owes a lot to former Queen crackers ‘We Are the Champions’ and
‘Play the Game’. Written with cynicism, perhaps.
Who Wants to Live Forever ����
A Brian May composition, ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ is a duet
between himself and Mercury. A great, symphonic moody number,
it is one of the best compositions the band had recorded since their
1970s heyday.
Gimme the Prize ��
‘I have something to say – It’s better to burn out than to fade
away.’ With lyrics straight out of Highlander, ‘Gimme the Prize’
is a hard-hitting rocker but, unfortunately, a little too rock-by-
numbers for good nature’s taste.
Don’t Lose Your Head ��
‘No don’t lose you head, Don’t lose you head, Hear what I say,
Don’t lose your way – yeah.’ A Taylor number, ‘Don’t Lose Your
Head’ is a pounding number, replete with a massive keyboard riff.
Princes of the Universe ����
Highlander’s theme song, ‘Princes of the Universe’ is a complex
heavy piece of work, with sections of choral singing. A much more
interesting hard hitter than most of Queen’s work since the 1970s.
Conclusion
Queen’s twelfth studio outing is based on the hit movie
Highlander, and although it only managed to make it to No.
46 in America, ‘A Kind of Magic’ topped the charts in the UK,
remaining there for sixty-three weeks, and spawned three hit
singles. Arguably Queen’s best album of the 1980s.
Overall rating: ���