C-lebrity

Last updated
"C-lebrity"
C-lebrity single cover.jpg
Single by Queen + Paul Rodgers
from the album The Cosmos Rocks
B-side "Fire and Water" (Live in Japan)
Released8 September 2008
Recorded2007
Genre Hard rock
Length3:38
Label EMI, Parlophone
Songwriter(s) Roger Taylor
Producer(s) Queen + Paul Rodgers
Joshua J Macrae
Justin Shirley Smith
Kris Fredriksson
Queen + Paul Rodgers singles chronology
"Say It's Not True"
(2007)
"C-lebrity"
(2008)

"C-lebrity" is a song by Queen + Paul Rodgers, released as the second single from the album The Cosmos Rocks . The song reached No. 1 on the UK Rock Singles Chart.

Contents

Overview

The song was released on September 8, 2008 [1] and was available on CD, 7" vinyl and digital downloadable formats. [1]

On August 4, 2008 the track was premiered for the first time on Ken Bruce's radio show on BBC Radio 2.

It received its live debut on the series finale of ITV's Al Murray's Happy Hour .

Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters sang backing vocals. [1] Brian May plays bass guitar on the track. [2]

The song was released as downloadable content as part of a Queen Track Pack for Guitar Hero: World Tour on March 26, 2009.

Composition

The song tells the story from the point of view of an aspiring celebrity, who does not let their apparent lack of talent hold them back.

The song's main riff bears a strong resemblance to that of the 1990 Judas Priest song "A Touch of Evil".

Queen + Paul Rodgers on the single

C-lebrity was born of a great lyrical idea from Roger—a theme very relevant right now—the current obsession with fame, the cult of Celebrity. I threw in some riffs to hang it on, and some arrangement ideas, and Paul tore in and tore it up! It was Paul’s idea to present things from the point of the view of the aspiring Talent Show contestant, in a positive way. We chose this track as a first taster from the album, performing it live on Al Murray’s TV show. It got a great reaction, so we went back in, roughed up the studio version a bit… and there it is. I think it gives a fair idea of the kind of energy on the album—our first studio creation together. I think we sound like a group ! These things have to happen organically.

Brian May

C-lebrity is really a comment on the current concept of fame, success, and all that goes with it. Getting your face on TV is enough—talent doesn’t really enter into the equation. "Celebrity" is an overused and devalued word today.

Roger Taylor

I see the song as Roger's take on the increasing emphasis on fame for its own sake. It’s quite ironic that Andy Warhol's statement that everyone will have fifteen minutes of fame is becoming something of a reality, although it may be down to fifteen seconds in today’s world of instant communication. [1]

Paul Rodgers

Track listing

All songs written by Queen + Paul Rodgers except where noted

7"
  1. "C-lebrity" – 3:38
  2. "Fire and Water (Live in Japan)" (Rodgers, Andy Fraser) – 3:46
CD
  1. "C-lebrity" – 3:38
  2. "C-lebrity" (Video)
Maxi CD
  1. "C-lebrity" – 3:38
  2. "Say It's Not True" – 4:01
  3. "Tie Your Mother Down (Live in Sheffield)" (Brian May) – 4:30
  4. "C-lebrity" (Video)
  5. "Say It's Not True" (Video)

Chart positions

Chart (2008)Position
France (SNEP) [3] 96
Germany (Official German Charts) [4] 67
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [5] 50
Scotland (OCC) [6] 4
UK Rock & Metal (OCC) [7] 1
UK Singles (OCC) [8] 33

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under Pressure</span> 1981 single by Queen and David Bowie

"Under Pressure" is a song by the British rock band Queen and singer David Bowie. Originally released as a single in October 1981, it was later included on Queen's 1982 album Hot Space. The song reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Queen's second number-one hit in their home country and Bowie's third, and also charted in the top 10 in more than 10 countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Company</span> British rock band

Bad Company are an English rock supergroup that was formed in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, also managed Bad Company until 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Rodgers</span> English musician (born 1949)

Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He was the lead vocalist of numerous rock bands, including Free, Bad Company, the Firm and the Law. He has also performed as a solo artist, and collaborated with the remaining active members of Queen under the moniker Queen + Paul Rodgers. A poll in Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 55 on its list of the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time". In 2011 Rodgers received the British Academy's Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

<i>Innuendo</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Queen

Innuendo is the fourteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 4 February 1991 by Parlophone in the United Kingdom and it is the band's first studio album to be released by Hollywood Records in the United States. Produced by David Richards and the band, it was the band's last album to be released in lead singer Freddie Mercury's lifetime, and their most recent one to be composed of entirely new material, save for The Cosmos Rocks by the Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration. It reached the No. 1 spot on the UK album charts for two weeks, and also peaked at No. 1 in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, staying at No. 1 for three weeks, four weeks, six weeks, and eight weeks, respectively. It was the first Queen album to go Gold in the US upon its release since The Works in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tie Your Mother Down</span> Song written and composed by Brian May

"Tie Your Mother Down" is a song by the British rock band Queen, written by lead guitarist Brian May. It is the opening track and the second single from their 1976 album A Day at the Races. On its original release as a single in 1977 the song peaked at 31 in the UK Singles Chart. More than 20 years later, it was released as a double a-side to "No-One but You " where it reached 13 in UK Singles Chart. On the album the song is preceded by a one-minute instrumental intro featuring a Shepard tone melody, performed by Brian May, which is reprised in the ending of "Teo Torriatte": this was intended to create a "circle" within the album.

<i>The Miracle</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Queen

The Miracle is the thirteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 22 May 1989 by Parlophone Records and Capitol Records in both the United Kingdom and the U.S. respectively, where it was the band's only studio album to be released on latter label. The album was recorded as the band recovered from Brian May's marital problems and Freddie Mercury's HIV diagnosis in 1987. Recording started in January 1988 and lasted for an entire year. The album was originally going to be called The Invisible Men, but three weeks before the release, according to Roger Taylor, they changed the name to The Miracle. It was also the last Queen album with a photo of the band on the front cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">These Are the Days of Our Lives</span> 1991 single by Queen

"These Are the Days of Our Lives" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Although credited to the whole band, it was largely written by their drummer Roger Taylor, and is the eighth track on the band's 1991 album Innuendo.

"Love of My Life" is a song by the British rock band Queen from their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. The song is a sentimental ballad, notably featuring a harp played by Brian May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen + Paul Rodgers</span> British band (2004–2009)

Queen + Paul Rodgers was a collaboration between Queen and Paul Rodgers, formerly of Bad Company, Free, The Firm and The Law. Guitarist May had previously performed with Rodgers on several occasions, including a performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celebrity Skin (song)</span> 1998 single by Hole

"Celebrity Skin" is a single by American alternative rock band Hole, released by Geffen Records on August 31, 1998. It is the first single released from their third studio album of the same name and is their most commercially successful single, being the only one to reach the top place on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. In October 2011, NME ranked it the 126th best track of the past 15 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammer to Fall</span> 1984 single by Queen

"Hammer to Fall" is a 1984 song by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, the song is the eighth track on their 1984 album The Works. It was the fourth and final single to be released from that album, although the single version was edited down by thirty seconds from the version on the album. Different sleeves were used to package this single and the live picture sleeve is now a collector's item. The song harks back to the old roots of the band, being built around a hard angular and muscular riff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want It All (Queen song)</span> 1989 rock single by Queen

"I Want It All" is a song by British rock band Queen, featured on their 1989 studio album, The Miracle. Written by guitarist and vocalist Brian May and produced by David Richards, it was released as the first single from the album on 2 May 1989. "I Want It All" reached number three on the singles charts of the United Kingdom, Finland, Ireland and New Zealand, as well as on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Elsewhere, it peaked at number two in the Netherlands and charted within the top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Norway and Switzerland. With its message about fighting for one's own goals it became an anti-apartheid protest song in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Now I'm Here</span> 1974 song by Queen

"Now I'm Here" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by lead guitarist Brian May, it was the sixth song on their third album, Sheer Heart Attack (1974). The song is noted for its hard riff and vocal harmonies. In the UK, the song reached #11 on the charts when released as a single in 1975. The song was a live favourite, performed at virtually every concert from late 1974 to 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Miracle (song)</span> 1989 single by Queen

"The Miracle" is the fifth and final single from Queen's 1989 studio album of the same name. It was composed by the entire band, though Freddie Mercury and John Deacon were the main writers. It was released as a single on 27 November 1989 and it was the band's final single release of the 1980s.

<i>The Works</i> (Queen album) 1984 studio album by Queen

The Works is the eleventh studio album by the British rock band Queen. It was released on 27 February 1984 by EMI Records just shortly after recording for the album had been completed in the United Kingdom and it is the band's first studio album to be released by Capitol Records in the United States. After the synth-heavy Hot Space (1982), the album saw the re-emergence of Brian May and Roger Taylor's rock sound, while still incorporating the early 80s retro futuristic electronic music and New York funk scenes. Recorded at the Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, California, and Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany, from August 1983 to January 1984, the album's title comes from a comment Taylor made as recording began – "Let's give them the works!".

<i>Super Live in Japan</i> 2006 video by Queen Paul Rodgers

Super Live in Japan is a DVD by Queen + Paul Rodgers, capturing the performances in Saitama Super Arena in Japan on 27 October 2005 from their world tour, featuring songs from both Queen and Rodgers' catalogues. 15 of these songs became available on DVD to the rest of the world as a Bonus DVD for the Queen + Paul Rodgers studio album The Cosmos Rocks (2008). The songs are marked as such: *. "Fire and Water" was released on the digital single for "C-lebrity", and "Fire and Water" and "The Show Must Go On" will be available to download on the "C-lebrity" iTunes exclusive single.

The Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour was the first world concert tour by Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, joined by singer Paul Rodgers under the moniker of Queen + Paul Rodgers. The tour was Queen's first since The Magic Tour in 1986, and the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury in November 1991. The band's drummer Roger Taylor commented; "We never thought we would tour again, Paul (Rodgers) came along by chance and we seemed to have a chemistry. Paul is just such a great singer. He's not trying to be Freddie." Bassist John Deacon also did not take part due to his retirement in 1997.

<i>The Cosmos Rocks</i> 2008 studio album by Queen Paul Rodgers

The Cosmos Rocks is the only studio album by Queen + Paul Rodgers, released on 15 September 2008. It contains 14 new tracks written by Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Paul Rodgers. This is the first studio album of new material from the two remaining members of Queen since 1995's Made in Heaven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say It's Not True</span> 2007 single by Queen Paul Rodgers

"Say It's Not True" is a song by Queen + Paul Rodgers, released on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2007 as the lead single from the supergroup's sole album, The Cosmos Rocks. The song was written by drummer Roger Taylor and features all three members on vocals. It was available as a free download from QueenOnline.com. The song was performed live on the Queen + Paul Rodgers 2005/06 world tour, however the live rendition was acoustic and only featured Taylor on vocals. When played on the Rock the Cosmos Tour, the song was sung by Taylor, May and Rodgers as on the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radio Ga Ga</span> 1984 single by Queen

"Radio Ga Ga" is a 1984 song performed and recorded by the British rock band Queen, written by their drummer Roger Taylor. It was released as a single with "I Go Crazy" by Brian May as the B-side. It was included on the album The Works and is also featured on the band's compilation albums Greatest Hits II and Classic Queen.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Absolute Greatest Tracklist Revealed!". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  2. Brian May (5 August 2008). "C-lebrity: Bass guitar question" Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine . brianmay.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-10
  3. "Queen %2B Paul Rodgers – C-lebrity" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  4. "Queen + Paul Rodgers – C-lebrity" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  5. "Queen %2B Paul Rodgers – C-lebrity" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  6. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  7. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  8. "Queen & Paul Rodgers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2020.