"Driven by You" is a song by Queen lead guitarist Brian May from his 1992 solo album, Back to the Light. It was released as the lead single on November 25, 1991, a day after the death of May's Queen bandmate Freddie Mercury.
Besides the original album/single version, there are at least three additional studio versions of the song. The first, originally written for a series of television advertisements for Ford in the UK, is a shorter take with alternative lyrics; it was released as a B-side exclusive to the 12-inch single in the UK. Following the single's release, a version was produced featuring a new drum track by Cozy Powell; this version was released as B-side to the single "Too Much Love Will Kill You" and as a bonus track on the US release of Back to the Light. Finally, May recorded a short instrumental version of the song, titled "Driven by You Two"; this was released as B-side to his single "Resurrection".
"Driven by You" was included on Queen's 1999 album Greatest Hits III; and later re-released on 25 June 2021 to promote the re-release and remastering of Back to the Light (released August 2021), accompanied by a newly-edited and remastered video.
"Driven by You" peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart,[2] number nine in Portugal,[3] number 10 in the Netherlands,[4][5] number 14 in Ireland,[6] and number 35 in Belgium.[7] On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 20.[8] In 1993, the song charted in North America, reaching number nine on the US BillboardAlbum Rock Tracks chart and number 70 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart.[9][10]
"Driven by You" was used by the Ford Motor Company in advertisements for the whole of the Ford range and included World Rally Championship footage of the Ford Sierra Sapphire Cosworth Rally Car. It was then used, at a later date, in an edited version for the launch of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth, in which the Ford Sierra Sapphire Rally car was replaced by the Ford Escort RS Cosworth; in this advertisement, Miki Biasion (a Ford rally driver at the time) compared his rally car to the road-going version.
^Driven by You (UK cassette single sleeve). Brian May. Parlophone. 1991. TCR 6304, 20 4586 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Driven by You (US cassette single sleeve). Brian May. Hollywood Records. 1993. HR-64642-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Driven by You (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Brian May. Parlophone. 1991. 12R 6304, 20 4586 6.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Driven by You (UK CD single liner notes). Brian May. Parlophone. 1991. CDR 6304, 20 4586 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
