Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Adam Lambert: American Idol star says he's edgy in a vanilla sort of way

Before his first album even hit the shelves, American Idol alumnus Adam Lambert made headlines across North America for his sexy performance at the American Music Awards (AMA) Nov 22.

“I’m a sexual person, that’s who I am,” Lambert says. “I’m just trying to be honest about who I am as a human being.”
'I AM A SEXUAL PERSON.' 'You come off Idol and there's this expectation that you're going to be mass appeal, mass marketed, family friendly, granola, easy listening, easily digestible thing. That's definitely not me as an artist,' says Adam Lambert.
(Warwick Saint)

His AMA performance was hot, drenched in SM imagery and oozing with raw sexuality. Among the highlights, Lambert led one of his backup dancers around stage on a leash, seemingly ground the face of another into his crotch and kissed the crap out of his straight male keyboard player on live network television.

The director cut to a wide shot of the kiss and the network snipped the simulated oral sex scene out of its east coast rebroadcast altogether. The next morning, ABC cancelled Lambert’s scheduled appearance on Good Morning America.

Though CBS’s The Early Show promptly stepped in and booked him, they too censored Lambert, blurring his man-on-man kiss even as they re-ran Madonna’s staged lipsmack with Britney Spears from the 2003 MTV video music awards.

“The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times, including many times on morning television,” a CBS spokesperson told the LA Times. “The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated and, for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences.”

“That’s weak,” says Lambert. “Someone didn’t give it some real thought when they did it.”

Still, he says, it’s only one performance.

“Definitely what I don’t want is people assuming that’s how I intend to do every performance or that’s how I plan to conduct my career as an artist,” he told Xtra West’s sister magazine fab a few days after the AMAs.

“If anything can be learned from my presence on American Idol, it’s that I like to keep people guessing,” he says. “That’s how I performed on the show.

“And on my album, track to track, it’s very diverse. It’s kind of an eclectic mix of music. That song [“For Your Entertainment”] is the one song that is very seductive, kind of dark and sexual. There are other songs on there that explore other themes.”

Though Lambert told fab he isn’t planning to put people “in bondage fashion” for other songs or performances, he said he has no intention of apologizing for his AMA performance, either.

“I’m not going to apologize, I promise. I don’t think what I’ve done is wrong. I want to be myself and I feel like that was what I was doing on stage the other night.”

That was last month.

In the ensuing weeks, Lambert did Ellen and the ABC talk circuit, essentially apologizing to anyone who wanted a pound of his flesh.

He massaged the politics of public opinion in the interest of preserving his relationship with ABC and its parent, the Disney Company, one of the largest entertainment corporations in the world.

Lambert was clearly the victim of a series of double standards following his AMA appearance — a performance that was quite tame by straight pop standards.

“It was campy, it was ridiculous, it was over the top, and it was me playing the role and experimenting with the ideas of dominance as a performer. But [leather and SM] is definitely not something I explore in my personal life,” Lambert insists when asked about his own sexuality.

“I’m actually kind of vanilla, I really am,” he says. “I like real connections with real people and intimacy.”

Still, the decision to release “For Your Entertainment” as the lead single off his debut album was a deliberate one.

“I just wanted to do something unexpected and different and break out from the expectation a little,” he told fab. “You come off Idol and there’s this expectation that you’re going to be [this] mass appeal, mass marketed, family friendly, granola, easy listening, easily digestible thing. And that’s definitely not me as an artist.

“That was one of the [reasons] that I gravitated towards ‘For Your Entertainment’ — it’s different, it’s edgy. You know, I am a sexual person. I am avant-garde and I like edgier things and I like experimenting with that imagery and I really was looking forward to that opportunity.”

Lambert says he’s surprised at how shocked everyone seems to be by his AMA performance — especially given his penchant for nudging the envelope on Idol.

“I mean, I kind of went for shock value on Idol. Did you guys not see me with rhinestones around my eyes and platform glitter boots on the finale? I kind of thought I had stepped it up and bought myself that leeway.”

It’s been a while since a very visible male performer has publicly experimented with androgyny, Lambert notes. “It’s just not current anymore. I’m trying to make it current again. I’ve always been attracted to that. That’s my thing.”

He says his management and his record label have both been supportive.

“I don’t deal well with oppression,” he says. “I like to get things out in the open and be honest — and me. I want to be myself. I feel like that’s what I was doing the other night.”

Source Matt Thomas, dailyxtra.com

Monday, December 28, 2009

Toronto Star's 10 most important works of the decade: No. 4, American Idol

We asked our critics and our readers to vote for the 10 most important works of the decade. We count down to No. 1 as we approach Dec. 31.

I asked Kris Allen, the 2009 American Idol, why people like the show so much.

"I think the beauty about American Idol is that it takes people that they can relate to, that maybe acts like a friend of theirs, or has the same job or something like that, and makes them into rock stars or country stars or pop stars," said the 24-year-old from Conway, Ark.

The man's bang on. The rags-to-riches story, after all, is a persistent cultural cliché. But instead of commoners rising to royalty, we have a farm girl from Oklahoma becoming a country mega-star (Carrie Underwood), or the girl from a small Texas town who used to sing in bars and now sells millions of pop records (Kelly Clarkson), or the Arkansas church music director who got to play on the same New York stage The Beatles once rocked (Allen).

You don't even have to win the reality singing competition to become famous: think Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, rocker Chris Daughtry, Broadway lead Constantine Maroulis or glam pop-rock sensation Adam Lambert.

Idol contestants come in all shapes, sizes, races, sexual orientations, ages (from 16 to 30), abilities (contestant Scott MacIntyre was blind); they're from small towns and big cities; they're a little bit country or a little bit rock 'n' roll, and everything in between.

Of course, the same could be said of plenty of U.S. reality shows that don't pull anywhere near Idol's viewership.

Its ratings are down, as are most network TV shows', but Idol still beats the competition every Tuesday and Wednesday that it airs. Just under 29 million watched Allen win over Lambert on the May finale.

But Idol's not just about numbers. It has become part of the zeitgeist since it debuted in June 2002 as a spinoff of the British show Pop Idol.

Idol's genius, in an era in which we simultaneously adulate and denigrate our celebrities, lies in combining the mythology of the American dream with a healthy dose of schadenfreude.

It starts with the audition shows, when just enough delusional, tone-deaf applicants are mixed in with the true talents to give the viewers something to laugh at.

As some are knocked down, others get built up.

By the time contestants have made it through the pressure cooker of Hollywood Week, when a couple of hundred wannabes are cut to 36 semi-finalists or less, viewers are finding their favourites: the people they'll cheer on and vote for.

And therein lies one of Idol's main attractions: viewers' ability not only to watch stars being born but to take an active part in the transition.

Throw renditions of hit songs into the mix, and the interplay between contestants, judges and host Ryan Seacrest, and you've got a hit.

Challenges lie ahead, however. The show has already lost popular judge Paula Abdul although replacement Ellen DeGeneres should maintain viewers' interest.

But will it survive the reputed departure of the most popular judge, bitingly honest Brit Simon Cowell?

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Adam Lambert talks about coming out, a possible tour, the AMAs and more

Lambert on his expectations going into American Idol
"I honestly didn't feel like I would get that far on the show. I thought, I'm not as conventional as American Idol usually likes. I just didn't expect the judges and the audience to be as supportive as they were. Week after week, when I got through, I said, 'Wow, this is, like, working out!' I didn't think I'd get to the end."

On coming out
''I'm very comfortable with my sexuality, and very, very open about it, and have always been out, since I was out of high school. Then, when those pictures came out right before [the] Idol [top 36] started, and I was faced with the media asking me about them, I was like, What am I going to do, deny that they're me? But what I didn't want was to put a label on myself, because I think there may have been people in our country who might not have looked past that."
"I think by not putting a label on myself, maybe it was helpful in letting people see past all that, past putting me in a box based on my sexuality. And then after the show ended, and after the competition was over, and I had made my mark, so to speak, I felt like then it was appropriate to talk about my personal life."

On the fallout from the American Music Awards
"The thing I was disappointed about is that it did start to take the focus away from the music. Hindsight is 20/20. Hindsight is our best teacher, in my opinion. I was in the moment, I was just expressing a song, I was just having a good time. Then I heard the backlash, and I realized, okay, all right, I pushed a little too hard this time around. Maybe it wasn't the right second first impression. I can stand by that. But I don't really feel like I have to make an apology, because I don't feel like there was any wrong done. Maybe it's not just the most broadly appealing performance style. Let's put it that way."

On an upcoming tour
"I think it's probably going to be springtime. I've started talking to management about putting something together. I think it's not going to be a standard arena tour. I think we're going to do something a little different. My big goal is I want to create a show. I want to do something that's very visually dynamic, and is a little more interactive feeling than your typical arena tour. So we're looking at venues that are probably going to be a little smaller and a little more intimate."

What he wears when he's hanging out at home
"A full sequined jumpsuit! [Laughs] Obviously, there are all these photo shoots and appearances where I get all done up. I love dressing up, putting on eye makeup and over-the-top clothing. But when no one's looking, when I'm just kicking it with friends or family or by myself, I'm, like, [in] sweatpants, t-shirt, no eye makeup — except maybe what was on the night before."

On his favorite entertainers of the year
"Yeah, probably Lady Gaga. She just inspires me with her creativity and her out-of-the-box thinking. She's not afraid to take risks and to be different. She dances. She's visually interesting; she's got costumes. And she's a great musician."

On his favorite TV show of the year
"I haven't been up on my media all that much. I watched True Blood, that's probably my favorite show. I just love the tone of it. I really like what they're saying. In many ways, they're talking about our current civil rights issues, but under the guise of they're vampires. It's really sexy. The actors are fantastic. The storylines are captivating. I just love that show."

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Adam Lambert to Reunite With Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen in NYC

Adam Lambert will be hitting New York City's stage with his fellow "American Idol" alum, Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen. The revelation was made as Ryan Seacrest's "Ryan, Rock My Town" contest unveiled the Big Apple as the city with the most demand for the reunion concert.

NYC came up first, beating Allen's hometown Little Rock. The city that never sleeps took the lead of the online voting in mid-November with over 7,000 demands. The details on when and where the concert will be held are yet to be disclosed, but are promised to be announced soon by Ryan Seacrest.

This free gig will be the first reunion concert for Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta and post 2009 Idol Summer Tour, which was wrapped on September 15 at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH. All three singers have all come out with their own debut album. Adam released "For Your Entertainment" on November 23, Allison debuted "Just Like You" on December 1, and Kris put out "Kris Allen" on November 17.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Adam Lambert Learned to Make Out from Older Girlfriend

Adam Lambert sparked quite the controversy when he kissed a man on stage at the American Music Awards last month, but it turns out that the American Idol runner up actually learned how to kiss from a girl.

Friday Night at Z100’s Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden Adam Lambert told all about how he wasn’t always into boys.

“When I was 14 yes, I had a girlfriend. She was 18 and her name was BJ and she was from Compton. Can you imagine this little red head kid and a big black girl? She taught me how to make out.”

But the American Idol runner-up also had some words of wisdom for his fans. “Everyone should get out of the mirror. That’s not what matters. We are programmed in society to be so hard on ourselves and our appearance.”

Still, that doesn’t mean that he is immune to being a victim of his own appearance. Backstage, he refused Wonka candy and opted for Five mint gum instead. “I’m on such a diet now.” “I want to stay in great shape so no candy for me.”

And despite a tough year, Adam's resigned himself to keeping to his 2010 New Year’s resolution, which will no doubt help him weather the storm of his AMA controversy. “I want to continue to stay positive and make my music,” he said.

Adam Lambert: MTV #3 Man of the Year, Rolling Stone Reader's Poll Top Artist, and one of Us Weekly's Stars of the Year!!!

When season eight of "American Idol" premiered January 13, no one knew who Adam Lambert was or what he'd become. Sure, his first audition — he took on Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" — raised a few eyebrows, but in the early stages of the show, Lambert was outshined by the likes of Normund Gentle and that chick who wore a bikini.

That all changed with a vamping take on Michael jackson's "Black or White," a decidedly demure version of the Smokey Robinson-penned "Tracks of My Tears" and, of course, his now-legendary cover of tears for Fears' "Mad World." Suddenly, improbably, Lambert — the theater kid with the 100-octave voice and the penchant for dangly jewelry — became the "Idol" front-runner.

Of course, we all know how that turned out. Despite his defeat at the hands of Kris Allen in the season-eight finale, Lambert was unquestionably the biggest "Idol" star of the year, if not of all time. He graced magazine covers, pundits speculated about his sexuality — he was everywhere you looked. Post-"Idol," well, he just kept rising.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

American Idol Adam Lambert confirms plans for New Year's Eve

Adam Lambert no longer has to worry about his plans for New Year's Eve. After being dropped from "New Year's Rockin' Eve" by ABC thanks to his controversial American Music Awards performance, the "American Idol" runner-up now reportedly has a presence at the GRIDLOCK New Year's Eve event benefiting The Red Cross. The move has been expected for weeks now, but is officially confirmed on Tuesday through a press release.

The event, according to the press release, will take place at Paramount Pictures Studio and will feature Adam performing some of his songs at the stroke of midnight. As for what songs he will sing, that is of course to be decided.

While the GRIDLOCK event may be a step down from national television, it is still proof that the singer has no problem booking appearances. He can be seen next on Wednesday's finale of "So You Think You Can Dance" and will then appear on "The Jay Leno Show" next week.


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Adam Lambert to appear, sing on ABC's 'The View'

ABC says glam-rocker Adam Lambert will appear and perform on its daytime talk show "The View" on Thursday.

The announcement comes almost two weeks after Lambert's racy performance on ABC's broadcast of "The American Music Awards." That led to Lambert getting axed from an appearance on the network's "Good Morning America."

Since then, Lambert, who is openly gay, complained of being dropped from two other upcoming ABC shows.

In the meantime, he has been scheduled for NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" on Dec. 21.

And his taped appearance on "The View" will air a day after he is honored by "View" co-panelist Barbara Walters on her "10 Most Fascinating People of 2009" special. That also airs on ABC.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Adam Lambert's debut #3 in album sales

Susan Boyle #1 in album sales, Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album is #2, Adam Lambert's debut #3 Susan Boyle, the Britain’s Got Talent phenom sold a stunning 701,000 copies of "I Dreamed a Dream" in the week of Thanksgiving. Not only does that give her the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 albums chart, but it’s the biggest one-week sales number of 2009, nearly a hundred thousand higher than what Eminem’s "Relapse" did back in May.

Andrea Bocelli hung on to his No. 2 spot from last week, selling 218,000 copies of "My Christmas". This is My Christmas‘ fourth week on the chart with the album’s sales actually increasing over time.

No. 3 went to Adam Lambert’s "For Your Entertainment", with 198,000 copies sold. That’s a decent number for an American Idol alum in 2009.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Adam Lambert's album "For Your Entertainment" debuts at #3

With his out-of-this-world vocal range and unique musical style, Adam Lambert's album "For Your Entertainment" debuts at #3 on the Billboard Charts with 198,469 albums sold.

People Magazine proclaimed that "The season 8 runner-up wins the battle that really counts with a confident, I-know-who-I-am display of glam pop-rock." Rolling Stone called For Your Entertainment, "Supercatchy glam rock with an electro-pop edge" and Spin Magazine said "...Lambert's polymorphous vocal skills unite dancefloor strut and hard-rock pomp in a convincing glam package."

Millions of fans watched Lambert's stunning performances on the eighth season of "American Idol" and have since been tuning in to see his spectacular televised performances.

Moving into the holiday season, Adam will be performing "Whataya Want From Me" co-written by P!nk, along with Sweden's Max Martin and Johan Shellback,on upcoming television programs such as The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien and The Jay Leno Show. Additionally, Adam will be interviewed on Barbara Walter's 10 Most Fascinating People.