Adam Lambert Returns To Audition On American Idol With A Lovely Rendition Of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

May 15, 2020

Back in 2009 singer, Adam Lambert auditioned for American Idol. In 2015 returned as a guest judge on the show and was asked to relive his very first audition by singing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Once upon a time, no one knew who Adam Lambert was. This was before the nervous young performer decided to audition in front of Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. Despite this being his first public appearance, the performer made a daring song choice by selecting Bohemian Rhapsody. The infamous Queen track is notoriously difficult to cover, and few vocalists can recapture the range of Freddie Mercury. The challenge was only exacerbated by the fact he had to do it a cappella. Lambert somehow overcame his shakiness and nailed the rendition beautifully.

The impromptu performance even caught the attention of Queen’s two surviving members, Brian May and Roger Taylor, according to Rolling Stone. As you are probably aware, Lambert has been the group’s frontman for most of the last decade after joining them in 2011. Even right now, they are on the road with their aptly titled “Rhapsody Tour,” which is featuring gigs all over Europe, according to the band's website.

Although Lambert has been dedicating most of his time to helming this legendary classic rock band, he still has set aside plenty of time for some extracurricular activities. He was nominated for a Grammy Award based on the strength of Whataya Want from Me, and he even earned the distinction of being the first openly gay performer to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, according to AllMusic.

Ultimately, Lambert’s most entertaining side project was probably his return to American Idol as a guest judge in 2015, according to Idolator. At the time, he was substituting for Keith Urban while the country performer dealt with the loss of his father-in-law. Before Lambert graced the panel, no former contestant had ever earned the privilege of coming back as a judge. He was sitting beside Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. when the latter complained that he wasn’t able to appraise Lambert’s original audition. After playing off the remarks for laughs, Lambert realized that his fellow judge wasn’t joking. In response, he stood up and delivered a full-blown reprisal. Before singing, he even repeated the words that he uttered way back in the day: “I ain’t skeered.”

As you can see, Lambert has always possessed the true spirit of a showman. It’s amazing to think that this young man was just trying to advance past the first round of a televised singing competition. Today, he is the frontman of the band that composed the tune that got him through the door. This marks an unprecedented ascent towards superstardom, but no one is more worthy of such success than Lambert.

What did you think of Adam's Bohemian Rhapsody cover? Was it as good as his first audition? Let us know, and if you’re impressed with his story like the rest of us, then show this fun clip to everyone you know!