I just found this review on link website. It is a bad one.
Queen - 'C-lebrity'
The average pub band could do better
(Thursday September 4, 2008 5:16 PM )
Released on 01/09/08
Label: Parlophone
First off, no argument, it must be hard being a guitarist or drummer in a band and having your singer die on you. Aside from losing a friend, the fact that they took your career with them has got to smart. Ever since Freddie Mercury's untimely death, Brian May and Roger Taylor have been desperately trying to find a future and much like their solo records and collaborations, "C-lebrity" isn't it.
With only two of the four original members, plus growling former Free frontman Paul Rogers, Trading Standards would probably have something to say about this qualifying as a Queen single, especially as its disjointed riffs, paper thin melody and painfully artless lyrics suggest it's the work of a band who've never actually heard a song, let alone written some of rock's classics. Secondly, having these three jaded has-beens preaching about c-listers' desperation for fame is, frankly, laughable. Hardly a worthy addition to the Queen canon, the average pub band could do better.
by Dan Gennoe
(2 stars out of 10) link
the fact that Cliff Richard's horror of a sentimentality has entered the UK charts 28 places higher than this song really sums up the apathy among 'fans' to the latest offering
Personally I think the lyrics hold it back. It's grown on me quite a bit, and personally I think it's not far apart in quality or sound from Headlong, but I do anticipate it's rejection to critics and a lot of auidence expecting something more ambitious.
Call Me and Still Burnin have single potential while songs like Through The Night would have the greatness they show on this album.
I do not care if the critics go hot or cold and couldn't imagine any real reason others should.
Well, I've waited until I have listened to it over a dozen times before I wanted to comment...
MY REVIEW OF C-LEBRITY
First off, let me say that I am one of those that will buy anything with the Queen name on it. But then I do that with Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes, The Neville Brothers, and Peter Gabriel. Unfortunately, that's probably kept my kid in public school than a ritzy fancy private one. But she knows how to rock.
And so does this new single. Upon first reaction, I thought Paul stood out the most... sounding as vivrant as ever. Plenty of trademark Rodgers all over that. Lyrical content? I think it's great! For Christ sake, the song is about the "paper-thin" world of C-lebrities, not rocket scientists. Very well placed and rhythmic as well. Jon Anderson says he never put much thought to what the words said, rather how they sounded. I think both were taken into consideration here.
As to broken riffs? Sorry, you're mistaken. That is the riff. I'm sure Tie Your Mother Down broke all the conventional rules too, but that is what a good riff does... and it stays in your head. This one does. And if it were one long connected riff, it wouldn't have played so well with Rodgers voice. So, obviously, the reviewer mentioned in the opening post doesn't know too much about crafting a song and how "mudding it up" takes away from the rhythm and texture of said song.
The drums didn't Wow me, but I don't think they really needed too. Roger sounds in good form, although I do miss those high notes that John would insert in the low end. Keyboard work sounds a bit sequenced (you think?) but it works in the spot it's used. I'm glad the guitar replaced it later on.
Now I'm just trying to go back a couple of years to find another "guitar riff" to get this one out of my head. Problem is, I can't seem to find one in the 2008 section. Thanks Brian.
Yeah, I still can't understand such a song. I get that they think it's a jab at wannabe famous dorks like American Idol and so on. Still, what a dumb song, lyrically at least. It's so Paul Rodgers with his Shooting Star/Joe Fabulous lyrical dorkness.
At least Say it's not true was about something, and at least the other songs were traditional cheese where it happens.
Personally I think C-Lebrity will hinder songs like Through The Night and Call Me from being the full potential hits they deserve to be. A better release would have been Still Burnin if they required a rocker, or one of the two I mentioned if they didn't.
I feel that they no longer care about trying to lyrically impress anyone and that they just wanted a live-worthy rocker to introduce their material with.
In it's defense the song plays well live, and it's got a mean as hell riff. Plus those fewer than we'd thought Queen elements exist clearly in this piece.
Overall I cannot see it being a long remembered track nor can I envision it creating a new fan base.
Then again, did Queen usually put out the correctly placed singles even in their hayday? Only BoRhap credits them for clever single decision making and that is only because it's greatness overwhelmed the typical thought that it was too long. And what's more to that is how they didn't take that successful opportunity to back it up with a 2nd anomaly and give the radio world The Prophet's Song, another lengthy masterpiece that every new to album Queen newbie fan immediately registers as their more obscure favorite initially at least. Innuendo's Headlong was the previous result of this wrong thinking, pushing a guitar driven track over the title track(in the USA) as well as I Can't Live With You, Ride The Wild Wind or I'm Going Slightly Mad, all way better tunes.
Just imagine this.... The USA singles for Made In Heaven were actually Heaven For Everyone and Too Much Love Will Kill You. Nearly the worst possible decisions.
I,m sorry to say when FREDDIE DIED so did QUEEN as we,ve known them Paul maybe good but NO FREDDIE in any way shape or form sorry boy,s Roger,Brian loved you back then love you guy,s now but Paul is not working