# Back Chat > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Back_Chat > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Back_Chat.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Chat > Source revision: 1329539587 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{About|the Queen song|other uses|Back chat (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox song | name = Back Chat | cover = Queen-Back Chat.jpg | alt = | caption = UK single picture sleeve | type = single | artist = [Queen](/source/Queen_(band)) | album = [Hot Space](/source/Hot_Space) | B-side = [Staying Power](/source/Staying_Power_(Queen_song)) | released = *9 August 1982 (UK) *23 November 1982 (US){{cite web|url=https://www.queenvault.com/backchatsingle.html|title=Queen Vault singles|website=Queen Vault }} | recorded = 1981 – 1982 | studio = | venue = | genre = * [Funk rock](/source/Funk_rock) * [new wave](/source/New_wave_music){{cite web|last=Sage|first=Tyler|title=40 Years Ago: Queen Releases a Minor Gem in 'Back Chat'|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-back-chat/|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=9 August 2022}} | length = * 4:31 (album version) * 4:10 (single version) * 6:55 (12" extended version) | label = *[EMI](/source/EMI) (UK) *[Elektra](/source/Elektra_Records) (US) | writer = [John Deacon](/source/John_Deacon) | producer = {{hlist|Queen|[Reinhold Mack](/source/Reinhold_Mack)}} | prev_title = [Staying Power](/source/Staying_Power_(Queen_song)) | prev_year = 1982 | next_title = [Radio Ga Ga](/source/Radio_Ga_Ga) | next_year = 1984 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|y6QGP0OUaV4|"Back Chat"}}}} }} "'''Back Chat'''", written by the bass guitarist [John Deacon](/source/John_Deacon), is the track most influenced by funk on the 1982 [Queen](/source/Queen_(band)) album ''[Hot Space](/source/Hot_Space)''. The song is a prime example of how Deacon was strongly pulling the band into dance orientated genres such as [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues), [disco](/source/disco), and [funk](/source/funk).{{cite web |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/gp-flashback-/April-2010/111745 |title=Brian May Interview |author=Obrecht, Jas |publisher=Guitar Player (January 1983) |access-date=18 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102131812/http://www.pemcom.demon.co.uk/queen/articles/bhm8301.html |archive-date=2 January 2007 |url-status=live |df=dmy }} It reached #40 on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart), #18 in South Africa{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(Q).html|access-date=5 September 2018}} and a #19 entry in Ireland. The track was performed on the [Hot Space Tour](/source/Hot_Space_Tour) at a faster tempo, with a more rock-oriented arrangement. "Back Chat", the title, is an English idiom referring to "impertinent or impudent replies, especially to a superior".{{cite web|url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/14364?rskey=vuRAA9&result=1#eid |title=backchat |publisher=Oxford University Press | work=Oxford English Dictionary |access-date=7 May 2013}} In a ''Rolling Stone'' album review, critic John Milward described the musical style of the song as: "a hot rock-funk tune, with guitar tracks as slick as an icy dance floor."John Milward, [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/hot-space-19820610 "Queen: Hot Space"], ''Rolling Stone'', 10 June 1982 ==Critical reception== Upon its release, Johnny Waller of ''[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine))'' called "Back Chat" "custom made disposable pop in a sense", but believed it would be a "huge hit and deservedly so". He continued, "It's a great little pop song, with a deft guitar ripple intro, a bass line that [Grandmaster Flash](/source/Grandmaster_Flash) will liberate as soon as he hears it, and a simple, catchy danceable tune."{{cite magazine |last=Waller |first=Johnny |title=Singles |magazine=[Sounds](/source/Sounds_(magazine)) |date=14 August 1982 |page=30 |issn=0144-5774}} == Track listings == '''7" Single''' A Side. "Back Chat" (Single Version) – 4:10 B Side. "Staying Power" – 4:10{{Cite web|title=Queen "Hot Space" album and song lyrics|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/songs/hot-space.htm#Staying%20Power|access-date=2020-12-09|website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}} '''12" Single''' A Side. "Back Chat" (Extended Version){{cite web |title=Ultimate Queen |url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/index.htm |website=www.ultimatequeen.co.uk}} – 6:55 B Side. "Staying Power" – 4:10 ==Personnel== {{More citations needed section|date=December 2017}} Instruments sourced from Queenvinyls.{{cite web|title=From Harpsichord to Synthesizer and beyond: an introduction to Queen Organology |url=https://queenvinyls.com/articles/from-harspichord-to-synthesizer-and-beyond-an-introduction-to-queen-organology/|access-date=2023-05-09|website=queenvinyls.com|date=11 October 2016 }} *[Freddie Mercury](/source/Freddie_Mercury) – lead and backing vocals *[Brian May](/source/Brian_May) – electric guitar solos *[Roger Taylor](/source/Roger_Taylor_(Queen_drummer)) – [Simmons drums](/source/Simmons_SDS-V) *[John Deacon](/source/John_Deacon) – bass guitar, electric guitars, [Jupiter-8](/source/Roland_Jupiter-8), [Linn LM-1](/source/Linn_LM-1) ==Chart performance== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1982) !Peak
position |- {{singlechart|Ireland2|19|song=Back Chat|artist=Queen|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- |South Africa ([Springbok Radio](/source/Springbok_Radio)){{cite web|title= South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (Q) |publisher= Rock.co.za |url= http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(Q).html |access-date=8 October 2020}} |align="center"|18 |- {{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|40|song=Back Chat|artist=Queen|artistid=21275|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |- |France ([SNEP](/source/SNEP)){{cite web|publisher= chartssinglestop40france.blogspot.com |url= https://chartssinglestop40france.blogspot.com/p/1970-1978-de-r-z.html|title=1970-1989 de P à R |access-date=9 May 2023}} |align="center"|8 |- {{singlechart|West Germany|69|song=Back Chat|artist=Queen|songid=122806|accessdate=3 August 2020}} |} == References == {{Reflist}} ==External links== * Official [YouTube](/source/YouTube) videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6QGP0OUaV4 original music video], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8L3nVZhIeE Live at The Bowl] * [http://www.queenonline.com/en/the-band/discography/hot-space/#lyrics Lyrics at Queen official website] {{Queen singles}} {{authority control}} Category:1982 songs Category:1982 singles Category:Queen (band) songs Category:British new wave songs Category:Funk rock songs Category:Songs written by John Deacon Category:Song recordings produced by Reinhold Mack Category:EMI Records singles Category:Elektra Records singles Category:Hollywood Records singles {{1980s-rock-song-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Back Chat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Chat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Chat?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.