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Post by skaschep on Dec 13, 2017 11:35:12 GMT -5
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Post by LindaG23 on Dec 13, 2017 11:36:06 GMT -5
lindaG......I didn't bother to read the caption that the pic he liked was from JCS. We'll need to add it to the Dec 2 thread. Since Adam no longer has Shosh doing publicity, etc.....guess he's doing it himself. Glad he is! It's not actually JCS but a mini-series about Jesus ... but close enough
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Post by skaschep on Dec 13, 2017 12:01:46 GMT -5
Metro @metrouk Queen and Adam Lambert retain the crown as best live band ever, even without Freddie Mercury trib.al/lOobqFO Queen and Adam Lambert retain the crown as best live band ever, even without Freddie MercuryBeing there for Queen’s homecoming was very special indeed. Not least because I took my dad Nigel along – who last saw Queen in concert 42 years ago in Taunton in 1975 when they were testing out new track Bohemian Rhapsody. They certainly didn’t have the notoriety back then that they have today, playing to a crowd of just 1500 while still sussing out what would work on their audience. ‘They were introducing the world to their polemic number, Bohemian Rhapsody, which had just been released,’ he told me. ‘They were good back then, using a reel-to-reel tape system to playback the song and seamlessly takeover playing after the tricky-to-do-live harmony section, with no break in tempo or pitch.’ Everyone left with massive smiles on their faces, so he said. Flash forward 42 years and the smiles were there before the show had even begun. Most of this audience had grown up on Queen’s anthemic classics (save for a pair of nine month old twins in ear defenders just beginning their Queen journey), and this was a rare opportunity to see the band exactly where they belonged, on the arena stage of their home town. Queen had returned to London’s O2 with their homecoming gig after two years, and the magnitude of the evening wasn’t lost on them as they played on a guitar-shaped stage as only Queen could. ‘We’ve come home!’ Brian May announced to the crowd. ‘Thanks for welcoming us back.’ Anyone who hasn’t seen Queen perform with Adam Lambert before might be nervous; could he do Freddie Mercury justice? They needn’t worry. Adam was full of all the flamboyance needed to come close to Freddie’s stage presence, with roughly 10 costume changes adorned with all the sparkles in the world and at times while riding about on a gaudy pink trike. He wore sunglasses for most of the show and strutted about the stage as if the entire audience was there just for him. ‘I’m up here in the gayest suit you’ll ever see in your life,’ he said at one point. His vocals were also absolutely on point, with Adam tackling the Queen greats like Bohemian Rhapsody and Somebody To Love like he’d been singing them his whole life – he probably has. Comparing the singers, my dad told me: ‘Freddie’s replacement carried the songs well and was an able and accomplished counterfoil to the talented Brian May on guitars and Roger Taylor on drums. ‘Same music, different singers, but otherwise little had changed.’ That’s a thumbs up from a life-long Queen fan then. At one point Lambert addressed the fact he could never replace the icon: ‘I know what many of you must be thinking: ‘He’s no Freddie, that American twat!’ ‘There will only be one rock God named Freddie!’ But he certainly gave it a good go. His appearance isn’t new though – he’s performed with Queen since 2012, having met during their performance on American Idol in 2009, and even headlined 2016’s Isle Of Wight Festival together. So this homecoming wasn’t just about him – it was more about the originals. While many will be hailing his performance having not seen him perform with Queen before, it was originals Brian May and Roger Taylor who blew me away. They stepped back and let Adam take the floor for the most part, but largely because their talent needed no promoting. Brian May, 70, took the stage completely by himself to give a blast of his famous Brighton Rock solo and held the audience’s attention for a good five minutes. Later, Roger Taylor, 68, was afforded the same grand moment when he was given the stage for not only a drum solo, but a drum battle with a much younger counterpart. And of course he won. Of course the evening couldn’t go by without a tribute to Freddie, which they pulled off beautifully when Brian May played an acoustic solo of Love Of My Life, and Freddie appeared beside him on screen in some clever digital wizardry that blended vintage footage with live. The pals appeared to play together, and even took a joint bow when the song was finished. Every classic was hit, It’s A kind Of Magic, Radio Gaga, Don’t Stop Me Now, even Bohemian Rhapsody, notoriously difficult to play live, had much more of it performed than expected and than has been in the past. They rounded out the night with We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions, with the entire auditorium swaying their arms and torch lights like they were at the band’s iconic performance at Wembley in 1986. The staging was near perfect, as big and dramatic as only would fit the band, with platforms and props delighting the audience. Although if there was one criticism it was that there was too much smoke – oddly at times it masked the musicians, and at times shrouded Roger Taylor all together. But the trio, complete with their backing band, some of whom have played with them for decades, pulled off their London gig with huge aplomb and proved that they’d been away for far too long. And they showed that even without Freddie, the show must go on.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2017 12:14:45 GMT -5
There's a rumour, I don't know yet if it's true, that QAL will return to Israel this coming summer. I have to say, as much as I'm happy seeing them in my home turf again, I was hoping Adam will dedicate his time after the AU+NZ leg to his own career. So I'm a bit disappointed. If it’s late summer or early Fall, it would be like 2015 was when QAL did S America. But I sure hope Summer's reserved for Era 4 promo ( I mean media promo, not a tour.) sadly, that will probably be 2019 :(
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Post by katycake on Dec 13, 2017 12:18:21 GMT -5
Is that a new fluorescent yellow faux fur coat he's wearing? With gradual yellow-blue colored sunglasses that match his outfit? I'm well impressed.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2017 12:23:27 GMT -5
Has Adam EVER quoted reviews before? I'm quoting my fellow purveyor of mashed potatoes ( marionm, I saw your quizzical post as well) but no, I can't remember Adam ever quoting reviews before. My first thought after "wow! that's a first" was "hmmm, Adam is highlighting review praise for JCC publicity purposes". I am so deep in the mashed potatoes, I may need a carrot ladder to get out. lol. Also, he liked Debra Messing's instagram about Mary Magdalene. Of course, he could have been referring to the tattoo between her eyes and he is considering face tattoos (I'm not serious), but I don't think so ... http://instagr.am/p/BcoXMvUHweE MTE!! JCS gets announced this week & there are the stellar reviews on both his social media sites for the doubters! #AdamSmart
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Post by seoulmate on Dec 13, 2017 12:24:09 GMT -5
I made a thing. He looked so beautiful last night This "thing" you made is GORGEOUS!! Thank you, nic42!
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Post by betty on Dec 13, 2017 12:24:32 GMT -5
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Post by momtomany on Dec 13, 2017 12:27:39 GMT -5
Hello from London on a deep, dark December afternoon . . . I didn't know that it gets dark at 4PM here! Been raining, lightly, much of the day - but that doesn't dampen the spirited sprites who anticipate QAL one bit! I know there's an arena close by that will be 'LIT' tonight! - Especially after the fantastic review of earlier today!
I'll have more to write once this 4-performance saga is over; but, before I forget, I'll let you in on the adventure of the past few days.
After the apocalyptic inferno of October, I wasn't going to make this trip. Not only had my passport and stage ticket burned, but the fire consumed my desire as well. Yet, friends & family kept saying 'you need this!' - and I wondered if they sensed the loss of joy I felt inside. So, I sent off a passport replacement request; notified the Birmingham venue of my lost ticket; and requested the time off from work. Most importantly, I had to be sure my DH would be okay in my absence. Since the fire, the saying 'all we have is each other' has never rung so true.
It all came together. I was reluctant to leave the debris of my home, but even the debris was cleared away by Sunday morning; so all my goodbyes were done; spoken and felt, by the time I boarded the airport bus to SF on Sunday afternoon. Earlier that day, a dear UK friend notified me (bless her heart!) that I had a ticket to the 'Christmas Chatty Man' taping on Monday night! It would be a fast trip from Heathrow to the studio, but with an on-schedule flight I would be sure to arrive in time! Ahh . . . I was beginning to feel the magic.
I was well on my way to the airport when I received the message that my flight to London was cancelled!! So, back to Sonoma County I went; and repeated the scenario (minus 'Chatty Man') yesterday morning. I came to the airport in very casual tatters; not expecting to see anyone I knew; as our rebooked flights were all on different airlines - but when I checked in, there was Didilynn! She and another friend, after hours on the phone, were able to book this nonstop flight from SFO to London. The three of us were so glad to be on the flight, we didn't care that we'd missed a day; and I actually wondered if it was fortunate I hadn't been to the Chatty Man taping with luggage in tow, and a 24-hour sleep-deprived ordeal behind me!
On to the O2! Found our way through the Underground to the O2; had a quick dinner, and then took off in three different directions for our seats. The atmosphere seemed very casual. No undercurrent of supreme excitement; everyone was dressed in a palette of grey and black - but they were smiling! Most of the crowd seemed to be 35+; many, many 'guys'. My seat was geographically close to the stage . . . my 'row V' spot actually had a very good view of the sound boards. (BTW - the sound girl - yes, a girl! - was rocking out to the music; much like a DJ would!) I could see the entrance wall to the area where Adam exits the stage - and they had it decorated like a Christmas package. I watched the floor as it filled up. When I entered, around 6:45PM, the thrust area was about 5 rows deep, framing the entire walkway. Like a magnet, concertgoers were drawn in, and created a thicker and thicker frame; then filled up the back. By showtime, every square foot of the arena floor was packed.
I remember back during the FYE tour, when, before the performance, it seemed like a very specific selection of songs would be played. They would get the audience humming; then singing and dancing; and totally wound-up before the curtain was raised. I wonder why they don't do this for Queen. The only preshow excitement was generated by a few security guys guarding the thrust . . . I don't know what they did, but they had their section of fans cheering and singing.
There were still many empty seats around me; I didn't speak to a single person! Suddenly, the lovely SophieB appeared! A familiar face! As the lights dimmed, people poured in and filled those seats around me.
The show began. So did I. My body came alive; my brain trashed its ennui; as the magnificent drum beat began for 'We Will Rock You'. In no time, the arena was wildly happy. Adam, Brian, and Roger possessed them.
OMG. The performance is perfect. PERFECT. Perfect without perfection. There is still spontaneity; goofy faces that Brian and Adam made; a laser-eye contact Adam has with Roger that channels shared adoration.
Egads. I have to get ready for tonite!! Where has this dark and shiny afternoon gone? I'll have more to post. I'm seeing that the hardest time is finding the quiet moment to reflect and just let the words flow. I'm so lucky. I have tonight; and Friday at Wembley, and Saturday at Birmingham. Last night I told myself I should bring a notepad, so I could jot down moments to share with Adamtopia. I want to share every tiny stitch of the magnificent quilt of Queen. You deserve to be enveloped!
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Post by LindaG23 on Dec 13, 2017 12:42:19 GMT -5
I'm quoting my fellow purveyor of mashed potatoes ( marionm, I saw your quizzical post as well) but no, I can't remember Adam ever quoting reviews before. My first thought after "wow! that's a first" was "hmmm, Adam is highlighting review praise for JCC publicity purposes". I am so deep in the mashed potatoes, I may need a carrot ladder to get out. lol. Also, he liked Debra Messing's instagram about Mary Magdalene. Of course, he could have been referring to the tattoo between her eyes and he is considering face tattoos (I'm not serious), but I don't think so ... MTE!! JCS gets announced this week & there are the stellar reviews on both his social media sites for the doubters! #AdamSmart This week! I didn't know. So will I be ... Or ... We'll soon know!
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