Fans react to Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls being removed from Greatest Hits collection for younger audience

22 August 2023, 18:46

The 1978 single - penned by Brian May - has been left off a new compilation of Queen's Greatest Hits which features on new audio platform Yoto.

Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls' has been dropped from the band's new Greatest Hits collection.

The 1978 song, which was written by guitarist Brian May, features lyrics such as 'fat bottomed girls, you make the rockin' world go round' - featured on the band's original 1981 greatest hits album alongside tracks such as Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You.

However, when Universal Records announced they would be releasing a version of the album on Yoto - a new audio platform aimed at younger listeners - the single was nowhere to be seen.

Fans have reacted to the move on Twitter, sharing their thoughts on the choice to remove the track.

Many believe the main issue lies in the subject surrounding a plus sized woman, but many have pointed out the song has far more problematic lyrics.

Get some of the reactions below.

Watch the band perform the song Live at Milton Keynes Bowl in 1982:

Queen - Fat Bottomed Girls (Live at The Bowl 1982)

• Brian May wrote more of Queen's hits than you thought
• How an amazing gig gave Queen the idea for We Will Rock You
• What are Queen's biggest songs?

Reacting to the move, one fan wrote: "I've got a fat bottom, and I'm not offended lol".

Another wrote: "Oh please - it’s a great song and positive too. Also extremely tame next to most of the rubbish made today. Besides, we do make the world go round!"

David wrote: "You can try and hide it but Fat Bottomed Girls is still out there and is still a great track".

However, another Twitter user pointed out that the actual lyrics of concern in the song surround an inappropriate relationship.

Another user agreed that it was the lyrics about a "nanny" that were problematic, writing: "#FatBottomedGirls is trending in the UK with people going nuts that the song has been left off a re-release of Queen's Greatest Hits LP. But that's not the whole story"

They added: "It was left off a re-release on a children's platform, due to the lyric about the Nanny".

However, Emma found a funny side, writing: "Why am I trending on twitter?"

• How an amazing gig gave Queen the idea for We Will Rock You
• Which Queen songs did John Deacon write?
• Why there isn’t a “hidden message” on Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust

Fat Bottomed Girls was released as a double A side with Bicycle Race and both songs refer to each other in their lyrics.

Queen performed the track live in concert from 178 to 1982 and it has featured on the setlist of Queen + Adam Lambert's tours in 2021, 2014,2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

The song went platinum in the UK and double platinum in the United States and peaked at number 11 on the UK singles chart.

It has featured in various film and TV shows and was given a new lease of life when it featured in an episode of Glee.