Adam Lambert talks about his New Album “For Your Entertainment,” Working with Lady Gaga, and His Appeal to Women

Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood might want to watch their backs. Adam Lambert, the Season 8 “American Idol” runner-up, is poised to become one of the reality show’s biggest break-out stars. The glamtastic rocker released “Time for Miracles,” the closing credits song for this Friday’s disaster porn epic “2012.” And his first solo album, “For Your Entertainment,” drops Nov. 23, one day after he’s scheduled to perform at the American Music Awards. Lambert talked to Speakeasy about his music, his fans and why he’s so appealing to women.

The Wall Street Journal: On your Twitter feed, you said Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” video “melted my brain.”

Adam Lambert: Oh my god, I love it. It’s so out there. She’s so brave in her artistic freedom; she’s an inspiration.

WSJ: She actually contributed a song — “Fever” — to your new album.

AL: Yeah, I really wanted to work with her; she’s just one of my favorites right now. She had an old demo — I think she said she got signed with that demo to her first label deal — and then she never produced it and got it done. I think that it’s a really catchy melody; the lyrics are really fun and silly. Overall, I really enjoyed the process of recording with her. She was on the other side of that glass, just egging me on. She was constantly like, ‘Go crazier! Go higher! Go louder!”

WSJ: If and when you make a music video for “Fever,” would she cameo?

AL: I’d love it. Of course I’d ask her. We’ll see if she’d actually want to do it. She has a lot on her plate right now.

WSJ: You seem so at ease with fame. What do you attribute that to?

AL: I think it helps that that I’ve lived in L.A. for the last eight years and I’m a little older. I’m 27, seen a lot of s—, met a lot of people. I’ve certainly been on the sidelines of paparazzi barrages, like, I’ve been out at a club with various reality show acquaintances and they get that kind of attention. So I’ve been near it, which helps me not to be thrown off by it. My M.O. is just do what you do and don’t feel like you have to make apologies for it. I’m sure there will come a point when I have to apologize for something, but not yet.

WSJ: A lot of big stars go out of their way to hide the fact that they’re gay, but you’re happily out and women still throw thongs at you — what do you think you’re doing differently?

AL: I think it’s a testament to just owning yourself, owning your stuff, and just being comfortable in your skin. It took me some time to get to that point and the timing of “Idol” was appropriate because [that's] when I realized, you know what? I love myself and I am a good person.

WSJ: What do you think your appeal to women is?

AL: I’m not sure — to be honest, that’s one of the more surprising elements about this whole thing. I’m like, really? I honestly don’t know — maybe it’s because, whatever the sexuality thing, I’m a friendly person, and maybe there’s a safety thing involved, in that I’m not threatening.

WSJ: How much say did you have in creating your album cover?

AL: That was pretty much my call. When we got to the point of doing the photo shoot, I just wanted to go super androgynous glam, kind of campy and outlandish. I love imagery like that — that’s why I love the Lady Gaga video. It’s just funny, because the second a guy starts doing things out of the box, people get all freaked out. But women do it all the time, so it’s an interesting double standard.

WSJ: Bowie seems to have been an obvious inspiration.

AL: Yup, Bowie, Jagger, Boy George, Prince, and Michael Jackson — all those guys who would put make up on and look glamorous. Some of the Michael Jackson covers are amazing, like “Dangerous,” where it’s just his eyes and the entire thing is just super frosted and touched up and perfect. And pictures of Bowie back in the day, like the “Hunky Dory” cover where he’s just pretty and in soft focus. I love that look and think it’s cool that not a lot of guy are doing it, so that’s how I’m going to style myself. It’s part of my persona and has been consistently. That’s why I find it so funny that people were surprised by the cover. I mean, didn’t you see me onstage with KISS and the glitter boots and the rhinestones around my eyes [on "Idol"]?

WSJ: Still, do you ever feel trapped in any way by the glam image?

AL: No, I don’t feel trapped. I’m the one who put on those clothes; it’s my own making. I feel like when I want to, I can change it up like I did on the show. I try not to get trapped in any one musical or visual style at all. I mean, that’s part of what I was really trying to do on “Idol” — change it up week to week, like variety tray. A veggie platter, if you will.

WSJ: Were you upset when tracks of your album were leaked online earlier this month?

AL: To be honest, yeah. I would have rather it not been, but that’s how you sell a CD on the internet. It’s hard, because people jump to conclusions based on 30 seconds, and I don’t know how fair that is. It is what it is.

WSJ: Which song pushed you the furthest vocally?

AL: “Sure Fire Winners” is pretty vocally acrobatic. It’s crazy — but they all kind of go crazy. Artistically, I think the Linda Perry song was a departure for me because it was a little out of my obvious comfort zone — vocally, it sits in this falsetto space, and lyrically, if you really listen to it, it’s complicated. The lyrics contradict themselves, which was done on purpose — Linda and I really talked about it.

There are two different interpretations: one is that it’s about two members of a relationship, and what’s going on in their heads when they’re with each other. One partner is loving every moment and in bliss, while the other person is feeling empty and not satistfied. The other way to look at it is that it’s about one person, going back and forth about a relationship in their head. Like one day, we feel like we love this person to death, the next, what the hell. It’s emotionally complicated, which makes it special.

WSJ: Speaking of “Sure Fire Winners,” it sounds like an homage to “We are the Champions.” Is it?

AL: It wasn’t intentional, and I didn’t write that song. But yeah, that’s totally the vibe. I don’t know if the writers did that on purpose or not. But it is like a “we rock” kind of anthem.

WSJ: How closely do you follow the forums on your site and read what people tweet at you?

AL: I breeze through Twitter — I look at the mentions, the pictures, the videos. But I try not to get too wrapped up in message boards because it’s crazy. When the fans are supportive, that’s super positive. On the flip side, when message boards are filled with negativity, I find it sad that people have nothing better to do than hate on others online. It’s not a good vibe.

WSJ: Have you heard Kris Allen’s album?

AL: I haven’t heard his album, but love his single. I’ll be one of the first to get a copy, I’m sure.

WSJ: Are you going to return to “American Idol” to perform during the new season?

AL: If they want me to perform, I’d love to.

WSJ: Would you have liked to see Ellen DeGeneres as a judge?

AL: No, I wouldn’t change my experience at all. I love Paula and think she’s amazing. She was one of the first believers [in me], if you know what I mean. She really had my back. As for Simon, he really has nothing to do with me at this point. I mean, he’s a judge. He is also a producer, but he’s not the automatic “Idol” producer. He’s producing Leona Lewis, but that’s his project. Going back to the Internet thing, it amused me how people can be so misinformed. When I read certain things, I just want to tell them, you have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s an endless source of entertainment for me.

Adam Lambert Defends His Glittery Image

"People want to talk about whether I have rock cred, whether I'm selling out, the theatricality, the gay stuff. ... Chill out! And just enjoy yourself. It's not that deep. Sometimes it is deep. Some of the songs on the album are. Sometimes it's just, 'This is hot, I feel good, this song makes me want to go get a drink and flirt with somebody and have a good time.' Good energy is just as credible as the cathartic, dark, heavy stuff. It's just as important!"

-"American Idol" runner-up and budding glam icon Adam Lambert, who spoke to The Los Angeles Times about his debut album, his ever-evolving image and the public reaction to his work outside of "Idol." Lambert's first record For Your Entertainment drops in a few weeks, but he has already found himself defending his aesthetic choices — including his embrace of traditionally theatrical tropes. "People look at me and immediately say, 'Oh, he's doing the musical-theater thing,'" he explained. "But if you look at most female pop stars right now, how are they any less theater? Beyoncé is doing 'Single Ladies' with two girls in character shoes and leotards, doing Fosse choreography from 'Sweet Charity' and 'West Side Story.'" The singer credits his eclectic taste with his multi-faceted sound. "I was a Paula Abdul fan, a Michael Jackson fan, a Madonna fan. When Christina Aguilera came out when I was in high school, that was a great example of someone taking the pop-dance feel but who could really sing," he said. "Pop stars have done it; it's just not a lot of guys have done it."

Adam Lambert Preps His Glampire Fangs

Adam Lambert knows a popular trend when he sees one, so it’s no wonder he’s taking the popularity of vampire movies and shows and turning it into a very Glambert-esque Halloween costume! “I think I’m going to be a glampire,” he told reporters at the American Music Awards press conference this morning at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Wait, a what?

“You know, a vampire who glams it up!”

Obviously!

Besides making time for his Halloween planning, Adam’s been busy with his new, still untitled, album. On the new record, Adam says he collaborated with Linda Perry, Craig Wells, Ryan Tedder and more. But there are even more people he wants to work with.

“The thing about this album is because it’s a fast process, we’ve really just had to dive right in and I haven’t been able to spend a lot of time reaching out and experimenting with other artists,” he tells OK! of his desire to work with more people. “Hopefully in the future, though!”

The AMA press conference also reunited Adam with former American Idol judge Paula Abdul, whom he says he’s been keeping in touch with.

“Interesting, today was the first day that we’ve actually been in the same room together, though,” he adds to OK!.

As for her replacement on AI, Adam is definitely a fan of Ellen DeGeneres.

“I think Ellen will be great!” he gushed to OK!. “I think Ellen will provide, like, a perspective that’s slightly different - a non-music industry perspective which is important because the audience aren’t music industry people. The audience is the regular person.”

Paula Abdul, Adam Lambert & Snoop Dogg to announce nominations for the American Music Awards

Adam Lambert will reunite with former American Idol judge Paula Abdul later this month — for an awards show. Recording artists Paula Abdul, Adam Lambert and Snoop Dogg will announce the Nominations for the "2009 American Music Awards" at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Tuesday, October 13. The announcement will be a non telecast press conference.

Nominations for the "2009 American Music Awards" are in eight categories. Awards will be presented in the Pop/Rock, Country, Soul/Rhythm & Blues and Rap/Hip Hop categories as well as the Latin Music, Alternative Music, Contemporary Inspirational and Adult Contemporary categories. A total of 20 awards will be presented.

The "2009 American Music Awards" presentations ceremony, produced by dick clark productions, inc, will originate from L.A. Live's Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, November 22nd and will be telecast live as a three-hour primetime special on the ABC Television Network. Presenters and performers for the show have yet to be announced.

For the first time ever, dick clark productions will stream a pre-show live to ABC.com and USTREAM.

Simon Cowell throws expensive 50th birthday party

The 'American Idol' judged celebrated reaching the landmark age with a £1 million bash at stately home Wrotham Park in Barnet, Hertfordshire yesterday (03.10.09).

The event was a star-studded affair, boasting 400 guests including supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, singers Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue and chef Gordon Ramsay.

Several of Simon's ex-girlfriends were also in attendance, including Terri Seymour, Sinitta and Jackie St Clair.

After being welcomed into the historic building by the image of Simon, guests were treated to a number of other surprises which ensured they didn't forget whose birthday it was.

Waiters in a Moulin Rouge-themed marquee donned masks of Simon's face, while the bread rolls presented with dinner spelled his name.

The meal included 'Simon's Chicken Soup', which boasted pasta shapes also in the music mogul's name.

Inside the palatial building a fake Michelangelo artwork was installed on the ceiling, again featuring Simon's image.

A source said: "It was typical of Simon - cheeky and fun with one surprise after another. Everyone sat on velvet chairs - and were given a choice of main meal of either fish fingers and mushy peas of shepherd's pie."

Special birthday messages from some of Simon's famous friends, including David and Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Aniston, were screened inside the house - with TVs even showing them in the toilets.

Guests were driven to the venue, which is 30 minutes from London, in a convoy of limousines, with three Rat Pack impersonators on hand to entertain them after being flown in from the US.

Others people present included Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff, Katie Price, Paula Abdul, Piers Morgan, Randy Jackson, Kelly Brook, Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Olivia Newton-John, as well as several contestants from the reality TV shows Simon judges such as 'Britain's Got Talent' winner Paul Potts and 'The X Factor' winner Shayne Ward.

The party was planned by retail boss Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina, and took months to organise.
- From Times Live

Adam Lambert Swears he's no American Idol Puppet

Adam Lambert is like a modern-day Braveheart.

American Idol and 19 Entertainment may be putting out his debut album, but they're not taking his creative freedom—or so he claims.

"I think there's a little bit of a misconception out in the public that people that come out of American Idol are puppetted and kind of controlled," he tells E! News exclusively. "That hasn't been my experience one bit. They've been completely supportive and collaborative with me and all the powers that be are really trying to facilitate my artistic vision."

In addition to working with A-list producers RedOne (Sean Kingston's "Fire Burning"), Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera's "Keeps Getting' Better") and Ryan Tedder (the man behind the controversial Beyoncé and Kelly Clarkson tracks), Lambert is writing some of his own stuff.

"For a handful of these songs, I've gotten to write on them," he says. "So I really feel I've gotten to inject a lot of this music on the album with my own personal vocal stylings and my own lyrical content. A lot of it talks about stuff I really care about and that I find interesting, so that feels really good."

In addition to his excitement about his album's debut on Nov. 24, Lambert can't wait to see Ellen DeGeneres take a on a certain verbose judge come January…

"I can't wait to see her banter with Simon Cowell," the season-eight runner-up admits. "I think she'll give him a hard time. I hope she does."

While the funnylady doesn't have the music industry chops of Paula Abdul or the rest of the panel, the former contestant believes she'll bring the "everyman's perspective" to the judging table.

"She's obviously a fan of the show, and she's been in the entertainment industry for a long time, so, strictly from an entertainment aspect, I think she'll provide a lot of great insight and really speak for the people that watch the show that aren't all that well versed in the music industry and in music," he explains. "I think it's good in that regard."

Speaking of good, Lambert may dream big—his song, "Time for Miracles," for the 2012 soundtrack may be Academy Award eligible, which "would be wild"
- From E! Online

Nigel Lythgoe on Ellen DeGeneres: 'Idol stole her from us'

So You Think You Can Dance judge and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told EW that American Idol “stole” Ellen DeGeneres from his show so he’ll “steal” Paula Abdul as a guest judge in the future. Talking from the red carpet of Saturday’s Creative Arts Emmys in Los Angeles, Lythgoe said though he “loved” having DeGeneres on the Fox dance show (”We hope she will still be able to come and help us out from time to time”) Lythgoe said it would be a “great idea” to have Abdul join the SYTYCD team in the near future. ”I’d prefer Paula,” he said. “I think it is a great idea to put her on.”

But Lythgoe was quick to add that DeGeneres will be a valued addition to Idol. “What it does is give the public, who are the people who decide in the end who is crowned the victor, a voice on the judges panel and they have never had that before,” the former Idol producer told EW. “They already have industry experts, musicians and producers and songwriters represented and Ellen will be that judge who comes at it from a fan perspective. She loves music and she will be able to speak about what people will like and what would sound good on the radio. And she’s funny. And I also think she is strong enough to keep Simon Cowell in his place, which I am always worried about.

- From EntertainmentWeekly

Paula Abdul Breaks her Silence since leaving American Idol

Paula Abdul hasn't spoken a word since she shocked the world in early August by announcing her decision to quit American Idol after failing to reach a contract agreement with the show's producers. But on Sunday, Abdul turned up at the Hollywood Hills home of musical producer Craig Zadan to celebrate his successful Lifetime comedy series, Drop Dead Diva, in which Abdul guest stars as, of all things, a judge. Abdul finally broke her silence to TV Guide Magazine about her decision to leave Idol, her fun new role and what's next. A talk show perhaps?

TVG: You're looking amazing, Paula. And you seem so happy today. No regrets about leaving American Idol?
Paula Abdul: You know, to say 'no regrets' isn't easy. I feel like I have been such a big, huge part of the success of the show from day one. I loved being able to be the artist's artist; being there from my point of view of knowing what it feels like to be vulnerable and to be out there wanting to achieve the most magical moment in a minute and thirty seconds. To be able to do that was an amazing experience and the show was wonderful for me in that regard.

TVG: Obviously, Simon Cowell must be devastated.
Paula Abdul: You know, we stay in touch. And I've stayed close to the contestants and I support them.

TVG: Simon told us in a cover story we did with him last April that he would never want to do the show without you. That he'd fight for you.
Paula Abdul: (Looks down, softly) I know... I know... I had to stand on my principle. This is the first time I'm speaking to the press. You're the first person I'm speaking to. I'm going to miss them. And I'm going to miss the experience of watching young talent evolve into a place where they get to take off and soar.

TVG: Will you still tune in?
Paula Abdul: Of course I will. I'll watch it as much as I can. I had some really unforgettable moments that hit plateaus for me and I'm very blessed to have been a part of what made television history.

TVG: The contestants will no doubt miss having a Paula Abdul on the judges' panel rooting for them.
Paula Abdul: Well, it warms my heart that the kids are saying, 'I just feel bad that we don't get to experience Paula being there.'

Read the complete TV Guide interview

Paula Abdul leaving "American Idol"

After much speculation, Paula Abdul will not be returning to “American Idol” next season.

The “Idol” judge hit her Twitter page on Tuesday night to break the news.

“With sadness in my heart, I’ve decided not to return to #Idol,” she posted on her Twitter page. “I’ll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon.”

Following the announcement, FOX issued a statement of their own to Access Hollywood confirming Paula would not be in her judge’s chair next season for the first time since the show began in 2002.

“Paula Abdul has been an important part of the ‘American Idol’ family over the last eight seasons and we are saddened that she has decided not to return to the show. While Paula will not be continuing with us, she’s a tremendous talent and we wish her the best,” the statement from FOX said.

Paula’s negotiations with “Idol” producers reportedly came down to money. According to a previous report by Radar Online, the veteran reality judge was asking for $20 million to return to the show – “Idol” was reportedly willing to offer half of that amount.

Meanwhile, last week it was confirmed that the newest member to the “Idol” judging panel, Kara DioGuardi, would be returning to the show when Season Nine bows in January.

Jennifer Lopez not Replacing Paula Abdul on American Idol

Jennifer Lopez is denying reports that she’s in the running to replace American Idol judge Paula Abdul, who still hasn’t signed a contract with Idol producers to return for season 8 of the FOX hit singing competition.

A rep for Lopez tells PEOPLE exclusively, “The rumor of Jennifer Lopez throwing herself in the ring to take over for Paula Abdul is completely false. Jennifer loves Idol but just as a fan. She just wrapped the feature film The Back-Up Plan, due out January 2010, and will release an album then as well.”

Lopez turned 40 on Friday and her rep adds, “This weekend Jen is celebrating her birthday with friends and family.”

The reports surfaced after Lopez and Idol host Ryan Seacrest were spotted having dinner at Madeo in Los Angeles earlier this month. Seacrest told paparazzi outside Madeo that “Jennifer and Paula would be a hell of a combination” on the show.