Queen – “The Invisible Man”:
Synths, Shadows, and a Bassline from the Bathtub
Released in August 1989 as the third single from The Miracle, “The Invisible Man” is Queen at their most playful and experimental. Written by drummer Roger Taylor — reportedly while reading H.G. Wells’ novel of the same name — the song sprang to life when a bassline popped into his head mid-bath. That riff became the backbone of a track that fuses electro-funk, rock, and a touch of sci-fi paranoia.
Though credited to the whole band, Taylor was the driving force behind the song. It’s one of the few Queen tracks where all four members are name-checked in the lyrics — a fun Easter egg for fans. Freddie Mercury handles most of the vocals, with Taylor chiming in on the chorus and delivering the rapid-fire “Roger Taylor!” line with a drum flourish.
A Video Game Fever Dream
The music video is pure late-’80s surrealism. A young boy plays a fictional video game called The Invisible Man, only to have Queen — dressed in black and looking like digital villains — burst into his room. Mercury, wearing VR goggles, appears and disappears around the kid’s bedroom while the band rocks out in pixelated chaos. It’s part Tron, part Ghostbusters, and all Queen. The video ends with the boy donning John Deacon’s cowboy hat and walking under a “Game Over” screen — a cheeky nod to the band’s virtual takeover.
See Right Through Me — Or Not
Lyrically, the song plays with the idea of being unseen — not just physically, but emotionally. Lines like “It’s criminal how I can see right through you” suggest a deeper commentary on feeling ignored or underestimated. But Queen keeps it light, wrapping those themes in a groove-heavy package that’s more dancefloor than diary.
While not one of their biggest hits, “The Invisible Man” still cracked the UK Top 20 and remains a cult favorite for its quirky charm and genre-blending boldness. It’s Queen having fun — and reminding us that even when they’re invisible, they’re impossible to ignore.