Stepping In, Out in Front!
Filed Under () by Adam Lambert on Thursday, July 10, 2014
Posted at : Thursday, July 10, 2014
It
used to be called the Sammy Hagar Conundrum and lately has been
rebranded as the Arnel Pineda Provocation: What to do when your favorite
band takes to the road, and the recording studio, with a new person out
front singing? This is an especially perplexing circumstance for fans
of Queen, whose frontman, Freddie Mercury, died in 1991, and left a long
shadow — in voice and attitude — that few would even try to fill.
But
the rest of the band members are mindful of the group’s legacy, and are
always on the lookout for opportunities, though they may not have
expected to find one on the “American Idol” stage. It was there in 2009
that they collaborated with Adam Lambert, the most theatrical contestant
in the show’s history, and one of its most gifted vocalists, too. (They
also played with the eventual winner, Kris Allen, a mouse next to
Lambert’s cheetah.)
Five
years later, Mr. Lambert is fronting Queen on tour — no Freddie
Mercury, but an unexpected, worthy place holder. (Thursday, Madison
Square Garden; thegarden.com.)
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74 comments:
Very nice comments; but I don't know why some reviewers or posters always have to drag out the same old phrase, "he is no Freddie Mercury". We get, Adam is not trying to be Freddie Mercury. Also, Freddie Mercury was no Adam Lambert. That was then; and this is now. Adam has said over and and over again that he is not attempting to be another Freddie Mercury. We get it; there was only one Freddies Mercury; just as there is only one Adam Mitchell Lambert. Each beautiful and talented in their own one of a kind macnificent way.
Enough already; thank you!!
Great review by the NYTimes.com.! Yes, Adam IS "worthy" of filling in for Freddie Mercury ... probably the only one that could do him justice and then take it a few steps further. Adam is a superstar in front of Queen. So glad he's getting noticed and the praise he deserves.
There was only one Freddie.
And there is definitely only one ADAM.
xo laura
This often resentment of somebody (COMPETENT) besides Freddie fronting Queen is perplexing indeed. It would be different were Freddie still alive but since he's not and the music still exists and people obviously still want to see it performed live, what's the gripe? Nobody is trying to steal from QUEEN and nobody can BE Freddie -- the man could do anything: sing all kinds of music, dance, write, act, play the piano/guitar/others?. All that music came out of his and the band members' souls so how could anyone else BE them. But, like the music of other great creators, why should it die with him... GEEZ. For example, I LOVED hearing Nina Simone sing her creation, Feeling Good...Loved MUSE'S sound and arrangement...then Adam's studio version knocked me out...then a little teener on X Factor put the icing on the cake. Every artist brought something new and fresh to this great song. I guess I am writing this rant in protest of the protesters. WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM with other great performers singing great music -- like all the great classic masters/virtuosos (Bach,Brahms, Beethoven, Wagner -- to name a few) are dead now but their music lives on and is even sometimes enhanced by other great artists. I say to these Adam protesters: GET A GRIP ON REALITY HERE!!!!!
Beverly
Another article copied in whole. The NYT would not like that.
Well no one has a problem with someone covering another artists works. But queen is not queen without their signature performer. It's like Paul McCartney and Ringo touring as the Beatles. Or the Rollng stones with a guest vocalist instead of mick. The idea of doing this queen show is going to have critics.
Writer gave Adam some great and justified compliments. And yes...the HNFM sentiment is tired and worn out.
BTW....Adam has lost his lead in the Billboard fan poll. Poll ends tomorrow. :)
Let critics do their thing; and we will do ours, by enjoying the wonderful talented Mr. Adam Lambert doing his thing with Queen!
It's easy for us to stand behind Adam and his talents, I think these reviewers are still trying to convince Freddie fans, that Adam IS good enough to sing with the remaining Queen members. They are , understandingly, very skeptical of someone they haven't heard or known of before. All they know is he was in some reality show and didn't even win. So I see their concern of anyone singing with Queen. Most of the Freddie fans who actually went to a concert , seems to have changed their minds about Adam being front man, and have excepted him and have gone on to enjoy the show, done in Adam's style. I am sorry for the real die hard, who won't even go and see for themselves, they are missing out on an evening that they could have enjoyed immensely. In a way it's like one of your children divorcing their husband and later remarrying, a lot of times the childs parents, not always, but a lot of times never excepting the new mate. I know from experience, and it can be very sad. No matter what you do, you won't ever measure up.
Fortunately for Adam, he has made some new fans over this, and a whole lot more people have come to appreciate him.
12:49 PM ...... Obviously this Queen show will have critics, like you for instance. There are many of us who do still consider Queen to be Queen. The songs are the same, the music is the same with a gifted bass player taking John's place and a gifted keyboard player aboard to replace Freddie on piano......I've been listening to the band since the 70's they sound great to me. Freddie sounded great, bless him, and now Adam sounds great, different, but great.
It is obviously your opinion that the band should have had the decency to close shop when Freddie died
23 years ago. Well there are a lot of people who disagree with you.
BTW...I've heard cover bands of The Beatles who all had better voices than the original 4 members.
And I never thought Mick had a great voice, he was just a crazy slinky loose limbed ugly as sin great frontman.
Oops almost forgot......JAK
JAK, you are right about some "original" bands and their replacement members, and/or cover bands. I'm a Beatles fans from Day 1. Love them and their incredible impact on 20th century music and culture. But they weren't the best singers in the world. Paul Mc. is a true icon with amazing musical skills, but he's not the greatest singer. Mick J. is one of the greatest frontmen ever, but his singing voice isn't his strongest asset. He's a song stylist and a larger-then-life frontman, just like Freddie. I love Mick. Adam is treading some risky waters with Queen, but it's turning out to be quite positive for him. You're so right, JAK. Freddie sounded like Freddie; Adam sounds like Adam. They're both great! Vive la difference!
DRG
I am also so tired of reading that Adam is no Freddie Mercury. It was never intended that he replace Freddie in any way. Both have their own styles and vocal talents. Brian and Roger obviously saw something special in Adam during their performance on American Idol and knew if they wanted one last tour of their iconic songs, that Adam would be the one to perform them. There will always be those fans who will accept nothing but Freddie with Queen...so be it. But if you want to hear some of the greatest songs in rock history, there is no one better than Adam Lambert to interpret and sing them in his own amazing way. And his stage presence is certainly mesmerizing as he struts his stuff in some outstanding costumes, boots and jewelry. Have fun Adam and enjoy yourself every night on that stage in front of fans who really want to be there and have a great time.
I've gotten to the point where I don't want to read any more reviews whether good or bad. Just let me enjoy the vids and pics from each concert. I may not be able to attend a Queenbert concert this summer, but I am thankful to anyone who posts videos of Adam's performances. He is amazing and I have a new appreciation for the music of Queen and Freddie Mercury. I hope they produce a cd/dvd compilation of the concerts so that I can enjoy them whenever I want at home.
Aging seen this concert already I think Adam did a fantastic job bringing Queen back to life. Meh has certainly brought her life to Brian and Riger. Btw I saw Queen with Freddie back in the day. Freddie and Adam have as much in common as they have differences. Stupid to compare the two. It's really makes mr feel sad the way Kris is compared so negatively to Adam. Arkansas did him no favor by him winning ivervAdam because the world didn't get it or like it. I feel it has in a way hurtbKris.
Jak
Hey, If you enjoy cover bands then by all means knock yourself out! But it's not the RS without Mick or the Beatles without john Lennon. And it's not queen without freddie. This is obviously a nice way for adam to make some money, but I will never understand why roger and brian are doing this. They look like a couple of old guys trying to recapture their youth and the image is just rather pathetic to me. They have plenty of other artistic venues to pursue in their senior years, it's sad to see them cling to the past this way,
@2:34 P.M.
Oh dear....:(.
Perhaps the love of performing the songs THEY helped create compels them to go on. They found Adam who could handle the job...timing...availabilty...it's all relevant. That,and the overwhelming demand by people to hear THEIR music live again.
Great decision judging from ticket sales and responses by the audiences at these venues. Bad for those who wanted the group to die with Freddie.
But then...you can't please everyone but you can sure try.
12:46
So funny that a writing of a few paragraphs is called an article... That's digital age for you. Before the internet and all the social media hoopla (blogs etc) no self respecting journalist or publication would call these "short stories" articles!
Out of curiosity: Why do you care so much? Are you a writer, a journalist, just a concerned citizen or what?
2 33
Well kris has a new single out now and an album coming mid August if you want to support him. I don't enjoy kris myself but I give him credit for pulling an album together and working with a respected producer even tho he doesn't have a label.
@2:34P.M
And by the way...isn't that what you are doing...clinging to the past? No Freddie...no way.
I think Brian and Roger are very much in the 'now'. If they were in fact staying in the past,they would not have taken the step to bring their music to the present. Hopefully they have sights on future endeavors.
3 12
They aren't bringing their music into the present. That was the criticism of the LA times and adam said it was about bringing back memories for old queen fans or some such thing. The critic was saying if they wanted to so this they should be bringing something new to the table.
New concert!!!
Thebreeze NZ - QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT can now announce that their show at Auckland’s Vector Arena is on September 3rd!! http://t.co/OMceHDWgh1
Wow! Wonderful!!!
Great news for NZ Fans!!!
Very Happy for them:)
Hopping they'll stopover in Honolulu for a show
@3:23
Okay..They are bringing their old catalog of music and performing in present in front of thousands of enthusiastic people. Is that better? There are people who have never heard Queen's music...it is new to them. There are people who grew up with Queen's music and, at present, can enjoy it once again. No matter how you slice,dice or spin it....it is being showcased now....again....which makes it present.
It's like saying Apple isn't Apple without Steve Jobs. How stupid of people making such remarks that a creative entity that millions enjoyed and brought light and life should be buried when the original creator is gone. Apple as a trademark is still doing well and thousands of its employees still have their jobs creating better than before. Queen band as well is an entity to force feed that their creation should die since one member is gone is stupid. Having this tour created jobs. Thousands are going to see these shows to experience the real music of the past with the remaining member of this band still enjoying life. Who love to pass on their past creation to present generation before they are gone. What a pleasure to witness it since it won't happen again in their life time. For the love of music go see the shows cause it won't happen again. Adam is a perfect fit right now to bring back catalog of Queen back live on stage.
12:49 & 2:34
Poor LOLs, you are getting very very desperate!
You and the likes of you just don't get it. Both your examples, Beatles and Rolling Stones have lost and/or replaced band members, but that's not the point. The point is that it is up to the remaining band members whether they want to continue or not and how they wanna continue and with whom. Their band, their choice, their decision. Fans or non-fans like yourself judging their (the remaining members of these bands) decisions and actions, even ridiculing them (like you just did here re Brian and Roger) are just immature whiners. As a fan you can choose to accept the decision the remaining band members make (will they continue etc) or you can find another favorite to follow. But your judging and whining won't make a difference, if the artists in question want and feel the passion to go on.
Since LOLs like you don't know shame, I feel ashamed on your behalf and for having witnessed the rude words you wrote re Brian and Roger!
Aiya ya ya:( Anon 2:34PM
Don't be a Sour Puss :(
Enjoy the sweet music & memories of Queen.
Nothing wrong with that.
Be Happy man Anon 2:34PM
Sweet & Simple
Life's too short :):):)
Oh WOW...the NZ fan who visits this fansite will be over the moon. Let's hear your excitement NZ fan. So happy for NZ Glamberts.
@LAMBERLUST 3:32 P.M.
"Hopefully they have sights on future endeavors."
I guess wishful thinking pays off!!
You're welcome...lol!!
Great news!!
Oops..
**LAMBERTLUST**
I very much enjoyed Freddie as a singer/songwriter/performer an icon for sure, but I LOVE ADAM! There will never be another Freddie OR ADAM LAMBERT! I am currently also enjoying listening to Sam Smith, but he is no Adam Lambert and I wouldn't expect him to be! Why compare - just enjoy the beauty of their music.
nancdruuu2
Adam is way better then Freddie could ever dream of! Queen is the best they've ever been with Adam!
I enjoy Queen music with Adam Lambert a lot. Before Adam never cared to check out their music. Because of Adam bought their music. Also I did some research about the band. I'm greatful to Adam for helping me discover greatness of Queen. I went to LA and LV shows to see them live on stage. Now I can say I saw Queen too. Thank you Adam Lambert!
4:06pm I'm on your bandwagon too.
How come Neil doesn't get a lot of flack for replacing John Deacon? Same thing as Adam replacing Freddie.
So great that Adam is focussing so hard on his solo career! :)
@4:06, can't disagree with your very bold statement. I said this before here. I have been a big fan of Queen music since my early teenage years and I own much of their music, however, I would have not moved heaven and earth to see them or Freddie live. Adam changed that. He is the one who makes Queen music an utterly fascinating "experience" for me and who is the reason why I will fly all the way across the country to see them perform live at MSG. When I look at Brian and Roger's grin on their faces, I can only tell how absolutely "right" this collaboration feels for them.
@4:28 PM You're so clever...............again.......and again and again.
Twitter / RuTTaylor1: Helloooo Dallas! Love this town, ready for a big one? https://twitter.com/RuTTaylor1/status/487384190413832194/photo/1
@4:27 PM Good question
4 27
Uh seriously? No
4 06
Don't say that anywhere outside of a fan site or you will be exposed as a complete idiot. They aren't in the same league. Freddie was a genius, an artist, adam is a cover singer.
Anonymous 4:06,
"a cover singer"????
Adam has written and produced part of his own music. And uses every one of his shows to recreate his songs. he doesn't repeat himself and this is one of the reasons his fans adore to see him singing the same song in different scenarios.
I don't know if this elevates him to the category of "genius", but he is not certainly a "cover singer".
Bill Wyman, the Stones' original bassist, quit the band after the Stones made it big. Just didn't want to do it anymore. Mick Taylor (I think) filled in for a while and then Ron Wood took over and has been with the Stones ever since. They still call themselves the Rolling Stones even without original member Bill W. Is that OK? You bet it is. The founding members can carry on and perform their music, the music the wrote and recorded and performed for years.
Or does this "rule" about not performing anymore only apply when it's the frontman who leaves the band? The important thing is that the music lives on. Brian and Roger have found the perfect guy to do it with. My mother always said, "Look forward, not back." The future holds great opportunities if you just take advantage of them and go for it. Adam is definitely a risk-taker, able to take the heat and keep on singing.
No one should ever tell Queen they should stop performing their own music. They should keep performing for as long as they want to. It's not about the money. It's what they want to do.
DRG
@5:22 & 5:24 P.M.
@4:27 P.M. can express anything he/she wants on this forum. It's an Adam Lambert fan site. We love Adam here. I'm not skerred to agree with him/her.
Not going to tell you you can't but your opinions (and there are many) are condescending and diminishing to Adam ...but hey...every opinion counts even if they come across as a scolding or an order or an argument. Take your pick.
I agree with 4:06. Most people don't have the guts to say it. Thanks.
So happy there's another concert added to the tour! Lucky New Zealanders!
5:38 P.M. here.
I meant 4:06 P.M can say.....
4:27, because Neil didn't replace John. Kphn still makes financial decisions with Brian and Roger. Neil doesn't write songs with Brian and Roger. Neil had never been portrayed as a major partner or front man like Brian or Roger. You are comparing apples and oranges.
@5:24
You left off that Freddie was deeply into drugs, and an alcoholic some of which contributed to his writings. He was absolutely narcissus, but I give him that one, a lot of stars need that in their system in order to show off in front of people. In fact Adam has some of that in his make up, which is one reason he is so comfortable performing in front of a crowd.
Try imagining the shoe on the other foot. Fans already say other people can't cover Adam's songs well, including Pink on Whataya Want From Me. Imagine the outrage in 20 years if there was for some reason somebody else performing what we love as Adam's songs. We would be outraged and refuse to go.
I wouldn't mind seeing Journey again someday but I want to see them with Steve Perry not the fill in YouTube guy no matter how good he is. I have no problem with Journey moving on but I just wouldn't go unless Steve Perry was singing.
It's the same thing with Freddie fans and some Queen fans. No point in arguing with them. It's understandable. Let it go.
5:24 is obviously a troll for calling Adam a cover singer but they are right, Freddie was a genius. He is also an icon. Adam is absolutely an artist and extremely talented. Will he be considered a genius and an icon someday? I suspect he will. But you don't start at genius and icon. That is something you earn over a long period of time.
I have read that some reviewers, even though they like Adam, have said he has forgotten words to some of the songs, I am not a Freddie fan, and so am not familiar with all the words. But then they say Freddie did too, and he had been singing the songs for years. I haven't noticed any flub up with Adam, does he hide it well? I know Brian and Roger would notice. Adam always sounds great to me, so I guess that was part of his training, what to do if you forget the words.
Freddie only became a genius and an icon after he died, like so many other people.
Both the members of the Rolling Stones and the two of the Beatles are in the seventies now. They are still performing their songs of the past and maybe some new ones as does McCartney. I think it's exciting that Brian and Roger found someone like the super talented Adam Lambert to perform their iconic rock songs in Adam's own style and interpretation. And Roger and Brian do not look pathetic as someone suggested here. They are revitalized, happy and so enjoying themselves with one helluva singer on that stage. If you don't like this partnering, then don't watch the vids here or on you tube and you certainly won't be going to the concerts. Let those of us who love this new configuration of Queen this summer, enjoy every song, guitar solo and banter with the audience. It certainly is so much better than some of the crap that passes for music nowadays. I am glad that overall Adam is getting the recognition and praise that he so deserves(and making a nice sum of money to boot).
6:41, Adam forgets or messes up the words to his own songs. He has to some Queen songs. He has also missed the intro to some of the Queen songs. Adam is pretty good at hiding most of it and the band is good at playing back to the intro.
6:45 PM, what is your point? You are preaching to the choir here.
Why is this even being debated here??
@2:34 PM.....JAK here.....your comment is so pitifully ignorant and insensitive....referring to Brian and Roger as a couple of old guys trying to recapture their youth and calling them pathetic . You are to be pitied. I don't know what your age is and it's a safe bet I will be long gone before you reach Brian and Rogers's age, but you are in for a big surprise.
You don't have to "recapture" your youth it's always with you, it's inside you. You age on the outside but inside it's only seconds ago you were a child, a teen, fell in love, swam with dolphins, kissed the Blarney Stone, stood on top of an Alp in Switzerland, cuddled a baby or a puppy, settled into a career.
Brian and Roger are allowed to have fun. They aren't too old to have fun, you never are. They are providing a joyous musical evening for thousands of people and having a hellava good time. Their friendship with Adam has turned into a wonderful adventure for all of them.
If it makes you sad to see them, then don't watch them.
@JAK
Right on!
I know it's shallow of me, but I have to say I enjoyed the comment about KA being a mouse to Adam's cheetah. KA is talented and, yes, maybe people shouldn't say those things. But, let's face it, when they sang together with Queen, you really couldn't even hear Kris. Adam, his voice, his charisma, his overall talent, etc. make KA pale in comparison. Hopefully, people won't jump on me for this. I'm, like others, just stating my opinion.
Barbara Streisand mentioned couple of times on her interviews that she forgets lyrics to her own songs, so she uses prompter. I went to a concert and performer said it happens that I forget lyrics of my songs and thanks to fans to help out with lyrics. It happens. My cousin is a singer and same thing happens to her. Once in awhile is fine.
I've enjoyed reading all the posts here. We sure have some well-spoken and intelligent fans on this site. We're fierce mamas on this site protecting our beloved Adam (as so we should do) as well as Brian and Roger and their right to do what they seem to love the most....performing live for their fans. Now, with Adam, they can do it and feel completely sure they are doing the right thing. I feel so very lucky and grateful this amazing collaboration happened and gave me the chance to see Queenbert live. I'm absolutely thrilled:)))
CT
4:06 PM
In YOUR opinion.
4.06 & 4:14
I bet you never saw Freddie perform live ..... pure genius.
6:19
Your arguments are hilarious. The situation with Neil is exactly the same as Adams. Nobody's replacing anybody. They both took a job that was OPEN and to which they applied or which was offered to them. The details of their contracts are unknown to outsiders. John chose to step out (or is incapable or does not want to be a visible part of Queen) and Freddie has been gone for 23 years.
The difference between between these current position holders (outside their contracts) is that an older gentleman more or less in the background playing bass does not create such PASSIONS (bass players seldom do!) as a young, gorgeous SOUNDING & LOOKING, flamboyant & ubertalented, Freddie admiring & respecting performer, who for real SCARES those Freddie fans (and music reviewers!) who have stayed in a rut and can't see that Adam ADDS to QUEEN's/Freddie's legacy, he does not take anything away from them. Brian and Roger got that early on. Plus they are again ENJOYING and LOVING what they do! You would think anyone who has suffered a great loss in their lives would understand this. How good it feels to smile again and do what you love and do it with passion!!!
6:45 (6:41)
WHO CARES!
That's called playing it LIVE, having fun, improvising too and "living dangerously", lol. Not sounding like the record or the playback.... Such nitpickers!
Matters of the heart can't be solved by arguing who is better.
Being a fan of a singer/performer belongs to this same category. Matters of the heart. Therefore - in this "case" we are talking here - to bluntly state that Adam is better than Freddie or vice versa is just silly. There is no truth in these likings and lovings. No way to make those comparisons ligit. Just your personal opinions. And it would be best to state them as such and be respectful (toward the other performer you are not such a fan of) and leave it there. Imo.
Omg do you people not understand the difference between a bass player who stands in the background and a frontman who has created the bands signature sound and look?
JAK
Your personal issues with being old have nothing to do with a discussion about queen. You are the most self absorbed poster I have ever encountered.
Brian and roger have many ways to have fun, continue to create music and pay homage to their past. Trying to re create the magic they made with freddie when they were all young is not the way to end their careers. It just looks like a pale imitation of what was.
@5:33 AM Say that to John Deacon's face
@6:44 PM You're right. Men always become saints after they die.
@Anon 5:42 AM
What an incredibly rude and disrepectful thing to say to @JAK.. I'm frankly floored by what you said. And your comments regarding the iconic surviving men of QUEEN are rather disrespectful as well. Yeah, I know.. your opinion and all that but your verbal attack on @JAK is just too much. Her words were lovely and ring true. Yours were tinged with bitterness and ageism. And you chose to remain nameless/anon.
Sad.
5 24 pm
If Adam is a just a "cover singer" in your mind; then you are just an idiot in mine. Get real, you cannot be that confused, can you???
You know quite well that Adam, has sang many original songs on his two prior album, and wrote some of them. Adam and Nile Rodgers just wrote and Adam sang LMD for Avicii's album, and it is now a single in many Countries.
Believe what you want; you will anyway; no matter how often the truth tries to get through to that closed mind of yours! I guess you don't agree with Brian and Roger; that Adam has that one voice in a billion. It also is shown in all the excited wonderful tweets Brian May sent out about our wonderful Adam just this morning. You can't stop the truth about Adam's talents. Best if you just deal with before it drives you into deep despair!
Also, for your information; many singers cover songs now and then; it is an art. Some people have the talent; some don't. When Adam does cover a song occasionally, it always seems to sound better than the original. Better get a hold on reality fast; before you are left in the dust of our beautiful star!!
Despite your warning; I am saying this inside and outside of the fan base; and guess, I'm not scared!
@JAK - I agree with @Magiclady about your comments being right on! Also agree with @Glitzlady re: the disrespectful and crude comments made about you by the anon.(of course) @5:42. I aLWAYS so enjoy reading on this site your opinions and life experiences. Keep doing what you've been doing!!!!!!! . . . Adamluv
@glitzylady
Please can you tell us why these few nuisances are still allowed to post and spoil it for the rest of us. Surely you can see their ip addresses and know which posts e.g. in this thread are from these same rude shitstirrers...Or are they the secret weapon to assure "hits" for this site....
@Anon 5:12 PM
I'll speak to the blog administrator about that..
And I do know for SURE that they are not a "secret weapon" to assure hits for this site.
@5:42 AM..........JAK here.....ooooooo daggers are drawn!
I didn't know I had any issues with aging, other than being filled with glee to be here.
As far as self absorbed, isn't everyone? It's the only life I have, so it is of importance to me. And since my tag is generally right up front, my posts are very easy to ignore for those who do not find me their 'cup of tea'.
I suggest you chose a tag and do the same.
What puzzles me is why you think you know the best way for Roger and Brian to live their lives? Do you advise others in the methods of amusement you think suitable for their age group? If so, this must make you extremely unpopular.
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