The Rolling Stones song Taylor Hawkins compared to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
There are few songs quite as epic as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Unveiled to the world in 1975, Queen’s five-minute masterpiece hurtled through a harmonised opening, a dramatic admission of murder, a screeching guitar solo, repeated declarations of “Galileo”, and a raucous rock section, remaining unpredictable throughout its entire runtime. It would become one of Queen’s signature songs, as well as a classic of the genre and a karaoke staple.
The beauty of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, and the reason it continues to capture audiences almost half a century on, stems from its mercurial nature. It’s a song that entertains in its refusal to stay in one place, flitting between operatic sections and complete rock and roll with ease. It entirely commits to the progressive part of progressive rock, each section pushing further into grandeur and greatness.
The late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins described the tune as a “journey song” during a chat with Louder Sound. “I love the format of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and ‘Band On The Run’,” he shared, “Those ‘journey’ songs that go from point A to point B to point C and point D, and end up somewhere completely different to where they started.”
Hawkins suggested that the Rolling Stones had achieved the same feat four years earlier, putting out their own journey song akin to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’. A seven-minute display of the band’s unparalleled grasp on rock and roll as well as their groovier, jazzier influences, the tune was recorded in one take without a strum out of place.
“‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ is the Stones’ ‘journey’ song,” Hawkins declared, “It’s almost their version of prog rock, if you will. It takes you down this route that you don’t know where it’s going to end. And I’m not sure they did when they were writing it.” Between the saxophone and the guitar solo, he suggested that the song has “got it all.”
While ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ isn’t quite as artsy or grand as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, it certainly sprawls out just as much. It journeys through markedly different musical sections, from a sublime opening riff to an expansive jam-style outro, showing off the band’s wide-ranging sonic interests. It also shows off the talents of every individual band member.
Mick Jagger leads the congregation with gospel-style vocals, while Bobby Keys, contrary to his surname, shines on the saxophone. Charlie Watts’ talents behind the drumkit stood out, particularly to fellow drummer Hawkins, who suggested that he has an “unmistakable backbeat” and a “rough elegance“.
This phrase could be used to describe the entirety of ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’. There’s a natural rough elegance to the sprawling selection of rock riffs and jazz instrumentation. It’s nowhere near as polished as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – and it wasn’t meant to be; it was a jam that the band had unknowingly recorded – but it’s still just as epic.
Many bands will spend their careers trying to create something as grand as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, but the Stones did it in a one-take jam session. As Hawkins suggested, ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’ is a true journey song, one that invites listeners into the studio with the Stones and leaves them in awe of their talents. It’s a different kind of journey to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, but a journey song nonetheless.
