The Perfect Feel: John Deacon

 The Perfect Feel
John Deacon
19 August 1951

John Deacon is known for his long tenure as a Bass Player for The Rock Band Queen. Deacon had written some of the band's biggest hits including Top 10 hits "You're My Best Friend", "Another One Bites the Dust", and "I Want to Break Free"; co-wrote "Under Pressure", "Friends Will Be Friends" and "One Vision".

As compared with his Queen bandmates, Freddie Mercury , Brian May , and Roger Taylor seem to be always the news cringe person band. But Deacon had some share of his limelight, through his works... musically .

Queen was one of the most successful band that came out of Britain and have been a global presence in popular culture for more than five decades.

Queen's music was diverse and profound. Their earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock and heavy metal, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating different styles, such as Opera, Arena rock and yes pop rock.

I was fortunate to grew up in a house with a plethora of music that was part of our daily lives. We learn to love music through my Father, as he would regularly Blast his speakers with music ranging from Neil Young , Abba, Jim Croce, Whites Snake, and Spyro Gyra
and through him i was able to listen to Queen's music at an early age.

However , it was not 2 decades after , until i really was able to get deep in to band's discography when i heard Metallica's version of "Stone Cold Crazy" and learning that "Sail Away Sweet Sister" (- and together with Gran Funk Rail Road's "Bad Time" which was a prelude to a live version of Guns N' Roses' Sweet Child O' Mine" from a VSH tape GN'R Live in Tokyo which circulated heavily at that time). oh and of course When that Freddie Mercury Tribute came out .

that would eventually lead me to listening to the album 'Sheer Heart Attack" which have became my favorite Queen album, and eventually would picture how the music progresses with their succeeding album, and of course learning how individually were an amazing musician.

Joh Deacon was the Ringo Starr of the band, though less eloquent. his music has taught a great sense to me, that among with so many great articulate bass players like Matt Freeman, Flea Balzary, Billy Sheehan, .. at the opposite end , there 's a quiet, efficient and a great songwriter in John Deacon.

Who could argue with his resume? a simple one note bass line that accentuate a great song in "Under Pressure" and Perhaps brought immense success to rapper Vanilla Ice's career by ripping off the main riff ( Bass line) of the song. or how about the steady resounding bass line in "Another One Bites The Dust". these bass line need to technical proficiency of a Jaco Pastorious. But i gotta give credit to the band, Queen collectively were intelligent writers/musician, they know how to accentuate a simple part and made it a thing.

Deacon can be intricate as well when needed, one his best written song, and one of his best melodically driven bass line "You're My Best Friend".

and the lesson? making music doesn't need always to be intricate, its about getting the right feel.

i hear you John.