1. One Vision
2. A Kind Of Magic
3. One Year Of Love
4. Pain Is So Close To Pleasure
5. Friends Will Be Friends
6. Who Wants To Live Forever
7. Gimme The Prize (Kurgan's Theme)
8. Don't Lose Your Head
9. Princes Of The Universe
Recorded at Townhouse, Musicland and Mountain Studios After Queen stole the show in Live Aid,
the enthusiasm among the members of Queen was bigger than ever, and soon they were
back on the studios to release their next album. By those days they received a call from
Russell Mulcahy, a director who had worked before directing music videos for Elton John
and Duran Duran. He told them he was fascinated by their music, and they
would be the perfect band to create the musical score for the movie 'Highlander', which was
directed by him. Queen saw the movie, they liked it, and inspired by it they created 5
songs, while Mulcahy was expecting just one. The movie was a huge success, and of course
the album too. 'A Kind Of Magic' is the Queen album with more songs released as singles
(7 out of 9). Perhaps that enthusiasm they had, made this album one of Queen's best.
UK release: 2nd June 1986
Highest Chart Position: 1 (63 weeks on chart)
Award status: Double platinum
Highest American Chart Position: 26 (13 weeks on chart)
Highest Japanese Chart Position: 25 (5 weeks on chart)
Highest French Chart Position: 1
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 2
Highest Italian Chart Position: 8 (15 weeks on chart)
Produced by Queen, Mack and David Richards
Engineered by Mack and David Richards
UMI and BBC B (computer keyboards)
Some songs on this album appear in a different form in the film 'Highlander'.
One Vision
Words and music by Queen
Released on November 4th 1985
Highest UK Chart Position: 7 (10 weeks on chart)
Highest USA Chart Position: 61 (10 weeks on chart)
Highest Australian Chart Position: 10
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 21 (5 weeks on chart)
One Vision was Queen's celebration to that astonishing perfomance at Live Aid. During 'The Works' world tour, they were so stressed that they were thinking about having another long break (or maybe a break up), but after July 16th 1985, things changed completelty, and they weren't just the biggest band in the world, but also the happiest. This song is featured on the film 'Iron Eagle'.
(God works in mysterious ways ... mysterious ways)
One man, one goal, one mission
One heart one goal just one solution
One flash of light, yeah one God, one vision
One flesh, one bone, one true religion
One voice, one hope, one real decision
Wo, wo, wo, wo, gimme one vision
No wrong, no right
I'm gonna tell you there's no black and no white
No blood, no stain
All we need is one world wide vision
One flesh, one bone, one true religion
One race, one hope, one real decision
Wo, wo, wo, wo, oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
I had a dream, When I was young
A dream of sweet illusion
A glimpse of hope and unity
And visions of one sweet union
But a cold wind blows and a dark rain falls
And in my heart it shows
Look what they've done to my dreams
So give me your hands, give me your hearts... I'm ready
There's only one direction
One world, one nation, Yeah, one vision
No hate, no fight, just excitation
All through the night it's a celebration wo, wo, wo, wo yeah
One, one, one, one...
One flesh, one bone, one true religion
One voice, one hope, one real decision
Gimme one light, Gimme one hope
Just gimme
One man, one man
One bar, one night
One day, hey, hey
Just, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Fried chicken
A Kind Of Magic
Words and music by Roger Taylor
Released on March 17th 1986
Highest UK Chart Position: 3 (11 weeks on chart)
Highest USA Chart Position: 42 (11 weeks on chart)
Highest Australian Chart Position: 10
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 4 (13 weeks on chart)
Another hit for Roger Taylor, and the first Queen song made for 'Highlander'. The song topped the charts in 35 countries worldwide. The video directed by Russell Mulcahy, was the first Queen video with computer animation.
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
Is 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 done
This flame that burns inside of me
I'm here in secret harmonies... It's a kind of magic
The bell that rings inside your mind
Is challenging the doors of time
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
The rage that lasts a thousand years
will soon be, will soon be, Will soon be (done)
This is a kind of magic, There can be only one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be done, done
Magic, it's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
Magic, magic, magic, magic
Ha ha ha, it's magic
It's a kind of magic
One Year Of LOve
Words and music by John Deacon
Released on October 1986
String arrangement by Lynton Naiff
Sax by Steve Gregory
This is a very nice Jazz ballad written by John. Part of the 'Higlander' film, and featured on that part where McLeod is on that Bar.
Just one year of love, is better than a lifetime alone
One sentimental moment in your arms
Is like a shooting star right through my heart
It's always a rainy day without you
I'm a prisoner of love inside you -
I'm falling apart all around you - yeah
My heart cries out to your heart
I'm lonely but you can save me
My hand reaches for to your hand
I'm cold but you light the fire in me
My lips search for your lips
I'm hungry for your touch
There's so much left unspoken
And all I can do is surrender
To the moment just surrender
And no-one ever told me that love would hurt so much (Oooh yes it hurts)
And pain is so close to pleasure
And all I can do is surrender to your love
Just surrender to your love
Just one year of love, is better than a lifetime alone
One sentimental moment in your arms
Is like a shooting star right through my heart
It's always a rainy day without you
I'm a prisoner of love inside you
I'm falling apart all around you
And all I can do is surrender
Pain Is So Close To Pleasure
Words and music by John Deacon and Freddie Mercury
Released on August 20th 1986
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 26 (4 weeks on chart)
A song with a cool taste of pop. Just like 'Cool Cat' from 'Hot Space', this song feautures Freddie singing in falsetto, which makes him sound like a 'Spice Girl'
Oooh, oooh, pain is so close to pleasure, oh yeah
Sunshine and rainy weather go hand in hand together all your life
Oooh, oooh, 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
Oooh, oooh, pain is so close to pleasure, yeah, yeah
Sunshine and rainy weather go hand in hand together all your life
Pain and pleasure, Oooh, oooh, 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
Oooh oooh 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, Oooh, oooh, 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 ....
Friends Will Be Friends
Words and music by John Deacon and Freddie Mercury
Released on June 6th 1986
Highest UK Chart Position: 14 (8 weeks on the chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 17 (7 weeks on the chart)
This is a very nice song. One of those Queen songs that when played live, people would hold their hand all together. The video features the crowd with shirts that said: "I'm a Queen friend".
Another red letter day, So the pound has dropped and the children are creating
The other half ran away, Taking all the cash and leaving you with the lumber
Got a pain in the chest, doctor's on strike, what you need is a rest
It's not easy love but you've got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends, When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends, When you're through with life, and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands because friends will be friends, right till the end
Now it's a beautiful day, The postman delivered a letter from your lover
Only a phone call away, You tried to track him down but somebody stole his number
As a matter of fact, You're getting used to life without him in your way
It's so easy love because you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends, When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends, When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands because friends will be friends, right till the end
It's so easy love because you got friends you can trust
Friends will be friends, When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends, When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands because friends will be friends, right till the end
Friends will be friends, When you're in need of love they give you care and attention
Friends will be friends, When you're through with life and all hope is lost
Hold out your hands because right till the end
Friends will be friends
Who Wants To Be Forever
Words and music by Brain May
Released on September 15th 1986
Highest British Chart Position: 24 (5 weeks on the chart)
Highest Dutch Chart Position: 7 (9 weeks on chart)
Orchestra arranged by Michael Kamen and Brian May
Performed by The National Philharmonic Orchestra
A song written by Brian in the back of a Rolls Royce. The first Queen song played with a complete orchestra, and not just any orchestra. The arrangements where made by Brian and Michael Kamen, who made the arrangements for Pink Floyd's 'The Wall', and recently Metallica's S&M. I had the chance to see Metallica with the orquestra in New York, and it was truly unbelievable.
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?
Gimme The Prize (Kurgan's Theme)
Words and music by Brain May
This song is quite similar to 'Princes Of The Universe'. It features dialogues from 'Highlander', and has a Scotish hornpipe in the middle which sounds pretty cool.
...garage and water from the sprinklers
It also left a man's decapitated body lying on the floor
next to his own severed head
a head which at this time has no name
'I know his name'
Here I am I'm the master of your destiny
I am the one the only one, I am the god of kingdom come
Gimme the prize, just gimme the prize
Give me your kings let me squeeze then in my hands
Your puny princes, Your so called leaders of your land
I'll eat them whole before I'm done
The battle's fought and the game is won
I am the one the only one, I am the god of kingdom come
Gimme the prize just gimme the prize
'Now you die'
'I have something to say,it's better to burn out than to fade away...
There can be only one'
Move over, I said move over
Hey, hey, hey, clear the way
There's no escape from my authority - Didn't I tell you
I am the one the only one I am the god of kingdom come
Gimme the prize just gimme the prize
I am the one the only one, I am the god of kingdom come
Gimme the prize
'THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE'
Don't Lose Your Head
Words and music by Roger Taylor
Joan Armatrading: incidental vocals
Dedicated from Roger to John, who once went to a Phil Collins concert, and backstage both were drinking for a while. Way back home, John was stopped by cops for exceeding the speed limit, and when they found out he was drinking, they suspended his license for some months, in which John had nothing left to do than riding the subway.
Don't lose your head, Don't lose your head
Don't lose your head (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
Remember love's stronger, remember love walks tall
Don't lose your heart (Don't lose your heart)
No don't lose your heart (Don't lose your heart)
(Hear what I say) Hear what I say - yeah
(Don't lose your way) Don't lose your way - yeah
Remember love's stronger, remember love walks through walls
Don't drink and drive my car, Don't get breathalised
Don't lose your head
If you make it to the top, and you wanna stay alive
Don't lose your head
Don't lose your head
Don't lose your head (Don't lose your head)
No don't lose your head (Don't lose your head)
(Hear what I say) Hear what I say - yeah
(Don't lose your way) Hey don't lose your way
Remember love's stronger remember love conquers all
Don't lose your head, Don't lose your head
Don't lose your head, Don't lose your head
Don't lose your head, Don't lose your head
Princes Of The Universe
Words and music by Freddie Mercury
Released on March 17th 1986
Highest Australian Chart Position: 32 (10 weeks on chart)
We hardly see Freddie writing heavy songs, but this one is 'DA BOMB!'. The video features Queen on a similar stage seen on the 'Highlander'movie, with an special appearance by Christopher Lambert. Freddie and Lambert can be seen on the video fighting for survival. If you have seen 'Highlander' or the recently 'Highlander-The Series', you might know this song.
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
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh
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 cos' 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
