Adam Lambert's 'Early Show' Performance Silences Haters
I am so often ensconced in my little American Idol bubble that I often forget that many people (gasp!!) do not watch Idol. Some poor deprived people have sadly gone through their entire lives without enjoying a single episode. Tragic. Anyway, those people never heard or saw Adam Lambert perform until the American Music Awards on Sunday night. That was their first impression of him, and for many it was not a good one.
While I will probably get flak for saying this, as a longtime Adam supporter I hold him to a high standard (I believe he really set the bar for Idol) and I must admit his AMAs performance was not a proper introduction to the uninitiated. The stage set was too busy, with too much distracting stuff going on; the sound was a mess (for many AMA performers, not just Adam) so that his vocals were not as flawless as usual (Adam himself admitted this) and the song, "For Your Entertainment," sounded muddy and confused; and while the "controversial" stunts he pulled certainly got people talking, unfortunately people were not talking about his actual talent.
So I admit I was a little worried when Adam performed on CBS's The Early Show this morning (after skittish producers at ABC's Good Morning America cancelled his appearance due to AMAs fallout). It's not that I personally doubted him, as I already well knew what he was capable of. But I felt this was a make-or-break performance for him, a chance for him to prove to all uninitiated naysayers--those who never saw him sing "Ring Of Fire" or "Whole Lotta Love" on Idol, and who didn't enjoy his AMAs performance on Sunday--that he can deliver like a real star and live up to his hype. It's amazing that Adam would ever be in a position of having to prove such a thing, but like I said, not everyone watches American Idol.
Therefore I am thrilled to report that Adam completely excelled on The Early Show. This was the Adam Lambert that inspired Simon Cowell to get out of his chair for a standing ovation, that made Brian May of Queen offer him a job, that prompted artists like Lady Gaga and Muse to give him songs for his debut album. Adam's performance of his second single, the chilling Max Martin/Pink pop ballad "Whataya Want From Me," was impeccable, and the vulnerable lyrics ("Just don't give up/I'm workin' it out/Please don't give in/I won't let you down/It messed me up/Need a second to breathe/Just keep coming around") actually took on poignant new meaning in light of recent events:
And then he gave his first televised performance of my personal favorite song on his debut album, "Music Again" (penned by rock god Justin Hawkins of the Darkness), and it was full of joy and exuberance and cowbells. The loaded smile that had been so oddly missing from Adam's almost angry AMAs performance was back, he seemed like he was having a lot of fun, and the celebratory lyrics ("I'm inspired again," "You make me wanna listen to music again") also rang true in that happy moment:
So take that, haters.
That is outrageous to me.
Seriously, this guy can do no wrong by you. Even with your AMA coverage, you were nothing but behind him in everything. And all of that is fine, but by you (who drolls at anything Glambert) saying his Early Show was a success means nothing after 10 months of you praising his every note. I could not read any article making these types of statements when you don't stand on unbias terms.
Sorry, Lyndsey, but most of the time you are articulate and well-spoken; but every article about Glambert's "silencing haters" or you trying to speak for the public perspective has no weight.
this:
"t's amazing that Adam would ever be in a position of having to prove such a thing" REALLY.
I understand your concern over the AMA show because it was technically kind of a mess and I did worry about people's opinions of him -those who don't know he's an amazing and fun and lovable and vulnerable singer- because the performance was off- the singing was off and the staging looked underrehearsed and awkward.
BUT - today he hopefully has made some new fans: The Early Show viewers, Letterman viewers; and re-rounded up his old fans who became doubters (UNFAITHFUL -pah I spit on you!) fans with his excellence.
Talent tells, Music wins, I'll just wait, see him rise as a star :) Oh btw, I love his album :) really great :)
love you Lyndsey!
For example, Lady Gaga may sell a lot of records but she will never be mainstream. She die before let that happen. It's like some people want Lambert to be a young, male, gay version of Susan Boyle. Prince & Madonna were once not considered respectable, caused boycotts because they simulated intercourse on stage.
Embrace the scandal, it's the best thing that could happen to his career after such a bad, vocal performance at the AMAs. Do you really want him to be performing on early morning (snooze!) talk shows or on shows like SNL or Letterman? He obviously wants to push the limits so stop expecting all of America to adore him. If they did, it would mean he was producing commercial, middle-of-the-road, schlock and I expect that is not what you want.
I don't think the people who don't like Adam are going to change their mind over one performance. If they are sane, they wouldn't even watch it considering how much they claim to hate him, but they're not the type of audience that Adam would want anyway.
Adam's on Letterman tonight.
You're welcome.