6.11.14 Adam News and Info

25 Great Gay Moments In Music






Adam Lambert Glams Up "Idol," Debuts at No. 1


While Adam Lambert didn't make his sexuality a major talking point while competing on "American Idol" -- he later came out in a Rolling Stone cover story -- "Idol" viewers and fans at home knew there was something special about the flamboyant contestant. Lambert was out in his personal and professional life well before he hit the "Idol" stage and made his mark as the contestant to watch. On the show, he fired up audiences with his glam rock stylings, sexed-up stage persona and multi-octave range. Though he finished the 2009 season of "Idol" in second place, he remained the season's breakout star and has since worked to become a role model for LGBT teens. His major label debut album "For Your Entertainment" earned him a Grammy Award nomination for the No. 10 Hot 100 hit "Whataya Want From Me," and his sophomore set, "Trespassing," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2012. -- Keith Caulfield

More: www.billboard.com/articles/list/513476/25-great-gay-moments-in-music?page=0%2C1&utm_source=twitter





2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates

5 days to the concert preview!!!








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

Yipes!!! --- there are only 8 days to go!!

#8 “Dragon Attack” (1980)
Written by Brian May.
Released on The Game June 30, 1980 and also as the B-Side of “Another One Bites The Dust” in the UK August 22, 1980.

This is a track that was barely mentioned in album reviews. It is a song that Queen performed regularly in the 1980's but really remained mostly a "B Track" and unremarkable. It was one of those concert songs that happen and no one really talked about later.

Then in 2012, a man stood in front 250,000 people and performed “Dragon Attack" with Queen. This time, the song was noticed. It was a song that meshed brilliantly with the singer bright, funky, playful vocal style. That man was, of course, Adam Lambert. Six more performances and the addition of a slinky plush red jacket, and the song had a co-owner.

Here is proof that this song is now associated with Adam Lambert – check out the the Wikipedia entry for The Game Queen’s 1980 album track: “Dragon Attack”. (Note: the Wikipedia entry is incorrect about the performance dates, it was performed by Queen from 1980 through 1985.

“Dragon Attack” was played in all 6 concerts during the 2012 Queen + Adam Lambert Mini-Tour. It was part of their 2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival set. Adam performed it in over 20 of his concerts in 2013. It will be part of the upcoming 2014 setlist.

Queen & Adam Lambert "Dragon Attack”, Live in Kiev (2012)

This was the QAL debut of this song with an altered vocal arrangement, hot guitar solo by Brian but no red jacket -- yet.

youtu.be/FTcWIoxCqYA


Queen + Adam Lambert, Hammersmith Apollo, London, July 14, 2012

This was the last of the six QAL mini-tour concerts and was the slinkiest, funkiest of the performances. And, of course, Elmo was in the building.

youtu.be/GeX69Zo5kLA


Personnel

Musicians:
Freddie Mercury - lead and backing vocals
Brian May - guitars, backing vocals
John Deacon - bass guitar (this track is a great example of how good John is.)
Roger Taylor - drums, percussion, backing vocals

Produced by: Queen and Mack


Discography

Albums:
The Game, 1980
Queen On Fire: Live At The Bowl, 2004

Singles (B-side, UK only)
Another One Bites The Dust, 1980
Another One Bites The Dust, 1988 3" CD Single

Alternate Versions:
Rough Demo Percussion Mix - Unreleased: Home Mini-Disc
1991 RAK & Jack Benson Remix - Game: US 1991 Hollywood HR-61063-2
1991 Dragon's Return 7:10 Remix - In Memories Of Freddie Mercury: RM-CD 01
1998 eYe Full Instrumental - Electronic Arts DDE05501 101S
2003 DVD Audio 5.1 Surround Version(s) - EMI 592 7809

“Dragon Attack” Album Track

I prefer Freddie’s vocal on the album track to his live performance versions.

youtu.be/As7lHXx2tJY


“Dragon Attack” (live version, Milton Keynes Bowl, June 1982)

This is the remastered version released in 2011

youtu.be/Teih5q4XghI


1991 RAK & Jack Benson Remix - Game: US 1991 Hollywood HR-61063-2

This is a terrible but official remix of “Dragon Attack”. What were they thinking? – oh yes, it was Hollywood Records AKA Disney! Listen to this at your own risk! It was remixed by R A K and Jack Ben.

There is actually another official remix of this track, it is actually worse. Thankfully, I could not find it online anywhere!

youtu.be/Pm6MqHL_2Pw


What is “Dragon Attack” about?

In an interview "In The Studio with Red Beard: The Game" Brian talked about the making “Dragon Attack”, but he talked about the creative process which involved selecting the best parts of a studio jam and editing them together, adding the finishing touches, which in Queen’s case might have included the lyrics and Freddie's final vocal. As far as I know, Brian May has never publicly explained the meaning of these lyrics. s

Clearly the song includes a lot of references to heroin and other drugs but there are also reference to the process of recording music and recording an album, including a reference to Queen “new for this album” producer Mack. The two themes are interconnected and overlap in places.

The word “dragon” has been associated with heroin and other opiates for

"Chasing the dragon" is a expression that originated in Hong Kong and refers to the process of heating morphine, heroin, oxycodone or opium on a piece of foil and stirring it so that the vapor is released and can be inhaled. It also more generally refers to the pursuit of the ultimate high.

“White dragon” is powder cocaine or heroin.

Breaking the song down, it opens with a verse that is about drugs.

Take me to the room where the red's all red
Take me out of my head, that's what I said yeah
Hey take me to the room where the green's all green
And from what I've seen it's hot it's mean

The first version includes a couple bits of 1970’s drug slang along with “Take me out of my head” which appears to be a drug reference.

Reds – Seconal (secobarbital), a barbiturate, known on the street as reds, red birds, red devils. In the United Kingdom, they were also known as Barbies (Quinalbarbitone). A less common nickname was "dolls"; this was partly responsible for the title of Jacqueline Susann's novel Valley of the Dolls, whose main characters use secobarbital and other such drugs.

Greens – Marijuana

Gonna use my stack
It's gotta be Mack
Gonna get me on the track
Got a dragon on my back

The second verse combines drug slang with some lyrics about music including plays on words that connects both themes.

"Gonna use my stack" – This could mean many things but in 1979 it was probably a reference to marijuana. It could also refer to a “stack” of records which were made out of vinyl when this song was written.

Mack – The producer who Queen worked with on the album.

“Got a Dragon on my back” – A heroin addiction.

Take me to the room where the beat's all round
Gonna eat that sound (yeah yeah yeah!)
Take me to the room where the black's all white
And the white's all black take me back to the shack

This may just be some fun lyrics that had the right sonic effect. It may also be that they used some 70’s drug slang just for fun.

Black - Amphetamine

White – Usually heroin but sometimes also amphetamine

“Take me to the room where the beat's all round” – This might be a reference to a recording studio.

The next section of the song seems to refer to being addicted and needing a fix.

She don't take no prisoners
Gonna give me the business
Got a dragon on my back
It's a dragon attack

Get down, I said so
Hey hey, All right

She's low down
She don't take no prisoners
Go down
Gonna give me the business
No time
Yeah chained to the rack!
Show time

The song ends with a rejection of the “dragon” and the final line “I gotta make my way” may be a dual statement of being free of the drug and also about the solo effort required to create a finished song.

Got a dragon on my back
Show down
Go find another customer
Slow down
I gotta make my way

Or the song could just be the result of sifting through cool stuff after a groups of very talented musicians had jammed for a while and stitching together the best bits.

“Dragon Attack” Live

Dragon Attack (Montreal, 1981)

This is an excellent live performance of “Dragon Attack”.

youtu.be/GnJqZkY67JI


“Dragon Attack” Live in Rio '85

youtu.be/XQAgzi8W_rc


“Dragon Attack” Lyrics

Dragon Attack Karaoke (Real Queen Music)

This has the lyrics and you can pretend to be Freddie or Adam and sing the lead vocals.

youtu.be/WUEV7ODoti4

Dragon Attack

Take me to the room where the red's all red
Take me out of my head, that's what I said yeah
Hey take me to the room where the green's all green
And from what I've seen it's hot it's mean

Gonna use my stack
It's gotta be Mack
Gonna get me on the track
Got a dragon on my back

Take me to the room where the beat's all round
Gonna eat that sound (yeah yeah yeah!)
Take me to the room where the black's all white
And the white's all black take me back to the shack

She don't take no prisoners
Gonna give me the business
Got a dragon on my back
It's a dragon attack

Get down, I said so
Hey hey, All right

She's low down
She don't take no prisoners
Go down
Gonna give me the business
No time
Yeah chained to the rack!
Show time
Got a dragon on my back
Show down
Go find another customer
Slow down
I gotta make my way





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.