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Post by bridgeymah on Aug 7, 2014 5:33:21 GMT -5
I have absolutely nothing of musical substance to share on this.
It is one of my absolute Favorites (along with WWTLF) - the only thing that bummed me out in iheart performance was having this given to Nate Russ ... So having night after night of being able to listen to Adam's fab interpretation of this song is a treat. All the parts that have been discussed make it the song I most often send to people. It's the perfect mix of vocal virtuosity, theatricality and fearlessness. Name me one other singer alive or dead who could consistently night after night deliver this song at this level... He's taken an iconic song and made it uniquely his own. As Adam noted to Simon Cowell - he wanted to take songs and put his own twist on them... STL shows unequivially that yes he can, all the while finding and highlighting its intent and integrity and doing it standing in the glare and under judgement of thousands... Balls of steel indeed.
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talon
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Post by talon on Aug 7, 2014 6:59:30 GMT -5
I have to say that during the 2012 mini-tour, I was NOT a fan of how Adam sang this one....and I was very disappointed. I looked forward to it and thought it would be one of the highlights. I can't tell you quite why I didn't get it, but I didn't at all so I had little hope I'd like it this year...BUT I have to admit it felt MUCH improved during this tour. It seems more natural and like Adam knows how he wants to sing it now. I don't know how legal it is on this site here  BUT my fav performance of the song ever is still this one: My fav Adam performance - I'm not sure yet as they all blend in together for me. I really enjoyed Boston...but I'd have to get back to you on that :D |
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Post by toramenor on Aug 7, 2014 7:32:14 GMT -5
the only thing that bummed me out in iheart performance was having this given to Nate Russ ... I absolutely cannot stand that performance (sorry Nate Rues fans). Nate was shout-singing, running out of breath, and his voice could not measure up to Adam's on his worst day. But, having said that, it took balls for Nate to sing that song, especially considering he had to go on right after Adam stopped the show with WWTLF: the definition of a tough act to follow, so props to Nate for that. Still, when I watch the video of the iHeart gig, I always skip that performance (SorryNotSorry). |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2014 14:17:46 GMT -5
I wanted to add my thoughts here about Somebody to Love. I don't know beans about music or about Queen in the old days -- I would just like to share my thoughts and reaction to the song and Adam's performance of it. For me this would have to be very near the top of all-great Queen songs.
First -- when I was a kid, I felt so small and insignificant. But because of the musicians that touched my heart -- especially Elvis and Bruce Springsteen -- I always felt there was someone else out there who understood. I never thought there would be anyone like that again and was never looking for it to be repeated as an adult. But at a time when I was dislocated and broken and life seemed meaningless, I was blindsided by Adam. This time I was in on the ground floor -- in fact, since I first found him at the AMAs, it appeared it might be over just as it began. Adam reconnected me to certain feelings and recommitted to certain ideals, among them joy. I was in it for the long haul.
To me the marriage of Adam and Queen is perfect. Adam is devoted to his audience, to what it means to be alive and have a good time. And the Queen guys have embraced a life after sorrow and loss. I have never been comfortable with the "rock gawd" stuff. Adam seems like anything but a god. His infinity tattoo and whole method of being with us, is that somehow he looks into the crowd and sees himself, and we look up at the stage and see ourselves, and those reflections ("I'll be your mirror") are realistic, human ones. This makes him the perfect man for Brian and Roger, for their fate was to leave behind the cult of personality of classic rock, the trap of image and myth. Instead they had to find themselves, in the real world, and figure out where they belonged.
I have realized over the past year or so that Adam is not going to be one of those artists who accomplishes his work in an enormous burst of energy and genius. He is living a real and not a fantasy life. He has found what he loves and plans to do it honestly and well over the course of a lifetime. This is another reason I love the collaboration between Adam and Queen. It is a moment in time that can be touched but cannot be held. It has to happen now or probably not at all.
So -- Somebody to Love is a great song because it is about enormous longing. It speaks to the part of you that is both exhilarated about what the future could hold, and frightened about it at the same time. When Adam takes us to church, he embraces the fiercely emotive quality of this song. The sacred and the profane are one. Adam is telling us that love is part of the holy fire and we have been separated from our blazing birthright. Flamboyant, histrionic, and magnetic ... this is Adam singing Somebody to Love, backed by Queen's thunderous fury and the voices of the old men as full of desire as that of the young. Leaves me thrilled and ready to say YES.
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Post by theosgma on Aug 11, 2014 14:20:15 GMT -5
I wanted to add my thoughts here about Somebody to Love. I don't know beans about music or about Queen in the old days -- I would just like to share my thoughts and reaction to the song and Adam's performance of it. For me this would have to be very near the top of all-great Queen songs. First -- when I was a kid, I felt so small and insignificant. But because of the musicians that touched my heart -- especially Elvis and Bruce Springsteen -- I always felt there was someone else out there who understood. I never thought there would be anyone like that again and was never looking for it to be repeated as an adult. But at a time when I was dislocated and broken and life seemed meaningless, I was blindsided by Adam. This time I was in on the ground floor -- in fact, since I first found him at the AMAs, it appeared it might be over just as it began. Adam reconnected me to certain feelings and recommitted to certain ideals, among them joy. I was in it for the long haul. To me the marriage of Adam and Queen is perfect. Adam is devoted to his audience, to what it means to be alive and have a good time. And the Queen guys have embraced a life after sorrow and loss. I have never been comfortable with the "rock gawd" stuff. Adam seems like anything but a god. His infinity tattoo and whole method of being with us, is that somehow he looks into the crowd and sees himself, and we look up at the stage and see ourselves, and those reflections ("I'll be your mirror") are realistic, human ones. This makes him the perfect man for Brian and Roger, for their fate was to leave behind the cult of personality of classic rock, the trap of image and myth. Instead they had to find themselves, in the real world, and figure out where they belonged. I have realized over the past year or so that Adam is not going to be one of those artists who accomplishes his work in an enormous burst of energy and genius. He is living a real and not a fantasy life. He has found what he loves and plans to do it honestly and well over the course of a lifetime. This is another reason I love the collaboration between Adam and Queen. It is a moment in time that can be touched but cannot be held. It has to happen now or probably not at all. So -- Somebody to Love is a great song because it is about enormous longing. It speaks to the part of you that is both exhilarated about what the future could hold, and frightened about it at the same time. When Adam takes us to church, he embraces the fiercely emotive quality of this song. The sacred and the profane are one. Adam is telling us that love is part of the holy fire and we have been separated from our blazing birthright. Flamboyant, histrionic, and magnetic ... this is Adam singing Somebody to Love, backed by Queen's thunderous fury and the voices of the old men as full of desire as that of the young. Leaves me thrilled and ready to say YES. Oh Junie! What a joy to have you back. Such a beautiful post. Yes. It is a magic moment in time to be celebrated and lived fully precisely because it is so ephemeral. But then so is everything. |
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Holst
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Post by Holst on Aug 12, 2014 12:07:25 GMT -5
There are some really deep and thoughtful comments here. I have downloaded my personal "favorites" collection of STL (and KQ). I am highly entertained by this song and performances. QAL has so much to offer in these performances. The band and backing vocals sound amazing and have great drive, Adam shows off his vocal skills to the nth degree, and he is silly at the same time. I enjoyed reading everyone's comments and listening to the spots in the videos that were suggested. It's fun to appreciate what someone else liked or noticed--that I didn't notice. Thanks, Talon, for adding in the Queen live performance. I much prefer it to the album version. There is something about live performances that at electricity add drive to this song. I also didn't listen to it much for QAL 2012, but mostly because the pitch issues in the Kiev performance discouraged me. I didn't really give the other performances much of a chance. I've always imagined this song in 6/8 time because it has that big ONE . . TWO . . feeling for me (that means dividing the 6 quick beats into two groups of 3 quick beats), where the big ONE gets more emphasis. I'll add one thing to the discussion that I don't think has been talked about regarding the composition itself. Cassie linked "Classic & Rock" where there was this paragraph (apparently written by a classical musician): www.chilliwackmusic.com/uncategorized/classic-rock-freddie-mercurys-somebody-to-love/The bolded part is exactly why I enjoy the QAL combo so much. The music is smart (with great performances) vs. much radio popular music. One thing that has caught my attention is when the chant/sing of "find me somebody to love" is winding up and the rest of the guys repeat "somebody, somebody." The final "somebody's" do not follow the pattern set and have (for me) an unexpected rhythm. It's all that little stuff (as well as big things) that make this music SOOOOOO much more interesting to me and captures my attention. 6:10 Because of Adam I have still been listening to some popular music stations, but really get bored fast with the Adult Contemporary one. I get the catchiness of a lot of the songs, but really don't want to listen to them again and again. Good lord, what will it be like if stations really do adopt the proposed 2:00 minute song limit. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2014 15:56:47 GMT -5
I have to say that during the 2012 mini-tour, I was NOT a fan of how Adam sang this one....and I was very disappointed. I looked forward to it and thought it would be one of the highlights. I can't tell you quite why I didn't get it, but I didn't at all so I had little hope I'd like it this year...BUT I have to admit it felt MUCH improved during this tour. It seems more natural and like Adam knows how he wants to sing it now. I don't know how legal it is on this site here BUT my fav performance of the song ever is still this one: My fav Adam performance - I'm not sure yet as they all blend in together for me. I really enjoyed Boston...but I'd have to get back to you on that :D I loved this, especially the intro and the ending with Freddie playing piano with his backside! GrinSmilieyI'm not going to try to say which I like more because I enjoy Freddie's deeper baritone but also all the high notes Adam brings. I also was not a fan of Adam's 2012 STL. The performance that turned me into a believer was the LV 1 Out of the world vocals and for me, a spiritual experience. There is no one else alive who could have sold that performance with all it's over the top eyerolls and throwing up arms with jazz hands let alone reach those notes. The interaction with Spike at 4.30 was fun and just look how many views this video has! It seems to be the most shared in concert reviews. www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8_nc9aHQSA |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2014 20:36:48 GMT -5
I wanted to add my thoughts here about Somebody to Love. I don't know beans about music or about Queen in the old days -- I would just like to share my thoughts and reaction to the song and Adam's performance of it. For me this would have to be very near the top of all-great Queen songs. First -- when I was a kid, I felt so small and insignificant. But because of the musicians that touched my heart -- especially Elvis and Bruce Springsteen -- I always felt there was someone else out there who understood. I never thought there would be anyone like that again and was never looking for it to be repeated as an adult. But at a time when I was dislocated and broken and life seemed meaningless, I was blindsided by Adam. This time I was in on the ground floor -- in fact, since I first found him at the AMAs, it appeared it might be over just as it began. Adam reconnected me to certain feelings and recommitted to certain ideals, among them joy. I was in it for the long haul. To me the marriage of Adam and Queen is perfect. Adam is devoted to his audience, to what it means to be alive and have a good time. And the Queen guys have embraced a life after sorrow and loss. I have never been comfortable with the "rock gawd" stuff. Adam seems like anything but a god. His infinity tattoo and whole method of being with us, is that somehow he looks into the crowd and sees himself, and we look up at the stage and see ourselves, and those reflections ("I'll be your mirror") are realistic, human ones. This makes him the perfect man for Brian and Roger, for their fate was to leave behind the cult of personality of classic rock, the trap of image and myth. Instead they had to find themselves, in the real world, and figure out where they belonged. I have realized over the past year or so that Adam is not going to be one of those artists who accomplishes his work in an enormous burst of energy and genius. He is living a real and not a fantasy life. He has found what he loves and plans to do it honestly and well over the course of a lifetime. This is another reason I love the collaboration between Adam and Queen. It is a moment in time that can be touched but cannot be held. It has to happen now or probably not at all. So -- Somebody to Love is a great song because it is about enormous longing. It speaks to the part of you that is both exhilarated about what the future could hold, and frightened about it at the same time. When Adam takes us to church, he embraces the fiercely emotive quality of this song. The sacred and the profane are one. Adam is telling us that love is part of the holy fire and we have been separated from our blazing birthright. Flamboyant, histrionic, and magnetic ... this is Adam singing Somebody to Love, backed by Queen's thunderous fury and the voices of the old men as full of desire as that of the young. Leaves me thrilled and ready to say YES. Junie baby, you inspire me!!! You've planted a worm inside my head with this post - especially the underlined parts. I love it! Hugs to you, and welcome back, officially:))) |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2014 22:06:37 GMT -5
We are stronger and smarter together, Aleks. Always.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2014 0:45:03 GMT -5
I wanted to add my thoughts here about Somebody to Love. I don't know beans about music or about Queen in the old days -- I would just like to share my thoughts and reaction to the song and Adam's performance of it. For me this would have to be very near the top of all-great Queen songs. First -- when I was a kid, I felt so small and insignificant. But because of the musicians that touched my heart -- especially Elvis and Bruce Springsteen -- I always felt there was someone else out there who understood. I never thought there would be anyone like that again and was never looking for it to be repeated as an adult. But at a time when I was dislocated and broken and life seemed meaningless, I was blindsided by Adam. This time I was in on the ground floor -- in fact, since I first found him at the AMAs, it appeared it might be over just as it began. Adam reconnected me to certain feelings and recommitted to certain ideals, among them joy. I was in it for the long haul. To me the marriage of Adam and Queen is perfect. Adam is devoted to his audience, to what it means to be alive and have a good time. And the Queen guys have embraced a life after sorrow and loss. I have never been comfortable with the "rock gawd" stuff. Adam seems like anything but a god. His infinity tattoo and whole method of being with us, is that somehow he looks into the crowd and sees himself, and we look up at the stage and see ourselves, and those reflections ("I'll be your mirror") are realistic, human ones. This makes him the perfect man for Brian and Roger, for their fate was to leave behind the cult of personality of classic rock, the trap of image and myth. Instead they had to find themselves, in the real world, and figure out where they belonged. I have realized over the past year or so that Adam is not going to be one of those artists who accomplishes his work in an enormous burst of energy and genius. He is living a real and not a fantasy life. He has found what he loves and plans to do it honestly and well over the course of a lifetime. This is another reason I love the collaboration between Adam and Queen. It is a moment in time that can be touched but cannot be held. It has to happen now or probably not at all. So -- Somebody to Love is a great song because it is about enormous longing. It speaks to the part of you that is both exhilarated about what the future could hold, and frightened about it at the same time. When Adam takes us to church, he embraces the fiercely emotive quality of this song. The sacred and the profane are one. Adam is telling us that love is part of the holy fire and we have been separated from our blazing birthright. Flamboyant, histrionic, and magnetic ... this is Adam singing Somebody to Love, backed by Queen's thunderous fury and the voices of the old men as full of desire as that of the young. Leaves me thrilled and ready to say YES. Juniemoon - you slay me with your beautiful words. |
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BUT my fav performance of the song ever is still this one:
