This was from the movie Highlander which came out in 1986. It was about a man that was immortal but the woman he loved was mortal and was dying. Thanks for the reactions! You have a great day!
She should see the film. Tangent on the soundtrack: There was a legal problem with making a soundtrack album, so Queen's workaround was putting out the album called A Kind of Magic, which has the main songs from it including W.W.t.L.F.
@@triman95 He was 17. Partly due to cost of a new guitar, but also his dad was good at building things, he was an electronics engineer. The body was made out of an old table, and they even built the neck from scratch which is not an easy thing to get right ( most custom built ones these days people just buy a pre-built neck ). And the electronics in it are a custom design.
An observation to newer fans of Queen. Queen is NOT Freddy Mercury. Queen is a BAND. Queen is May-Deacon-Mercury-Taylor. All 4 are songwriters; individually and in collaboration with each other. All 4 can sing (although Mercury sings lead on most songs). All 4 have written hit songs that newer fans seem to attribute to Freddy. They were a great BAND.
I agree. The same can be said for "Journey" Steve Perry was their singer and also contributing song writer, But most of Journey's song were written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry and Guitarist Neal Schon. Journey was not just Steve Perry, as some young people believe. Also, in my opinion, Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry are two of the greatest singers in Rock ever!
Bassist John Deacon mostly didn't sing, beyond simple backing vocals for some things. When Freddie died he chose not to continue with Queen, except for some work to finish an album, then he left. He lives a mostly quiet life now though Brian says they continue to consult with him on any legal Queen matters.
You should watch the official version of this song, Brian sings the first verse and Freddie does the rest. It really is a beautiful version. The song was written for the film "The Highlander". To simplify the story line, the main character is immortal and has to watch the people he loves die over and over again.
I always hear it as the line “ Who wants to live forever when love must die “ meaning you don’t want to live forever when the people you love will die. I really have no idea what it actually means especially since I know it was for a movie but that’s how it makes me feel. 😁
One of my favorite Queen songs. As already shared, this was written for the movie Highlander. Queen did the music for the movie. For fun you can check out 3 different versions of “It’s A Kind Of Magic”, the official video that includes the studio version, the live performance from Wembley in 1986, and the one that very few folks listen to which is the movie version from the film Highlander that was featured during the ending credits of the film.
Freddie learned he was dying by at least 1987, so it makes his singing all the more heart breaking. They had major tours in 1986 , their last year touring, when he was becoming so fatigued and had signs of illness. Freddie sings with every ounce of power and strength === that is why he stands on his toes, to force out every ounce of his powerful voice; you can see the veins on his face and neck. (Yes, "today is our forever"; we only have a short time.)
I loved Highlander...and this is the perfect ballad, it fit the movie so perfectly. And now, i just think of Freddy and how much i wish we still had him.
Brian the guy with the hair wrote Who Wants To Live Forever in the back seat of his car after seeing a 20 minute first cut of a scene of Heathers Death,it was later used in the Iconic television series THE HIGHLANDER, is a film and series about immortality, the lyrics meaning the harshness of living forever, immortality is not to be prized, but a burden,so make the most of the time you have! Great reaction Britt thanks really appreciate and enjoy your reactions thanks 🙏
You need background on this song! It's written for Highlander, about an immortal, and was played during the death (of old age) of his first love... makes me cry EVERY TIME. And yes, that is Brian May, and his hair is and was FABULOUS.
This was definitely him coming to terms with his mortality in secret he wanted to live he didn't want sympathy he didn't need it The man changed the world The man built a legacy The man is forever and the day❤
Queen does not block their videos, especially if you take them from the Queen Official Channel. You do not have to put anything on the screen for any of their songs. It changes the experience when we can see them clearly. Have fun!
Highlander; a montage of his wife living a mortal life and dying in his arms. He didn't age a day and he realized the curse of watching everyone he cares about die forever.
On the studio album, Brian May sang the first verse. He has the voice of an angel. There is a great video of this with scenes from Highlander. Personally, this is my favorite Queen song. Sir Brian May also has a PhD in astrophysics.
The song is one Queen wrote for the Highlander soundtrack which was mostly by them. The song is about Immortals in the movie and the relationships with others who they outlive throughout their life.
"There's no chance for us, It's all decided for us, This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us" ......"Who dares to love forever, when love must die". He is saying love is a brief and fleeting thing in our lives before we die. One of the best power ballads ever.
YES, Freddie believed in living life to the FULLEST in the current moment. (Brian did write this for the Highlander film. It also definitely has an underlying significance in Fred’s performance, seeing as - at this time in 1986 - Fred definitely knew in secret that he was soon going to be diagnosed w HIV/AIDS, which at-that-time was terminal. During this 1986 tour, Fred was actually dealing w chronic pain/fatigue and he’d had an initial test done in secret the previous year. At the end of this concert tour, Fred told the guys he couldn’t perform live anymore and then he was officially diagnosed the following year in 1987.) …”Wasn’t he just playing the piano?!?”😂 I think we’re in the SAME tug boat, Britt!🫶
I went to a Queen convention in the early 90's, a teenager in love with a girl, in love with Highlander (watch it - with this in mind!), and Freddie had just passed away. This was just amazing to sing and dance with hundreds of other fans... Prestatin! Love you and thank you!
Queen was commissioned to write this for the movie Highlander, and Brian May wrote it after watching the first cut of the film. He wrote the line "Who wants to live forever" in a cab on his way home from the viewing of the film. Inspiration came from the scene where Connor Macleod (Christopher Lambert) takes his dying wife Heather (Biettie Edney) in his arms at the time of her death. This is also the scene where the song is played. Peace out.
"Wasn't he just on the keyboard?" Girl, the guy sings too. In fact, in any other band that wasn't fronted by Freddie effin' Mercury he would make a fine main vocalist in his own right. In the studio version of this song he takes the first verse and half of the bridge. Brian is the guitarist for Queen. That axe you see him playing, the Red Special. Is a one of a kind signature model. One of a kind in that he built it himself with his dad when he was younger. The wood was from an old fireplace. Part of the whammy bar was from a knitting needle. He's responsible for a few of Queen's songs. Including Now I'm Here, Tie Your Mother Down, Fat Bottomed Girls, the massive anthem We Will Rock You, and Show Must Go On. Really though, you should check out some of his own vocals. Maybe something like the Queen song '39 which he sings lead on. Roger Tailor, their drummer also has a great voice. Check out their song "I'm In Love With My Car" if you wanna hear him. He's also responsible for writing some major Queen hits such as Radio Gaga, and A Kind of Magic.
Brian is the lead guitar player but he is playing keys at the beginning of this song. Brian wrote this for the Queen Soundtrack for the movie Highlander. I love this song. The main character in the movie is immortal and everyone he loves ages and dies and he is again alone. Brian wrote this song to those emotions. Thank you for your reaction.
If there is only one guitar player in a band its just the guitarist of the band, not the lead guitar player, like Taylor is "just" the drummer and not the lead drum player and Deacon "just" the bassist.
@@wolf310ii Semantics, and trust me, I really don't care, there is no test at the end of the song. Thanks for clarifying for anyone who does care, though. I am certain you feel that you have extended a public service to the rock world of RU-vid.
If you want to see Brian do another quick transition from keyboard/piano to guitar, check out "Save Me" from Rock Montreal 1981. In fact if you watch that closely, you'll see his guitar in his lap while sitting at the piano and singing backup.
I read it as Its this moment, this time is our forever .. the small amount of time we are alive on this earth given how long time has been. In Highlander he wanted that moment with that woman to last forever because he was going to live forever but knew she would die leaving him as he's immortal 'this world has only one sweet moment set aside'. Living forever means loss .. losing love ones. My own father who lived till his 80's was the last one left in his family of 13 (brothers, sister, mother and father) so he didn't want to ever die but look at the loss along the way and if you continue to live it could be the loss of your own children and grandchildren. 'Who wants to live forever if love must die'.
You missed the verse that is the key of this song: "Who wants to live forever, WHEN LOVE MUST DIE?" This verse and the movie (Highlander) place this incredible masterpiece in context and offer you an answer to your dilemma.
You got it totally right, you can live a life of eternal possibilities in a single moment, if you are with the right person. I met Queen on a few occasions, brilliant, down to earth, grounded,,, and wonderful are the only ways I can describe how they all were with me. Keep enjoying Queen, they were a bit special. Love your reactions by the way and please accept my best wishes for you and your family. From a very lucky British guy.
SPOILER ALERT (if it is necessary to have a "SPOILER ALERT" for a movie that is 35 years old) - This was written for the movie "Highlander" starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. The movie is about immortal beings who fight each other to win the ultimate prize. Despite not knowing what is the ultimate prize they fight each other to the death to win it (the only way these immortal beings can die is to have their heads chopped off). When the last immortal is left standing he learns that the ultimate prize was mortality. He would now be able to experience the fullness of life by being able to have a family and grow old. It should be noted that Queen wrote the sound track for the movie as well and the music is awesome!
To me, it's a moment with that person you're so in love with that moments come that you are not two people but one. Those moments come along, and time stands still. You know you can never relive that first moment. At that point living forever is pointless. You would exchange living forever to keep that touch, that kiss, that oneness.
This song was written by Brian May for the Highlander soundtrack (1986). The film follows a race of immortal beings living secretly among us who are forced to watch their loved ones die of old age while they remain young. "Who wants to forever? Who dares to love forever when love must die?"
The point of the song is from the movie Highlander, where there is an immortal that outlives the love of his life and also touches of a lot of grief and pain that Brian May was having then. I think it was the death of his father, divorce and some other personal issues he had.
Freddie Mercury will live forever thought his music and performances. He was and still is a god. BTW, you don't need to understand it, just enjoy the beauty of the music.
As was said below, this song, and the entire sound track was from the movie "Highlander". Great Chick & Guy flick. There's 3 versions of the music video folks talk about. This preferred Live version, the official music video with a full orchestra and choir, and the movie version with dialog/scenes from the movie spliced in. The movie version is my preferred, because if I watch it with my wife, I'm 87.4% certain I'm getting lucky. Just sayin'.
When you wake up every day and the first thing that comes to mind is that your hopes and dreams are gone and to a place you cannot go by living, you are reminded how living forever would be torcher until you can go to that place where your hopes and dreams reside. I don't want to rush into dying but at the same time, I wouldn't chase it away if death was at my door because I know who's waiting for me on the other side of it. Half my soul.
That was one of the remarkable things about Queen. They did so many different types of songs, most of which are iconic, and most of those songs are songs that people know, but probably couldn't tell you who sang it.
It's SO different hearing the live versions of this song which was of course in the film Highlander that year. He does the best version at Budapest and really hits the high note. The story of the immortal asking "who wants to live forever if love must die?" . Imagine living on and on but seeing everyone you love die again and again. Who would want to live forever? The studio version with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is very good. It's sad watching this and seeing she did no research and didn't have a clue what the song was about at the time. BUT I assume most of us hear songs the first time by accident and go research if we love them.
One line you might have missed because of where you stopped it and maybe was talking when it was sung that partly explains the meaning of the song is: Who wants to live forever? When love must die.
This was from a Movie called..."Highlander"...a guy who was part of an immortal group of men who had to battle each other in combat throughout the ages until there was only one left. that man would be bestowed a wealth of knowledge to help man kind. and would be allowed to live a normal mortal life. This song was part of the movie where he fell in love with a woman, and over time she aged and he did not. So I guess it's more about the mortality of man kind, and having to watch someone you love slowly wither away.
Only those who write the songs knows what it means to them. But that doesn't mean that someone's different interpretation is wrong. It means whatever you want it to mean. To me, that's the joy of music because it moves all of us differently.
Queen had multiple lead vocalist but Freddie was the main. Brian May guitarist/ keys/vocals. Roger Taylor drums/ vocals. John Deacon bass/ keys/ background vocals and Freddie vocals/ piano
Imagine a group of immortals living throughout the ages. Probably more often than not you will come across a mortal you find special. No matter what you do you are going to lose your love. At best you can spend 20 to 30 years with someone and then they will pass on. In this particular scenario all the other immortals are looking to take you head and with it your power. Most of which are so used to killing that hurting your friends or family to get at you wouldnt bother them at all.
Nope. Still can’t listen to it without crying even after 30+ years. God, I miss him. Brian and Slash played together at the Freddie Mercury tribute and it looked like a big haired father son reunion.😂 Watch the tribute. Everyone was there. GNR,Metallica, Annnie Lennox, Bowie(?) George Micheal.
Brilliant song from Freddie & the band. Amazing film from it called 'Highlander'. It was written for & inspired bya movie from it. - 1986. Fans of this franchise know that the storyline is based on a group of immortals who cannot die unless their head is severed. 😲😲
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies and tv show about a man who is immortal!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. The idea that all the ones you love won’t live forever. You would see all of your friends and loved ones die. That’s rough....❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
ONE YEAR OF LOVE, also tucked away in the Highlander film, has an R&B vibe with Freddie & John (plus a sax). No live performance; Queen official lyric video only. But the vocals? Scorching. Freddie was a boxer - watch his moves (the toe lift, the swinging arms, the pounding fist, the jab, the punch, footwork)...all are there. If you watch old classics, another former boxer with that same moxie but on film is NYC's pride and joy, James Cagney. FIERCE CHARISMA.
You've got to watch the movie Highlander .. This is from that soundtrack ... The movie is about immortals .. The movie explains the meaning of the song "Who Wants to Live Forever" Pretty much they couldn't die and the immortals went through alot of loves and they lived but they die.. so there is the reason about "Who Wants to Live Forever"
"who wants to live forever if love must die" he says it quickly but that sort of makes it less rhetorical doesn't it? anyway have an awesome day and keep smiling!
