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Queen + Adam Lambert's 'Rhapsody Over London' is a kind of magic the world needs to see – gig report

Queen + Adam Lambert's 'Rhapsody Over London' is a kind of magic the world needs to see – gig report

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London is so lucky. Through June, the iconic O2 Arena was home to the sold-out 10-night residency of Queen and Adam Lambert as part of their Rhapsody Tour. It was a spectacle in itself, charged with an electrifying sense of wonder that would bring joy to anyone who witnessed it.

With livestreaming platform Kiswe, the stars of the show illuminated the rest of the world with Rhapsody Over London, a global broadcast of their residency. The concert film ran for 2.5 hours (premiering at 11 p.m. in the Philippines) as Queen and Adam Lambert played a setlist of 25 songs, all anthems from the band's massive repertoire.

It was exciting to see the level of energy 74-year-old Brian May and 72-year-old Roger Taylor still had, when Millennials these days often complain about backaches and fatigue. The ever glamorous and flamboyant 40-year-old Lambert on the other hand held his own as an explosion of glitter with his looks and comedic antics. He sauntered up and down the catwalk alongside May, whose feet seemed to be on fire with the amount of running he did throughout the show.

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The production of the Rhapsody Tour also goes all-out, taking advantage of the technology available today that Queen didn't have when they shot their Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid shows back in 1981 and 1985, respectively. It was difficult to even have a single low moment what with their choreographed lights and lasers, stunning pyrotechnics, a giant mirrorball, and impressive screens. They even had a large curved video wall overhead that transformed with every number.

Mid-show, May took over the end of the catwalk for an intermittent solo, where he performed an acoustic version of 'Love of My Life' and even conducted the audience among sparkling lights. A video of Freddie Mercury, appearing like he was onstage singing with May, came on for the last verse of the song. The tearjerking moment sticks with you for a while, especially with Taylor taking the spotlight to dedicate 'Under Pressure' to the late Taylor Hawkins.

Queen and Adam Lambert's performance of 'A Kind of Magic' may be one of the biggest visual highlights of the concert film as they turned the O2 Arena into a Disney-like fantasy world with rainbow lights and fireworks shooting out of the head of May's guitar. For his guitar solo, May rises above the curved video wall to give the illusion of the legendary guitar player flying through space atop an asteroid to Dvorak's 'New World Symphony'.

Thrill and delight filled the air when the opening verse of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' came on through the speakers with the original operatic passage and music video playing against joyous lights. Queen turned things up for an all-out rock-n-roll night as they closed with 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are the Champions'.

While Rhapsody Over London is only available for streaming until 31 July, the concert film is a must-see for all music fans around the world.

RHAPSODY OVER LONDON SETLIST:

  1. Now I'm Here
  2. Tear It Up
  3. Seven Seas of Rhye
  4. Hammer to Fall
  5. Somebody to Love
  6. Killer Queen
  7. Don't Stop Me Now
  8. In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited
  9. Bicycle Race
  10. Fat Bottomed Girls
  11. Another One Bites the Dust
  12. I Want It All
  13. Love of My Life
  14. '39
  15. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
  16. Under Pressure
  17. A Kind of Magic
  18. I Want to Break Free
  19. Who Wants to Live Forever
  20. Brian May guitar solo (featuring part of Dvorak's "New World Symphony")
  21. Tie Your Mother Down
  22. Radio Ga Ga
  23. Bohemian Rhapsody
  24. We Will Rock You
  25. We Are the Champions

Rhapsody Over London is available to stream on demand until 31 July. Get your tickets here.