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"Who Wants to Live Forever" is a song by the British 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 heartwrenching scene in the movie 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.
[edit] Cover versions
- In 1989, Brian May's daughter Louisa, who was at the time eight years old, sang a version of the song. It was included on a 12 inch single, along with another version of the song that Brian May performed with two kids named Ian and Belinda.
- Seal performed a live version of this song at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992.
- In 1995, Brian May recorded a version with Jennifer Rush on her Out of My Hands album. It featured May on lead-vocals for a verse plus backing vocals and guitar work.
- Luciano Pavarotti called Giorgia for his charity concert Pavarotti & Friends where she performed the song. The recorded Live-CD was released in 1995.
- Dame Shirley Bassey has also covered the song, giving her own powerful and stunning performance at various live concerts.
- Dune recorded an orchestrated version on the 1997 album Forever. It was also released as the first single from the album.
- The symphonic metal band After Forever recorded a cover of this song and released it with their single "Emphasis" in 2002.
- In 2005, the song was covered by Breaking Benjamin on the album Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen.
- The Ten Tenors recorded a version on their album "Here's to the Heroes", released in 2006.
- Rock Star: INXS Finalist, MiG Ayesa covered the song on his debut Album "MiG" in 2007.
- Katharine McPhee covered this song on the "Queen" themed week on American Idol's fifth season.
- Eva Avila covered this song on the "1980's" themed week on Canadian Idol's fourth season.
- In 2007, the song was covered by the band Gregorian on their album Masters of Chant Chapter VI.
- Kady Malloy covered this song during "80's" week on American Idol's seventh season.
[edit] Sarah Brightman version
Soprano Sarah Brightman released her cover of "Who Wants to Live Forever", from her album Timeless/Time to Say Goodbye, as a single in 1997 (See 1997 in music).
[edit] Track listing
[edit] CD single
- "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Album version)
- "Who Wants to Live Forever" (Xenomania club mix)
[edit] Maxi CD single
- "Who Wants to Live Forever"
- "A Question of Honour"
- "Heaven Is Here"
- "I Loved You"
[edit] 12" vinyl
- "Who Wants To Live Forever (Trouser Enthusiasts 'Cybernetic Odalisque' Mix)"
- "Who Wants To Live Forever (Xenomania Club Mix)"
- "Who Wants To Live Forever (Xenomania Dub Mix)"
- "Who Wants To Live Forever (X-Citing Mix)
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