Film
Adam Lambert Gave an Epic Tribute to Freddie Mercury at the Oscars
Check out the performance that opened the 91st Academy Awards.
February 24 2019 5:03 PM EST
February 24 2019 5:10 PM EST
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Check out the performance that opened the 91st Academy Awards.
Without a host to open the 91st Academy Awards, the Oscars opted for something a little different this year.
Queen took the stage with Adam Lambert serving as frontman, as he has frequently done for their tours and performances since 2011. Instead of wasting our time with a monologue that we'll all agree was fine but nothing like Billy Crystal used to do, the band -- whose backstory was dramatized in the mega-nominated Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody -- began playing one of their biggest hits, telling the audience "We Will Rock You."
Did they rock them? I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure. But a quick survey of the audience members featured in the crowd shot cutaways tells me that:
* Amy Adams was rocked.
* Queen Latifah was incredibly rocked.
* Lady Gaga was truly, madly, deeply rocked.
* Jennifer Lopez shouted the lyrics back at Lambert, a sure sign of being rocked.
* Kacey Musgraves...... appears to have been rocked but is playing it cool.
* Regina King clapped. Rocked adjacent!
* Christian Bale emoted. Round it up, and...rocked!
Everyone was rocked. Queen came through on their promise. No one is canceled.
After "We Will Rock You," the band transitioned into "We Are the Champions," ending with the late Freddie Mercury projected on the screen behind them. This was great! Honestly so much better than a monologue. In case you missed it, watch the live performance in the video below.
\u201c\ud83d\udc5e\ud83d\udc5e \ud83d\udc4f\n\ud83d\udc5e\ud83d\udc5e \ud83d\udc4f\n@QueenWillRock + @adamlambert ROCKED this #Oscars opening! https://t.co/2g1QattacB\u201d— ABC (@ABC) 1551057723