The band formed in London in 1970 after May and Taylor's former band Smile split after having released an album and single. Freddie replaced lead vocalist Tim Staffell, after the latter's departure from the original trio.
There was much deliberation as to what the band's name would be. May and Taylor had settled upon the Grand Dance, derived from a C.S. Lewis Trilogy of books Out Of The Silent Planet.
Ultimately, the band went with Queen, a name that was entirely Freddie's. Originally Roger and, especially, Brian did not like the name, though Mercury would eventually persuade them both that it was "right" for the band.
"Years ago I thought up the name Queen... It's just a name, but it's very regal, and it sounds splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. "
- Freddie Mercury.
Queen went through several bass players before a young electronics major by the name of John Deacon arrived on the scene in January of 1971.
"Until John, it had been exploding bass player syndrome. If they musically worked they'd look all wrong, and if they felt all right they couldn't play. - Brian May.
This quite shy guy turned up with his immaculate Rickenbacker bass and immaculate amplifier, plugged in, and as soon as he started playing we realized it was right." - Brian May.
Later that year, the band was secured recording time at the newly built De Lane Lea studio, and used the opportunity to record several songs that would later appear on their debut album - Liar, Keep Yourself Alive, Jesus, and The Night Comes Down. The demo reel was passed around from producer to producer with little success, until a staff member of Trident records by the name of Roy Thomas Baker was introduced to the band by fellow Trident producer John Anthony. Baker dropped in to watch the band at work and, clearly liking what he heard, recommended Queen to his superiors.
It was eventually agreed upon that the fledgling band could record at Trident studios, though after already-established artists had finished their work, such as the likes of Elton John and David Bowie. Relegated to the wee hours of the morning to record the remaining tracks of their first album, the band nonetheless stuck it out until they reached their ultimate goal of "perfection".
Queen's self-titled debut album was released in 1973 and received little attention from the general public. They quickly followed it a year later with a second album, "Queen II" which also failed to generate much interest from music fans in Britain, despite the success of the album's single, Seven Seas of Rhye, which would reach #10 on the charts after the band's mimed appearance on Top of the Pops.
The band's second album was recorded with a higher budget than the first, and the band threw everything they had into recording it. Queen II was somewhat of a "concept album", split into "White Side" vs. "Black Side".
As was in their nature, the band pressed onward after the mediocre success of their first two albums, immersing themselves in a world-wide tour to promote Queen II. Queen played in America for the first time, as a support act for Mott the Hoople.
Sheer Heart Attack would be released later that year, focusing more on being accessible to listeners, than the grand and complex ideas of the previous two albums. The recording of their third album was met with some hardships, as May fell victim to a series of illnesses brought on by an infected inoculation, required for the band's rigorous touring schedule.
Sheer Heart Attack brought even more success for the band, with May's Now I'm Here and the song that would be the band's "turning point", the Mercury-penned Killer Queen, the latter of which would reach #2 on the UK charts.
During this time, the band began developing a huge following in Japan and witnessed their popularity for themselves when they visited the country, mainly in 1975, to promote their fourth and most famous album "A Night At The Opera", featuring the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody".
Queen's popularity grew steadily through the latter half of the 70s as they released hit album after hit album, reaching its peak in the mid-80s after their "Live Aid" appearance, and continuing into the early 90s before Mercury's untimely death on 24th November 1991. The official cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
Over the course of their 30 year career, the band did sound tracks for two films ("Flash Gordon" and "Highlander"), released a string of live and studio albums, and had many many fans across the world.
In 1995, 4 years after Mercury's death, the band released the album "Made In Heaven". This album saw the surviving band members in the studio completing or reworking unused vocals, unreleased variations of Freddie solo material (a Queen version of "I Was Born To Love You" for example), and tracks where Brian and Roger added lyrics to flesh out a song ("Mother Love").
Queen have been on indefinite hiatus since 1997, when John Deacon decided to retire.
Several "Queen + ..." projects have been developed in the following years, a few of them mere remixes with no artistic involvement from the band. In 1999, a "Greatest Hits III" album was released. This featured, among others, "Queen + Wyclef Jean" on a rap version of "Another One Bites the Dust", a live version of "Somebody to Love" performed by George Michael, and a live version of "The Show Must Go On" performed live in 1997 with Elton John.
Brian May and Roger Taylor have performed together as Queen on several occasions (award ceremonies, charity concerts, and the like), sharing vocals with various guest singers. They have also recorded several covers of Queen's hits with guest vocalists, including "We Will Rock You" (first with Five and later Britney Spears, Beyonce, John Farnham and P!nk) and "We Are the Champions" (with Robbie Williams).
On the 14th of May 2002 the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You' opened in the Dominion theatre in London's 'West End'. A Musical about young people in the distant future who aren't allowed to listen to music not generated by computers. Various Queen songs are used in the story, played by a live band. This live band was supported by Brian May and Roger Taylor on the premiere evening.
At the end of 2004, May and Taylor announced that they would reunite and return to touring in 2005, with Paul Rodgers (founder and former lead singer of Free and Bad Company). Brian May's website also stated that Rodgers would be 'featured with' Queen as 'Queen + Paul Rodgers', not replacing Mercury. The retired John Deacon would not be participating.
Between 2005 and 2006 Queen + Paul Rodgers embarked on a world tour, the first leg in Europe and the second, Japan and then the US in 2006. On 15 August 2006, Brian May confirmed through his website and fan club that Queen + Paul Rodgers would begin producing their first studio album beginning in October, to be recorded at a "secret location". The album, titled The Cosmos Rocks, was released in Europe on 12 September 2008 and in the United States on 28 October 2008. Following the album the band again embarked on a tour through Europe, opening on Kharkiv's Freedom Square in front of 350,000 Ukrainian fans. The show in Ukraine was later released on DVD.
Queen and Paul Rodgers officially split up without animosity on 12 May 2009. Rodgers did not rule out the possibility of working together again.
Since 2012, Queen has been touring with Adam Lambert as the frontman.
More information about Queen + Paul Rodgers can be found on their last.fm page.
Official website: www.queenonline.com
Discography:
1.- Queen (1973)
2.- Queen II (1974)
3.- Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
4.- A Night at the Opera (1975)
5.- A Day at the Races (1976)
6.- News of the World (1977)
7.- Jazz (1978)
8.- The Game (1980)
9.- Flash Gordon (1980)
10.- Hot Space (1982)
11.- The Works (1984)
12.- A Kind of Magic (1986)
13.- The Miracle (1989)
14.- Innuendo (1991)
15.- Made in Heaven (1995)
A Kind of Magic
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(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
(It's a kind of magic)
The bell that rings inside your mind
It's a challenging the doors of time
(It's a kind of magic)
The waiting seems eternity
The day will dawn of sanity
It's 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
Is 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 only be one
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be gone (gone)
Magic, it's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
Magic, magic, magic, magic
Magic, ha ha ha ha it's magic
Ha ha
Yeah, yeah
It's a kind of magic
The lyrics of Queen's song "A Kind of Magic" suggest the existence of a mystical force that gives people the power to achieve their goals. The song speaks of a collective dream, soul, prize, and goal, hinting at the idea of unity in purpose. The line "One golden glance of what should be" paints a picture of a utopia, something that people strive for but can never fully attain. The song's narrator believes that this utopia is attainable if they can follow the "one shaft of light that shows the way."
However, this path is not an easy one, as "no mortal man can win this day." The singer acknowledges the difficulty of achieving their goals but remains determined to succeed. The "bell that rings inside your mind" represents the voice inside a person's head that pushes them toward their goal. This voice challenges the doors of time, meaning that time is not a significant obstacle to success.
The song ends on an optimistic note, suggesting that the rage that lasts a thousand years and the flame that burns inside the singer are temporary obstacles that will soon disappear. The magic alluded to throughout the song is a symbol of hope and perseverance, a force that motivates people to keep striving for their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
(It's a kind of magic)
This song is explaining a unique sense of magic that can't be described but is felt by everyone who experiences it.
One dream, one soul, one prize, one goal
The magic being referenced is a unifying force that brings people from all walks of life together, allowing them to share the same aspirations and dreams.
One golden glance of what should be
The magic is a fleeting moment of clarity that illuminates the path toward the realization of an ideal future.
One shaft of light that shows the way
The magic is a guiding force, akin to a lighthouse beacon, that helps people navigate through the challenges of life.
No mortal man can win this day
The magic is beyond the power of any one person to manifest or control. It requires a collective effort to achieve.
The bell that rings inside your mind
The magic is a thought or idea that resonates deeply within each person, inspiring them to take action.
It's a challenging the doors of time
The magic represents an attempt to break free from the constraints of the past and create a new future.
The waiting seems eternity
The journey toward realizing the magic can feel endless and uncertain, but the reward is worth it in the end.
The day will dawn of sanity
Eventually, the magic will lead to a state of balance and clarity, bringing a sense of peace and resolution to those who pursued it.
There can be only one
The magic is a singular pursuit that requires focus and dedication. It cannot be shared or divided among many people.
This rage that lasts a thousand years
The frustration and despair that often accompany the pursuit of the magical goal can feel all-consuming and last for an indeterminate amount of time.
Will soon be gone
However, the magic promises to eventually overcome this rage and replace it with peace, joy, and fulfillment.
I'm hearing secret harmonies
The pursuit of the magic can reveal hidden connections between people and ideas, creating a sense of unity and purpose.
Magic, it's a kind of magic
The song returns to its opening assertion that this magic is an inexplicable force that defies simple explanation but is deeply felt and transformative.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Roger Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@a.b.6867
It's a kind of magic
It's a kind of magic
A kind of magic (No way)
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 (Ooh ooh ooh ooh)
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 hearing 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
This rage that lasts a thousand years
Will soon be, will soon be, will soon be done
This is (this is) a kind (a kind) of magic (yeah)
There can be only one (one, one, 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)
It's a kind of magic
@Batman-jc5uc
This is what happened when a graphic designer, electrical engineer, dentist/biologist and an astrophysicist form a band.
@garyolson3597
The smartest rock and roll band of all time.
@Bauldehistorias2.023
A perfect kind of magic
@saraa136
I’m in love with a bunch of nerds and I like that :’)
@mrmosquitoxd9351
its true hhahahhah
@leonaraya2149
Inmortals!!!
@filipnesic2362
the dislikes are from people who can't handle this kind of magic
@giacomomartinelli5185
Totally agree!!!
@obscureironwork2511
@Pluto Jaguar the dislikes are from complete and utter cunts
@mikew7561
The Highlander Soundtrack! Amazing Band A great movie