The Miracle (1989)
1. Party
2. Khashoggi's Ship
3. The Miracle
4. I Want it All
5. The Invisible Man
6. Breakthru
7. Rain Must Fall
8. Scandal
9. My Baby Does Me
10.Was it All Worth it
11.Hang On in There
12.Chinese Torture
Whether the title was meant to be taken literally or not, there’s something rather fitting about The Miracle being called what it is. By the time Queen entered the studio to begin work on this album, Freddie Mercury had already been diagnosed with AIDS — a fact he would keep private for a few more years. But rather than retreat or slow down, the band pushed ahead and turned in a record that, while not without its flaws, still manages to hold together admirably.
Touring was off the table by this point, and that likely had some impact on the album’s overall reception. It didn’t make quite the splash of some of their earlier releases, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. There’s still plenty of energy here — maybe even too much in places. Queen had always been a band that thrived on variety, but this time, that variety starts to feel a little jumbled.
Stylistically, the album leans heavily on the late '80s trends. The band dips back into their dance-pop toolbox, but the results are a bit more digestible than earlier stabs at the genre. The Invisible Man and Scandal might feel awkward on first listen, but they’re catchy enough to earn their place — especially after a few spins. Mercury sounds sharp and committed throughout, and even when the songs feel light, his presence gives them some weight.
Still, it’s the heavier rockers that make the biggest impact. I Want It All is the obvious standout — easily the most anthemic track on the record and a staple in their late-career legacy. Was It All Worth It brings the album to a near-epic close (though technically not the final track), and Khashoggi’s Ship, strange as it is, still delivers enough grit to justify its inclusion.
Breakthru might be the best of the album’s lesser-known offerings — part new wave, part power pop, and entirely infectious. It’s one of those songs that feels undervalued in their catalog, even if it doesn’t quite fit with everything else around it.
But that’s really the issue with The Miracle. As well-intentioned as it is, the album often feels a bit stitched together. The sequencing is disorienting at times, especially with a pair of misfires bookending the album. Party opens things with a thud, and Chinese Torture closes it with little more than a shrug. Both are mercifully brief, but neither adds much to the listening experience.
Despite its unevenness, The Miracle is far from a failure. There are enough solid moments sprinkled throughout to make it worth revisiting, especially for fans willing to sift through a few rough patches. It may not be a top-tier Queen album, but considering the circumstances, it stands as a testament to their resilience — and to Mercury’s refusal to let anything slow him down.
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