Context

This line is from the song "We Will Rock You" written by Brian May and sung by Queen, from their album News of the World (1977).

If you've been to a sporting event (or possibly political rally or pep rally) you've heard this song. Written by guitarist Brian May, this tune tells the story of a boy who's living a rough life in the streets, but he's tough so he can handle it—or he thinks he can.

Mostly, the song is just a high-energy chorus, with Freddie Mercury yell-singing while the whole band stomps and claps, ramping up to a sweet guitar solo to wrap things up. It's impossible not to get into the spirit of the thing. Its lack of instruments and chanty-ness really brings people together.

Leave it to Queen to come up with a single recipe for song immortality: Stomp, stomp, clap; repeat. They did it first, and they did it best.

Where you've heard it

Everywhere. Sporting events, school, the radio…this song is so iconic, you've definitely participated in the stomp, stomp, clap bit at least once.

Additional Notable References:

• The 2016 political race will forever chronicle the year that a candidate got trumped by misusing a classic song. You need permission for that.
• There is a musical based on the songs of Queen, appropriately named from this tune.
• You might remember the trifecta of amazingness that was Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Pink doing a rendition of the song in a Pepsi campaign in 2004. Yes, the emperor is the same guy who famously sang, "I can be your hero, baby."
• Jessie J performed the song at the 2012 Olympics with some of the original band members.
• The song is played in the intro to A Knight's Tale.
• Evian (yes, the water people) used the song in a French advertising campaign. It's…interesting, to say the least.
• In a 2015 episode of The Big Bang Theory, the nerds do a version of the song they call "We Will Percussive Shock You."
• There are a bunch of strange Spongebob mash-ups using this song, for some reason.
• The boy band Five covered the song, complete with rap verses. If you don't know who this band is, we won't hold it against you.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Quote away, but don't be surprised if everyone starts stomping and clapping in response.