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Queen (feat. Paul Rodgers)


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Old 17-11-2005, 11:19
Flat_Eric
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Browsing in my local music emporium at the weekend, I was amazed and not a little horrified to see not only a new CD but a DVD too called "Return of the Champions" by "QUEEN + Paul Rodgers" (formerly of Free and Bad Company).

I say "horrified" because having been a big Queen fan ever since I saw them perform "Seven Seas Of Rhye" on Top Of The Pops in 1974 and having been privileged to see them live 3 times, as far as I'm concerned the late, great Freddie Mercury was simply irreplaceable and some things should just be left to rest in peace. And it seems that "Queen" is now just Roger Taylor and Brian May (no John Deacon either, seems like he didn't want to have anything to do with it), Spike Edney (the keyboard player Queen used to use live in the '80s) plus a couple of unknowns. Oh and Paul Rodgers of course.

I have to admit that I haven't (yet) heard this CD or seen the DVD. And I'm not sure I really want to, as it just seems like a cheap attempt to cash in on past glories.

Not that I have anything against Paul Rodgers as a vocalist - I enjoy some of the stuff he did with Free. But I just can't bring myself to give this collaboration the time of day.

Has anyone here heard "Return Of The Champions" or watched the DVD? Am I right to be sceptical or am I missing out? Opinions either way please, I'd be interested to know what people think.
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Old 17-11-2005, 11:30
Dark Drums
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No offence flat_eric, but how come if your a "big fan" you've only just become aware of this release? It's been (relatively) well publicised along with the corresponding tour.
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Old 17-11-2005, 11:52
Flat_Eric
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Originally Posted by Dark Drums
No offence flat_eric, but how come if your a "big fan" you've only just become aware of this release? It's been (relatively) well publicised along with the corresponding tour.
No offence taken, although it would've been nice if you could have answered my question as well!

Perhaps I should clarify then: I'm a "big fan" in the sense that I used to (and still do) really enjoy listening to their music - especially the early material, up to and including "A Day At The Races". And in the sense that during their final tour with His Fredness in '86, on one occasion I took the train & ferry from southern Germany just to attend the Wembley gig. I used to be a total Queen fanatic when I was a student (20-odd years ago now!) and for a period I listened to very little else apart from Queen, though I've 'calmed down' and diversified much more in my musical tastes as I've got older.

How come this release passed me by? Dunno mate, to be honest. Maybe because I'm most of the time in Germany, where it certainly hasn't been as well publicised. Maybe because I hardly ever read the music press these days (and haven't done for years). Maybe because, as I said above, my musical interests have diversified and so my attention span regarding one particular band has been "diluted". And maybe because when Fred died (14 years ago next week, my God is it that long?!), that for me was "The End" of Queen so I just didn't keep my 'finger on the pulse' with news about Queen any more in the way that I used to before his sad and premature demise.
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Old 17-11-2005, 11:57
spankyplugs
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I think it's slightly unfair to expect the remaining members to just stop doing what they love. I doubt they will ever set out to replace Freddie in that sense.
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Old 17-11-2005, 12:07
Flat_Eric
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Originally Posted by spankyplugs
I think it's slightly unfair to expect the remaining members to just stop doing what they love. I doubt they will ever set out to replace Freddie in that sense.
They never did stop!

Roger Taylor has done solo albums, and Brian May had The Brian May Band, released albums and toured under that banner.

This just seems - I dunno - a tired old regurgitation of "Greatest Hits Live", especially when you consider that there were three "untoured" Queen albums (The Miracle, Innuendo and Made In Heaven) that could have been tapped for live material far more than they were for this collaboration.
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Old 17-11-2005, 14:25
Dan27
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Flat Eric, I too am a Queen fan (a bit younger than you though.. when Queen played Knebworth in 86 I was 9 years old....)

To be honest, at first there was outcry, but the Queen + Rodgers tour is purely just for fun IMO. Of course there will NEVER be another Mercury, and to some extent yes May and Taylor are I think taking liberties playing under the Queen name but I think they just want to spread the music to those who maybe didnt get the chance to see them at their prime with FM.

They continue to release material with Fred, and to some extent Im pleased with that. John Deacon wrote May and Taylor a letter giving them his full support with the releases they were doing, and at the end of the day I think were benefitting from that. The job they have done with the Wembley 86 DVD, and the Milton Keynes CD/DVD package are proof of that. I look forward to them releasing some more live material, especially from maybe the Crazy Tour, the tours from 76 and 77 and hopefully a full Hammersmith Christmas 75 live album....

The live CD with Rodgers is actually ok, there is plenty of emotion and I think both May, Taylor and PR are very sincere with their motives. I think if you were to buy the CD you would enjoy it.. but there is still a vast hole where one F Mercury esq resided, and he will never be replaced.
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Old 17-11-2005, 14:58
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I have mixed feelings about this.


Queen were always a 4-piece. They all wrote songs, they all sang (except John Deacon) and they all played on all of the songs. So if Brian 'We Will Rock You' May and Roger 'Radio-Ga-Ga' Taylor want to go on the road and play THEIR music with whoever they choose then thats up to them.

Both guys were 50% of why Queen were successful. As much as Another One Bites The Dust was Deacon's song and Bohemiah Rhapsody' Freddie's - Taylor and May helped to make them songs to become as successful as they were.

HOWEVER....

I really don't think Paul Rodgers voice suits any of Queen songs. That gritty, bluesy, low soul-like voice he has singing along to Fat Bottomed Girls is really quite absurd.

A large part of Queen's appeal too was -like it or not - Freddie. Not only his voice but his stage presence and performances. Music purists MIGHT argue Paul's voice is in many ways better than Mercury's was but Freddie's suited the songs so much better because they were all written with him in mind to sing them.

I wish Brian and Roger Tayor AND Paul Rodgers every success in what they do but for me there is no Queen without two of the guys who helped made them successful.
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Old 17-11-2005, 15:00
Sven945
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I think that calling it Queen + Paul Rodgers is much less of a disrespect to the Queen name than just calling it Queen. This way they are definitely not trying to "replace" Freddie Mercury at all.

Paul Rodgers has (apparently, I've not heard any live stuff myself) been singing very much in his own style and not trying to be a Freddie Mercury soundalike, which I think is much more respectful to Freddie Mercury.

jack
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Old 17-11-2005, 15:03
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I don't really believe any clear thinking individual thinks this is in any way disrespectful to Freddie.

It's well documented that Mercury didn't ever hold his songs up as something special which should never be touched by any other human hands or sang by the voice of a mere mortal. He described them all as fish 'n chip paper.

So I have no problem with anyone doing Queen songs. I just don't think his voice suits them.
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Old 17-11-2005, 15:05
Slane
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I went to see Queen + Paul Rogers when they played in Dublin.

It really was a BIG tour, including a big free concert in London, I'm surprised you missed it.

Anyhow, as a long time Queen fan, I was at least a little sceptical about the show. Before going, myself and my friends told ourselves that it would be hopefully interesting and possibly a bit more.

As it turned out it was fantastic. Paul Rogers is not Freddie (and never tried to be) but he's a great vocalist who handled Queen's and his own material really well. Brian and Roger also sang a lot of vocals and played brilliantly.

Freddie and John were referred to throughout the show and the choral section of Bohemian Rhapsody was used as a great and moving tribute to Freddie's talent. Apparently John Deacon has given Brian and Roger his blessing to their working as Queen but has decided he prefers lving the quiet life in France to touring the world.

As I say, Freddie is irreplacable but I think it's only fair that Brian and Roger should be able to celebrate their membership of Queen and perhaps, sometime in the future, record some new material under the Queen name.
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Old 17-11-2005, 15:08
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Yeah I'd love to hear NEW Queen material.

Something tailor made for Rodgers' voice would be really cool and it'd be great to hear exactly where Queen are musically at this point.

As much as we all love the old songs, we cannot really get a feel of where Queen are when they play stuff they wrote from the mid 70's
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Old 17-11-2005, 15:58
Flat_Eric
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Originally Posted by DanVitale
The job they have done with the Wembley 86 DVD, and the Milton Keynes CD/DVD package are proof of that. I look forward to them releasing some more live material, especially from maybe the Crazy Tour, the tours from 76 and 77 and hopefully a full Hammersmith Christmas 75 live album....
Absolutely, Dan. Now those Wembley / MK Bowl DVDs really are something worth shelling out hard-earned for.
There are also some good-quality bootlegs of most of those '70s gigs you mention (and others) doing the rounds in fan circles, but wouldn't it be great to see even just a couple of them put out officially, all polished up and with extra bells & whistles?!

Thanks for the feedback so far on this, folks. I didn't realise that John Deacon had given the tour his blessing. I might have to give this Queen + Paul Rogers venture a listen and try to be objective about it. Since I created this post I've read some positive reviews at amazon too.

But it'll never be like it used to be with His Fredness. If they continue with this, it might be better if they record some new, original stuff and not keep harking back to a time that is (sadly) gone forever.
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Old 17-11-2005, 20:39
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I bought the CD.

Must admit that I only bought it 'cause it was part of a 2 for £20 deal & I was buying the new Neil Young album.

I like both Queen and Paul Rodgers, but couldn't imagine them together. As has already be posted their styles don't seem to suit. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The only track that really didn't work for me was I Want To Break Free.

The thing I'm still trying to work out is who's singing when - sometimes it's obviously Rodgers, May or Taylor - but on some songs I'm not sure.
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Old 18-11-2005, 01:07
lardyda
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I was horrified when Paul Rodgers hooked up with Queen. He doesn't suit their style of music (he is more of a blues and soul singer) and he would always be compared to Freddie Mercury.

I wasn't wrong.
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Old 18-11-2005, 10:35
barkingboy
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Originally Posted by DanVitale
hopefully a full Hammersmith Christmas 75 live album....
That I would like It was filmed too wasn't it?
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Old 18-11-2005, 11:49
Dan27
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I believe so

Great show. I remember recording it 15 years ago on one of BBC Radio's many repeats. Id love an official, full release
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Old 18-11-2005, 12:19
spankyplugs
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I like Rodgers' voice, that whole gravelly thing. Like Chris Cornell.
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Old 18-11-2005, 13:48
Dan27
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Speaking of Mr Cornell, I have currently Audioslave's Live In Cuba winging its way to the house. Looking forward to that.
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Old 18-11-2005, 14:32
spankyplugs
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Is that the DVD? Where have you ordered it from? I heard it wasn't available over here.
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Old 18-11-2005, 14:38
Dan27
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Ive got it from the 'States. Almost bought the UK version till I remembered that the US version has four or five more songs.
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Old 18-11-2005, 14:51
spankyplugs
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Ah, so there is a UK version? I want whichever one has the accompanying CD, I think with the AOL session on there. I assume the US version is Region 1? Wishful thinking that it may be a Region 0.
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Old 19-11-2005, 10:26
scooby1970
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I actually felt the other way when I heard that Paul was hooking up with Queen. I thought, how the hell could a rock God like Paul Rodgers want to sing with a middle-of-the-road pop-rock band like Queen. Now, I like Queen, don't get me wrong, but Paul is in a totally different league to these guys in the Rock God status.

That said, I went to a couple of concerts, aquired the CD and DVD.. And, I must say, at last Queen are a "proper" ROCK band! Yes, we all miss Freddy, but the Queen sound has moved from pop-rock-campness to a harder, rock style which has made me actually appreciate Queen songs even more now for the fine songs that they actually are underneath.

Mark
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Old 19-11-2005, 14:58
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Originally Posted by Mark Adams
I actually felt the other way when I heard that Paul was hooking up with Queen. I thought, how the hell could a rock God like Paul Rodgers want to sing with a middle-of-the-road pop-rock band like Queen. Now, I like Queen, don't get me wrong, but Paul is in a totally different league to these guys in the Rock God status.

That said, I went to a couple of concerts, aquired the CD and DVD.. And, I must say, at last Queen are a "proper" ROCK band! Yes, we all miss Freddy, but the Queen sound has moved from pop-rock-campness to a harder, rock style which has made me actually appreciate Queen songs even more now for the fine songs that they actually are underneath.

Mark


How could Queen sound have 'moved' when Paul Rodgers is singing exactly the same songs as Freddie was 20 years ago.

Queen have produced pop songs(Radio GaGa), rock songs(Tie Your Mother Down), funk(Another One Bites The Dust), disco(Under Pressure), opera(Bohemian Rhapsody), anthemic(We Are The Champions), country ('39) in addition to old-school basic rock n' roll (Crazy Little Thing Called Love).


Queen didn't just produce one kind of song which is why they're remembered by even non-Queen fans by about 5 or 6 instantly recognisable tunes from all genres unlike Paul 'All Right Now' Rodgers

So to say that Paul Rodgers has made Queen more rocky when all he's done is sing the songs and in the style Freddie and the boys wrote over two decades ago, is frankly ridiculous.
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Old 21-11-2005, 10:46
scooby1970
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Originally Posted by AaronG
How could Queen sound have 'moved' when Paul Rodgers is singing exactly the same songs as Freddie was 20 years ago.

Queen have produced pop songs(Radio GaGa), rock songs(Tie Your Mother Down), funk(Another One Bites The Dust), disco(Under Pressure), opera(Bohemian Rhapsody), anthemic(We Are The Champions), country ('39) in addition to old-school basic rock n' roll (Crazy Little Thing Called Love).


Queen didn't just produce one kind of song which is why they're remembered by even non-Queen fans by about 5 or 6 instantly recognisable tunes from all genres unlike Paul 'All Right Now' Rodgers

So to say that Paul Rodgers has made Queen more rocky when all he's done is sing the songs and in the style Freddie and the boys wrote over two decades ago, is frankly ridiculous.
And this from a guy who says Elvis never recorded anything as good as Robbie William's "Angels"... lol.

READ my post properly young man! The sound has moved on because of the gravel in the voice, and they have "tightend" the sound to make it a much more "rock" experience! Never did I go to a Queen concert and feel this much "Rock" ooooze from the shows!

Now, obviously, no-one will ever take you seriously again after your Robbie Williams quote lol.

Mark
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Old 21-11-2005, 13:22
AaronG
 
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1. Name a song Elvis sang which was better and tell me why it was better.

2. If Paul Rodgers is giving a 'rock' feel to all of Queen's songs then that's just proof as to how awful he truly is. Many Queen songs are not rock songs. His voice doesn't have the range nor the power of Freddie's. Nor does he have the stage presence of the dearly departed Mr Mercury.
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