Even without Mercury, Queen red hotwww.burlingtoncountytimes.com/life-style/reality/even-without-mercury-queen-red-hot/article_d0941943-18a0-5cc9-9347-e216c50c50e3.html#.U9KJRSsX1OR.twitterPosted: Friday, July 25, 2014 12:15 am
By Olivia Wright Harry S. Truman
High School
Associated Press
Adam Lambert (left) performs with Brian May and Queen at Madison Square Garden last week. Nine times out of 10, even though I always tell myself I will, I never write about fun things I do because I never think I can make them seem interesting enough to be worth reading.
However, “things” are very different from “religious experiences.”
By religious experience, I’m referring to the opportunity to see one’s favorite band perform live, thus fulfilling a dream spanning one’s quite-lengthy 17 years of life, so on and so forth.
To make a long story short, I saw the Queen + Adam Lambert concert July 16 at Wells Fargo Center, and it was absolutely wonderful.
I’ve been in love with Queen ever since the ripe old age of 8, when I saw “We Will Rock You,” the musical, which is about the time I felt as though I had learned what good music was. Of course, I then proceeded to see not one, but two Jonas Brothers concerts, and thought that was the best thing to ever occur.
Needless to say, it was a dark time, but that’s beside the point.
When I walked into the Wells Fargo Center last week, I saw the most-diverse concert crowd I will probably ever witness. There were people my age through people well into their 70s, suburban mothers and metal-heads and, of course, a grown woman dressed as Freddie Mercury.
It goes without stating that the real Mercury, unfortunately, was not present, nor was bassist John Deacon. However, the remaining members of Queen — Brian May and Roger Taylor — definitely still remembered how to put on a show. Despite their age, they still had incredible stage presence and energy.
With them, as the tour name might suggest, was Adam Lambert. Even though I’ve been a fan since his “American Idol” days, I was still skeptical of him doing Mercury’s legacy justice.
By the second song, I knew there was no reason to fear that. His theatrics were phenomenal (he sang “Killer Queen” from a purple velvet couch and came out for the encore in a king’s crown and cheetah print suit, just to visualize), he connected with the audience on a level I hadn’t before experienced, and during some songs, if I were to close my eyes, I could almost imagine Mercury standing onstage.
Most importantly, Lambert paid the most incredible respect to Mercury, never attempting to be him, or fill his shoes. At points in the concert, he gave homage by singing with videos of the late frontman, and throughout the night, even exited the stage completely so May and Taylor could have their moments of reflection.
My favorite such moment was when May came out alone, said, “Philly, would you like to sing a song?” and proceeded to perform “Love Of My Life,” during which I cried, and had no idea how everyone was not doing the same.
While no one will ever replace the gap Mercury left, Lambert is the closest we will probably ever see again. If this concert told me one thing, it’s that Queen is still alive and kicking, and Mercury’s legacy will continue to live on.
If you don’t believe me, just ask the sold-out crowd that saw the band perform “We Will Rock You,” because, let me tell you ... the arena shook.
Queen + Adam Lambert is back in the area for a concert Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Show time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $39.50 and $149.50. Information: 800-736-1420;
www.ticketmaster.com.
