The Miracle Tracklist
Queen’s 13th studio LP dropped in May 1989, 3 years after its predecessor, A Kind of Magic. The “Magic Tour” had been huge, and the band needed a break. The tour culminated in a mammoth show in Knebworth, in August 1986. That it was Freddie Mercury’s last tour with Queen just wasn’t in the cards, not in 1986.
In January 1988 Freddie Mercury initiated the recording process. He then confirmed his health status with the band. Freddie’s disgruntled former manager, Paul Prenter, had previously gossiped, at length, about Freddie and his health status to UK tabloids. Brian May’s divorce and relationship with actress Anita Dobbs was also a biting celebrity scoop. Both ordeals inspired May to write “Scandal”, although the band decided to equally share songwriting credits for every track, and the sessions were unusually collaborative. The album cover design captures this, poignantly.
The first single, “I Want it All” penned by May (with credit to all four) not only rocked, it was anthemic, with pop appeal.
Topping the charts in a European swath, it bowed out at #3 in the UK. It was (almost) a global success; on Billboard’s Hot 100 it peaked at a cold #50.
In Europe and elsewhere (but not in the U.S.) four more singles made an impact, each promoted by high-budget videos: “Breakthru”, “The Invisible Man”, “Scandal” and “The Miracle”.
The LP’s generally optimistic sound both reveals and betrays the band’s struggle, given Mercury’s struggle, with healthy flashes of hope. And so it defies any Innuendo regarding Mercury’s health. The album’s somber and/or strong moments aren’t as subtle, only in hindsight. E.g., “Who said that my party was all over?", and “Was It All Worth It?”, a metal cruncher with symphonic overblown synth majesty. Mercury delivers the obvious implications (Queen’s career) in full, powerful voice, adamantly, with a dash of humor.
There is one underrated track that lacks optimism and subtlety. “Scandal” packs an emotional wall of angst strewn in a cheesy synth-and-guitar Brian May arrangement, like he’s some kind of cheese? Isn’t this May’s “Death on Two Legs”?
