I Want It All by Queen

Album: Miracle (1989)

Charted: 3 50

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This song is about having ambition and a drive to get things done. Brian May wrote the song, which was inspired by his wife, Anita Dobson, who used to say, "I want it all and I want it now." Dobson is an English television actress. >>
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Anna - Ann Arbor, MI
For Brian May to write such a proud and powerful anthem at the time, especially based on something Dobson said, was a statement of intent - his first marriage had broken up partly due to the affair he was having with Dobson. This caused him a great deal of depression, which seemed to come out in songs like this.

Also considering this was one of the first singles off Miracle, which was around the time Mercury revealed to his bandmates that he was suffering declining health, it has all the marks of a band coming out fighting - the accompanying music video also backs this theme up. See "Scandal" (also on the album) for a similar feel, with lyrics more specifically targeted towards those 'against' Queen at that time - largely the mainstream media.
Freddie Mercury takes lead vocals on this song, with May singing and duetting with Mercury in several lines in the pre-solo bridge ("I'm a man with a one track mind, so much to do in one lifetime...").
This is one of a number of Queen singles released from 1987 onwards, when the band had stopped touring because of Mercury's declining health. As such, this is one of many songs that Freddie never sung live. Many others have, however, including Rodger Daltrey from The Who, who performed a show-stopping vocal on this song at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992, which also featured Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath on guitar.

The song remains a live favorite and has been a fixture on the "Queen+" tours, both with Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert.
This was used in the 2013 movie Despicable Me 2 and in the 2018 Cobra Kai episode "Mercy."

Comments: 11

Dan Gillespy. from Courtenay Bc.A very super cool far out hard rocking Queen song with a killer far out fast guitar lead.
Dan Gillespy from Courtenay BcThis song rocks.
Yogi from DenmarkI love this song! It’s a total jam and Singstar always Rates my singing voice good when I sing it which makes me like it even more :D
Star Commander Zurg from The 33rd Squadron From The Planet Of Xy-52456746Deaky: I Want to Break Free
Brian: I want To Live Forever
Roger: I want to Testify
Freddie: I WANT IT ALL
Maristella from PhilippinesFreddie would have had a blast singing this song and all the Queen's post 1986 songs live in their concerts, if only things went on differently for him. I often wished he lived a longer life but I couldn't imagine Freddie growing old and gray. In my mind he is the picture of the world's greatest performer that he was in Live Aid '85 - forever young and beautiful., not to mention, awesome!
Bob from Owen Sound, Oni actually thought it was Freddie singing the whole song until i saw the video. Brian has very nice though, second best in Queen. close to first.
Phil from Edmonton, AbGreat performance of this song in We Will Rock You.
Adam from Boyce, VaGreat song. Has that anthem like quality to it. Would have been a staple on any future Queen tour after it was released. Unfortunatley Freddie never got a chance to sing that one live but it would have definetly been a great Arena Rocker!
Alexandra from Zagreb, CroatiaNo, not really, Matthew. Okay, maybe you get that feel, though I honestly don't see how. It was always a song of ambition to me. And one of my favourites. Because I too want it all and I want it now.
Matthew from Milford, MaGetting things done? It sounds to me that this song is more about sympathy for the plight of the poor, and a drive to improve their conditions, even if the rich have to be ****ed in order for it to happen. (In other words, it's quite well-suited for me!) Modern-day Robin Hood, anyone?
Nick from Murrieta, CaI love this song! And I love Brian May! He wrote all the best queen songs!