Well I just realized one big difference between Adam fans and Queen fans -- and it splits me in half!
- Adam fans read a critical review and get upset and respond. Even me.
- Queen fans have read so many bad reviews, they started to take pride in them. Particularly in North America, Queen music, concerts, Freddie, everything about the band was criticized harshly by the music press. (And they were not embraced by the music establishment in the US -- still no Grammy.)
Now this math-ish review is NOT like those old reviews -- where Queen was called arrogant and their music called excessive rubbish. (Think Simon Cowell with an American accent.) And it was a lot easier to not give a fuck about those reviews -- in fact, fans took pride in getting Queen when others did not.
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This line in the Calgary Sun review really nailed it, "Mercury has been gone for 23 years and his legacy will live on forever — it seems fair to say last night was something that would have made him smile."
That is good enough for me.
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Adam's fame and fortune will be increased by this tour, if he is to become "iconic" will depend on his own efforts and music.
But for Brian May and Roger Taylor, my sincere hope is that this tour helps some people realize that Queen was four extremely talented musicians, not Freddie and a backing band. So far, I think that is happening -- finally. In the 70's people knew that, in the 80's it became so much about Freddie, and then when St. Freddie was born.....myths were created.
Freddie truly was so incredible live performing some of this music that no one can match him -- not even my favorite singer of all time -- AFL. On the Brian May power ballads, however, Adam is in a league of his own. And Adam is well suited to singing Freddie's two American hero tribute songs --- CLTCL (Elvis) and STL (Aretha).
I have avoided the trap of comparing these two singers and performers but the comparisons will be made. It is unavoidable. Adam walked into a place that Freddie built, is singing songs Freddie wrote and co-wrote. It comes with the territory. But he is up to it and they are all having fun -- Brian, Roger, Adam, the band, the crew and the audience!
