REVIEW - Queen + Paul Rodgers - Return of the Champions

Review by Brian Grindrod

Brian May and Roger Taylor could have taken any singer that could accurately imitate Freddie Mercury's vocal range to perform their vast repertoire. However, it is the legendary Paul Rodgers that embarked with them to sing their classics as well as some of his which he recorded with Bad Company & Free.

Rodgers does not emulate Freddie Mercury in stage presence or vocal performance. A wise course of action since it would have led to justified critcism while perhaps alienating many of the die-hard Queen fans that do not take kindly to seeing somebody else sing with the remaining members of the band. In fact, some of the songs are not played in the key in which Freddie and the band originally recorded them in.

Thus, instead of the powerful voice of Freddie arousing the crowd, it is Paul's blues-driven style that brings about a soulful melody to some of greatest all-time rock'n'roll hits. From the power chords of Tie Your Mother Down to the spine chilling The Show Must Go On, these musicians deliver a performance that you will enjoy every time.

Of note is Brian and Paul's intro of Hammer To Fall and an awesome rendition of John Lennon's Imagine. While Roger and Brian's voices always complimented Freddie's in their studio works, it is quite particular to hear them in the forefront with Love of My Life, These Are The Days Of Our Lives and Radio Ga-Ga.

The concert is not without its flaw. I do not quite understand what the band was trying to accomplish with a concert recording of Freddie performing Bohemian Rhapsody. The people who attended their shows would have certainly preffered the band doing it themselves instead of paying for something they could have easily inserted in their DVD/VHS players at home.

If you're an anal retentive Queen fan who will not accept any singer, no matter how good they are, singing their classic songs alongside Brian Or Roger, then this DVD is not for you. But if you're looking for a high octane show that will rock your socks off and hearing some interesting versions of your favourites, go ahead and enjoy this guilty pleasure.