Queen Releases new version of 'We are the Champions' and it is music to our ears!

Queen and Adam Lambert had to postpone their record-setting Rhapsody tour to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they haven’t let that stop them from uniting virtually to aid the relief effort. The band has created a new version of “We Are The Champions” entitled “You are The Champions,” along with a music video, to benefit the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

Early thoughts revolved around changing the opening lyric to “you’ve paid your dues” to honour everyone working during the pandemic, but they felt unsure about changing something so iconic and beloved. It wasn’t until Lambert laid down his vocals that he decided to tweak the chorus at the end to “you are the champions.”

“We told him to experiment and maybe do a few different versions,” says May. “He came up with changing those words in the last chorus and I think it was a very good solution, just perfect. It takes a different turn at the end.”

The new video for “You Are The Champions” drives the point home even further by showing empty cityscapes across the globe and frontline workers braving the disease to help those in need. Dr. Rory Taylor, Roger Taylor’s daughter, has been treating COVID-19 patients this past couple of months, but she took the time to hold up cards reading “Stay Safe All. You Are The Champions” in the video.

“I find the whole thing very emotionally effecting, I must say, even though we’ve built this thing,” says May. “I still look at it and get a lump in my throat.”