In 1986, Queen embarked on their 'Magic Tour'-best remembered as their last to be fronted by the charismatic Freddie Mercury. For the first time ever, the band was able to include Hungary on their tour schedule. The result: more than 80,000 wildly enthused Queen fans attended what became the largest concert ever to be staged at the Nepstadion, in Budapest and-perhaps most important- the very first Western Rock concert that was staged behind the Iron Curtain in a stadium.
This momentous list of "firsts" did not escape the notice of the Hungarian media and authorities. Hungarian authorities and its film industry considered this concert of such importance that it organized a coming together of that country's top cinematic cameramen and technicians to film this historic concert for posterity.
The result is this truly amazing, wonderfully entertaining film: Hungarian Rhapsody-Queen Live in Budapest. 118 minutes long, the beautifully boxed set includes one DVD, 2 CDs and a gorgeous, full color booklet chock full of stunning in-concert photos ('Rocking the Eastern Bloc: Queen Live in Budapest 1986'). This historic, exciting concert film has been fully re-mastered in high definition that will dazzle your eyes, and its crystal-clear 5.1 surround sound will aurally place you smack in the middle of this thrilling concert-front row center!
Also included on the DVD and Blu-ray is a brand new, 25 minute documentary feature titled 'A Magic Year' which follows Queen from immediately after the band's show-stealing 'Live Aid in London' performance from July 13, 1985, through that year as it leads up to the band's historic Budapest concert. Created specifically for this new release, this documentary uses archive footage from rehearsals, interviews with the band (both on the road and in the studio) including footage shot during the 'Magic Tour'-a sizable amount of which having never before been seen by Queen fans! Far more than merely "filler" it helps the viewer better understand the band's inner dynamics which led up to its ground-breaking concert in Budapest.
Brian May and Roger Taylor: "We're delighted that Queen fans across the world will finally have the chance to relive this amazing moment for the band. We knew a stadium concert in Budapest was ground-breaking, but hadn't quite anticipated what a historic night it would turn out to be. The concert looks fantastic on the screen in all its digitally re-mastered glory, and the documentary does a great job of setting the scene-it really was an extraordinary time in the band's history."
Beginning with eye-dazzling aerial shots (via helicopter) of Budapest (accompanied by a haunting soundtrack of traditional Hungarian music) leading up to equally beauteous aerial shots of the Nepstadion, the band's music that fateful evening (featuring standards like 'Radio Ga Ga', 'Love of My Life' and of course ' Bohemian Rhapsody') more than lived up to its fans expectations, as Freddie attacked the stage like a tiger; resplendent in a brilliant white suit with fire engine-red straps and stripes on the jacket, as he launched the show with 'One Vision'. It's this writer's opinion that this wonderful performance will more than live up to your expectations, too.
Blu-Ray:
1) One Vision
2) Tie Your Mother Down
3) In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited
4) Seven Seas Of Rhye
5) Tear It Up
6) A Kind Of Magic
7) Under Pressure
8) Who Wants To Live Forever
9) I Want To Break Free
10) Guitar Solo
11) Now I'm Here
12) Love Of My Life
13) Tavaszi Szél Vizet Áraszt
14) Is This The World We Created?
15) Tutti Frutti
16) Bohemian Rhapsody
17) Hammer To Fall
18) Crazy Little Thing Called Love
19) Radio Ga Ga
20) We Will Rock You
21) Friends Will Be Friends
22) We Are The Champions /
CD: Disc 1: 1) One Vision 2) Tie Your Mother Down 3) In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited 4) Seven Seas Of Rhye 5) Tear It Up 6) A Kind Of Magic 7) Under Pressure 8) Another One Bites The Dust 9) Who Wants To Live Forever 10) I Want To Break Free 11) Looks Like It's Gonna Be A Good Night 12) Guitar Solo 13) Now I'm Here
Disc 2: 1) Love Of My Life 2) Tavasi Szel Vizet Araszt 3) Is This The World We Created? 4) (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care 5) Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart) 6) Tutti Frutti 7) Bohemian Rhapsody 8) Hammer To Fall 9) Crazy Little Thing Called Love 10) Radio Ga Ga 11) We Will Rock You 12) Friends Will Be Friends 13) We Are The Champions 14) God Save The Queen
