He Stepped Onto the Stage as Just Another Hopeful Face, Belted Out ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ With a Voice That Could Shake the Heavens, Nearly Didn’t Make It Through, and Fought for His Moment—Adam Lambert, One of the Greatest Voices of Our Time, and the Rest Is History.
This is the moment Adam Lambert sang ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on American Idol and the judges were torn on whether to send him through to the next round.
When a deadpan Simon Cowell says you’ve chosen his “favourite song” just moments before your first audition, you know that in the world of TV talent shows, the stakes don’t get much higher.
And that was exactly the case with Adam Lambert’s first appearance on American Idol in 2009, when in a nail-biting moment the future Queen frontman singing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, nearly didn’t get put through by the show’s four judges.
Adam, who would go on to perform at sold-out stadiums across the world as the lead singer of Queen, one of history’s most successful bands, waited nervously in front of the judges as they held his fate in their hands.
After singing a flawless acapella version of Freddie Mercury’s famous ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ the judges were quick to evaluate the 27-year-old Adam Lambert’s performance.
Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Kara DioGuardi proceeded to argue over the young performers vocals, with Simon calling his performance “too theatrical”, before eventually – and after much debate – agreeing to put him through.
What the judges didn’t know was they had confirmed the exact doubts Adam had had before the audition: that his musical theatre past would hinder his chances and it nearly stopped him applying for the show altogether.
“I didn’t think I was the right kind of performer to … I didn’t think I would work on the show,” the former Wicked star told Entertainment Weekly in 2016, “I thought ‘Oh, I’m not the type that they look for.’”
Not only was Adam nervous of not getting through,the performer also had to quit his job in a professional theatre production as American Idol rules stated that contestants couldn’t be under any sort of entertainment contract.
“That was my income; that’s how I was getting my health insurance, all that stuff. I had to quit the job that I had in order to move forward, so it was a big risk for me,” he said.
“When it came time to go in front of Simon, Paula, Randy and Kara, it was like in the back of my head, it was like “If this doesn’t work out, you’re screwed.”
“I got up there and it just all kind of worked. I was nervous but I felt a good connection with the judges. I was looking at them and I was chatting with them and I felt it was a good repertoire and they were paying attention.
Adam Lambert Sings Queen Bohemian Rhapsody In First Audition On American Idol | Idols Global
“The first song that I performed for them was a Michael Jackson song — “Rock With You” — and it didn’t quite connect like I wanted it to, and they were kind of looking at me sideways.”
“[The judges] said, “What else do you have?” That’s when I performed ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ That seemed to click for them and that’s what they ended up using on television,” he recalled.
Adam Lambert proceeded to the live rounds of the show and alongside being embraced by the public, was spotted by none other than Queen themselves.
Roger Taylor later confirmed the exact video the band saw of Adam Lambert that convinced them the singer could pay tribute to their legendary frontman, Freddie Mercury.
Adam Lambert: ‘I learned a lot from Freddie Mercury’
Speaking on Good Morning America, Roger Taylor said of the 2009 incident: “A friend of mine called me up and said, ‘I’ve just seen the most amazing singer on American Idol.’
“I checked it out and [Lambert] was singing ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin and just blowing it away. Fantastic.”
Queen flew to L.A. to perform with Adam Lambert for the finale of Idol and it proved such a success that not long after, in November 2011, Adam Lambert was officially the new lead singer of Queen.
The rest, as they say, is musical history.
News
When Jennifer Aniston missed out on her first role, she quietly did something special with her father. A small promise, but its strength has stayed with her to this day…
A Silent Promise: The Hidden Letter That Shaped Jennifer Aniston’s Journey When Jennifer Aniston faced the first failure of her…
The night before Courteney Cox received bad news, Jennifer Aniston called her… just to say a single sentence. But that whisper became Courteney’s anchor for the entire month that followed
Jennifer Aniston’s Midnight Call Became Courteney Cox’s Lifeline in Her Darkest Days In the world of Hollywood friendships, few bonds…
Jennifer Aniston was recently caught doing something strange in the middle of New York, attracting the attention of both fans and the media. However, the truth behind this action has surprised and puzzled many people.
Jennifer Aniston, the beloved star of Friends, is no stranger to media attention, especially when it comes to rumors surrounding her…
Jennifer Aniston, the star of Friends, was spotted wearing a wedding ring, which surprised many people. Is this a private gesture or is there something hidden behind it? This image makes the public even more curious about her current relationship, especially when she is enjoying her single life and successful career.
The paparazzi discovered a ring on the ring finger of actress Jennifer Aniston when she appeared in Montreal, Canada, on…
Due to her fear of flying, Jennifer Aniston always carries a strange small item on long flights. Once, that item made airport security staff burst out laughing… but for Jennifer, it’s her “inseparable companion.”
Jennifer Aniston’s “Lucky Charm”: The Story Behind Her Unusual Airport Ritual For most people, traveling is a routine part of…
In her new Montecito mansion, Jennifer Aniston has dedicated a room to an activity not everyone knows about. Those who enter describe the feeling as… “like touching peace.”
Jennifer Aniston Finds Serenity in a Hidden Room at Her Montecito Estate In the heart of Montecito, where rolling hills…
End of content
No more pages to load
