Fat bottomed girls might make the rockin’ world go ‘round, but they won’t be helping Queen sell more albums, as the 1978 song has been axed from a recent greatest hits collection aimed at children.
Released on Yoto, an audio platform directed at a kid audience, Queen – Greatest Hits Volume 1 is nearly identical to the 1981 album – the best-selling album in the U.K. ever – with the exception of “Fat Bottomed Girls”, which used to be between “Killer Queen” and “Bicycle Race”, ironically the song it shared a double A-side with upon release. Together, the single hit #11 in the U.K. and #24 in the U.S., going on to become double platinum.
The website has the following disclaimer to accompany the Queen release: “NOTE: 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.” So, just so we’re clear: Beelzebub, cool; Women with a little more junk in the trunk, no go.
While Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” – written by guitarist Brian May – has been interpreted as a song depicting the molestation of a boy by his nanny (sorry to ruin your go-to karaoke song…), it undeniably plays more often as an anthem in support of heavier set women. Think of it as the original “Baby Got Back”, if you will.
The situation involving Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” does call the mind children’s book publisher Puffin trimming many of the references to Augustus Gloop’s weight in new editions of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, part of a sweeping move that also removed terms like “maniac”, “nut” and more from other Roald Dahl books. Like Queen’s greatest hits album, it’s not like original versions are gone forever – which people tend to go into panic about – but it does raise some questions. One does wonder about the necessity of the changes and what it means as far as labeling goes. Is this really the album that’s being advertised? Couldn’t they have worked with Universal to maybe shuffle the tracks and rebrand it entirely?
What do you think? Should the kid-friendly Yoto have removed “Fat Bottomed Girls” from the Queen greatest hits album? Give us your take in the comments section below.