Queen - A Kind of Magic
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On June 2, 1986, "Queen" released their 12th studio album "A Kind of Magic".
Few albums in "Queen"'s catalogue are as closely associated with a specific cultural moment as "A Kind of Magic". Arriving in the aftermath of the band's legendary "Live Aid" performance and drawing heavily from their work on the 1986 film "Highlander", the album captures a group that had fully mastered the language of arena rock. It is not "Queen"'s most adventurous record, nor their most consistent, but it remains one of the defining statements of their later career.
Six out of the album'snine songs on the album appeared in "Highlander", although in different versions so some concider it as an unoficoal soundtrack for the film. In addition, The opening track - "One Vision" was featured in the film "Iron Eagle" a year earlier.
Produced by "Queen", Mack and David Richards, the album balances cinematic ambition with radio ready songwriting. The result is a record that often feels split between soundtrack grandeur and stadium spectacle, yet that tension gives the album much of its personality.
The album opens with "One Vision". An atmospheric synthesizer introduction, crafted by Brian May, is abruptly shattered by a crushing guitar riff that immediately announces the album's larger than life ambitions. While synthesizers remain a key part of the arrangement, they never overshadow the song's muscular rock foundation. Roger Taylor's thunderous drumming and John Deacon's rock solid bass work provide a formidable rhythmic backbone, amplifying the track's weight and helping transform it into one of "Queen"'s most powerful opening statements of the 1980s.
The title track "A Kind of Magic" remains one of "Queen"'s most recognizable singles of the decade. Originally written by Roger Taylor for "Highlander", it was reshaped into a vibrant pop anthem by Freddie Mercury, whose vocal performance transforms a clever concept into something genuinely memorable. The heavier, rockier alternate version of the song was played during the end credits of "Highlander".
"One Year of Love" reveals a different side of "Queen". Written by John Deacon, the track leans heavily into contemporary adult pop and soul influences, replacing Brian May's guitar with lush keyboards and expressive saxophone lines by Steve Gregory.
"Pain Is So Close to Pleasure" finds "Queen" venturing into territory rarely explored elsewhere in their catalogue. Written by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, the song draws heavily from Motown and soul influences, blending a danceable groove with layered vocal harmonies and a polished pop production.
Written by Mercury and Deacon "Friends Will Be Friends" delivers one of the album's strongest arena anthems. It is one of the last of Mercury's piano ballads, built around a simple piano progression and an enormous chorus. The song which did not feature in "Highlander" recalls the communal spirit of earlier "Queen" classics like "Play the Game" and "We Are the Champions".
The album reaches its emotional peak with "Who Wants to Live Forever". The song was written by Brian May after viewing an early cut of "Highlander" and sung in the album version as a duet between him and Mercury. Its orchestral arrangement arranged and conducted by Michael Kamen, gradually expands around one of Mercury's finest vocal performances, moving from quiet reflection to heartbreaking grandeur.
If there is a track that fully embraces the film's mythology, it is "Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)". Written by Brian May, the song is among the heaviest moments on "A Kind of Magic", driven by crushing guitar riffs, lead guitar lines, bends, tapping, slides, and an atmosphere of unrelenting menace. Dialogue excerpts from "Highlander" are woven into the arrangement, blurring the line between rock song and cinematic soundtrack. May's ferocious guitar work dominates the track, delivering some of the album's most aggressive playing, while Freddie Mercury adopts a commanding vocal presence that perfectly complements the song's dark character.
"Don't Lose Your Head" features singer Joan Armatrading and takes its name from a line spoken in "Highlander". It is heavily rooted in mid 1980s production trends with synthetic textures and drum machine.
The closing "Princes of the Universe" delivers one final burst of theatrical excess. Ut is the film's theme song and the only song on the album for which Mercury received sole credit. Built around aggressive riffs, dramatic tempo changes, and powerful vocal from Mercury, it is showing "Queen" returning to their hard rock roots. Brian May's guitar work is particularly impressive here, shifting effortlessly between razor sharp riffing and soaring melodic leads.
By 1986, "Queen" were no longer the progressive risk takers who created masterpiece albums in the 70s. They had evolved into masters of scale, writing songs designed for stadiums, cinema screens, and global audiences. The album may lack the consistency of masterpieces such as "A Night at the Opera" or "News of the World", but its finest moments remain among the strongest recordings of the band's later years.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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