studio album by [[Music/Queen|Queen]], released in 1991. It is best known for being the last Queen album released whilst Freddie Mercury was still alive. It produced several hit singles: "Innuendo", "Headlong", "I'm Going Slightly Mad", "The Show Must Go On" and "These Are The Days Of Our Lives".