| Madman007 10.10.2005 00:04 |
Before I begin talking about what I’m gonna talk about let me just say this: I am not bashing Paul in any way, it is just my opinion that his voice and Queen songs don’t go together AND I’m not against Queen touring with another lead singer… but I think their choice was not the best one (Robbie Williams, for example, would’ve made a good lead). Now… there are two sides to every story, for Queen fans its Q+PR. Some love it and yet some hate it. I was not sure about the choice made for the lead singer of the new tour. I liked Rodgers’ songs with Free and Bad Company but I wasn’t sure how he would perform Queen tunes. I wasn’t quick to judge and wanted to wait ‘till the live album and DVD came out to give my opinion. Well as all of you know the album came out a couple of days ago and I didn’t like Rodgers’ performance. As I said, it is my opinion that Paul’s voice and Queen’s music don’t go together. OK, no for my inquiry: for those of you who like Paul as the choice for lead singer give me valid points as to why this is. I guess if I were to put it into question form it would say ‘why do you like Paul Rodgers singing for Queen?’ (Remember this is a serious discussion no ‘Queen R.I.P. 1991’ crap or ‘Paul Rodgers is simply the shit for no good reason’ stuff either… only valid points.) |
| teleman 10.10.2005 00:27 |
I think Paul Rodgers brings something completely different to Queen songs. There are songs I didn't enjoy(IWTBF & AKOM)but the rest were different with him singing. I don't believe most songs are sacred cows that shouldn't be touched so I like the difference. Most important is Paul Rodgers connected with Brian and Roger in a way that made them feel like doing this. Each person is entitled to their individual tastes. |
| Ray D O'Gaga 10.10.2005 02:24 |
teleman wrote: I don't believe most songs are sacred cows that shouldn't be touched so I like the difference.What a breath of fresh air. Most important is Paul Rodgers connected with Brian and Roger in a way that made them feel like doing this.Ding-Ding-Ding That's the correct answer. Well done. |
| frank39 10.10.2005 03:31 |
Paul Rodgers? Return of the Champions ??? My God, Brian, what a mistake !!! Paul has nothing to do with the originl Queen spirit, there is no intelectual attitude, no charme in his singing, nothing. He is just a medium quality singer, a simple RnR worker, nothing more. My proposal for a true return of the Champions: Brian May Roger Taylor Gail Ann Dorsey: bass David Bowie or Robbie Williams: vocals (Gail is an excellent bass player and also by far a much better singer than Paul). I was in Dortmund and Cologne, and they couldn´t convince me at all.I won´t collect anything from this band. |
| Fone Bone 10.10.2005 05:48 |
Paul certainly doesn't have the beautiful voice nor the amazing charisma and wit Freddie had, but : 1- He CAN sing (unlike Robbie, for instance) 2- He has a very respectable carreer, he's proved its worth before fronting Queen (unlike this INXS monstruosity) Enough for me ! |
| its_a_hard_life 10.10.2005 10:01 |
Fone Bone wrote: Paul certainly doesn't have the beautiful voice nor the amazing charisma and wit Freddie had, but : 1- He CAN sing (unlike Robbie, for instance) 2- He has a very respectable carreer, he's proved its worth before fronting Queen (unlike this INXS monstruosity) Enough for me !Same! Hes got a good voice and will never be like Freddie nor can he try to be, but i think its a good thing, new stuff will come out soon hopeful and im glad the guys are back on track and on the charts where they belong! |
| Fenderek 10.10.2005 10:40 |
He connected with Brian and Roger UNLIKE Robbie Williams- Brian in one interview mentioned one evening with with bottles of wine and yet- nothing worked. With Paul it was chemistry from the begining. Let's face it- they don't care what one queenzoner or other thinks- they do what THEY feel is right. And standing on stage with Paul seemed more right than with Robbie (and I dislike the guy with all my heart anyway- if they toured with him I don't think I'd be even waiting for boxed sets...). The guy brings something fresh and unique to the songs. Not everybody amy like it- truth. But... the same was with albums- not everybody was over the moon about NOTW in 1977 after two records like ANATO and ADATR. Not everybody was into HOT SPACE after completely different 70-ies sound. And now- not everybody thinks that Paul is a great singer, his bluesier approach is not to everybody;s liking. Kill me, but that's the way it always was- they were doing their thing, we either liked it or not. Now the biggest difficulty with younger fans who don't remember times with Freddie (including me) is taht we knew only history- we knew EVERY record already done, we weren't discovering them as they were coming out- so this whole "disappoitment" factor is quite unknown to us. FINALLY they decided to do sth, after 10 yeras of doing nothing (or almost nothing) and chose Paul to tour with. Suddenly this status quo fans knew was destroyed, it wasn't only the safety of all the records we knew- it was suddenly sth happening NOW. It's easy to get to terms with the record done before we were born, but it's more difficult to chew the thing being done NOW. Some of the fans (younger fans) have NEVER experienced it before- suddenly the whole thing becomes real, it's not just a fairytale, it's reality. They do sth, I don't like- OMG, how could they???? Face it- it was ALWAYS like that... With Queen and pretty much with every artist... Had they only thought about others' opinions- they wouldn't ahve go apst Queen... Queen II wouldn't ahve happened... ANATO wouldn't have happened... BoRhap wouldn't be released as single... etc... Whether it's called Queen or Q+PR or Umbagumba it's secondary. The main thing is- they are DOING something and some people don't like it. And for some it's such a new thing they don't know how to react to it... Some would prefer Robbie or George Michael. And I say only this one thing- after hearing Tie Your Mother Down 7 times live I know that was a perfect choice. Neither Robbie nor George could pull off that heavier, rockier tracks. And with the guitar sound throughout the whole gig (almost)-I was in heaven. And about Paul's voice. If this is just avarage singer... Man, I would give 15 years of my life to be able to sing like him... It's different- and that's why I like it... Only few tracks didn't really work (IWTBF and maybe AOBTD)- but FBG or TYMD or even TSMGO were AMAZING. IMO of course- the whole thread is pretty much based on it, right? The bootom line? As ALWAYS- they do something- and we have a choice, to be taken to this journey or to stay at home and moan that someone else would be better- and as always they don't care THAT much.. |
| john bodega 10.10.2005 11:15 |
Robbie Williams seems like a good choice to most people, but lets face it - it'd never work. The guy is *boring*, he can't sing; can you imagine trying to watch him screw up 20 Queen songs in a row? Like Paul Rogers or not, he at least has the range to do the songs justice, and on top of that they share the singing with Brian and Roger so everyone wins. |
| Fenderek 10.10.2005 11:18 |
Zebonka12 wrote: Robbie Williams seems like a good choice to most people, but lets face it - it'd never work. The guy is *boring*, he can't sing; can you imagine trying to watch him screw up 20 Queen songs in a row? Like Paul Rogers or not, he at least has the range to do the songs justice, and on top of that they share the singing with Brian and Roger so everyone wins.We'd be lucky if we got 20 Queen songs- if they toured with Robbie I guess it'd be like half / half. Now do you guys really wanna hear about 10-12 Robbie's songs and see B. and R. reduced to backing musicians? Fuck that if you ask me. If we got 10 Q songs in all- that'd be it- Robbie's ego would be a very big obstacle anyway, not only when it gets to setlist but in many situations... |
| brENsKi 10.10.2005 12:47 |
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaahhggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhggggggggggggggggghhhhhhgssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Serry... 10.10.2005 12:55 |
Robbie - entertainer, frontman Paul - voice Paul + Robbie + moustache = someone like Freddie |
| JDL2nd 10.10.2005 14:41 |
Paul is a very good singer. I personally like his voice more than Freddies voice. He is also a great performer AND he doesn't try to replace Freddie. He is Paul Rodgers... :D I also love Robbie Wiliams but he's already imitating Freddie (even without Queen) so that wouldn't be my first choice. |
| *3*Playful as a pussycat 10.10.2005 15:00 |
hmmm...ok, i only heard Queen+Paul Rodgers do two songs (TYMD and FBG) so far...i know thats not much to judge on, but when i heard it, i was amazed! i knew they would be good, but i honestly did not think it would be THAT good. it is most certainly not the same. it's different, but it works! they just..click! there's really no other way to describe it....seriously, i dont know what else to say ^.^ except that u really should give them a chance if you havent heard them already. u dont have to go see them, just listen to a clip on the internet or something. ....oh yeh, and...6 days! |
| Penetration_Guru 10.10.2005 15:40 |
Brian & Roger chose him. End of fucking story. In theory... |
| Erin 10.10.2005 15:41 |
<font color=green>Bren<font color=orange>ski wrote: aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaahhggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhggggggggggggggggghhhhhhgssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ditto. |
| Mr_Bad_Guy_91 10.10.2005 16:11 |
they are good i clap my hand to them freddie is no longer here they are so give them support :) |
| thePresence 10.10.2005 22:45 |
although it may be a repeated topic, gove some credit for the one who had the guts to post something like this. and for that, i applaud him! but, on the subject: its bri, and rog's choice. and personally, a very good one. think about this: it could be worse. now, honestly, i do not know about you group of people, but think of justin timberfake, or some shite singer "covering"/ doing their songs, and ruining freddie's legacy. paul rodgers has the voice to do it, the power. i love his voice, as much as i do with freddie's. although they do not have the same range, it is clear that he has been able to pull it off. |
| Madman007 11.10.2005 00:25 |
thePresence wrote: although it may be a repeated topic, gove some credit for the one who had the guts to post something like this. and for that, i applaud him! but, on the subject: its bri, and rog's choice. and personally, a very good one. think about this: it could be worse. now, honestly, i do not know about you group of people, but think of justin timberfake, or some shite singer "covering"/ doing their songs, and ruining freddie's legacy. paul rodgers has the voice to do it, the power. i love his voice, as much as i do with freddie's. although they do not have the same range, it is clear that he has been able to pull it off.Thank you very much my dear... anyways... see... these are the kind of points I was talking about. Most of the people who have posted have given some GREAT responses. But it's your responce that caught my eye Presence. I mean, I still don't quite think that Paul's voice goes with some (NOT ALL, just some) Queen songs... but I do admit that the power with which he presents himself on stage is just awesome and I commend him for that AND for not trying to "be" Freddie and just being Paul Rodgers... that took guts... Anywho... keep posting people, some of the points you've made are brilliant and I can't wait to read some more... oh, and thanks for keeping it serious. |
| luthorn 11.10.2005 01:45 |
It has been mathematically prooven and empirically shown that his choice would generate optimum amount of bitching in the Queen fan community. |
| Greyleaf 11.10.2005 17:41 |
Is there a reason this thread displays waaaaaaaay too wide? Very annoying. Simple answer to your question is another question and its answer: How do you replace a legend? With another legend. Yes, yes, I know, nobody can replace FM, in that sense. But in the functional sense of someone to go out there and sing the damn songs... anyone less established is going to feel the Pressure (arg... sorry) whereas PR already *is* a legend, and doesn't need to be anything but himself. PR is "big enough" to fill the FM-sized vacuum which would swallow someone less established. All that said, that's only a reason why *most* singers -- even really good ones -- wouldn't be a wise choice. My point still allows a number of other possibilities, like the aforementioned Mr. Bowie, and I'll have to politely decline comment on the finer points of comparing them, as I am, as of yet, just a casual Queen fan. |
| Isis 11.10.2005 19:56 |
I see many of you are split on this entire Paul Rogers and Queen Issue. When I first watched some crappy 1 minute short of their concert on the net I thought "oh my god how could Queen allow Paul to front them - he sounds awful". I was upset with Rog and Bri for picking Paul. I decided I can't really tell for myself unless I hear the actual CD or see them live. Well the CD was released last week in Australia and I bought a copy - I played it and was expecting the worst. I was just BLOWN away by Paul Rogers. I didn't even know who Paul was until he hooked up with Queen. Paul has the voice I love - husky, powerful, in key and sexy. He has a strong voice and he brings a lovely change to the Queen sound. He brings in a nice blues twist to the songs they are singing together. I love it, I now love Paul Rogers and I owe Bri, Rog and Paul an apology for thinking that Paul was so wrong for Queen. I still want to hear them play live. The CD: Return of the Champions was just great. There is only one song I think PR struggles with and that is WATC. Apart from that I enjoyed the CD and I pray that they will come to Australia. Any chance to see Bri and Rog play again live is just a real treat these days - none of you should be grumbling and I don't know why you are all complaining about it as Bri and Rog just gave you all another chance to see them play again live. Give them a break and don't be so selfish - those who hate what Queen has done - you don't own Rog and Bri and you should be grateful that they have come back out there for a new generation to appreciate - Everyone needs to get with the times and stop holding Bri and Rog back by locking them up in a time capsule. I loved what they did with Paul and they all get along so well - that is what Queen was about - compatibility. Keep going Bri and Rog it is about time you got back out there in a format you are both are comfortable with. Bri your guitar playing is just as superb as always and Rog this is some of the best drumming I think I have heard you play - and I love your solo song called 'Say It's Not True'. I wish Roger had sung a few more solo songs he is just such a wonderful singer. |
| nibznik 11.10.2005 22:02 |
Um, Say It's Not True is a 46664 Song I believe, made by both Bri and Rog (maybe even that guy from the eurythmitics or whatever they're called, who co-directed the event) |
| Knute 12.10.2005 01:17 |
Why do people act like there was an open audition and Bri and Rog chose Paul out of a great big pool of fantasy vocalists? You know that's not how it happened. The tour came after the rush of doing a one-off at an awards show. Niether Brian, nor Roger , nor Paul had designs on going on a tour together. They were each taken aback how well it worked AFTER the fact. Then the idea of a tour appealed to them. Big difference from an open audition and renders "Who would have been a better choice?" questions nothing more than hypothetical masturbation fests. You might as well ask who would've been better; Fred Astaire or Bing Crosby? |
| Little_Queenie 13.10.2005 05:00 |
Why do I think he was a good choice?? Simply cause I saw them together and he was great. The man didn't fake, didn't try to copy Freddie, he was ok, and sang great. A good choice. |
| frank39 13.10.2005 15:39 |
Hey, was it me or the original poster, who started it again? To put things clear: I love Queen and I also knew both Queen and Free/Bad Company from the late 60th/early 70th.. From 1975 on Queen was my faroutive Music, Music Style, Music feeling... Bohemian Rhapsody made the final breakthrough for me, I was 23 then, Brian´s generation, I would say. I remember the nights, listening to the new Queen LP " A Night at the Opera", together with a friend of mine, and both we said: Wow, what a Sound, what a hot four of guys!!!! And there was a band called Free, came up in the late 60s,(Paul on vocals) with their first really astonishíng release: "Tons of Sobs", the Band´s first LP.And I really liked it. A concept album, even somehow partly sounding like Smile, but a lot heavier, I would say. (Rest after that was crap, more or less.) Then, some years and LPs later, came the single "Allright now"... ( leading to some Hitparade etc...) and, really: what an exclamation!!! "Allright Now"!!! Don´t you think so too?? Those days comparable to Queen´s "We will rock you". ( and it was 7 years before WWRY!!!) And here exactly is the difference: Queen had the capabilty, the musical feeling, the instinct, to make it a worldwide anthem !!! Free´s "Allright now" is quite nice nowadays, nothing more. And Queen made a lot more than only "We Will Rock You".As we all know. Paul simply hasn´t the ability to fill the hole Freddie has left us, sure, no one can... But there are a lot of better musicians than Paul to continue the legacy of this phantastic Band called QUEEN. |
| frank39 13.10.2005 15:41 |
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| frank39 13.10.2005 15:42 |
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| Little_Queenie 13.10.2005 18:35 |
frank39 wrote: Paul simply hasn´t the ability to fill the hole Freddie has left us, sure, no one can... But there are a lot of better musicians than Paul to continue the legacy of this phantastic Band called QUEEN.As you said in this first sentence - NO ONE can replace Freddie, didn't we come to this conclusion a zillion times already?? You're absolutely right.. Concerning second sentence, I don't know, maybe there are, maybe there aren't. I know I liked Paul because he didn't even try to fill anything, he didn't try to copy Freddie, he didn't fake anything - he just sang. And he did a hell of a job if u ask me. It is perfectly clear that noone can replace Freddie - and he isn't trying. He's not member of Queen, tour was called Q+PR. So I think your statement about Paul (or any other artist that was on your mind) "continuing the legacy of Queen" is wrong. The only people who are actually doing it are Brian and Roger, and thank God for that!!! If it was any other way thousands of us younger fans would never get a chance to see them live! I don't know how do you feel, but for me it's kind of irrelevant who sings. I went to the show only and only to see Bri and Rog. I wouldn't care if they brought Britney Spears along, as long as I would see them, and I know most of young fans feel the same. We don't give a damn. Queen we all love and know isn't here any more, but Bri and Rog are musicians, and it's perfectly natural if they want to tour again, for god's sake, it's what they do the best! And if they like Paul, and if they all feel good together, who are we to judge? I must confess I also didn't like the idea when first heard of it, but that man was totally natural and nice, and down to earth that I couldn't bitch around any more. The fact that he can sing was just another bonus. And I think Bri and Rog know better than the rest of us what are they doing.. |
| Isis 13.10.2005 22:42 |
To: Little_Queenie You siad: So I think your statement about Paul (or any other artist that was on your mind) "continuing the legacy of Queen" is wrong. The only people who are actually doing it are Brian and Roger, and thank God for that!!! If it was any other way thousands of us younger fans would never get a chance to see them live! I don't know how do you feel, but for me it's kind of irrelevant who sings. I went to the show only and only to see Bri and Rog. I wouldn't care if they brought Britney Spears along, as long as I would see them, and I know most of young fans feel the same. We don't give a damn. Queen we all love and know isn't here any more, but Bri and Rog are musicians, and it's perfectly natural if they want to tour again, for god's sake, it's what they do the best! And if they like Paul, and if they all feel good together, who are we to judge? I must confess I also didn't like the idea when first heard of it, but that man was totally natural and nice, and down to earth that I couldn't bitch around any more. The fact that he can sing was just another bonus. And I think Bri and Rog know better than the rest of us what are they doing.. My Reply: Thank god someone here is open minded, from the twenty first century and not trying to keep Rog and Bri locked up in a museum. I wish there were more like you on these boards. Reagrds Isis |
| john bodega 14.10.2005 12:56 |
Really... there are better singers and better frontmen out there. But when I saw the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thing... I don't know what it is, but I just liked the way the three fit together. If you'd given me this line up as a hypothetical a year ago, I would've laughed in yer face. It just sound silly - blues singer + QUEEN. And there are some points in the Q+PR shows where I sort of think it isn't working for me (like 'hit me with all your heart and all your soul' in TYMD). But really. It's quirky enough, and loud enough, and people have such a good time, I really dig this line up. It works. :D |
| Little_Queenie 15.10.2005 07:15 |
Isis wrote: To: Little_Queenie My Reply: Thank god someone here is open minded, from the twenty first century and not trying to keep Rog and Bri locked up in a museum. I wish there were more like you on these boards. Reagrds IsisThanks:) But there actually are other open minded people here, I'm not the only one! |
| ponkine 15.10.2005 10:43 |
Actually I think it was a very bad choice. He´s a good singer, but he´s not doing well with Queen songs, that´s all. It´s pretty like trying to put George Michael to sing Led Zeppelin. I think a far better choice would have been Queen (including Deacon!) + George Michael. I don´t know if you remember the Wembley concert tribute, after that gig many rumors circulated saying that Queen will be on tour again with George Michael. He´s voice is much better for Queen songs and the performance of Somebody To Love was the best of the whole gig by miles, altogheter with Brian´s. |
| KillerQueenAnn13 18.10.2005 22:40 |
Well, first of all I think Madman has given everyone a perfectly posed question: "Why do you think Paul Rodgers was a good choice?"... I think that everyone in these posts who have actually given serious thought to the topic have really valid points. As for my opinion, I think Paul Rodgers IS a good singer... but, I don't think he is a great match 100%. There are a few songs he sings that are absolutely fabulous and others that well, let's just say it'll take some time to get used to. I pre-ordered a copy of "Return of the Champions" for my boyfriend, which I've yet to receive, but maybe once I see it, the mixture of Paul Rodgers and Queen will sink in and maybe actually viewing them in concert and not merely hearing them will get me more pumped to be more accepting of Paul. Well... please keep posting serious thoughts... not just fragments of them. Have a nice day Madman.. and the rest of the Queen Fans..! =) |
| Knute 18.10.2005 23:58 |
Im my honest opinion Brian and Roger are lucky to have the likes of Paul Rodgers fronting the band. I'm not one bit ashmed of it either. To me, Paul Rodgers is the greatest rock n roll singer ever. He's the only white singer that I know of who can go toe to toe with Otis Redding as far as power and soul. And that's saying a fucking lot, believe me! And he makes it look effortless. A sure sign of a divine level of talent. Great Britain should be very proud of him. |
| Grantcdn 19.10.2005 01:58 |
Paul is a rocker...Brian and Roger are rockers... obviously without Freddie, there would be less Freddie songs with any tour and some songs are so Freddie that you wouldn't want anyone doing them even if they were George Michael or Robbie Williams i.e. You Take My Breath Away....George can't sing heavy rock songs and I don't think Robbie would survive.... Paul can sing.....and he can sing songs like The Show Must Go On which really requires a very talented vocalist with great range....and he's got an edge.....and let's face it - he clicks with Roger and Brian.....just cause some people want some lightweight singer....it also has to be someone that Brian and Roger actually enjoy working with and spending time with.....if they hate the person they are not going to do many shows....Paul, Roger, and Brian come from the same places musically so it's very logical.....also Paul has a big name (otherwise Jeff Scott Soto would have been an ideal choice) and he's got some of his own hits which actually has Brian and Roger excited to play them....did anyone hear how good Roger's drums sounded on Bad Company - it was almost as good as his sound on White Man.........and lastly, Freddie respected Paul Rodgers (and while I know someone might say how do you know or how does Brian know or whatever......Brian and Roger spent a heck of a lot more time with Freddie in rock n roll circles than anyone on this site....so I'd believe them over anyone here).....okay now really lastly....Did you see how incredible the show was in New Jersey????!!!!!!!!! That is clear enough for me.....Paul, Brian, and Roger rocked the place....it was a fantastic show proving that Paul was a great choice....and I'm happy that they are all having a great time with it and that they are making fans happy all round the world.....enough said.... |
| Little_Queenie 20.10.2005 16:36 |
Couldn't agree more:) |