6.7.14 Only 12 days to go -- it is all I can think about! ;)

“Lay Me Down” on many CHR Stations Request Forms –
but do not request it.
6.7.14 by Q3

Earlier this week, LMD must have been played on a radio program syndicated to Clear Channel Radio CHR/Pop radio stations. So the song is now on the Mediabase Request Form for Z100 New York, Q102 Philadelphia, KIIS Los Angeles, KISS Chicago, etc. As tempting as it is to request this song, please wait until either AVICII or Adam asks fans to request this song. The local radio stations did not play this song.

There is one exception – a monitored radio station in Utah has added LMD to its playlist: Mix 107.9 -- Utah's Hit Music Channel serving Salt Lake City, Provo, and Ogden at 107.9 FM. If you are lucky enough to live in the one market in North America with the wisdom to add LMD, request away. (Of course, normal request rules apply, no spamming, no out-of-market requests, be polite and actually listen to the station. You know the drill!) Updated by Q3: 1:28PM 6.7.14 to correct status of KUDD-FM 107.9 to "monitored."

Note: If you can find the spin that trigger this Mediabase Request Form appearance, please post the info and I will update this post.



'American Idol' on the Charts: Adam Lambert's 'Very Best' Debuts
8:00 AM PDT 6/6/2014 by Fred Bronson

The season eight runner-up's latest enters the Top Internet Albums tally at No. 14.

A collection of greatest hits, including the singles "Whataya Want from Me" and "If I Had You," sends Adam Lambert back to the Billboard charts. Playlist enters the Top Internet Albums chart at No. 14 and Top Current Albums at No. 187.

Lambert made his Billboard chart debut the week of June 6, 2009 with the song "No Boundaries" and three other titles: "Mad World," "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "One." Season-eight winner Kris Allen saw his version of "No Boundaries" debut the same week. Counting back to that initial song, Lambert’s career chart span is expanded to five years and one week. To put it another way, the debut of Playlist marks the beginning of the second half of Lambert’s first decade on the charts.

Link: www.hollywoodreporter.com/idol-worship/american-idol-charts-adam-lamberts-709814

Q3 note: Billboards “Top Catalog Albums" is the album sales chart excluding albums over 18 months old that have dropped below position 100 and have no currently-running single. is equivalent to the Billboard 200 album sales charts before December 5, 2009. The Billboard 200 chart now includes all albums regardless of age. It was changed to reflect the increased importance of catalog album sales.

My rough count is that there were 27 albums released more than 18 months ago without current singles on the Billboard 200 in position 100 or higher (above Playlist AL). That means that Playlist AL was no higher than #214 on the total album sales chart.


Adam Lambert launches AT&T Live Proud 2014
Posted on June 6, 2014

Adam Lambert has teamed up with AT&T to launch their Live Proud 2014 campaign.

The campaign, launched in celebration of LGBT Pride Month and Pride season, focus on awareness and empowerment. This marks the second year that Adam has teamed up with AT&T for the campaign.

Live Proud 2014 encourages the LGBT community to create their own memes to show how they Live Proud and share them via social media.

Four winners will be chosen with one lucky winner attending a private event with Adam in New York and getting one-on-one time with the star.

Talking about the campaign Adam said: “For me, I choose to “Live Proud” through my fans and my music. By creating personal and empowering music that my fans can relate to, I aim to inspire and motivate them every day.”

He added: “I’m excited to be a part of this great movement that showcases AT&T’s commitment to enriching and strengthening the lives of LGBT individuals everywhere.”

“No matter what you believe in or what you identify as, this campaign gives you the opportunity to be loud and proud about who you are.”

Check out the one that Adam already posted below:



Link: www.entertainment-focus.com/music-section/music-news/adam-lambert-launches-att-live-proud-2014/#sthash.o1vLBBdS.dpuf


Great quote!!

In a review of “Thriller…Live!,” currently at the Lyric Theater at London’s West End:

The singers had strong, high voices—but, “The Voice UK” alumnus, Ricardo Alfonso, deserves special mention for exceptional pipes that will remind you, not of Jackson, but of Freddie Mercury and Adam Lambert!

Read more: entertainment.inquirer.net/144135/west-end-tribute-to-michael-jackson-keeps-energy-at-fever-pitch#ixzz33vByj5lS


2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates





2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour countdown….
6.7.14 by Q3

I have no idea how it happened but there are only 12 days to go!!

#12 “Princes of the Universe” (1986)
Written by Freddie Mercury.
Released on A Kind of Magic June 2, 1986.
Featured on the Highlander movie soundtrack. The film premiered March 7, 1986 (United States), August 29, 1986 (United Kingdom).

The upcoming tour setlist is going to be comprised of songs that were hits – plus a few songs that are Queen live performance regulars. But for QAL 2012 there was one surprise added at Adam’s suggestion. I expect to get one surprise song on the upcoming tour, and my nominee is “Princes Of The Universe.

This is one of the songs that Queen never performed live. It is a song that should be performed live. And there is only one singer I can think of who should take on this theatrical hard-rock song, the one and only Adam F. Lambert.

Unfortunately, I am fairly certain that Brian and Roger have no idea how popular this song has become over the years.


Princes Of The Universe (Early Take)

I like this version the best!!

youtu.be/9xR2yotCv3Q


"Princes of the Universe” was written for the Highlander soundtrack. It is the only song on the soundtrack and A Kind of Magic album for which Mercury receives sole credit. In the movie soundtrack, the song was edited and the guitar solo in the beginning was cut.

Princes Of the Universe (Highlander Version)

This is the edited version that was used in the film and is around 1:30.

youtu.be/QecNe5S4x70

"Princes of the Universe" was originally a single in the U.S., Australia and Japan -- not the UK. Even though Queen had not had a US hit since 1984 with “Radio Ga Ga” but, since the song was featured in the film Highlander, EMI anticipated that this song would be promoted by the film. When Highlander turned out to be a theatrical failure, the film and the song was mostly forgotten by everyone except Queen and Highlander fans. Highlander turned out to be an American video rental hit, and then a worldwide cult hit with many spinoffs, and the Queen music associated with the movie started reached a wider audience.

The song was never released as a single in the United Kingdom; and, while it never charted, it is a cult favorite because of its association with Highlander.

Queen interview about “Princes of the Universe” (1986)

youtu.be/N7eatxilw8Y


Making Of 'Princes Of The Universe'
Note: The quality of this video is terrible but I could not find a better copy. If you find one, please post it in the thread and I will update. Thx. Q3

youtu.be/dQNo6mTpV9E

"Princes of the Universe” became more widely known when it was used as the theme song for Highlander: The Series, a French production designed for US syndicated release, and ultimately a Franco-American/Canadian release, was broadcast in the US, France, Canada, UK, Italy, Japan and other countries. The original run was October 3, 1992 – May 16, 1998. For more about Highlander: The Series, check out this amazing site from the UK: www.highlandera-z.co.uk/index2.htm

The single was re-released on May 23, 2000 in the UK, France and Holland to promote Queen + Greatest Hits III. This release was the same as the original 1986 album track.

“Princes of the Universe” Album track (1986, 2000)

youtu.be/LXncrg0Jqjc


Personnel

Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals, piano, synthesizer
Brian May - electric guitar, backing vocals
Roger Taylor - drums, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar

Produced by: Queen and Mack


Releases

Albums:
A Kind Of Magic, 1986
Greatest Hits III, 1999

Singles:
Princes Of The Universe, 1986 USA
Princes Of The Universe, 2000 UK, France, Holland CD Single

Alternate Versions:
1998 eYe Instrumental 1:06 Edit - Electronic Arts DDE05501 101S
Highlander TV Series Intro Version - Unreleased
Highlander OST - Highlander: Warner Home Video PES 38050
Townhouse Demo Cassette Tape 3:16 - Unreleased
August Presentations Mix

Soundtracks:
Highlander - Although featured in the movie there was no official soundtrack album released.


"Princes of the Universe” Music video

The music video was directed by Russell Mulcahy and was shot on the Silvercup rooftop stage used for the film, featuring a sword fight between Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) and Freddie Mercury (Freddie wielding his trademark bottomless mic stand instead of a sword) intercut with scenes from the movie. During the video, guitarist Brian May appears without his Red Special, but instead with a white Washburn RR11V. The video was actually played quite a bit on music video stations (in the US) when this single came out, despite not charting. Up until its eventual release on Greatest Flix III (VHS, 1999) and Greatest Video Hits 2 (DVD, 2003), it was rarely seen by fans outside North America, elevating its possession to collector's item status.

This is an essential Queen music video!

youtu.be/VEJ8lpCQbyw


"Princes of the Universe” Lyrics

The lyrics are from the perspective of the immortals, about the state of being immortal, the superiority it gives them to normal humans, and the test that they all always have to face because of this. The lyrics can also be interpreted as regarding Queen themselves: "People talk about you, people say you've had your day / I'm a man that will go far, find the moon and reach for the stars." The song "Who Wants to Live Forever" is the foil of this song, and features in the film.

youtu.be/zZ1WyBGG_Vw

Princes of the Universe

Here we are, born to be kings
We're the princes of the universe
Here we belong, fighting to survive
In a world with the darkest powers
And here we are, we're the princes of the universe
Here we belong, fighting for survival
We've come to be the rulers of your world
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings
I have no rival, no man can be my equal
Take me to the future of your world

Born to be kings, princes of the universe
Fighting and free, got your world in my hand
I'm here for your love and I'll make my stand
We were born to be princes of the universe

No man could understand, my power is in my own hand
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, people talk about you
People say you've had your day
I'm a man that will go far
Fly the moon and reach for the stars
With my sword and head held high
Got to pass the test first time - yeah

I know that people talk about me, I hear it every day
But I can prove you wrong because I'm right first time

Yeah - yeah - alright
Watch this man fly!
Bring on the girls!

Here we are, born to be kings, we're the princes of the universe
Here we belong, born to be kings, princes of the universe
Fighting and free, got the world in my hands
I'm here for your love, and I'll make my stand
We were born to be princes of the universe






Rock Nerd Stuff!! Drop D Tuning

On the countdown at #24 I selected “Fat Bottom Girls”. The song is formed around an open bluesy, metallic guitar tuning, with the tune opening with its chorus. It was one of the few Queen songs played in an alternative guitar tuning, being played in drop D tuning.

Since that post, I have been wanting to follow-up with a bit more information about Drop D Tuning. Why? So that everyone who reads this forum can impress their friends and family with their musically prowess and rock cred! And also, because it explains a lot about why Adam is so comfortable with this song, and why the guitar riff in this song is killer.

More about Drop D Tuning

Drop D guitar tuning is one of the most popular tunings of all time. Drop D tuning is also one of the simplest guitar tunings out there, when your guitar is in Drop D you can easily form a power chord on the bottom 3 strings of any fret. This can be shifted around quickly, up and down playing a variety of power chords only barring the 3 strings together.

Drop D Tuning is "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden. The lower frequencies in this guitar tuning makes it easy to create ominous musical passages. On the other hand, John Mayer's "Your Body is a Wonderland" shows how Drop D Tuning can also be used in more of a ballad/pop setting. Whatever your style of guitar may be, Drop D Tuning is always there, waiting for you to explore it's sonic landscape. The song "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters is yet another example of this tuning in action.

Metal Guitar Riffs in Drop D | Heavy Metal Guitar

youtu.be/F54CRxz14FE

Drop D tuning, also known as DADGBE, is an alternate form of guitar tuning in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned down ("dropped") from the usual E of standard tuning by one whole step / a tone (2 frets) to D. In drop D the three bass strings form a D5 power chord, which can be shifted up or down the fretboard with a single finger to produce a power chord.

Drop D tuning is frequently used in heavy metal and its various incarnations, as guitarists in these styles often need extremely fast transitions between power chords. The tuning has also been used in many other styles of music, including blues, country, folk, and classical. Due to its similarity to standard tuning, drop D is recognized as a useful introduction to alternative tunings, leading logically to an exploration of DADGAD, open D and drop D drop G (in which both the 5th and 6th strings are dropped a tone) tunings.

The tuning allows for chords with a root or bass note of D to be played with a D an octave lower than with standard tuning, and allows playing of open D chords that include the fifth and sixth strings to allow the full sonority of the guitar to be heard. This can be especially useful for songs in the keys of D major or minor and is particularly effective on acoustic guitar. Drop D also allows fingerpickers to play chord shapes higher up the neck while maintaining an alternating bass. The bottom three strings, if left open, will vibrate sympathetically and, using chord shapes limited to the top three strings, a drone effect can easily be achieved.

The trade-off is the loss of the bass E note in chords or fingerings which the player cannot adjust to include fretting the sixth string at the second fret.

Drop D Tuning in Heavy Metal/Hard Rock

Although the drop D tuning was introduced and developed by blues and classical guitarists, it is well known from its usage in contemporary heavy metal and hard rock bands. Early hard rock songs tuned in drop D include: The Beatles’ “I Want You (She's So Heavy)” and "Dear Prudence",. and Led Zeppelin’s Moby Dick.

Led Zeppelin “Moby Dick”, Live Royal Albert Hall, 1970

This performance is most famous for the John Bonham drum solo but it is also a great example of Drop D guitar tuning.

youtu.be/Z_nU_VFvIZs

Tuning the lowest string one tone down, from E to D allowed these musicians to acquire a heavier and darker sound than in standard tuning. Without necessity of tuning all strings (Standard D tuning), they could tune just one, in order to lower the key. Drop d was considerable also as convenient tuning, because it expands the scale of an instrument with two semitones: D and D#.

In the mid 1980’s, two alternative rock bands from Seattle, Soundgarden and Melvins, influenced by Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, dropped their lowest strings and they found new usage for this tuning. While playing power chords (chord that includes prime, fifth and octave) in standard tuning requires a player to use three fingers, each for every string, drop D tuning need just one, where most often, forefinger presses three strings, similar in technique used while playing barre chords. It allowed them to acquire different methods of articulation power chords (legato for example) and more importantly, it allowed guitarist to change chords faster. New technique of playing power chords introduced by these early grunge bands was a great influence on many artists, such as Rage Against the Machine and Tool, making by the same drop D tuning typical practice among alternative metal acts the band Helmet used the tuning a great deal throughout their career which would later be influential to many Alternative metal and Nu Metal bands .

Rage Against The Machine “Killing In The Name”, 1992

Caution: This song contains strong language and is a rap metal song. It is most famous because in 2009 the song was the focus of a successful Facebook campaign to prevent The X Factor winner's song from gaining the Christmas number one in the United Kingdom for the fifth successive year. The song became the first single to reach the Christmas number one spot on downloads alone.

youtu.be/bWXazVhlyxQ

Nu Metal bands including Deftones and Slipknot went one step further and decided to tune “drop” tuning even lower. By lowering one tone down the 6th string in flat E tuning to C# they create heavier and dirtier sound, this goes even lower with different tunings such as: Drop C, Drop B, Drop A#, and Drop A. These tunings are very popular among Metalcore and Deathcore acts like Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Emmure, All That Remains, and Suicide Silence. All of them made fast chords changing crucial and essential for their sound.



The Adamtopia Guidelines

The Adamtopia guidelines are quite simple. To be a member of Adamtopia...

1. You must be an Adam fan.

2. You must be respectful of other members. Feel free to express your opinion, but be glitterier and golden.

3. Strive to be funny, entertaining or informative when you post. Avoid posting something that has already been posted.

4. Never question anyone's right to post, the appropriateness of a topic or define the proper way for an Adam fan or Adamtopia Member to behave. Let the moderators do their job.

More rules will be added if the need arises but, if everyone follows these rules, we will not need a lot of rules.