In my life, I aspire to complete many goals: be Kanye West, marry Beyoncé, sing like Freddie Mercury and get a dog. Only one of those is obtainable, but one can dream.
Anyway, Mercury has always been one of my idols. The man had the voice of a god and he knew how to use it.
Queen’s 1986 concert in Budapest was just recently released on DVD and CD. I have watched and listened to this live album and, I must say, it is one of their best performances.
While I believe that Queen’s set at Live Aid was their best performance, this show comes in at a close second. This show was part of the Magic Tour, which was Queen’s last ever tour with all four original members.
Queen plays 27 songs, covering a good part of their catalogue of songs. They play the hits like “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites The Dust” and the combo of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”
Notably left out is “Killer Queen,” the band’s breakout song. Included in the setlist is a cover of Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” and a rendition of the British national anthem “God Save the Queen.” Queen plays the Hungarian folk song “Tavaszi Szel Vizet Araszt” special for this show only.
When I watch Queen live, I cannot take my eyes off the screen. Mercury’s dancing and theatrics on stage are just incredible.
My favorite performance of this show has to be “Radio Ga Ga.” It is one of my all-time favorite Queen songs and one of my favorite songs in general. The energy of the song is breathtaking.
I recommend this live album to any Queen fan or fan of a great live show. May the memory of Mercury and the original Queen lineup live on forever
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