Queensrÿche - Speak (Remastered)

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Album: Operation: Mindcrime
Year: 1988
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The song was written by vocalist Geoff Tate and guitarist Michael Wilton, and was produced by Peter Collins.
Lyrically, "Speak" is a pivotal moment in the album’s narrative, following the story of Nikki, a drug addict turned revolutionary assassin under the influence of the manipulative Dr. X. The song captures Nikki’s growing megalomania and commitment to the revolutionary cause, as he embraces his role as a "new messiah" and "death angel with a gun." The chorus, with the repeated call to "Speak the word (Revolution), the word is all of us," reflects Nikki’s rallying cry to the oppressed to rise against a corrupt system controlled by corporations and the wealthy. The lyrics critique societal inequalities, with lines like “The system we learn says we’re equal under law / But the streets are reality, the weak and poor will fall.”
Musically, "Speak" is characterized by its urgent, heavy metal energy, with a massive, anthemic chorus and intricate instrumentation typical of Queensrÿche’s progressive metal style. It blends complex song structures with powerful riffs and Tate’s dynamic vocals, contributing to the album’s reputation as a genre-defining work.
A promotional music video for "Speak" was released in 1989, directed by Chris Painter and produced by Friend Michael Wells. It features black-and-white performance footage of the band, interspersed with scenes of a man lighting a candle, though it avoids dramatizing the album’s narrative directly.

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