QUEEN CONCERT REVIEW – SYDNEY 27 AUGUST 2014
Went to the 2nd Sydney concert, and penned the following more for my own memory's sake rather than for others, so excuse the point format!
Hope you find the review useful....
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I was fortunate to see Queen live in concert once before in 1984. It is a night I treasured, and one of the highlights of my life.
I think the only time I have shed a tear when a famous person died was when Freddie left us in 1991. Amongst all the other things, to think we would never see Queen perform at the heights to which we were accustomed.
Till now! Tonight's concert was simply amazing.
A few points:
1) The setlist was massive. 22 songs plus 4 solos. I think there was a track from every album, including a couple I don't think I've seen in their concerts before (eg Lap Of The Gods...Revisited, Who Wants To Live Forever)
2) Adam Lambert was brilliant. Showed the requisite campness, great voice, terrific showman. Is he on the same level as Freddie? Not a chance, but noone knows it more than Lambert himself. Showed amazing respect for Queen and the fans, the history and the music, and he was a winner from the moment he entered the stage. He knew when to give it a little extra, and also when to hold back. Kudos to him for resisting the temptation of fake breasts and miniskirt for I Want To Break Free. We all know that there was only one person who could ever pull that one off!
3) Wonderful respect all round for Freddie. Incredibly moving when Brian May solo'd Love of my Life. I don't reckon there was a dry eye in the place when Freddie's image was on the big screen with his voice overlayed. Which made it very difficult for the crowd to sing along (as requested by Brian)! Never have I heard the crowd so quiet during Love of my Life!
4) Loved Brian May being himself. His guitar work is as sharp as ever (noone ever expected otherwise). But he was natural, and really seemed to enjoy every minute out there. Talked Astronomy, and gave great background to '39, which was performed true to the note of the recorded album. My song of the night.
5) Was dumbstruck by Roger Taylor's voice! We all knew he can sing (just think I'm In Love With My Car etc), but he absolutely ripped A Kind Of Magic and Under Pressure. He was superb! It's funny, A Kind Of Magic has never really been up there, but tonight there was something very special about it.
6) After entering stage to Procession, there could have been no more appropriate first song for Lambert to launch into than Now I'm Here. Just think of those first few lines
Here I stand
Look around around around
But you won't see me
Now I'm here, Now I'm there, I'm just a...
Just a new man
Yes you made me live again
Wow – sums it all up really – Just a new man, living again. Goosebumps for me!
7) It was very special seeing Freddie on the big screen coming accompanying vocals on Love Of My Life with May, and on Bohemian Rhapsody with Lambert. So well done. But the strength of Freddies voice in those clips was just awesome, and showed just what a superb talent he really was.
8) We were treated to a cameo by Lady Gaga who accompanied Lambert in Another One Bited The Dust. Ironically I thought this was probably the weakest song on the night. It is such a hard song to nail live, but Gaga's tits, heels and all round hotness made it pretty special! Pity she didn't step onto the stage for Radio Gaga, but I guess that would have been a bit too tacky. She seemed to be having too good a time in the crowd in anycase!
Long may Adam Lambert remain the frontman, (but with Brian May the backbone). He was truly impressive, and I think any Queen afficianado would welcome his presence on a permanent basis. The big question is will we now see some new Queen material arise for the first time in almost 20 years? Bring it on...together with more concerts!
LONG LIVE QUEEN!
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