Flash's Theme - Queen

Artist: Queen
Song: Flash's Theme
Year: 1980
Album: Flash Gordon

This was a bad idea on so many levels, but it worked (for Queen anyway). The movie was so camp, that it was panned by almost everyone upon it's release. It has since developed an audience, but not enough to warrant a sequel (even though it was discussed). The only place that the film was a success was the United Kingdom. Queen and two of the top billed actors came out relatively unscathed from the experience. Those actors being Max von Sydow and Timothy Dalton.

The timing for the soundtrack release couldn't have been worse. It dropped first in the UK, on Monday, December 8, 1980. If that date sounds familiar, it should. Instead of people lining up for the new Queen album throughout the week, the world was preoccupied by the death of John Lennon. The world could care less about a soundtrack to a campy movie. The album wasn't released in the United States until February 1981, two months after the film had premiered.

Despite being attached to a box office bomb, and later a cult classic, Queen's soundtrack provided some memorable moments. This song was the single from the movie and it couldn't have been a wiser choice. The thumping bassline has been imitated countless times and is instantly memorable.

I can remember blasting this on a Walkman walking to school. Most of my friends would join in on the chorus part. If you can imagine a group of kids walking down the street shouting, "Flash! Ah! Ahhhhh!", then you can get a sense of what a treat the neighborhood had on some days.

Lyrics:
Flash - Ah - Saviour of the universe
Flash - Ah - He'll save ev'ry one of us
Seemingly there is no reason for these
Extraordinary intergalactical upsets (ha ha ha)
What's happening Flash?
Only Dr Hans Zarkov formerly at N A S A
Has provided any explanation
Flash - Ah - He's a miracle
This mornings unprecedented solar eclipse
Is no cause for alarm
Flash - Ah - King of the impossible
He's for ev'ry one of us
Stand for ev'ry one of us
He'll save with a mighty hand
Ev'ry man ev'ry woman ev'ry child
With a mighty Flash
General Kaka Flash Gordon approaching
What do you mean Flash Gordon approaching?
Open fire all weapons
Dispatch war rocket Ajax to bring back his body

Flash - Ah
Gordon's alive
Flash - Ah - He'll save ev'ry one of us
Just a man with a man's courage
He knows nothing but a man
But he can never fail
No one but the pure in heart
May find the golden grail oh oh oh oh
Flash Flash I love you
But we only have fourteen hours to save the Earth

Flash