This part, in particular, from Brian May, regarding what he thinks Freddie Mercury would've made of Adam Lambert...
“Freddie would love and hate him, yeah; I mean, you know, he’d be like, ‘You bastard!’” May joked. “Because, I mean, Adam has a real gift from God. That voice is a voice in a billion, and nobody has that range, nobody that I’ve ever worked with. And not just the range but the quality throughout the range and the passion to use that instrument.”
Personally, I don't see why Mercury would say "You bastard" over Lambert's voice. Sure, he can hit the high notes, but so could Roger Taylor. I don't think Mercury had a more limited range than Lambert anyway (I believe Mercury could sing lower). He suffered from vocal nodules, but other than that, Mercury's voice was better in every way. I don't hear more passion in Lambert's voice than Mercury's either (tbh, I don't like Lambert's voice).
It's as though May is kind of dismissive of Mercury in comparison to Lambert. Or is he purposefully saying that as an "up yours" to those who are vocal about their dislike of Lambert? I don't know. Anyway, you might see it differently.
emrabt · Member since
It's just Brian being Brian, feeling the need to justify all his own decisions with stories about Freddie, don't worry about it.
When he finds a new best friend all the stories will be about them.
This is typical of the type of rubbish Brian comes out with though, the same thing happened with Paul Rodgers, at the start of their partnership the story was that Freddie mentioned him in the studio, saying he can't sing like Paul Rodgers, by the end he was Freddies Idol.
I've not Listened much to Lambert but what is his range, 2.5 octaves, maybe?
Makka · Member since
Or maybe Brian is probably in the best position to know what Freddie may or may not of said and have the musical ear to know of Lambert's talents (whether people agree or not is to each owns tastes). I've seen them twice with Lambert and yes he has a good range but a very different timbre to his voice than Mercury's.
emrabt · Member since
Nobody, not even Brian would know what Freddie would have said, it's as simple as that.
Sealion · Member since
Freddie will always be superior for every (longtime) Queen fan. I've seen both, Freddie and Adam several times. They are both great. BUT Freddie is the original. And after I've experienced him singing these (his) songs, nobody can do them better IMO.
On the other hand, I took my daughter with me to her first gig in 2015. Although she had heard all the Queen songs many times before - naturally! ;) - , she told me more than once by now, that Adam sings IWIA and WWTLF "much better" than Freddie. And that she likes him better. See, she is 18. She only saw Freddie in old videos. It's only natural, that she rather takes to the younger Adam (who actually is about twice her age as well), than to "old" Freddie (her words), IMO. But it shows me as well, that AL must have some appeal. It seems to work really well with newbies and even many older fans.
I don't think. Brian is disrespectful to Freddie. Even if he really thinks, that Adam's voice is "better". It may even be so.
Second best to Lambert's voice is still almost the best ;D.
No, jokes away. Nothing Brian said, takes anything away from Freddie. For some reasons, he feels the need to tell, how much he appreciates Lambert's voice. It's his opinion and that should be OK. Just look at all the hate Lambert still gets on FB or YT from Queen fans and I get an idea, why Brian feels that way.
Just to add: Last week Brian and Roger has a press conference with AL before their Vegas debut. Here is what they and especially Roger had to say about Lambert.
http://youtu.be/FbKKXHrP1I0?t=18m49s
Sebastian · Member since
Brian's entitled to his point of view. Some may agree or disagree with it, and that's also fine. At the end of the day, what he (probably) wants is to get people to speak about Adam, and he's certainly succeeded.
rockchic65 · Member since
I don't believe he's saying Adam is better than Freddie, he's said in the past that Adam can sing higher in a live situation and that's true since Freddie often modulated down for lots of reasons. From his point of view, working with Adam and hearing him in rehearsal he's probably impressed by what Adam can do with his voice but that doesn't mean he prefers the tone or thinks he's better and IMO I don't actually think he was including Freddie when he made that comment, I took it to mean out of any other singers he's worked with since Freddie died. I could be wrong but the fact Freddie was known as such an amazing singer, often called the best, probably means he didn't even think anyone would assume he was including Freddie when he said that about Adam. That said Adam has incredible technical ability and so live he is more consistent.
Bo Alex · Member since
Yes, maybe. But I'm sure Freddie wouldn't care at all.
bucsateflon · Member since
Brian is God
victorvortex · Member since
It's funny how Brian was ultra precious after Freddie died, all the 'Queen is over' etc. Yet now he will say any old crap to sell a few extra tickets.
Brian, it is over.
Adam Lameberk is not fit to lace Freddie's ballet shoes, let alone compare to him as a singer.
The sooner this current shitshow is over, the better. It breaks my heart to see Brian and Roger cheapen the legacy like this.
Sealion · Member since
"Cheapen the legacy" ??
Bullshit. That snippet is again a part of the same interview, that is discussed on the Serious discussion board as well. I don't know, why the OP opened a second thread about that. The interview is from last year and was about Brian's 3D-Book.
Concerning your "fear" for the legacy: We got a new movie-trailer yesterday. Queen is very visible in the media and we will see much more like this the closer we get to release day.
At the same time, Brian and Roger are selling out concerts in Las Vegas. The Queen-crest can be seen all over that city.
New generations get to see them live. Not only in Vegas, but in concerts in Australia and Europe as well - just that year so far.
No, Brian didn't know that back in the early 90's. Neither did I ever expect to be able to experience that music with my family, But I am. And because of this I can guarantee you, that the legacy will live on.
Iron Butterfly · Member since
Queen's music would be living on without Q+AL. I think it's safe to say that.
flash00. · Member since
In terms of talent etc Adam is not a gift from god with a god given talent, he is a good singer but he's a screamer which i'm not a fan of, Martel has better range and power. Lamberts song writing is not even that good, is that a god given talent?
I personally have thought Brian comes over a little bit jealous of Freddie at times, maybe Freddie knew this it's known he would avoid Brian in the studio with his nit picking and arguing, when has May ever sat praising Freddie in interviews while he was alive, and yes May will spout on about any celebrity he's famous for being a celebrity ass kisser. The comments from a celeb about Queen mean so much more to him than any Queen fan Ive always wondered why.
I personally think he's just kissing Lamberts ass in case he gets bored of Queen and walks. God I miss Freddie ha.
john bodega · Member since
Brian, I love you, but you really can be completely full of shit sometimes.
Theoretically-Still-Alive-Freddie has absolutely nothing to be envious of here. Lambert has this awful 'searching' sound when he's about to go for a note that isn't the one he's already singing. Honestly, I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt but it's been the same ever since he started with the Queen stuff. I'll put on something like "Don't Stop Me Now" or "Who Wants To Live Forever" - where some people would tell you that he's NAILING it (?) and there it is, like clockwork. Couldn't find the interval with a flashlight and a map.
He sounds like a mouse too, whenever they go with a big song for an opener. 'It's just not a good recording', I've been told. Really?? Why does Freddie sound better even on his off nights??
And the off-key trills and ad-libs and stuff - I don't know if they've gotten better over the years, but oof. The time to practice that stuff was before you signed up with 1/2 of a brilliant 70's rock band, mate.
Having said all of that ... all power to them, I actually am happy that the Q+AL thing is happening in some respects (people can still see Brian bust a move, etc.), but as a singer Adam isn't what Brian sells him as being, putting it politely. Put any C-Lebrity in that role and you'd be getting the same show - we know because they've done that for 20 years now, at one time or another.
Anyway, in case I sound negative - just go to one of the shows and enjoy hearing Queen music being played loudly, as it should be. On philosophical grounds I have to be happy that Brian and Roger are still around to do what they do, even if the singer is a major put-off.
master marathon runner · Member since
Well , I just don't know what to say. I only hope John ain't tuning in here.
