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Sunday, June 8, 2014
Countdown to "Once In A Lifetime Tour": Queen + Adam Lambert Memories: "I Want To Break Free"
In honor of the upcoming Queen + Adam Lambert Tour, here's another classic QUEEN song, "I Want To Break Free", first released as a single by Queen in 1984, as part of their album "The Works". The song came to be known especially for it's music video, and while well received in the UK, it was banned by MTV and many radio stations in the US. The reason: the band members dressed in drag for part of the video, a concept that was proposed by Roger Taylor as a parody of the extremely popular British TV series "Coronation Street". The UK "got" it, the USA (sadly) did not. Most of the second half of the music video was a beautifully choreographed dance sequence, performed by Freddie Mercury and the Royal Ballet of London. The song did well in Europe and South America. It was shortly after this that Queen more or less disappeared from the charts in the US and they seldom returned to the US for concerts, for many years after.. Incidentally, the song is viewed and revered by some as an "anthem of fight against oppression"... First, the classic and original, Queen music video:
QUEEN - "I Want To Break Free" from Queen official VEVO You Tube
Queen + Adam Lambert "I Want To Break Free" in London (Hammersmith) Day 2 via riddle601b on You Tube (The infamous time when Adam's pants decided to ***break free***.... after Adam jumped down from the stage into the audience and climbed back up...)
I had a friend in Canada just let me know that she couldn't view the QUEEN version there :( , so here's another version of the QUEEN classic version: **The video quality isn't quite as good, but at least perhaps viewable for those who cannot see the Vevo version..
I still love Adam's version, it actually tells a different story for me than Freddie. Adams is more of a love song, but he can't be tied down, he needs to be free to go on with his career, on his own. He still wants his love, and doesn't want to live alone, but must be free as he goes out that door, for his career. Put that way it's a very touching song. At least this is my interpretation of Adam singing it.
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to get some new music from Adam? Sick of all this Queen stuff!!
ReplyDelete10:05
ReplyDeleteI love your story. It rings true!
11am, I think you and I are going to have to put up with the Queen stuff until September. Hope we get more info of Adam's new music before then.
ReplyDelete11AM Adam has bills to pay. its coming just give him a little more time
ReplyDeleteThere's more to the story than just the US didn't get it and Queen disappeared in the US shortly there after.
ReplyDeleteWith MTV refusing to play the video most of America didn't get a chance to even see the video or have it put in context of a popular British show. There was also a radio payola scandal in the US at the time that affected Queen's US label. This was also the same time that Freddie's personal manager dismissed the importance of US radio. Queen went on to tour other countries and Freddie wouldn't come back to the US and play smaller venues.
There is much more to the story. Most of the details above come from an interview with Brian May.
@Anon 11:57 AM
ReplyDeleteThanks for the additional info.. there is ALWAYS more to the story, for sure.. The info I posted was a brief synopsis of what I recall from the Queen documentary, "Days Of Our Lives"...
For those who have never seen it..or want to re-watch, here's a link:
Queen-Days Of Our Lives-Complete Documentary
So interesting! I bought it a couple of years ago at Costco, of all places, when it initially came out.. No doubt available at Amazon.com, Netflicks, etc..
The nice thing to me about being an Adam Lambert fan; is the access that we get. Unlike some artist, while waiting for a new album, you sometimes hear nothing from them until the Album is ready in about 3 or 4 years. But, with Adam; besides have 2 great albums out there to listen to, he is very involved with his fans and he just keeps giving us more and more; while working on new music; which is really fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWe get Glee and all the charity appearances and activities that he is involved in. Plus even private events we get to get a peek at.
Then there is this once in a life time concert tour with Queen which will have a huge effect on his career opportunities; and is a one in a lifetime event for this one in a billion voice man, per Roger and Brian of Queen. Thing is Adam is not just a singer and has said that he wants to be an all around entertainer; this envolves many types of entertaining including television and movies in many avenues! The wonderful thing is; his fans cannot dictate his entertainment life. That is what Adam and his management are for. I cannot wait for all the opportunities opening up for this wonderfur superstar! He seems very happy about the way his career is going, and the happiness he must feel after being able to afford to pay for his first beautiful home in cash; and meanwhile the bank account keeps growing and growing; and so is his fan base; no one deserves it more; he is such a nice and caring man.
Adam's Best of Album seems to be doing very well. Which bodes well for the power of Adam. Also, Avicii's LMD featuring Adam and Niles; is reaching for
5 million views on you-tube. Adam is being asked to present lately; this is all good for Adam. Thank God he is not a one dimensional artist. I love all of what he has to give, and be there for whatever comes next!!
2:43, Adam is among the artists that are active on social media and are fun to follow.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I watch this video and hear Adam sing "I've fallen in love" and point to S in the audience, I get tears in my eyes. Sentimental me!
ReplyDelete@3:20
ReplyDeleteI think the split affected a lot of people, the same way. Most of us loved them both, and was so happy for Adam, he had at last found his love. But he did and does need to be free for his career, if it continues to take him away for weeks and months at a time. I am not totally convinced that Sauli is out of his life completely. I know a lot of people don't agree with me, so no need to tell me that.
We will not hear much about Adam's new album, until after Australia, if the tours actually ends then, they could add more. The album is on the back burner for now, Adam cannot do justice to two entirely different projects. Let's give him a break, and let him enjoy this time he has with Queen. The new album will get here soon enough, then you will be complaining about something else, I can hear it coming.
ReplyDelete@glitzylady
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for choosing this total FEEL GOOD London video!!!
So many wonderful things besides Adam's unsurpassed voice and superior singing... The happy & beautiful face of a man in love... The Showman Lambert, full gear... The reactions of the public... Brian's guitar playing, love love love this professor! Have loved his recognizable sound "all my music listening life" and the effect of "young blood" is audible and visible in his playing... the same with Roger!
Can't help but wonder how are they gonna top these earlier performances... they are sooooo good... And then again I know in my gut they are gonna be epic!!!
I was there, a few feet from the end of the catwalk....it was so funny and cute to see live...he didn't seem fazed at all, just went with the flow...didn't rush off stage to change.
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing Adam sing and perform in this video! He is such a Star! Every move he makes is so magnetic!
ReplyDeleteI love to see him as much as hear his stunning voice! He has it all!
nancdruuu2
Adam.......Love the Hair and Makeup Sweetie
ReplyDeleteI think Brian in hair rollers and bunny slippers is so cute.
ReplyDeleteRoger looked pretty cute also! Love these guys so much for loving Adam and appreciating his awesomeness! He will be iconic.
ReplyDeleteI know he is in awe of Queen, but I don't think he realizes that his talent is on an even keel with theirs. His voice is just as good as Brian and Roger's drum playing and guitar playing. He is right up there even with them.
ReplyDelete@3:28PM
ReplyDeleteIt would be selfish if Adam said to Sauli, that maybe they can someday get back together. It would be awful if Sauli waiting for him. Sauli is too kind and unique. I hope Sauli will soon find a new boyfriend and continues his life. Adam really needs his freedom. Maybe one day Adam find the man who tamed him.
@2:43 I couldn't agree more!
ReplyDelete@3:28 I agree :)
ReplyDeleteI was misty eyed when Adam and Sauli broke up. I had seen that sparkle of love when they looked at each other and the pride in Adam's voice. I thought they had found 'the one'!
ReplyDeleteI have known many couples who spent long periods apart, military families and a couple who each had children from former marriages they didn't want to uproot. So, she lived in South Carolina and he lived in London. They spent one week out of 6 together for 20+ years, then she relocated to London and they had a happily ever after life.
Some love can endure long separations. Perhaps that was not the only reason for A & S split..
Queen's video of I Want To Break Free is not able to be viewed on this thread in my country but it doesn't matter because I've seen it numerous times on youtube and it is my absolute fave of all Queen's video clips. It's such a hoot. It's a sad state of affairs that it wasn't allowed to be viewed in the US when it was released ..... ridiculous!! I'm going to listen/watch it right now.
ReplyDeleteQueen spent many crazy years performing all over the world. They've seen it all and done it all. It's an amazing story. They weren't at the top of the charts all the time. They didn't sell well all of the time. But they kept on working and performing. They are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are legends. They did what they loved and never gave up. Adam is so lucky to be performing with them to have their respect. He knows this is a chance of a lifetime. His own music will come, and it will be great!
ReplyDeleteDRG
Sauli's been seeing someone for months. He's not heartbroken.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy for him, he's a sweet guy......JAK
ReplyDelete8:06
ReplyDeleteSorry, not being rude but you are not making a valid comparison. You can't compare like that. Apples, oranges and grapes... lol.
They are each talented in their own special way in their own specialties! What Brian and Roger have is decades of more practice and experience compared to Adam.
8:15am
ReplyDeleteOT. Huh?! );P
On topic
Thanks glitzylady for the choice of song from 2012 Queen+AL concerts. Memorable moments!
Adam looks absolutely adorable, bare feet so sweet and I can imagine, how it must have felt like for that audience ,when Adam jumped down the stage to touch their hands (:D!