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“Who Wants to Live Forever” is a song by the English rock band Queen. The song is the sixth track on the album A Kind of Magic, released in June 1986, and was written by guitarist Brian May for the soundtrack to the film Highlander. The song is used to frame the heart-wrenching scene in the film where Connor MacLeod must endure his beloved wife Heather growing old and dying while he, as an Immortal, is forever young. (It was later used in the television series of the same name, in the episodes “The Gathering”, “Revenge is Sweet”, “The Hunters”, and “Leader of the Pack”).
May sings lead on the first verse before Freddie Mercury takes over for most of the remainder of the song. The version which can be heard in the film is unique, in that it features Mercury singing lead vocals on the first verse. Mercury also sang the lead in live performances.
An instrumental version of the song, titled
Forever, was included as a bonus track on the CD version of the album. This instrumental featured only a piano, with keyboard accompaniment during the chorus sections. The piano track was recorded solely by Brian May.
Interviews With Queen::
Brian May - 2003, Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD commentary.:
“This is a very different era, of course. The song was written – I’ve documented this very well, I know – but what happened was we went to see the Highlander rushes with Russell Mulcahy, and that was our first experience in any way with Highlander – I hadn’t read the script; I don’t think any of us had – and it was very moving. about a man who becomes conscious that he’s immortal, and he’s reluctant to accept that fact, but he’s told that if he falls in love he’s in big trouble, but of course he falls in love anyway.
May sings lead on the first verse before Freddie Mercury takes over for most of the remainder of the song. The version which can be heard in the film is unique, in that it features Mercury singing lead vocals on the first verse. Mercury also sang the lead in live performances.
An instrumental version of the song, titled
Forever, was included as a bonus track on the CD version of the album. This instrumental featured only a piano, with keyboard accompaniment during the chorus sections. The piano track was recorded solely by Brian May.Interviews With Queen::
Brian May - 2003, Greatest Video Hits 2 DVD commentary.:
“This is a very different era, of course. The song was written – I’ve documented this very well, I know – but what happened was we went to see the Highlander rushes with Russell Mulcahy, and that was our first experience in any way with Highlander – I hadn’t read the script; I don’t think any of us had – and it was very moving. about a man who becomes conscious that he’s immortal, and he’s reluctant to accept that fact, but he’s told that if he falls in love he’s in big trouble, but of course he falls in love anyway.
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Budapest 1986
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A Kind of Magic
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Greatest Hits II
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Classic Queen
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Live at Wembley '86 (disc 1)
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Shouts
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Banba777 wrote:
pell de gallina ...oh sí ....
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MrSeraphic wrote:
:'( makes me fragile... i love it so much <3
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jayssnake1977 wrote:
only the best band to ever exist in the whole world ever! Freddy was amazing and nobody will ever get close to his capabilities, I am straight man but i love him to bits! R.IP> Freddy>
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ABM1708 wrote:
With great songs like this. . . . I want to live forever!
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kemming wrote:
awesome beautiful
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redsnowrose wrote:
Of all the music I listened to as a kid (and HATE now) I still love queen. This song is gorgeous!
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ArtOfNothing wrote:
!!!
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flawahp wrote:
immortal
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KorkSonya wrote:
КАТАРСИС! timeless and epic Song.
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Jigsaw_x wrote:
This is probably the most beautiful song by them. An all time favorite. I'm so sorry I forgot how I loved this (':
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mickymiss wrote:
I love this soooong <333333333333
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MackZarebsky wrote:
"when love must die" <- probably the best vocal moment in rock history...
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ellainie wrote:
this is etched forever on my heart.... i'm still waiting to find my true love
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Yojan wrote:
Just beautiful on every level.
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MrJansen wrote:
Such a perfect song!
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griffman82 wrote:
Awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Tabbycat1 wrote:
First heard it as a kid, because Queen were one of the very few rock bands my family liked, so I was listening to Queen from the start of my life and even before (apparently my parents went to a Queen concert when my mother was expecting me and even then I just couldn't stay still when I heard Queen). However, I think the first time I remember hearing this song in particular was shortly after Freddie Mercury died (I was 7 years old at the time) and I cried my eyes out. For years afterwards I couldn't hear it without crying and was really embarrassed about the fact because various people made fun of me for getting so upset by a song. Years later, I read in Classic Rock magazine that the lead singer of my favourite band had also cried the first time he heard it because it was so spot-on.
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Vash1414 wrote:
I didn't know it was for Highlander! Brilliant song though. :)
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lfc4life94 wrote:
one of the best songs ever. love it!!!!!!!!!
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Timitzi wrote:
this is one of those 10-15 songs i never listen to, it's something like a "mental LP"..you cannot listen to it too many times or it will somehow ruin, loose its charm.. [2]
Queen
Who Wants to Live Forever
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