Woke row erupts after 'Fat Bottom Girls' cut from Queen's greatest hits

Freddie Mercury on stage

A woke row has exploded after Queen’s Fat Bottomed Girls has been discarded from a greatest hits compilation targeted at younger listeners

PA
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 21/08/2023

- 17:46

Updated: 21/08/2023

- 17:48

Other hit songs will appear on the album but with an online content warning

A woke row has exploded after Queen’s Fat Bottomed Girls has been discarded from a greatest hits compilation targeted at younger listeners.

Chiefs says the new compilation of Queen hits released by Universal Music will not feature the 1978 single which celebrates the beauty of a “heap big woman”.


The greatest hits album has been made available on Yoto, an audio platform specifically aimed at children.

The removal of the song will mean a younger generation will be shielded from lyrics which describes an infatuation with “Fat bottomed girls” who “make the rockin’ world go round”.

The greatest hits album has been made available on Yoto, an audio platform specifically aimed at children

PA

The track - which was written by Brian May - includes the lyrics: "I was just a skinny lad, Never knew no good from bad, But I knew life before I left my nursery, left alone with big fat Fanny, she was such a naughty nanny, big woman, you made a bad boy out of me".

Other hit songs including Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You do feature, however the tracks come with an online content warning.

The warning on the Yoto website says: "Please note that the lyrics in some of these songs contain adult themes, including occasional references to violence and drugs.

"These are the original and unedited recordings. Whilst no swear words are used parental discretion is advised when playing this content to or around younger children."

The album hopes to help the new generation encounter and appreciate Queen, with the Yoto website stating: "Queen are one of those bands that bring generations together… and now their greatest hits are available for kids to enjoy on Yoto.

"It’s the ideal introduction to the music of Queen for young music lovers and the perfect soundtrack to kitchen dance parties, road-trip singalongs, bedtime air guitar sessions… and much much more."

The track reached number 11 in the UK charts and previously appeared on a 1981 Greatest Hits album released by Queen.

Bosses say the release has been unveiled with a young audience in mind as part of a Universal Music strategy to pitch to children.

Sarah Boorman, head of youth Strategies, Universal Music UK, previously explained: “The partnership between UMG and Yoto is the first time any major frontline music will be available on the Yoto service.

“At UMG, we believe that children should have access to a rich and varied musical offering so that they may foster a life-long love of music of all types.

"We are excited to launch with Queen’s iconic Greatest Hits 1 album as our first release, with many more historic releases set to follow in the coming months.”

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