Queen’s John Deacon Quietly Crushes Rock Icons in Bass Showdown

Mia Reynolds, 11/28/2025John Deacon of Queen dominates a recent music poll, showcasing the enduring power of iconic basslines. With hits like "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Under Pressure," the article explores how these grooves shape unforgettable moments in music, asserting that bassists are the true stars of any band.

So it goes, Sky’s latest music poll—launched with a wink ahead of their show “Greatest Bass Lines”—pulled in 2,000 eager respondents, hoping to finally lay to rest the debate about which bass grooves truly set the gold standard. There was a familiar face at the summit. Or, more accurately, a familiar pair of hands: John Deacon of Queen, self-effacing to a fault, helmed four out of ten top slots. At number one, “Another One Bites the Dust.” Just a few places down, “Under Pressure.” Perhaps the real surprise isn’t their inclusion, but how these songs manage to continue commanding collective awe decades after their releases. Not many tracks can lay claim to such longevity in an era now infamously swift to scroll past.

Pause for just a tick. Deacon—so often out of focus in those old Queen videos, quietly working in the background—has now toppled heavyweight legends such as Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones for the unofficial title of bass royalty. A quiet triumph for all those who prefer subtlety over fanfare; the kind of musicians who don’t clamor for the spotlight, but wind up stealing the scene regardless. New Order’s Peter Hook summed it up (with a dash of dry candor): “I’ll always remember a guitarist asking me, ‘Can’t you just play root notes on this one?’ My answer…NO.” Sometimes it really is the most understated voices that leave the biggest mark.

It prompts a question worth pondering: Is the bass just a scaffold, or the actual backbone? Over 80% in the poll leaned toward the latter—citing the line between a merely good song and a truly unforgettable one. Rhythm ruled as king; a slim majority insisted that the groove needs to drive everything else, but nearly as many remain devoted to the power of simplicity. Funny, isn’t it? Sometimes just three or four notes can get seared into the collective memory with as much force as a complicated solo. Like a heartbeat—steady, primal, essential.

The list itself reads like a time capsule of adrenaline. “Radio Gaga” and “Killer Queen” join the headliners and are in fine company. Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” makes an appearance (cue inevitable car singalongs), with “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division adding its own brand of melancholic magic. Then there’s Chic’s “Good Times” and the steady pulse of U2’s “With or Without You”—songs that practically invite the feet to move before the mind catches up. It’s familiar territory, perhaps, but never stale. Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” round out the lineup—classics that never ask permission before planting themselves in the brain.

Look closer and it’s clear—this isn’t simple nostalgia, nor is it just about those high-voltage moments on stage. It’s a pushback against an old myth: that bass is only meant to stay out of the limelight. Nearly half of those surveyed dubbed bassists the true “cool kids” of any band (and honestly, it’s a cool that’s closer to James Bond than James Blunt). Even now, in the streaming era of 2025, there’s something subversively powerful about moving a crowd without ever saying a word.

No shock that pop, disco, and rock lead the parade when it comes to grin-inducing, dance-driven lines. Respondents had a soft spot for pop in particular; perhaps not a huge surprise, given how tracks like “Good Times” can still pack a wedding dancefloor before the DJ has time to cue something newer. But it’s not all about shuffling feet—there’s a spark here, a low-voltage jolt that leaves listeners feeling a little lighter, even if just for the length of a three-minute song.

Sometimes, it’s the small, hidden things that bind a track together. Forget technical gymnastics or studio trickery—what sticks is that secret pulse, the groove below the surface that can’t quite be explained. Sky’s own spokesperson summed it up bluntly: “The best bass lines are instantly recognisable. You’d know them within a second if they were played at a pub quiz.” It’s true—try it. Just one note of “Another One Bites the Dust,” and the room responds before anyone realizes why.

We may be forty years on from Queen’s crown jewel, but those basslines haven’t lost an inch of swagger. Will people still be nodding along in another forty? Odds look good. Tastes shift, bands come and go, and the industry’s churn shows no signs of slowing—but the heartbeat remains, steady and insistent. Even as playlists get ever more infinite, these grooves endure, proof that sometimes, the essentials can still steal the whole show.

There’s something about a great bassline that just stops a room—or at least makes the carpet underfoot feel a bit less solid. It sneaks in, low and sinuous, whether you’re lingering in the corner of a crowded venue or running a quick load of laundry at home, your mind drifting from half-remembered tasks. Then—snap—it’s there: that unmistakable thrum coaxing out involuntary head-bobs or, in bolder moments, a full-throttle “air bass” performance (2025’s preferred living room cardio, apparently).So it goes, Sky’s latest music poll—launched with a wink ahead of their show “Greatest Bass Lines”—pulled in 2,000 eager respondents, hoping to finally lay to rest the debate about which bass grooves truly set the gold standard. There was a familiar face at the summit. Or, more accurately, a familiar pair of hands: John Deacon of Queen, self-effacing to a fault, helmed four out of ten top slots. At number one, “Another One Bites the Dust.” Just a few places down, “Under Pressure.” Perhaps the real surprise isn’t their inclusion, but how these songs manage to continue commanding collective awe decades after their releases. Not many tracks can lay claim to such longevity in an era now infamously swift to scroll past.Pause for just a tick. Deacon—so often out of focus in those old Queen videos, quietly working in the background—has now toppled heavyweight legends such as Paul McCartney and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones for the unofficial title of bass royalty. A quiet triumph for all those who prefer subtlety over fanfare; the kind of musicians who don’t clamor for the spotlight, but wind up stealing the scene regardless. New Order’s Peter Hook summed it up (with a dash of dry candor): “I’ll always remember a guitarist asking me, ‘Can’t you just play root notes on this one?’ My answer…NO.” Sometimes it really is the most understated voices that leave the biggest mark.It prompts a question worth pondering: Is the bass just a scaffold, or the actual backbone? Over 80% in the poll leaned toward the latter—citing the line between a merely good song and a truly unforgettable one. Rhythm ruled as king; a slim majority insisted that the groove needs to drive everything else, but nearly as many remain devoted to the power of simplicity. Funny, isn’t it? Sometimes just three or four notes can get seared into the collective memory with as much force as a complicated solo. Like a heartbeat—steady, primal, essential.The list itself reads like a time capsule of adrenaline. “Radio Gaga” and “Killer Queen” join the headliners and are in fine company. Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” makes an appearance (cue inevitable car singalongs), with “Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division adding its own brand of melancholic magic. Then there’s Chic’s “Good Times” and the steady pulse of U2’s “With or Without You”—songs that practically invite the feet to move before the mind catches up. It’s familiar territory, perhaps, but never stale. Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” round out the lineup—classics that never ask permission before planting themselves in the brain.Look closer and it’s clear—this isn’t simple nostalgia, nor is it just about those high-voltage moments on stage. It’s a pushback against an old myth: that bass is only meant to stay out of the limelight. Nearly half of those surveyed dubbed bassists the true “cool kids” of any band (and honestly, it’s a cool that’s closer to James Bond than James Blunt). Even now, in the streaming era of 2025, there’s something subversively powerful about moving a crowd without ever saying a word.No shock that pop, disco, and rock lead the parade when it comes to grin-inducing, dance-driven lines. Respondents had a soft spot for pop in particular; perhaps not a huge surprise, given how tracks like “Good Times” can still pack a wedding dancefloor before the DJ has time to cue something newer. But it’s not all about shuffling feet—there’s a spark here, a low-voltage jolt that leaves listeners feeling a little lighter, even if just for the length of a three-minute song.Sometimes, it’s the small, hidden things that bind a track together. Forget technical gymnastics or studio trickery—what sticks is that secret pulse, the groove below the surface that can’t quite be explained. Sky’s own spokesperson summed it up bluntly: “The best bass lines are instantly recognisable. You’d know them within a second if they were played at a pub quiz.” It’s true—try it. Just one note of “Another One Bites the Dust,” and the room responds before anyone realizes why.We may be forty years on from Queen’s crown jewel, but those basslines haven’t lost an inch of swagger. Will people still be nodding along in another forty? Odds look good. Tastes shift, bands come and go, and the industry’s churn shows no signs of slowing—but the heartbeat remains, steady and insistent. Even as playlists get ever more infinite, these grooves endure, proof that sometimes, the essentials can still steal the whole show.