Today, we know Adam Lambert to be a world-famed singer who travels with the most epic Rock band to have lived-Queen. He does not just tours with Queen, he also fills in the shoes of Queen’s lead singer, Freddie Mercury. And those are some massive shoes to fill.
While in 2018, Adam Lambert carries the title of ‘Lead singer of Queen,’ 9 years ago he was merely auditioning on American Idol hoping to get a breakthrough. In Season 8 of Americal Idol in 2009, Adam Lambert opened his contestant life with a soulful performance of Queen’s greatest hit “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Considered to be one of the most notorious lyrical and musical compositions of all time, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is not an easy challenge to tackle. However, for Lambert, it seemed like a walk in the park. He could merely complete the first four lines of the second verse before being cut short by the judges-Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson.
Not only Adam got a handful of compliments on his singing, but he was called “theatrical” as well. Freddie Mercury was the godfather of theatrics in Rock music.
Watch Adam Lambert’s First Audition Performing “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Adam Lambert becomes the runner-up of American Idol Season 8, behind Kris Allen. However, Adam Lambert is possibly the one who cashed off of his Season 8 success.
How Did Adam Lambert Become Part of Queen?
After Adam’s performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in his first audition and with his success in subsequent auditions, the word about his began to spread. And it reached Queen’s remaining member Brian May and Roger Taylor. According to Brian May, he had an influx of messages from everywhere talking about this guy on American Idol who can perform “Bohemian Rhapsody” decently enough.
“So I immediately checked out YouTube to find out what was going on; and, sure enough, there was this amazing young chap singing Bohemian Rhapsody – Adam Lambert. And it was evident that he was something completely out of the ordinary. And into my inbox came a deluge of people saying, “You must get together with this guy; he is the natural successor to Freddie; he is the guy you should be touring with.” Brian May at Loudersound
Brian May and Roger Taylor were to perform a show in Belfast soon after the Season 8 of American Idol drew to an end. Adam Lambert had been booked for the same show. So both teams got together and rehearsed for a few days and delivered a stunning performance of “The Show Must Go On,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are The Champions” totally live. It worked!
“He is a little older now, but still a boy compared with us old rockers. But the age difference doesn’t matter. We have the same work ethic, the same enjoyment of the material, and in these arenas and larger places that we’ve played all I see are happy faces, people who feel, like us, that it’s a privilege to share these kinds of moments, long after Freddie has gone. And – my God – it’s fun!” Brian May on Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert with Brian May of Queen (Image credits: people.com)Watch Queen + Adam Lambert Perform “Bohemian Rhapsody” Live
Nobody could probably ever compare to the late great Freddie Mercury. But, Adam Lambert could be the next best thing.
Queen + Adam Lambert Performing “Don’t Stop Me Now” Live in 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEBhpiT-V4g
American Idol Season 8 finalists, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert brought down Queen on their final duet on the show to perform “We Are The Champions.” Watch below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwrmqRw0d48
Cheers to Adam Lambert for scoring huge on life to be able to perform with the remainder of Queen.
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