No new dates for QEX announced yet, so I allow myself to be slightly offtopic this time.
I was listening to Marc's EP the other day. What it's called again? Oh, right, The Prelude. So, anyway, even though dude is trying his best not to sound Freddie-ish (or Queen-ish, if you like), he still can't escape it in moments. That's fine with me tho, I'm a sucker for that kind of vocals, obviously.
Yet melodically and lyrically the slower power ballad songs like "[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVVs-gcj0tc]Believe[/url]", but especially the track "[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwJ64LxKPy0]Perfect World[/url]" really reminds me of Dr. Bri's work, particularly "Another World". Not that it has too much in common and it's not nearly as heartbreaking as Brian's, but something about it hit the very familiar note.
Overall I'm not terribly impressed with the EP. It's nice, fits the mainstream radio/tv format quite well, but it's still too poppy and commercial to really stand out from the rest. Listen, Marc, just don't try so hard to out-flop "Mr. Bad Guy", okay? lol. It's good he's coming back to rock in the full album, might even learn a thing or two from the band he's now pay tribute to, the Queen, y'know. Or just steal some shit like Muse does, these guys don't even hide it anymore (Madness, Panic Station, anyone?). As my granma used to say - if you're gonna fuck this up anyway, at least do it Royally.
Best wishes to all.
AdamMethos · Member since
No new dates yet, but @QueenExtrava tweeted "they will return, plans are afoot" so it seems like there will be more dates this year. An in an interview in the Quebec press Marc said that Roger REALLY wants to take the show to Europe and especially the U.K., so maybe that's in the works.
Re Prelude EP, I like the two ballads but I'm not a fan of dance/pop-y type music so I'm meh on the faster songs. I'm glad he said he will be dialing the rock back in for the full album. Yes please! Heh. The songs on the EP all have a retro feel to me, e.g. Believe makes me think of RIchard Marx in the 80s. I'm a little disappointed that the songs are all a variation of "I'm so in love" but maybe that's unavoidable when aiming for commercial pop music? Even with a Christian theme, a lot of Downhere songs covered a wider variety of topics and with more sophisticated lyrics.
There's a Downhere song, Iliad, that seemed familiar to me even when I had never heard it before. I couldn't figure out why until recently I realized that some of the lyrics from Iliad were used in another song, Hope Is Rising, like what Queen did with Fat Bottomed Girls and Bicycle Race. More Queen "influence" in Downhere hahahaha.
Iliad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TetyeWCjXaA
Hope Is Rising http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuJSkQOmIs
This video popped up in my YouTube recommendations today -- two months too late, thanks YT! Marc doing O Come Emmanuel in a church this past Christmas with IMO quite beautiful vocals. I would love to see QE do Nevermore. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIvDZa9Z4PY
AdamMethos · Member since
Surprise, QE does corporate events! At the opening keynote of 2013 RSA Security Conference in San Francisco this morning (QE starts at 2:40)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD9HmyrXisY
john bodega · Member since
I still reckon Martel represents Brian and Roger's last shot at doing some top notch shows before they're confined to wheelchairs, and I don't care who knows it.
I don't buy the hyperbole that he's spooky or identical to Freddie or all of that cockwallop, but he's the only feller with the vocal chops within the organisation.
Missreclusive · Member since
AdamM...nice find! Thx for posting.
Z, I reckon the same thing. I'm disgusted with Brian and Roger for not taking him on as a beautiful live tribute to the sound of Queen. I wonder if it's both of them that refuse or more one than the other? Who the hell knows what Freddie would think of it but one thing for sure, no one since Freddies death has done justice vocally to the sound...until Martel. And, he's a class act, not trying to be Freddie.
I would recommend every Queen fan see QE if given the chance.
Holly2003 · Member since
QE sounds like a lot of fun and from Youtube clips they all seem very talented. Just the shot of energy Queen needs. Agree about Martel. His version of STL was great. Slighty spooky that he also looks a little like Fred too. Problem is, Brian and Rog have heaped so much praise on Adam Camembert, and Brian is so stupidly subborn about his decisions, that we might be stuck with AL for a bit.
GratefulFan · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]AdamMethos wrote:[/b]
No new dates yet, but @QueenExtrava tweeted "they will return, plans are afoot" so it seems like there will be more dates this year. An in an interview in the Quebec press Marc said that Roger REALLY wants to take the show to Europe and especially the U.K., so maybe that's in the works.[/QUOTE]
That's interesting in that the initial vision for this was to ultimately have competitions to form tribute bands in other territories, presumably Europe and specifically the UK as well. That seems less likely in the medium term if they bring the current QE over there. Perhaps this potential shift in thinking is down to the level of talent they found and the success they've had. I wonder if that exposure would make it more or less likely for any of them to appear with Brian and Roger in a full Queen show? On the one hand there's the low rent sense of becoming a tribute to yourself, but on the other hand the level of talent and the fit tends to inspire fans to want precisely that.
john bodega · Member since
"Brian is so stupidly subborn about his decisions"
That's been my interpretation, so I've figured there'd probably be a grace period wherein Brian figures people will have forgotten about Lambert, and they can move onto the better alternative without any shame.
Another Roger (re) · Member since
Did anyone go to the first Quebec gig last night? Would be nice to hear some reviews ;)
malicedoom · Member since
Anyone that's going to see them, please tell them to get the hell back to Chicago. They were great.
AdamMethos · Member since
I will be going on Aug 30 and Sept 1!
In one of the French media interviews, Francois (the bassist) hinted that there are a few changes to the show from the last tour in January-February. No idea what they are though.
john bodega · Member since
"there are a few changes to the show from the last tour in January-February. No idea what they are though"
Less vocalists, I hope. I understand that they had to play fair, be nice, and let some of the other contestants have a go, but they really were redundant.
Another Roger (re) · Member since
This great footage was just uploaded on youtube. Its concert clips and interviews with fans. All in great quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXi2dcxKJlY
Thistle · Member since
My sister says she's going to get tickets for me to see the Glasgow show for my birthday. Should be good - Marc Martel is an awesome!
AdamMethos · Member since
My vids from last night's show in Quebec:
I Want It All -- with QE's guitarist Brian Gresh singing the bridge like Brian May did!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkdFzyODYQM
The Show Must Go On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyFYyVtYKqs
