"A Kind of Magic" is the title track of the 1986 album of the same name by the British rock band Queen. It was written by the band`s drummer, Roger Taylor, for the film Highlander and featured as the ending theme. The single reached number three in the UK Singles Chart, the top 10 in a number of European countries, and number 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song is the opening track on the band`s compilation albums, Greatest Hits II, and Classic Queen.[1]

Recording

Highlander

The phrase "a kind of magic" is used in Highlander by Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) as a description of his immortality. Roger Taylor liked the phrase so much that he used it as inspiration for the song. There are references to the film in the lyrics: "one prize, one goal"; "no mortal man"; and "there can be only one". The single`s cover art features an image of Clancy Brown in character as the film`s villain, The Kurgan.

Composition

Taylor wrote the song, which originally appeared in the movie Highlander. Brian May described this original version as "quite lugubrious and heavy".[2] For the album version, Freddie Mercury created a new bass line, added instrumental breaks, and changed the song`s order to make it more chart friendly. Mercury and David Richards produced this new version.[3]

In a radio interview in September 2017, Chris Rea claimed that he performed the finger clicks with which the song opens.[4]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Howard Johnson of Kerrang! believed that "A Kind of Magic" would be a hit, but noted how, like the band`s 1984 hit "Radio Ga Ga", it is "overloaded with keyboards, [leaving] poor guitarist Brian May once again reduced to a supporting role".[5] Mike Gardner of Record Mirror remarked that the band "plod through `Radio Ga Ga` territory without any pretensions to anything as lowly as a song". He added that it is "rescued from total evaporation by Freddie`s spirited vocals and some marvellous, but all too brief, guitar pyrotechnics from Brian May".[6] Karen Swayne of Number One gave the single a one out of five star rating, calling it "really, really boring".[7]

In the US, Cash Box commented how it "simmers and teases with tastes of classic Queen trademarks – stacked vocals and harmony lead guitar parts".[8] Nancy Erlich, writing for Billboard, suggested that the "rolling little rhythm item" would help the band "overcome its recent career slump". The reviewer added that the "bombast level is noticeably reduced, and the beat`s just right for summer".[9] Dave Sholin of the Gavin Report also believed the song would change the band`s "top 40 cold streak" and commented on how the "mercurial vocals and demon bass line showcase this exceptional Roger Taylor song". He concluded, "They`ve not had a song with this kind of symmetry in half a decade and, on the verge of becoming a self-parody, they pull it out of the fire".[10]

Music video

The music video for this song was directed by Russell Mulcahy, director of Highlander. Brian May did not use his famous Red Special guitar in the music video, but instead a 1984 copy. In the video, Mercury is dressed as a magician type figure. He enters an abandoned theatre (The Playhouse Theatre in London) where May, Taylor and John Deacon (all dressed as stereotypical tramps) are asleep until awakened by Mercury`s entrance. Mercury transforms the hobos into the Queen members, dressed regularly with their instruments, then back to hobos again as he leaves. Throughout the video, cartoon images dance to the beat of the song which were produced by The Walt Disney Company.[citation needed] As May later remembered, the theater was old and derelict, and lacking central heating, so the band were quite cold during the March filming.

Live performances

The song was a live favourite on The Magic Tour of the same year, which proved to be Queen`s last tour before the death of Freddie Mercury. Taylor often included the song in solo set lists, and those with his band The Cross. On the Rock the Cosmos Tour of Europe, Taylor took lead vocals for the song at some concerts.

Legacy

The single was certified platinum in Brazil for more than 100,000 digital downloads of the single.[11]

Queen`s compilations The Platinum Collection, Classic Queen, and Greatest Hits II all make an unsubstantiated claim that the song was a number-one hit in 35 countries.[12]

Musical theatre actress Elaine Paige recorded the song on her album of Queen covers The Queen Album in 1988.[13]

The song serves as the theme song and title inspiration for the 2008 French animated television series A Kind of Magic.

In May 2022, South Korean boy group Enhypen was chosen as the 2022 Coke summer campaign artist for the brand`s "Coke x Music. Engrave the Magic of Summer" message. The group performed the song on 8 June through Coke Studio and the result was released digitally on streaming platforms.[14]

A cover of the song by Danna Paola, Felukah, and Tamtam was featured in the 2022 FIFA World Cup official songs with added lyrics in Spanish and Arabic.[15]

Personnel

• Freddie Mercury – lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, sampler
• Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
• Roger Taylor – drums, drum machine, backing vocals, synthesizer
• John Deacon – bass guitar
• Chris Rea – fingerclicks
• Spike Edney – synthesizer

Charts

Certifications and sales