"You Don't Fool Me" is a song by British rock band Queen from their 15th and final studio album, Made in Heaven (1995). It was released as a single in February 1996, by Parlophone, in Europe and in November 1996 in the United Kingdom, containing various remixes of the song. The song is one of the few which were actually written and recorded after the Innuendo sessions, and was written and composed by the band, under David Richards' supervision. The song was a top-20 sales chart hit or close to in several European nations, and an airplay chart topper in some of them.
Background "You Don't Fool Me" was one of the last tracks recorded for the album Made in Heaven and came about in a most unusual way. Brian May has explained on his website that all they had were unfinished musical fragments & ideas recorded with Freddie Mercury during his final sessions in Montreux in May 1991 prior to his death. There was no full song to speak of until the Made in Heaven sessions, when co-producer David Richards helped edit these musical ideas together to create the song, creating a basic framework. The remaining band members – May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor – contributed further ideas, and fleshed out the track with instrumentation & backing vocals. The style of the song is reminiscent of their 1982 album Hot Space, and a comment over that featured on their Greatest Hits III album.
Music video The video is set in a night club where a young man encounters his former girlfriend and recounts the memories of their brief relationship. The theme of the song could possibly be a continuation of the story set up by earlier Queen songs "Play the Game" and "It's a Hard Life".
Track listings Original version CD single "You Don't Fool Me" (edit) – 3:54 "You Don't Fool Me" (album version) – 5:25
CD maxi "You Don't Fool Me" (album version) – 5:25 "You Don't Fool Me" (edit) – 3:54 "You Don't Fool Me" (Sexy Club Mix) – 10:18 "You Don't Fool Me" (Dancing Divaz Club Mix) – 7:07
12-inch maxi – Europe "You Don't Fool Me" (Sexy Club Mix) "You Don't Fool Me" (Dancing Divaz Club Mix) "You Don't Fool Me" (B.S. Project Remix) "You Don't Fool Me" (Dancing Divaz Instrumental club mix)
12-inch maxi – U.S. "You Don't Fool Me" (Freddy's Club Mix) – 7:02 "You Don't Fool Me" (album version) – 5:24 "You Don't Fool Me" (Freddy's Revenge Dub) – 5:53 "You Don't Fool Me" (Queen for a Day mix) – 6:33
Remixes CD single "You Don't Fool Me" (B.S. Project remix – edit) – 3:15 "You Don't Fool Me" (edit) – 4:40
CD maxi – UK release only "You Don't Fool Me" (album version) – 5:24 "You Don't Fool Me" (Dancing Divaz Club Mix) – 7:05 "You Don't Fool Me" (Sexy Club mix) – 10:53 "You Don't Fool Me" (Late Mix) – 10:34
12-inch maxi – UK release only "You Don't Fool Me" (Dancing Divaz Club Mix) – 7:05 "You Don't Fool Me" (Late Mix) – 10:34 "You Don't Fool Me" (Sexy Club Mix) – 10:53 "You Don't Fool Me" (album version) – 5:24
Cassette single "You Don't Fool Me" (album version) – 5:24 "You Don't Fool Me" (Dancing Divaz Club Mix) – 7:05
The Sexy Club Mix is the nearly the same on all formats. The UK CD and 12-inch versions list the wrong time of 10:53, when it should only be 10:18 like the other formats list it. The UK CD version has a mastering error and the first four seconds are lost, bringing the running time down to 10:14.
Personnel
Freddie Mercury — lead and backing vocals Brian May — electric and acoustic guitars Roger Taylor — drums, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals John Deacon — bass guitar
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1996)PeakpositionBenelux Airplay (Music & Media) 4Europe Airplay (European Hit Radio) 7Europe Sales (Eurochart Hot 100) 27Europe ( Top 25) 2France Airplay (Music & Media)2 Airplay (Music & Media)1Italy (Musica e dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Queen". 24Poland Airplay (Music & Media) 1Spain Airplay (Music & Media) 1UK Pop Tip Club Chart (Music Week) 2
Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 58Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 70Germany (Media Control) 90
References
External links
Lyrics at Queen official website