Having debuted at No. 1 on the UK’s Official Albums Chart with their October 2 released Live Around The World album, Queen + Adam Lambert released the full length performance of ‘Somebody To Love’ on friday (Nov 6)
The Live Around The World album compiles concert highlights from the world over, personally selected by Roger Taylor, Brian May and Adam Lambert from over 200 shows they have performed together, many among them becoming available for the very first time.
The Live Around The World performance of ‘Somebody To Love’, was filmed at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 2016 – Queen + Adam Lambert’s first UK festival together and a milestone show which Lambert recalls was “a really special night.”
Written by Freddie Mercury, ‘Somebody To Love’ was a highlight of Queen’s 1976 album, A Day At The Races and a huge hit in its own right, reaching No. 2 in the UK and a Top 20 place in the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Mercury freely acknowledged that the song’s composition was influenced by the legendary soul star Aretha Franklin and – as the Live Around The World performance confirms – Adam Lambert’s soulful, gospel-tinged interpretation is well suited to this much-loved, soul-searching song with its complex vocal harmonies.
Adam has the ability to sing anything and everything we throw at him,” Roger Taylor says of Adam’s vocal abilities. “There’s nothing he can’t handle. Our songs are big and theatrical and Adam fits that easily. I think he’s the best singer around. His range is staggering.”
“Some of Queen’s songs are just so vocally athletic and physically demanding”, Adam Lambert said. “For example, ‘The Show Must Go On’ is certainly demanding, ‘Who Wants To Live Forever’ goes from zero to 99. ‘Somebody To Love’ is really intense and big.”
“One thing as a vocalist which I love about Queen’s catalogue is they’ve ventured into so many different genres”, Adam adds. “It makes every show a fun and challenging evening for me and I just love that.”
Watch Queen + Adam Lambert’s “Somebody to Love” performance from the 2016 Isle of Wight Festival
