The Show Must Go On: The Queen + Adam Lambert Story (2019 TV Movie) User Reviews

We miss you Freddie

[lifelinespublishing · 8/10 · 15 October 2019]

Excellent movie about Queen and Adam Lambert coming together, it's like a marriage made in Heaven, I also liked that they pulled off interviews with Freddie Mercury before though John the bassist was not in the documentary whatsoever but that is his personal choice given his retirement.,

anyways, I never thought I would say this but I enjoy Queen being fronted by Adam though my HEART and my SOUL always think of Freddie as an irreplaceable frontman!!

Good but not Great!!

[vandrist · 7/10 · 21 June 2020]

No one can replace Freddie and it's a good thing that queen never tried to. It's two great stories in itself merged into one. You could easily have a film of life after Freddie as well as a story of just Adam Lambert. To see a lot of behind the scenes information was pretty wonderful to see. There's a lot that you will find out from Adam Lambert and queen. A lot of this can be said to be influenced by success of the movie Bohemian Rhapsody and you can tell that this piggy backs on that success. Good overall but it felt like it dragged on a bit more in one area when there was so much more that it could have covered.

Good, but not great!

[ericlecorvec · 8/10 · 26 September 2020]

I know that this film paints a portrait of the Queen and Adam Lambert association. But when you know the conflicting reactions within the group, before the death of Mercury, there is too much marshmallow in May's words!

Two thumbs up from long-time Queen fan

[david-2348 · 10/10 · 7 May 2019]

Adam Lambert is not Freddie Mercury, and he doesn't want to be nor need to be. I have been following Queen from the earliest days and still rate the 1985 concert in Tokyo, just prior to Live Aid, as one of the highlights of my life. I love all the original Queen music, but Queen with Adam Lambert breathes new life into it, and the last Queen concert I went to in 2018 was actually a better concert (in terms of sound, structure, content, lighting, effects, etc) than the 1985 one. Queen with Adam Lambert is a different flavour, but it's just as enjoyable. This documentary goes into detail about how this new partnership came about. If you like Queen and have an open mind, you will like this. Now if only they would dare to write some new material together....

I was wrong.

[dominicwoods-37076 · 10/10 · 23 June 2020]

Never heard Adam Lambert sing before this documentary. Who can replace Freddie? A guy off some talent show? Please.... Boy was I wrong. He's just what Queen needed. A very clever addition from Taylor and May. Lambert has the goods. I hope he gets the success he deserves. Great documentary.

Started strong... finished boring

[kenkoopa · 6/10 · 6 September 2021]

Seeing how the band recovered and dealt with Freddie's passing but after they found Adam it seemed like it started to get repetitive with the cheerleading about how incredible the new lineup is. Could have ended about 20-30 min earlier. Oh well, probably worth a watch if you really love queen.

dream team

[camillepety · 10/10 · 30 April 2019]

The planets aligned to bring Adam Lambert and Dr Brian May and Roger Taylor together. These three men create the most unbelievable shows with Queen's extensive catalog of music, bringing the audience into their playful and joyous performances. If you have the chance to go you must. These are ALL LIVE shows, no click-track, no playback, everything you see and hear is LIVE.

Not Bad for Propaganda

[TheFearmakers · 6/10 · 18 June 2020]

Not a documentary. It's really propaganda for Queen and Adam Lambert. But it's pretty good, entertaining. Shows both his story and theirs.

The biggest question that no one has asked: That is...

If Brian May had died in 1991, could Brian May's guitar be replaced?

The answer is... No.

As great as drummer Roger Taylor is, he could have been just like Keith Moon was. John Deacon has been replaced for years, but no one... and I mean NO ONE ON EARTH... could replaced May.

So that must mean, if this show is true, that he was more important than Freddie, which isn't true: They were equal. And this is a way for Brian and Roger to hit the road and do what they love with a singer with a great range.

The only thing Adam lacks is... he sings the notes right but without the certain Uumph Freddie had. He lacks Fred's GUT in the vocals.

Freddie was gay, yes, fine... but he sang those songs like a tough guy while Adam still seems a bit... to quote Simon from American idol... "Theatrical."

But hey, that's not bad. For Brian and Roger, the show's going on. It's just THEIR show now.

Phenomenal Collaboration

[mjbrnb · 10/10 · 31 May 2020]

The planets aligned when Adam sang with Queen at the American Idol finale. It is truly a collaboration that was meant to be. Nine years later and they are still rocking the world together. Adam brings his own brand of talent, showmanship, and charisma. He is not an imitator. Brian May and Roger Taylor have said many times they would not be touring if it wasn't for Adam. I've seen them many times in both NY and LA. Hoping they will tour the US again. I wouldn't miss it for the world!

Different things...

[philip-00197 · 11 March 2022]

"We thought that when Freddie died that Queen died" /Brian May/ ...and you would be absolutely correct. The Show Must Go On is, arguably, one of the greatest revitalisation attempts in both music and film history.

But let's be honest; the patient has flatlined, no amount of. CPR is going to evoke any signs of life.

This, by no means, implies that this isn't a great eulogy, a great homage. We are attending the wake and, understandably, there are great things to be said.

It is sad, very sad. And There is hope, there is always hope. Futile hope that somehow the beloved deceased will spring back to life. Hope is the last to leave us, but this point is one of no return.

Despite all our dreams, this is the wake - we are not witnessing the resurrection.

Freddie

[ZegMaarJus · 7/10 · 30 November 2021]

This Documentary begins with Freddie Mercury, he sings a song. Adam performs a song at the Oscars together with Queen. Queen gives a memorial concert for Freddie. We see Adam Lambert performs at American Idol. Queen + Adam Lambert give a tour in North America. It ends with Freddie, he sings.

Such a great Docu.

The documentary was very nice

[corneliusroz · 10/10 · 11 June 2020]

Iove the whole idead of the documentary being made just to show how much people don't know that Queen and Adam Lambert didn't came from thin air. They have worked hard to get here. As an Adam Lambert fan for 3 years i never had heard Queen because i was born in 1999 and outside US. Even my parents didn't knew them. Their music would've been completely unknown to me if it wasn't for Adam Lambert joining and creating magic with the greatest guitarist and amazing drummer of an iconic band. People still hates on Adam but i thoroughly believe if Adam wasn't there working hard to give the feels of the amazing queen catalogue of songs we the new generation and future ones would've never get that essence. Adam Lambert is the greatest singer in the world

Queen + Adam Lambert story not as interesting as that other Queen story..

[maccas-56367 · 5/10 · 7 August 2020]

I'll always love Queen's music. Everyone featured in this documentary is incredibly talented too. Despite this, I'm even less sold on the Queen + Adam Lambert show as I was previously.

This documentary came across as both some late night promotional special, and a self-indulgent ego trip. The music of Queen is the highlight here. Some of the talking heads (Rami Malek and Taylor Hawkins in particular) were also great; so too the snippets of Freddie.

At times this felt like an almost aggressive justification by Roger and Brian to continue the name of Queen without Freddie. Even Paul Deacon didn't want any part of this incarnation of Queen.

Unfortunately, the Queen + Adam Lambert Story isn't nearly as interesting as the other stories of Queen (or of most other successful rock bands). But when you're as rich as Brian and Roger, you can do whatever the hell you like in your free time. As long as people are still listening to and discovering the music of Queen, that's all that really matters.

They Rocked Me!

[ashera-571-730536 · 10/10 · 4 May 2019]

I loved Queen and I loved Adam Lambert from his Am.Idol audition. I thouroughly devoured every second of this show. All the clips of Freddie, all the clips of Adam from Am. Idol and solo peformances and videos...just really fun and a joy to watch how he met the members of Queen and how they came to perform and tour together. I want to buy this so I can rewatch it again and again and again!

A documentary about Adam Lambert? So soon? YES!

[susangra47-440-103122 · 10/10 · 17 June 2020]

When I first heard that there would be a documentary about Adam Lambert and Queen I thought 'what could they possibly say/show in such a recent phenomenon? I was afraid it would be something that people could use to mock Adam and the collaboration.

I was wrong.

They showed that there is MUCH to say about Queen, their legacy, their music, Adam's story so far, and their collaboration. This is a riveting story.

I tried to get a friend of mine (a R&R Hall of Famer) who knew Queen back in the day, to pay attention to QAL. He refused to go see them when they came to town. I got an email from him yesterday "Now I understand. He's amazing." (talking about Adam)

The must watch doc for QAL haters and old Queen fans

[calvinharrisq · 10/10 · 14 December 2020]

People out there bashing Adam Lambert who's definitely one of the greatest singer on thre planet a gift from God. He joined Queen and kept their music alive. He kept Freddie legacy alive. There's no one better than Adam Lambert to front Queen

The greatest comeback in musical history -

[rraustin · 10/10 · 15 June 2020]

Anytime to hear Queen live is a treasure - and Queen has had, since Mercury's death, a number of lead singers, such as Paul Rodgers (who I liked very much), With Adam Lambert, however, Queen has emerged as a vital band once again - AL has the extraordinary voice necessary to be able to sing all of Queen's sometimes difficult oeuvre, but he also has the humor, intelligence, and charisma that embodies the spirit of Mercury as well. Long LIve QAL!

A must see!

[jodimassey · 10/10 · 21 June 2020]

Absolutely loved it!. Queen is,and always has been, my favorite group. Being able to keep Freddie's memory and music alive through this young new talent, is brilliant.

The most unwanted/unnecessary rockumentary ever made

[JabezGill · 1/10 · 25 July 2021]

This documentary was unnecessary. When people think about Queen they think about the classic 4 that wrote all of the songs and made all of the magic. They play up Adam Lambert like he is something other than a mediocre cover singer.

Now if this was about how Queen pushed forward and even wrote new music with the true vocal heir apparent to Freddie Mercury, Marc Martel, that would be interesting.

But a documentary about the band + the guy that just sings... I mean, they're just a Queen cover band with all due respect to. Brian May and Roger Taylor.

Dull, uninteresting, nothing new about Freddie or classic Queen, and totally unwanted & unnecessary.

Absolutely amazing!!!!

[lornab-1 · 10/10 · 13 December 2021]

This film was so worth seeing. I love Freddie, always have and always will. But a little piece of my heart now belongs to Adam Lambert. What an incredible performer! His voice is outstanding and he certainly does justice to Freddie's memory, not by replacing him but by honouring him. I love hearing Adam's thoughts and hearing his and the band's take on the shows.

Awesome way to wake up

[tesi-68274 · 8/10 · 13 March 2021]

I mean. I'm a Freddist and I though there's no way that someone will fill Freddie's shoes, but the very best Queen (Roger and Brian) kick you in the nuts with some truth and makes you woken up immediately. I even never wanted to listen ~other Queen~ but before this, I'm looking forward to get on a plane and watch them on stage. I love this documentary.

THE BEST ROCK BAND - BRILLIANT DVD

[deborahbraine · 10/10 · 12 April 2021]

As for Ericlecorvec, what patronising comments. Queen had been together for over a decade when they parted for a while in the 1980's. Most groups wouldn't even stay together that long, let alone regroup. Brian May's words were CERTAINLY NOT marshmallow, you don't have to be so patronising, nor do you have to bother to listen to the best rock band in the world so you!

The Blend of Extraordinary Heights!

[anuragphukan · 10/10 · 3 July 2021]

There is a saying that "Nothing can be 100% perfect".

But it is also believed that we still can achieve near to perfection results with great dedication and charisma.

Well 'Queen+Adam Lambert' collaboration is exactly what defines the closest you can get to perfection!!

Truly a remarkable Documentary...very well framed and superb placement of story plots and how the whole documentary displays a perfect balance of their individual success stories and then cleverly combining both the stories as well as making sure to maintain the perfect balance between all the worlds.

Best thing I saw recently! Just Amazing!!

Didn't really want to see it... glad I did

[tindfoting · 8/10 · 17 August 2022]

I'm not the generation raised with reallity shows. I'm just a 40 something who happens to adore Queen ever since "The Miracle" in mid 80s. And of all the celebrities gone, none was more devastating than Freddie Mercury for me. His talent was one of a generation, impossible to duplicate. So I didn't want to listen to "Queen with guest singer". Then I finally saw rhis, and boy, did I have my razor out for the flamboyant George Michael lookalike, Adam Lambert. And it seemed I forgot Freddie was the most flamboyant singer this side of Liberacy. In one interview with Freddie he says he don't care if he will be remembered or not, it was never important to him. In another, Lambert says the wisest thing I've heard in a long time; he was never interested in replacing Freddie, cause it's impossible. Instead, he is Adam Lambert, and Freddie would be pretty damn proud to see someone ALMOST as fearless as himself. Many slams Queen of for being Brian May & Roger Taylor, two rich arseholses who misuses the name Queen. Sod off. May and Taylor was just as big a part of Queen as Freddie. And since John Deacon for some reason freaked out (Roger Taylors words) and refused to play in Queen after the Mercury Tribute, this is 1/2 of Queen with guests. And it's a hell of a lot better than NO Queen. A very good and not least honest doc.

Maybe it's time for the show to end

[dierregi · 3/10 · 23 January 2021]

Imagine Mick Jagger dying and the rest of the Stones hiring a youngster to "keep their legacy alive".... would it feel OK or would you think that the Stones should stop, having done enough for rock music? Much as I liked Queen, without being a die-hard fan, I didn't feel the need for their show to go on. However, May and Taylor had other plans and certainly they can do whatever they want.

A cynical would describe this version of Queen as the perfect cash cow, the crown jewel of marketing strategies that joins a band those last act was played in 1992 and a young American singer, struggling to get a wider fan base among a crowd of clones produced by reality shows.

One can figure Taylor and May starting to get bored after some time in semi- retirement and missing the thrill of performing live. However, Mercury was such gigantic personality that replacing him was going to be a tough call. What about someone young (Queen fanbase is the older side, they need fresh blood); American (allowing them to break immediately into that vast market) and slightly provocative (in the wake of Freddy, but updated for the younger generation, fed by reality TV). Lambert is a decent singer (nowhere near Freddy...), but more importantly, he knows how to work a young crowd and ticks all the boxes to attract the right kind of attention.

May and Taylor have the key to the American market and start a mutually profitable partnership. There's nothing wrong with that, but this documentary felt hypocrite and apologetic. Hypocrite, because of its hyperbolic tone, praising Queen+Lambert as the best band ever (seriously? A couple of ageing rockstars performing as a cover band of their own songs and a Elvis clone, updated for generation snowflake?). Apologetic, because May and Taylor sort of kept on justifying their decision of not calling it a day.