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.
We Are the Champions
Queen + Paul Rodgers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Time after time
I've done my sentence
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
But I've come through
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world
I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses
No pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose
(And I need just go on and on, and on, and on)
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
Of the world
We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
Oh, we are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
'Cause we are the champions
The lyrics of "We Are the Champions" by Queen + Paul Rodgers is a triumphant song of perseverance and never giving up. The opening lyrics "I've paid my dues, time after time, I've done my sentence but committed no crime" speaks to the idea of facing trials and obstacles in life but staying strong and not giving up. The next verse describes the mistakes and the struggles that have been faced along the way, but through perseverance and resilience, the singer has come out the other side of the struggles, and there is no time for losing in the end because they are champions.
Towards the end of the song, the lyrics get more emotional as "I've taken my bows and my curtain calls, you brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, I thank you all" speaks to the support system and the individuals that have helped the singer along the way. The final verses echo the idea of perseverance as the line "I consider it a challenge before the whole human race, and I ain't gonna lose" shows that the singer is ready to take on any challenge, face any obstacle, and still come out the other side, victorious.
The song is an anthem of victory and is often played at sporting events and other competitions. It is a song that speaks to the human spirit and the idea of never giving up.
Line by Line Meaning
I've paid my dues
I have worked hard and earned what I have
Time after time
Through repetitive efforts
I've done my sentence
I have faced punishment for my actions
But committed no crime
But I did not break any laws
And bad mistakes
And I have made some poor decisions
I've made a few
I have not been perfect
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face
I have experienced hardships and setbacks
But I've come through
But I have overcome them
And I need to go on and on, and on, and on
And I will continue to persist, never giving up
We are the champions, my friends
We have succeeded, my companions
And we'll keep on fighting 'til the end
And we will persist until we achieve our ultimate goal
We are the champions
We stand victorious
No time for losers
We do not accept failure
'Cause we are the champions
Because we are the best
Of the world
In the entire world
I've taken my bows
I have received praise
And my curtain calls
And I have reached the end of my performance
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it
I have achieved great success and all its rewards
I thank you all
I am grateful to all who supported me
But it's been no bed of roses
But it has not been easy
No pleasure cruise
It has been a challenging journey
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
I see it as a test for all of humanity
And I ain't gonna lose
And I will not let failure defeat me
Oh, we are the champions
Oh, how we have triumphed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore, Unison Rights S.L.
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Morten Eng
I LOVE Paul Rodgers!
I LOVE Bad Company!
I LOVE Free!
I LOVE The Firm!
I LOVE The Law!
I LOVE Queen!
And I LOVE Queen + Paul Rodgers!
The GREATEST collaboration I have ever enjoyed alot as a fan. I love it! Fantastic!
I LOVE you, Paul Rodgers!
Greetings from a fan from Norway!
kevin bills
the only time I got to see Queen was with Paul, the best living rock singer! The main house sound cut out for one song, but still an incredible show. No one can replace Freddie, but this was a great collaboration even playing some of Paul's material.
Deb Zacher
Oh that voice! It never gets old. So wonderful 💗
VIDEOHEREBOB
Master vocalist. He fits in anywhere! Awesome, blusey rendition. Freddie is smiling from ear to ear.
Morten Eng
I LOVE Paul Rodgers!
I LOVE Bad Company!
I LOVE Free!
I LOVE The Firm!
I LOVE The Law!
I LOVE Queen!
And I LOVE Queen + Paul Rodgers!
The GREATEST collaboration I have ever enjoyed alot as a fan. I love it! Fantastic!
I LOVE you, Paul Rodgers!
Greetings from a fan from Norway!
Morten Eng
@mel Belle - Yeah! And I really LOVE also Queen + Adam Lambert.
Really great collaboration too. Fantastic and great teamwork ever!
I saw Queen + Lambert live at Telenor Arena, Oslo in 2018, and it was a great, double-great, triple-great concert I ever saw and my first Queen concert ever.
And I also saw Brian May live on TV at 46664 festival at Fyllingen, Tromsø in 2005.
Queen have not been so many times in Norway since the concert in Drammenshallen, Drammen in 1982.
But we Norwegians really love Queen and also Freddie Mercury.
mel Belle
Truly the perfect collaboration.
Annalisa Bauco
Great voice Paul 😃🤘
Beleen_RMCF
THE VOICE nothing else to say ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍
Rick London
The Man Paul Rodgers!
mel Belle
All this talent... such a gift.