By January of 2005, Roger Taylor admitted to German television that they would be touring Europe in the spring and summer of that year, under the name of "Queen + Paul Rodgers". The full line up included original "Queen" members May (guitar, vocals) and Taylor (drums, vocals) as well as former "The Pretenders" and "Brian May Band" member Jamie Moses (guitar, vocals), former "Blue Oyster Cult" bassist Danny Miranda (bass, vocals), Queen's 1986 tour keyboard player Spike Edney (keyboards, vocals) and Paul Rodgers (vocals, occasional guitar). Over the course of 2005, the band played in over a dozen European countries as well as the Aruba Festival, 4 dates in Japan, 2 shows in the U.S.A., and 1 show in South Africa The band embarked upon a large scale tour of Northern America during Spring 2006, hitting 22 venues in the U.S.A. and 2 in Canada.
Some controversy was caused within the "Queen" fan base over the use of the name. There was concern over the fact that Queen's legendary front man, Freddie Mercury, was seemingly being replaced. However, each band member has said this is not the case: Rodgers could never replace Freddie Mercury but brought his own talents to the band. Furthermore, the fact that retired former "Queen" bassist John Deacon was also missing caused some discontent. Yet despite this, by and large "Queen" fans were won over by the band's blues-tinted renditions of "Queen" classics. Additionally, Paul Rodgers' fans were happy with the inclusion of several Free and Bad Company anthems on the set list, providing super-powered versions of tunes such as "All Right Now" and "Can't Get Enough".
After the end of the Return of the Champions Tour, the band set out to and completed their first and heretofore only album The Cosmos Rocks which debuted to warm reviews by fans in September 2008. Consequently the band toured again in late 2008 throughout Europe, Asia, and South America to promote the album. The Rock the Cosmos Tour in all was seen by nearly 1 million people in almost two dozen nations. The tour was highlighted by its first performance, recorded for DVD and CD, where the band played before over 350,000 fans in Freedom Square, Kharkiv, Ukraine. Said show was in fact put together at the last moment to benefit HIV/AIDS awareness.
On 14th May 2009, Paul Rodgers announced that his collaboration with the surviving active members of "Queen" was at and end, and that the "Queen + Paul Rodgers" project was being placed on indefinite hiatus. While, the band members did not rule out working together again, each sought to pursue solo projects, or in the case of Paul Rodgers, a reunion with Bad Company. The band has not gotten back together since, but Rodgers has stated that he's open to the idea of doing more, specially for charity.
I Want to Break Free
Queen + Paul Rodgers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows God knows I want to break free
I've fallen in love
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love yeah
God knows God knows I've fallen in love
It's strange but it's true
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh how I want to be free baby
Oh how I want to be free
Oh how I want to break free
But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without living without
Living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone hey
God knows got to make it on my own
So baby can't you see
I've got to break free
I've got to break free
I want to break free yeah
I want I want I want I want to break free....
The song "I Want to Break Free" by Queen + Paul Rodgers is a powerful anthem about breaking free from the lies and constraints of society. The lyrics express the desire to be free from the expectations of others and to live life on one's own terms. Throughout the song, there is a sense of tension between the desire for freedom and the fear of the unknown.
The opening lines of the song, "I want to break free, I want to break free, I want to break free from your lies," convey a feeling of frustration and disillusionment with the status quo. The song's narrator is tired of living a life based on other people's expectations and is ready to assert their independence. The phrase "God knows I want to break free" reinforces the idea that this desire for freedom is essential and heartfelt.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals that they have fallen in love for the first time and that this love is real. The contrast between the desire for freedom and the newfound love creates a sense of tension and conflict within the song. The chorus "Oh how I want to break free" is repeated several times, emphasizing the intense desire to escape the confines of society.
Despite the desire for freedom, there is still a sense of hesitation and fear. The line "But life still goes on, I can't get used to living without, living without, living without you by my side" captures this fear of being alone and uncertain. However, the singer ultimately decides that they must "break free" and make it on their own.
Overall, "I Want to Break Free" is a powerful statement about the desire for personal freedom and the struggle to achieve it. It captures the tension between the desire to be true to oneself and the fear of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to break free
I desire to liberate myself from the chains of your deceitful behavior.
I want to break free from your lies
I yearn to escape from the inconsistencies and mistruths that you have fed me.
You're so self satisfied I don't need you
Your excessive egotism renders you unimportant in my life.
I've fallen in love for the first time
I have developed romantic feelings for someone, which is a novel experience for me.
And this time I know it's for real
This time, unlike past experiences, I believe that my love is true and genuine.
It's strange but it's true
Although it seems peculiar, it is a fact that I cannot deny.
I can't get over the way you love me like you do
I am fascinated by the way you express your affection towards me.
But I have to be sure
I must ensure that my decision is sound before taking any action.
When I walk out that door
When I depart from this current situation.
But life still goes on
Even though I am separating from you, the world continues to function normally.
I can't get used to living without living without
I have difficulty becoming accustomed to a life without you.
Living without you by my side
Existing in a state without your physical presence next to me.
God knows got to make it on my own
I must become self-reliant and self-sufficient with God's guidance.
So baby can't you see
Hey, can't you realize the gravity of the situation?
I've got to break free
I am compelled to emancipate myself from this predicament.
I want to break free yeah
I fervently desire to escape from this situation.
I want I want I want I want to break free...
I want to break free, and I cannot stress this enough. It is my top priority at this moment in my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Deacon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CockSprocket
Paul Kept Queen going in their darkest hour......No one can replace Freddie.....But Paul will never get the recognition he so rightfully deserves...He is amazing!
Ryan garrard
This mans voice is incredible...
Yolanda Quilo Payoran
no one can replace the great Freddie but thank you Paul Rodgers, you done it well on your own! 😊
goldcanyon340
Truer words were never spoken.
iggypopisgod9
You can only be who you are: and Paul is a gifted blues/soul man belter. Queen fans are a tough lot, and nobody will ever replace Mercury, but Rodgers held his own.
Space Truckin
Pau Rodgers what a living legend, as Brian May said, they all grew up watching him perform in their younger days and idiolised him.
Dominique M
I love Paul Rodgers and think he did an excellent job here.
sledger2003
This is the first time I listened to Queen without Freddie... and he's not bad .. in fact he's very good. He's not trying to be Freddie. He's a proper rock 'n roll singer.. so .. well done mate. Well done Queen.
Craig Such
I'm a huge fan of Queen but I reckon Paul Rogers is ideal.He brings the soul and blues to Queen songs. Great singer
ivan kovacevic
His voice gave a NEW flavour to this great song. Also, the band played it stronger, bit more rocky.. greatly for Paul the man. And, do I have to say.. thank you Freddy. Thank YOU.