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Rating: The Queen Return to the Studio...
After years of pseudo-rock sound, electric drums, and synthesizers, Queen goes back to work to achieve a result that would revive the commercial power of the group without reigniting the artistic originality of the past. Nevertheless, Freddie and the others somehow manage to exploit those instruments and sounds acquired in the '70s (see "Friends Will Be Friends") to at least partly satisfy the fans’ demands. The album A Kind of Magic was conceived to be simply the soundtrack of the film "Highlander", but Queen did not want to limit themselves to a tracklist entirely built around the cinematic function, hence they tried to emphasize the atmospheres to make them solemn ("Who Wants to Live Forever"), or to emulate the rock-parody of the past with the frenetic pop-rock of "It’s a Kind of Magic". So this review of this semi-masterpiece does not reach derogatory tones, but pauses to define it in an unusual way: A Kind of Magic is a great effort by Queen aiming to bring back the ancient glories of A Night at the Opera and Live Killers in an '80s version. We know they partly succeeded and partly didn't...but now let's move on to a detailed observation of some representative tracks in this sort of magic:
One Vision, the Back in Black of Queen
The track presents itself unusually, as you can hear an undefined phrase recorded backward leading to a fitting introduction in "get ready, the show begins" style, this is how the group reopens the dance, with a curtain and a front-row seat...but will it really be a second night at the opera? Well...yes, but not at those levels; indeed, the guitar riff at the beginning is very pleasant, monumental, expressive, determined yet there is an air of commercialization. The song's lyrics are clearly a reference to Martin L. King's speech, which shows disinterest in the plot of the film "Highlander" that we will find later on. The song's development is decidedly Rock, Mercury’s voice is somewhat overshadowed by the instrumental part but it fits...the theme is energetic, exhortative but ends somewhat disappointingly: it opens up a decidedly useless instrumental phase of synthesizers and random guitar effects that definitively send the AC/DC atmosphere flying. "One Vision" is a nice song, quite emphatic and pompous, but Queen is Queen...
It’s a Kind of Magic...rock in the disco
In front of such a classic, it is difficult to give a precise definition, a full mark to such a comedy of errors swapping Pop rock for Disco and Pop for Rock...guys, let’s not forget we are listening to a Queen album...genius or schizophrenia? I must tell you I like this song but certainly, it’s not Rock...as in all of Freddie & co.'s songs there are always elements reminiscent of Rock (like the omnipresence of solos and catchy riffs) or elements that deny Rock itself (i.e., when Pop elements are found in Rock)...here's an example. However, Queen manages to give a very pleasant sound to this song by kickstarting great creativity and compositional ability. Here we find some characteristics that describe Queen from 1980 to 1989, namely the presence of finger snaps (as in "Under Pressure and Body Language" both released in 1982) and the presence of a bass base on which the entire song is gradually built (see "Dragon Attack of 1980 or "The Invisible Man" of 1989). It is, therefore, a typically Queen piece: many things put together, without logic...but it pleases and a lot. I think we should take a cue from all this and start forgetting about the technical-formal aspect of music, thus great things would be done. To conclude, I'll just say that indeed, it is "a kind of magic", for a person very attached to classic rock it leaves something to be desired, but for those who rely on free listening, it is one of those tunes you hum all week long without realizing it.
Who Wants to Live Forever...
Who wants to live forever?... and here the theme shifts from the triumphs of a screaming, little technical guitar to the theme of the film "Highlander". The song has a predictable structure, but one cannot deny the great power Mercury's voice offers to this song. The instrumental part is efficient, it does its duty of creating the right atmosphere, particularly the percussion is used sublimely, even May with his Red Special admirably contributes to the development of this Rock orchestra growing larger throughout the execution of the track. Probably the judgment for this piece ends at a crossroads: for some, it could be a bucket of honey poured on, something sweet and commercial, an abuse of Freddie Mercury’s great voice, for others it is one of the greatest masterpieces of the Queen genre, a melancholic and at the same time triumphant serenade, in short, a piece to be enjoyed thoroughly. Now it's up to you to decide; after all, most attentive Queen listeners know that the hardest thing when listening to one of their tracks is precisely understanding its meaning, its true
After all...
After analyzing these three tracks, I think I must leave the privilege to the reader to give their own opinion on the other pieces of this mystical Pop-rock puzzle...so before concluding, I assure you that even the songs I haven’t described follow the same thread as those I’ve already talked about...except for "Pain Is So Close to Pleasure and One Year of Love", two songs with quite pleasant rhythm (especially the first, a minor success single released only in Germany and a few other countries) and with a decidedly different sound, we’re talking about a very light Pop: these two pieces can be defined as light serenades accompanying the listener after the energy of considerably more lively rhythms, a simple "soft-pop" break...quite unusual in a respectable Rock album.
The Conclusion...
Nice album, very Queen, especially very Brian May and Roger Taylor...it's a pity that it’s not quite what their fans would have expected in 1979 when Live Killers closed the golden age of Queen. In fact, A Kind of Magic too with the Magic Tour triumphantly closes the great 1973-1986 tour.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 A Kind of Magic (04:24)
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
A kind of magic
One dream one soul, one prize
One goal, one golden glance of what should be
It's a kind of magic
One shaft of light that shows the way
No mortal man can win this day
It's a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
It's challenging the doors of time
It's a kind of magic
The waiting seems eternity
The day will dawn of sanity
Is this a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be gone
This flame that burns inside of me
I'm hearing secret harmonies
It's a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
It's challenging the doors of time
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be, will soon be
Will soon be gone
This is a kind of magic
There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be gone
Magic – it's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
Magic, magic, magic, magic
It's magic
It's a kind of magic
04 Pain Is So Close to Pleasure (04:22)
Words and music by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon
Ooh ooh pain is so close to pleasure oh yeah
Sunshine and rainy weather go hand in hand together all
your life
Ooh ooh pain is so close to pleasure everybody knows
One day we love each other then we're fighting one another
all the time
When I was young and just getting started
And people talked to me they sounded broken hearted
Then I grew up and got my imagination
And all I wanted was to start a new relation
So in love but love had a bad reaction
I was looking for some good old satisfaction
But pain is all I got when all I needed was some love and
affection
Ooh ooh pain is so close to pleasure yeah yeah
Sunshine and rainy weather go hand in hand together all
your life
Pain and pleasure
Ooh ooh pain and pleasure
When your plans go wrong and you turn out the light
But inside of your mind you have to put up a fight
Where are the answers that we're all searching for
There's nothing in this world to be sure of anymore
Some days you're feeling good some days you're feeling bad
But if you're feeling happy someone else is always sad
Let the sweetness of love wipe the tears from your face
For better for worse so let's make the best of the rest of our
years
Ooh ooh pain is so close to pleasure I told you so
Sunshine and rainy weather go hand in hand together all
your life
Pain and pleasure
Ooh ooh pain is so close to pleasure yeah yeah
Sunshine and rainy weather go hand in hand together all
your life
All your life
Pain - pleasure ....
06 Who Wants to Live Forever (05:17)
There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams
Yet slips away from us
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment
Set aside for us
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Who dares to love forever?
When love must die
But touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever?
Forever is our today
Who waits forever anyway?
09 Princes of the Universe (03:33)
Here we are - born to be kings
We're the princes of the universe
Here we belong - fighting to survive
In a world with the darkest powers
And here we are, We're the princes of the universe
Here we belong, fighting for survival
We've come to be the rulers of your world
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings
I have no rival, no man can be my equal
Take me to the future of your world
Born to be kings, princes of the universe
Fighting and free, got your world in my hand
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand
We were born to be princes of the universe
No man could understand, my power is in my own hand
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh
People talk about you, people say you've had your day
I'm a man that will go far, fly the moon and reach for the stars
With my sword and head held high
Got to pass the test first time - yeah
I know that people talk about me I hear it every day
But I can prove you wrong cause I'm right first time
Yeah Yeah
Alright
Watch this man fly
Bring on the girls
Here we are
Born to be kings
We're the princes of the universe
Here we belong
Born to be kings
Princes of the universe, Fighting and free
Got the world in my hands, I'm here for your love
And I'll make my stand
We were born to be princes of the universe.(echo echo echo)
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Other reviews
By claudio1
The complete resurrection of Queen happens in 1986, the year in which "A Kind of Magic" emerges.
A masterpiece is the next track... Who Wants To Live Forever, a song of great depth and substance thanks especially to the presence of the orchestra.
By Danilo1987
The album, in my opinion, remains the best in Freddie Mercury and co.'s discography and definitely their best '80s record.
'One Vision' is a very powerful and rocking song in perfect Queen style, which will also open the concerts of the new (and unfortunately last) Queen tour.
By Axlspark
'Who Wants To Live Forever' is a MASTERPIECE!!!!!
The guitar intro in 'Gimme The Prize' is the best in Queen’s entire career.
By Io Ho Il Pene
This album is made up of songs, and now I’ll make the playlist so I can tell you what the songs are like: for example, 'Kind Of Magic', which in the background has quite psychedelic disco keyboard sounds, new genius sounds that renewed techno-rock where Freddy’s voice stretches out in all its fiery power.
If I were you, I would make this immortal album mine, and the 400 thousand souls at Wembley Stadium that night are the most striking demonstration of this.
By andrew1992
"A Kind Of Magic is rightly considered the rebirth of Queen after the dramatic decline in quality of the previous albums."
"Freddie shows an enviable tenor vocal performance... consecrating him as one of the most beautiful voices ever."
