'Idol' Runner-Up Adam Lambert Joins Queen

Sometimes, there is no shame in a great thing finding its end.

So, Queen once more has reportedly tried filling late lead singer Freddie Mercury's shoes. This time, it's former "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert, The Huffington Post reports. "The intention is to pay tribute to Freddie and the band by singing some f***ing great songs," Lambert told the U.K.'s Daily Star. "There's no intention in my mind of replacing Freddie. That's impossible." Lambert added Saturday that he's only discussed a European Music Awards appearance, but not necessarily touring.

Mercury died suddenly and unexpectedly in November 1991 following complications from AIDS, about 24 hours after he announced on Nov. 23 from his deathbed that he had contracted the disease.

Drummer Roger Taylor said of Lambert to Billboard this past December, "He has grown into a really great performer with an astonishing voice with a range that's great. There's nothing signed just yet but we're talking about live dates. It could be very exciting."

Face it: mileage here will vary. Under circumstances like this, it always will. Always.

Personal opinion? No. Just . . . no.

Taylor has it absolutely right: Lambert has a remarkable voice with what almost any vocalist would deem an enviable range. Not only that, but it's one thing when a male singer has a range on par with Chris Colfer of "Glee"; it's another entirely when it has power and projection like Lambert's without growing thin when going upper-register.

It's equally appreciable that he realistically acknowledges that there's no way anyone will ever, on his best day, perceive him on any level near Mercury, one of rock and roll's most magnetic and iconic lead singers. That being said, the most comforting thing about this whole scenario is that Taylor and guitarist Brian May (retired bassist John Deacon will once more sit this one out) will probably tour as "Queen+Adam Lambert," because this gig is outside Lambert's depth through no fault of his own.

The plus is an appropriate assurance that May and Taylor understand that forever more, they are what's left of Queen - and, save probably Deacon, no one else. Others have sounded great singing Mercury's songs. Robbie Williams performed a fine "We Are The Champions" that appeared on the "A Knight's Tale" soundtrack. Williams looks often eerily like Mercury, his voice ranks among the handful or so that most uncannily approximates the late singer's.

Fine a job as Williams performed, no one who has performed alongside May and Taylor before or who may ever again perform alongside them will ever channel Mercury quite as spookily as Bad Company lead singer Paul Rodgers, who toured and recorded alongside the remaining band members from 2004-2009.

But no one says it like LaVar Burton: you don't have to take my word for it.

It's one thing to convincingly sing the songs. There are few as it is who can even manage that and do right by Mercury. No one will ever capture the Mercury mystique or persona, but nobody will ever come as close as Rodgers.

Simply possessing great talent - no matter how great, and especially where it concerns someone being the face of a band among music history's greatest performers - doesn't qualify everybody to do just anything. Some things fit, some things don't. People will point out that AC/DC hit the height of their powers after losing founding lead singer Bon Scott and replacing him with Brian Johnson, who debuted on what would become the band's most celebrated album, Back In Black. Fair enough, I'd say. Even a blind squirrel finds the occasional nut.

Consider, though, how many "Journey" lineups have toured through the years without lead singer Steve Perry. Though Sammy Hagar certainly has his well-deserved fans, good luck finding a devout Van Halen fan that can pose a convincing argument that he and not David Lee Roth is a symbol of all that's great about Van Halen. Consider that following Jam Master Jay's tragic murder, Run DMC announced that they were done.

If May and Taylor insist on going through with this, that's their prerogative. As said above, they are what remains of Queen's ongoing legacy. Lambert is more than welcome to try proving doubters wrong. But when some things don't fit, they just don't fit.

And if you don't believe that, listen to this previous recording of Lambert performing a symbol of everything grand and bombastic about Queen . . . mixed artfully with a live recording of Mercury performing the same song himself.

There's no shame in saying, "It's just not the same."