Inside my heart is breaking....My make-up may be flaking...But my smile still stays on....

With this phrase full of poetry and melancholy, Freddie Mercury bids farewell to the adoring crowds, who for more than 20 years have shown him limitless adoration, and along with them the other members of the famous British combo, who intend to celebrate the swan song of their undisputed leader in the best way possible. Innuendo emerges as a true masterpiece not only of the entire Queen discography but of the whole history of rock, a worthy heir to their greatest work, A Night At The Opera, recalling the grandeur that the Queen of English rock had unleashed during the mythical 70s.
The eponymous title track is a true bomb, power, style, and creativity condensed into over 6 and a half minutes, where an almost apocalyptic beginning dissolves into a fantastic Spanish-style solo, played by the Yes guitarist Steve Howe, who joined the band for the occasion, followed by an incredible vocal invention by Freddie that almost takes us to paradise, before arriving at a solo of extraordinary power with Brian's guitar on the front lines... a piece that alone is worth buying the album.
We have not yet recovered from the fantastic musical journey the title track has taken us on, when the Queen gently takes us by the hand and immerses us in a dreamlike and absurd atmosphere with I'm Going Slightly Mad in which Freddie makes us understand that he's on the brink of madness, all accompanied by another legendary solo by Brian. The tone changes with the powerful Headlong, a song I love, pure old-fashioned hard rock, where once again the guitar takes center stage, even if it's magnificently supported by the good old Roger's work on the drums.
After such a stunning start, it moves on to a song I honestly don't love much, I Can't Live With You, although the backing vocals and the overall performance by the four are excellent. Don't Try So Hard is instead a desperate cry for help sung in the high tones of Freddie's falsetto, Ride The Wild Wind is one of the most beautiful and aggressive pieces of the album, with Roger on the front lines both in terms of drumming and for the back vocals.
All Gods People is an example of the eclecticism that Queen has always shown throughout their immense career, it is a canonical gospel but with great sonic impact.
We then arrive at another strong piece of the album These Are The Days Of Our Life, which would also be performed by Lisa Stansfield and George Michael at the Freddie Mercury tribute a year later, but here, dear sirs, it's truly different music, "Our" here with a great performance recalls the bygone days of carefree youth, all enriched by another touch of class by Brian and a final dedication to all the fans, that "I still Love YOU" that Mercury whispers at the end with immense sweetness and gratitude to those who have always supported him. The ninth track of the album is Delilah, a non-transcendental piece compared to the others, but it can be appreciated for its irony; it's a dedication to his cat; and for Brian's incredible solo that with his red special perfectly reproduces a cat's meow. We now come to a piece I madly love, it's Hitman, an immense heavy track, with which the group's four members compel us to stick fingers into the electric socket, the headbanging effect is fabulous and the classic, for Queen, ad libitum ending. Bijou, instead, is a delightful instrumental interlude that prepares the ground and atmosphere for what is one of the greatest masterpieces that his Majesty Freddie ever sang and that Queen ever played: The Show Must Go On. Contrary to what many believe, this track was written by Brian and the phrase "My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies" is the last tribute that Brian pays to the friend who is about to depart, who will thank him by delivering one of the most intense vocal performances that human ears have ever heard.

What else is there to say? Absolutely nothing except to insert the disc into the player and be transported on a musical journey without equal and that unfortunately can have no more sequels... but that will remain to testify to the superiority of the greatest Rock Band of all time.

Tracklist Lyrics and Videos

01   Innuendo (06:31)

While the sun hangs in the sky and the desert has sand
While the waves crash in the sea and meet the land
While there's a wind and the stars and the rainbow
Till the mountains crumble into the plain

Oh yes we'll keep on tryin'
Tread that fine line
Oh we'll keep on tryin' - yeah
Just passing our time

While we live according to race, colour or creed
While we rule by blind madness and pure greed
Our lives dictated by tradition, superstition, false religion
Through the eons, and on and on

Oh yes we'll keep on tryin'
We'll tread that fine line
Oh oh we'll keep on tryin'
Till the end of time
Till the end of time

Through the sorrow all through our splendour
Don't take offence at my innuendo

You can be anything you want to be
Just turn yourself into anything you think that you could ever be
Be free with your tempo be free be free
Surrender your ego - be free be free to yourself

Oooh, ooh -
If there's a God or any kind of justice under the sky
If there's a point, if there's a reason to live or die
If there's an answer to the questions we feel bound to ask
Show yourself - destroy our fears - release your mask

Oh yes we'll keep on trying
Hey tread that fine line
Yeah we'll keep on smiling yeah (yeah yeah yeah)
And whatever will be - will be
We'll just keep on trying
We'll just keep on trying
Till the end of time
Till the end of time
Till the end of time

Loading comments  slowly

Other reviews

By AR (Anonima Recensori)

 INNUENDO is a slow agony: it’s almost as if you can see Freddie suffocating, at times falling, at times clinging to the other members of the group.

 THE SHOW MUST GO ON is one of those epic, 'century-spanning' songs.


By AR (Anonima Recensori)

 Innuendo is undoubtedly a record destined to remain in the history of rock.

 'The Show Must Go On,' Freddie’s testament, is perfect and incredible.


By PIXELID

 Almost every lyric was influenced by the situation Freddie was going through, making the album very melancholic, and consequently moving.

 In the opinion of the reviewer, Innuendo is definitely the most beautiful Queen album since the 80s onwards.


By Mercury82

 "The album is an exceptional mix of ballads, poetry, and rock."

 "The Show Must Go On – the testament of his death sung... fantastic!!!!!"


By C.H.A.R.L.I.E Nokia

 Innuendo is a journey within each of us, within our anxieties and weaknesses.

 The Show Must Go On being careful to have a tissue ready to dry the tears of your cathartic cry.