The Miracle

Queen

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 22, 1991)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hollywood Records
• ASIN: B000000OBN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #19,871 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of THEIR best, One of THE best, May 16, 2004

By	D. Rausch "myspace.com/rauschofficial" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As always, a Queen recording has something for everyone. Not so much as always, 1989's "The Miracle" begins the revelation (subtle at the time) that days are numbered and getting darker. The tours were over, Freddie's image was more gaunt, and much was done (including more facial hair than usual) to obscure the real person behind it all. Not a word was spoken about it, and otherwise, everyone acted the same as always.

Which is even more of a chilling thought. The unknown is always more provoking than the black and white. This was where Freddie's tragic (UNBELIEVABLY tragic) bout with AIDS started to really come into play. The next album, "Innuendo," would take all of this, including the depth of the music, to an even HIGHER level, though barely even thought possible. That does nothing to take away from the fact that atleast one "70's band," albeit for the worst reasons, flexed its biggest muscles in future decades.

"The Miracle" is epic. Plenty of music for all moods, from the obligatory party songs in the beginning (such as "Party"), to the confused confrontations with the idea of death ("Was it All Worth It"), and everything in between. Queen already had established themselves as a band that showcases emotion of the highest levels, and now that special talent would be put into overdrive. "Breakthru" starts with a wonderful trademark "Freddie Choir" but quickly breaks into a rushing, impatient, pressed song of just wishing that one thing would happen to make life seem worth living. Excellently written. "I Want It All" says the same message, but more blatantly. In retrospect, it's easy to see from this music, that Freddie felt short on time. That's just too depressing to dwell on.

So, what is there besides gutwrenching lyrics? There is MUSIC!!! I always counted on Queen to be a bit better than just a regular "rock band." And it doesn't take long here to maintain that glorious reputation. The swirling 64th notes in the bridge of the previously mentioned "I Want It All" confirm Queen as masters of arranging and playing. Plus, the song rocks as good as anything. Heart and brains, heart and brains!

The title track is one of the top Queen songs ever written, thus of course translating into one of the better songs ever written, even if there is much competition in that department. Orchestrated strings, sound effects, entire sections morphing into others, INCREDIBLE guitar work - what more can you possibly ask for?

Only two songs, "Rain must fall" and "My baby does me", don't keep even with the supreme quality of everything else. Which really isn't saying that much, as I challange anybody to make an album half as good as this in THIS day and age. I still respect those two songs, however, as even in the late hour of Queen, they never stopped experimenting with diversity. So one can not dare call it filler. Check out the highly innovative "Chinese Torture" - the band has some of the highest creativity possible.

This album is pretty close to perfection, and the next album "Innuendo" would take care of that. You can put "The Miracle" on and zone out, getting lost in the colorful musical textures of the substantial lengthed recording. You can do this time and time again, as it never wears out. That's what good music should do for you. Queen was and is as close to "Gods" that you can really get away with calling rock stars. Music must have been put on earth for some sort of divine purpose, in my belief, so anyone who can channel that purpose into execution and reality can't be too far off the page. God Bless You Freddie, you're still here every day, as far as I'm concerned.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Grows on You and then you realise it's one of their best!, October 3, 2005

By	Frederick Baptist (Singapore) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

By this time, Freddie Mercury had already taken sick and the band stopped touring and so decided to put all their energies into a great studio album and this was the result. Very polished with a lot more production elements than you usually get from a Queen album but the result is in hindsight a very good album indeed. Very different from say "A Night At the Opera" or even "The Game" but still a very good album in any case. They seem to have completely regained their confidence lost since "Hot Space" and slowly regaining it in "The Works" and the "Highlander" soundtrack aka "Kind of Magic" albums. It sounds almost as if the band felt they had nothing to prove anymore and with the pressure off, they could relax and make an album for themselves. It almost sounds like they intended this to be their swansong with "Was it All Worth It". Many strong tracks and the album is very smooth flowing. The sound quality is quite good and the bonus tracks are a nice touch. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Yes, it was a worthwhile experience! It was all worth it!", March 10, 2005

By	W. Langan "take403" (the end of the world to your town!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Throughout most of this album (with the exception of 2 songs "Rain Must Fall" and "My Baby Does Me"), all members of Queen shine brightly. Freddie Mercury's health was deteriorating at the time but still wished Queen to go on, albiet without touring. If you notice in the videos, he's grown a beard to hide his gaunt appearance. Also, the lyrics are a lot more personal than before. All of the members got credit for each song ("We made a decision," commented Brian May, "that perhaps we should've made on previous albums"). You can skip the remixes, nothing amazing about them. However, 2 bonus songs are quite interesting. "Hang On In There" is a positive song exhorting the listener to not give up and promises "Your wish will be granted." "Chinese Torture" is a moody instrumental with a synthesized orchestra and Brian's expressive guitar. "Party" and "Khashoggi's Ship" are both reminiscent of "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions." Though 2 separate songs, it's hard to imagine one without the other. "Party" seems to say the party is over while "Khashoggi" seems to say the party is not over (this is probably in reference to the rumours that Queen was breaking up at the time). "The Miracle" is a 5 minute epic (the video for this song was entertaining, with 4 youngsters filling in for the band). It features positive lyrics ("The one thing we're all looking for is peace on earth, and an end to war. It's a miracle we need!") and a fun little jam at the end before they sing "The time will come one day, you'll see, when we can all be friends." Following that is the hard rocking "I Want It All." This is reminscent of the early 1970's Queen. "The Invisible Man" is one of those songs you'll either find catchy or grating. Each member of the band is introduced. "Breakthrough" begins with a semi-operatic intro, moving onto a fast paced melody like a speedtrain. "Rain Must Fall" is a schmaltzy reggae song. "Scandal" is one of Freddie's more personal songs, probably based on the rumours that were spread about him, thinly veiled around a breakup- "Tommorow [it's] hard times, and no one really knows the truth from the lies." "My Baby Does Me" is a shmaltzy R&B song about a dying relationship. "Was It All Worth It" is one of the best songs on here. Freddie recalls the good times and bad times of Queen and asks himself "Was it all worth it? Living breathing rock and roll in this God-forsaken life? Giving all my heart and soul in this never-ending fight..." You can pretty much guess what the answer is.