The Magical Synergy
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Once upon a time (1970), in a land far, far away (England) lived four lads who wanted to be shiny stones, I mean rock stars. (Okay, work with me people. England is far, far away from me, which is the only thing important for this story.)
In fact, one of them, named Freddie, whose job it was to dress up funny, dance around the stage and sing, said he wasn't just going to be a shiny stone, I mean rock star, but was going to be a legend. That young man, along with his friends Roger Taylor, Brian May, and a short time later, John Deacon, decided to call themselves Queen. An odd name for a shiny stone wouldn't you say? Not to mention that England already had a Queen. Well, as Freddie, the legend-to-be, said .
"Years ago, I thought up the name Queen...It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid...It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it." Freddie Mercury
When I first became aware of Queen, I was just a young college student who grew up surrounded by a lot of stones. Some of them were shiny, but I don't recall any of them saying they wanted to be legends. My parents owned a rock shop, far, far away from England, in a little hamlet of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan called Copper Harbor.
Alas, I have never seen a live Queen concert. I am not sure when they exploded into my consciousness, but I certainly knew the words to the hit songs. At that time, when I had a superficial knowledge of many things and an in-depth understanding of very little, I thought that all of the Queen members were gay. I was quite surprised to find out that other than Freddie Mercury, the other band members preferred companions of the female variety.
In fact, one of them, named Freddie, whose job it was to dress up funny, dance around the stage and sing, said he wasn't just going to be a shiny stone, I mean rock star, but was going to be a legend. That young man, along with his friends Roger Taylor, Brian May, and a short time later, John Deacon, decided to call themselves Queen. An odd name for a shiny stone wouldn't you say? Not to mention that England already had a Queen. Well, as Freddie, the legend-to-be, said .
"Years ago, I thought up the name Queen...It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid...It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it." Freddie Mercury
When I first became aware of Queen, I was just a young college student who grew up surrounded by a lot of stones. Some of them were shiny, but I don't recall any of them saying they wanted to be legends. My parents owned a rock shop, far, far away from England, in a little hamlet of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan called Copper Harbor.
Alas, I have never seen a live Queen concert. I am not sure when they exploded into my consciousness, but I certainly knew the words to the hit songs. At that time, when I had a superficial knowledge of many things and an in-depth understanding of very little, I thought that all of the Queen members were gay. I was quite surprised to find out that other than Freddie Mercury, the other band members preferred companions of the female variety.
The Evolution of Queen
the Short Version
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The band Queen doesn't really need an introduction. The internet is filled with information about just how they became one of the best bands in the world. The short story is that they are a British rock band that formed in 1970. After a few changes of bass players, the core line-up included Roger Taylor on albums, Brian May on Lead Guitar, John Deacon on Bass Guitar.
With the singer Freddie Mercury as front-man, the group formed a creative, talented unit whose synergistic style created an incredible catalog of music that has thrilled and amazed us for over four decades. I use the word synergy, which refers to a phenomenon that occurs when certain elements are combined, their total effect becomes greater than the sum of each individual contribution. Because all four band members wrote songs and collaborated on their arrangement, the result is an incredible array of music that touches us deeply. They boldly earned a special place in the world consciousness with hits like “Killer Queen,” their trademark “Bohemian Rhapsody” and other songs that you will instantly recognize.
For over two decades they continued to put out hits, including the soundtrack for the movies Flash and The Highlander. At rallies and sports events fans enthusiastically shout out “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.” Even in countries where many people do not speak English, they speak the language of Queen, singing along with the songs whenever Queen appeared in concert.
Not all fairy tales end with “and they lived happily ever after.” The world was shocked and grief-stricken when Freddie Mercury died in 1991 from complications related to AIDS. The consensus among fans and the band itself was that Queen as a band was finished. Other than appearing at a few venues, such as the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 to promote AIDS awareness, the other band members went their separate ways, grieving for both a co-creator of great music and a close friend. John Deacon decided to retire from the music business altogether, and lives a reclusive life in the English countryside
With the singer Freddie Mercury as front-man, the group formed a creative, talented unit whose synergistic style created an incredible catalog of music that has thrilled and amazed us for over four decades. I use the word synergy, which refers to a phenomenon that occurs when certain elements are combined, their total effect becomes greater than the sum of each individual contribution. Because all four band members wrote songs and collaborated on their arrangement, the result is an incredible array of music that touches us deeply. They boldly earned a special place in the world consciousness with hits like “Killer Queen,” their trademark “Bohemian Rhapsody” and other songs that you will instantly recognize.
For over two decades they continued to put out hits, including the soundtrack for the movies Flash and The Highlander. At rallies and sports events fans enthusiastically shout out “We Are the Champions” and “We Will Rock You.” Even in countries where many people do not speak English, they speak the language of Queen, singing along with the songs whenever Queen appeared in concert.
Not all fairy tales end with “and they lived happily ever after.” The world was shocked and grief-stricken when Freddie Mercury died in 1991 from complications related to AIDS. The consensus among fans and the band itself was that Queen as a band was finished. Other than appearing at a few venues, such as the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992 to promote AIDS awareness, the other band members went their separate ways, grieving for both a co-creator of great music and a close friend. John Deacon decided to retire from the music business altogether, and lives a reclusive life in the English countryside
Freddie Mercury / QUEEN Photo Picture from Amazon - ad
"Freddie made the last person at the back of the furthest stand in a stadium feel that he was connected. He gave people proof that a man could achieve his dreams--made them feel that through him they were overcoming their own shyness, and becoming the powerful figure of their ambitions. And he lived life to the full. He devoured life. He celebrated every minute...........
PictureNASA pictures show the Comet Siding Spring appearing to streak across the sky in this new infrared image from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
And, like a great comet, he left a luminous trail which will sparkle for many a generation to come." - Brian May (Google Doodles)
On September 6, 2016, on what would have been Freddie's 70th birthday, he was honored by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center who named an asteroid after him.
Breaking News From NPR
Brian May's Red Special: The Story Of The Home-Made Guitar That Rocked Queen from Amazon - ad
Brian May is well known for the Red Special Guitar that he and his father made from from parts found around the house. This remains his favorite guitar to use, both in concert and in the studio.He has written a book about the history of making his remarkable guitar.
Brian May's New Book
Queen in 3-D
"There's no ghost writer for this book.
Its just me."
Brian May
Its just me."
Brian May
Queen in 3D Hardcover from Amazon - ad
One, just one, of Brian May's new projects, as he is involved in so many things, is his book Queen in 3-D. Written by Brian May, it is the first Queen book to have been written by a band member. Not only does it delve into personal memories of the band, it also combines another of Brian's projects, stereoscopy. The book tells the story through the eyes of over 300 pictures taken by Brian and mostly stereoscopic. It is an in-depth look at a side of Queen we don't usually see and it belongs in the collection of every fan.
Is This the Real Life?
Is This Just Fantasy?
Opening lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody
by Queen
Image via Pixabay
Are some things cosmically meant to happen? Or is it just pure luck? I believe that at times the Universe aligns events and meetings of certain people to bring them together so as to create something new and exciting.
There are interesting studies going on in science today, particularly quantum physics. Dean Radin, PhD, a senior scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and author of Entangled Minds, tries to explain about quantum entanglement, a theory which boggles my mind.
But first let's take a little musical break and consider this acapella masterpiece called "Bohemian Gravity"by physics student Timothy Blaise. His musical explanation of quantum physics string theory caught the attention of Dr Brian May himself, who completed his doctorate in astrophysics in 2007 which he had put aside to pursue his love of music and playing guitar with Queen.
But first let's take a little musical break and consider this acapella masterpiece called Bohemian Gravity by physics student Timothy Blaise. His musical explanation of quantum physics string theory caught the attention of Dr Brian May himself, who completed his doctorate in astrophysics in 2007 which he had put aside to pursue his love of music and playing guitar with Queen.
There are interesting studies going on in science today, particularly quantum physics. Dean Radin, PhD, a senior scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and author of Entangled Minds, tries to explain about quantum entanglement, a theory which boggles my mind.
But first let's take a little musical break and consider this acapella masterpiece called "Bohemian Gravity"by physics student Timothy Blaise. His musical explanation of quantum physics string theory caught the attention of Dr Brian May himself, who completed his doctorate in astrophysics in 2007 which he had put aside to pursue his love of music and playing guitar with Queen.
But first let's take a little musical break and consider this acapella masterpiece called Bohemian Gravity by physics student Timothy Blaise. His musical explanation of quantum physics string theory caught the attention of Dr Brian May himself, who completed his doctorate in astrophysics in 2007 which he had put aside to pursue his love of music and playing guitar with Queen.
From Idol to Queen
ADAM LAMBERT Silk Fabric Cloth Wall Poster from Amazon - ad
Adam Lambert was 26 years old when he entered the American Idol competition. He wasn't a newcomer to the musical world,having been singing and acting in theater and musicals since he was a child. He worked on a cruise ship and toured as a cast member of Wicked. So why did he decided to audition for American Idol? Just like the other many hopeful contestants, he wanted to move his career forward by getting national attention and perhaps a recording contract.
Adam had no idea how much this decision would affect his life. I still laugh when I think about Simon Cowell's response when Adam sang Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the audition. Let's take a peek and see how the audition went.
Adam had no idea how much this decision would affect his life. I still laugh when I think about Simon Cowell's response when Adam sang Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" for the audition. Let's take a peek and see how the audition went.
“I think you are theatrical and therefore not current.” said Simon.
Considering what Adam's future held for him, this statement certainly was far from the mark. During the live performances, Adam shocked the audience with a totally non-country version of Johnny Cash's “Ring of Fire.” Simon held nothing back with his opinion that it was “absolute indulgent rubbish.” But when Adam sang “Mad World,” Simon gave him an standing ovation and by the time the show approached its finale, Simon became a true supporter of Adam's talent.
Then came the historic finale where the two finalists, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, sang “We Are the Champions” with Queen. Although Kris's performance was very good, Adam demonstrated that he was a natural and not one bit afraid of being “theatrical.”
Considering what Adam's future held for him, this statement certainly was far from the mark. During the live performances, Adam shocked the audience with a totally non-country version of Johnny Cash's “Ring of Fire.” Simon held nothing back with his opinion that it was “absolute indulgent rubbish.” But when Adam sang “Mad World,” Simon gave him an standing ovation and by the time the show approached its finale, Simon became a true supporter of Adam's talent.
Then came the historic finale where the two finalists, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, sang “We Are the Champions” with Queen. Although Kris's performance was very good, Adam demonstrated that he was a natural and not one bit afraid of being “theatrical.”
It's a Kind of Magic
Adam Lambert performs Killer Queen at Madison Square Garden via Wikimedia Commons
“There is no way that you can ever really repeat something. I have this great belief that the magic of the moment can never be recaptured.” Brian May (Brainyquote)
It's true. No one can re-create the magic that happened when Freddie Mercury was alive. It is impossible. In fact, Taylor and May were not considering finding a new frontman for Queen. “We didn't really look for Adam. He just kind of turned up,” said May during an IHeartRadio interview. However, May and Taylor were not unaware of Adam's talent at the time, as they had watched his audition video.
It's true. No one can re-create the magic that happened when Freddie Mercury was alive. It is impossible. In fact, Taylor and May were not considering finding a new frontman for Queen. “We didn't really look for Adam. He just kind of turned up,” said May during an IHeartRadio interview. However, May and Taylor were not unaware of Adam's talent at the time, as they had watched his audition video.
After the American Idol finale, the ingredients for the magical synergy of Queen and Adam Lambert were in place. But they still needed to be mixed together. That didn't happen all at once. It was in November 2011 that they got together for the MTV Europe Awards where they performed a medley of Queen hits. This led to the eventual collaboration of Queen + Adam Lambert Concerts.
“I was drawn to Queen and Freddie because of his theatricality. It felt like familiar to me in a way. It was kind of like marrying the best of both worlds, theater and rock and roll.” Adam states in the IHeartRadio interview in 2014.
Brian has stated “Freddie and Adam have a very similar attitude to life, a sense of humour and camp and lightness of touch. Queen have a serious side but, really, that little bit of humour is what keeps everybody sane.” (The Telegraph)
So just for fun, let's compare Freddie and Adam's talent for theatricality. These two clips showcase how each of them approach the Queen hit “Killer Queen.” Freddie's flamboyant style inspired a multitude of artists and opened the door for future creativity and artistry
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You Can't Turn Back the Clock,
You Can't Turn Back the Tide
Lyrics from "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"
The song “These Are the Days of Our Lives” was the last video that Freddie appeared in. At the end, he looks into the camera and says, “I love you.” Let's watch that heart-rending moment, knowing, as we do now, that Freddie Mercury would soon be gone.
Some people just aren't able to accept change. They insist that their idols remain static and stagnant, never changing their style or interests. There are many who still criticize Ritchie Blackmore for not going back to playing rock music, instead of pursuing the renaissance music which is his true love.
I have observed the same negativity in comments about Adam Lambert's collaboration with Queen. Although there are very many people who feel that Adam is treating the songs with the respect and showmanship they deserve, there are also quite a few that complain that no one can fill Freddie's shoes and that Adam's voice is not as good as the legendary Mercury voice. It is almost as if they are angry at Freddie for having the audacity to die and leave them without music. Although the other members of the band grieved deeply when Freddie died, Roger and Brian feel called to continue share the Queen legacy, which is their prerogative as founders of the band. It is also their choice as to who fills the role of lead singer
After the American Idol finale, the ingredients for the magical synergy of Queen and Adam Lambert were in place. But they still needed to be mixed together. That didn't happen all at once. It was in November 2011 that they got together for the MTV Europe Awards where they performed a medley of Queen hits. This led to the eventual collaboration of Queen + Adam Lambert Concerts.
“Queen somehow has a momentum of its own and there is a kind of very strong spiritual force in there somewhere and Roger and I both fight it sometimes. Sometimes we regard it as a big shadow over the top of us that stops us being anything else. But I think there is also an appreciation that we created this and we love it and we’re proud of it so we continue in any way we can, to be part of this thing we created.” Brian May, Queenonline
The fact is that Adam is Not trying to fill Freddie's shoes. He humorously says he brings his own shoes with him. He describes his experience of singing with the band as “surreal.” Original Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor have nothing but praise for his performances with them.
Taylor states, “Brian and I love him to bits actually. He is fantastic on stage and he has tremendous charisma and a range like I’ve never heard. It’s extraordinary actually.”
"Adam is the first person we've encountered who can do all the Queen catalogue without blinking," said May. "He is a gift from God." (Blabbermouth.net)
We can continue to long for the past, the days when Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, and yes, Freddie Mercury, were still with us. Or, we can choose to live in the Now and enjoy the fact that Adam Lambert's gifted vocals allow us once again to experience the magic of Queen. It has created a whole new generation of fans as well. I doubt that I will ever get to see Queen in concert in this incarnation, but I am enjoying living vicariously through watching You-Tube videos.
But don't just take my word for it. Here is a segment of an interview where Brian praises Adam's talent and abilities. "The planets seem to align."
Don't Let Life's Special Moments
Slip Away
I'm an old hippie who loves classic rock. I am also a 65 year old grandma who loves Adam Lambert. So I was thrilled when I learned Adam was going to sing with Queen. The universe was aligning things beautifully. Of course, we must remember that Adam has a solo career as well. He has released three albums and has performed at venues all over the world.Both Queen and Adam have stated that their collaboration is not permanent as they all have busy lives.
Many of us take things for granted until suddenly a musical icon or actor is ripped away from us. Then we realize we haven't really been paying attention. Where did the years go? Why didn't I notice the beauty of their art? This has happened to me many times, and so for now, before it slips away, I wish to celebrate the magical synergy of Queen and Adam Lambert.
I leave you with this video of Adam singing my favorite Queen song. Brian May has said he does it “beautifully.” This version is from the Isle of Wright concert which I consider to be his best rendition to date. If you are wondering how Adam sings "Bohemian Rhapsody" now, watch this spine-tingling live concert in Las Vegas where Adam and a film display of Freddie seem to sing a duet.
Many of us take things for granted until suddenly a musical icon or actor is ripped away from us. Then we realize we haven't really been paying attention. Where did the years go? Why didn't I notice the beauty of their art? This has happened to me many times, and so for now, before it slips away, I wish to celebrate the magical synergy of Queen and Adam Lambert.
I leave you with this video of Adam singing my favorite Queen song. Brian May has said he does it “beautifully.” This version is from the Isle of Wright concert which I consider to be his best rendition to date. If you are wondering how Adam sings "Bohemian Rhapsody" now, watch this spine-tingling live concert in Las Vegas where Adam and a film display of Freddie seem to sing a duet.
There Is a Reason Why
There is a reason why I decided to write about Queen and Adam Lambert at this time. I was forced to do it. For more about how that came to be, jump over to my blog post, "Is This Just Fantasy?"
For some reason, these article pages do not allow for comments, which is why I decided to add a blog post for each major article. See you over there.
For some reason, these article pages do not allow for comments, which is why I decided to add a blog post for each major article. See you over there.
Headline background image via Pixabay