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American Idol runner-up (and still-constant point of discussion) Adam Lambert told Rolling Stone he'd like to have his first album out by the end of the year. What that album will sound like is still anyone's guess, however. He says it'll be a solo album, and not a Broadway album.
When Rolling Stone asked him about whether the speculation surrounding his sexual orientation, including basically being outed by Entertainment Weekly the week before the finals might have made a difference in the final vote, Lambert laughed and said “Probably.”
Lambert has never said one way or the other what his sexual orientation might be, but you still have to wonder how much it might have affected the final vote. During the year, his talent overwhelmed the judges and voters, but during the final two weeks of American Idol you get a lot more casual viewers tuning in for the big announcement.
The way I saw it based on the previous votes, Adam could have beaten Kris or Danny. However, when he went to the final three against both of them, his fate was sealed. Supporters of Kris or Danny had already spent the last month talking about how their Idol favorite was better than Adam. Once Danny was out, it was a natural progression for his voters to embrace Kris.
I'm not sure that I could blame his loss solely on the question of "Is America ready for a gay Idol?" It seems much more just a question of whether America was ready for a flamboyant, theatrical Idol, or whether they would prefer to go with a calmer, less-showy, more middle-of-the-road choice. Let's face it, America loves entertainment that's just on the good side of the bell curve. Get too far ahead of the pack, and people don't know what to think about you.
Judging from the Google numbers, it seems that all three of the top Idols this season will do alright, though.
Comments
Why oh why do you hate homos so much?
Sarah, I have no idea what you're talking about. If you're inferring from my analysis of American Idol that I'm homophobic, please reread my columns because you've completely missed my point.
Good grief. Adam is in a league of his own and will do better than all right. He has been the most popular and best performer American Idol has ever had. The producers didn't want Adam to win. But, Simon Cowell and the judges knew Adam was the front runner from day one and were totally in awe of him as much as the public. The Adam star quality is something Danny and Kris will never attain. So, like I said Adam will do better than alright. If Adam had been on Britains Got Talent, I am sure
The media made a big deal about his sexuality, that's what hurt him. He would have won based on talent alone. Nice article.
Nice article. Adam Lambert is a major talent. His voice just soars. In the long run I think he'll be better off for having NOT won AI.
Yes, it's likely that Danny's fans voted for Kris. I think, though, that Adam's gender-bending outfits and his "flamboyant, theatrical" performances are part of what make him visibly gay. Not only that, but he is visibly gay AND flirtatious and sexual (as with his sexy version of Ring of Fire). Did this affect how people voted? I'm sure it did! It's one thing to be gay, Christian, asexual, and middle American in a still quite homophobic society; it's quite another to be gay, wear makeup and have
Now that you mention casual voters who tuned in to the last week only, here is my theory for why Adam lost to Kris in that final vote. He was done in by that horrendous, in too high a key, "No Boundaries". Though Kris's version of that ditty didn't sound brilliant (whose could), Adam's, while starting out with more rhythmic and dramatic umff, ended up a screechy, "pitchy" mess - a first for Adam. This, after failing to recreate the intensity of his first rendition of Mad World, may have furth
This, after failing to recreate the intensity of his first rendition of Mad World, may have further served to water down audiences' perception of his greatness.
Cont'd (Part 3) Meanwhile, to be fair, Kris did well all around towards the end, improving on his earlier "Ain't No Sunshine" and showing, with "Heartless" and "What's Going On" that he could retool anything with his own identifiable sound. Indeed, that particular evening, die-hard Adam fan that I am, I was left feeling they were equally deserving.
(part 4)Now as I listen over and over to both their stage performances (posted on the AI website), and a few choice studio recordings, I find myself absolutely blown away by the musicality and lyricism of Adam Lambert's singing.
(Part 5) His "studio recording" of "Feeling Good" (a musically simplistic number in and of itself) and "Change is Gonna Come" are both soaringly beautiful. If instead you should choose to watch videos of his stage performances, you won't be able to help feeling good along with him because his utter joy in performing is infectious.
(part 6) Clearly, in the end, it will make no difference who won the TV contest. What will make some difference is what material both are able to come up with. Could Dionne Warwick have been Dionne Warwick without Burt Bacharach's songs? -- though I think it possible Adam might have the ability to transcend anything he wraps his chords around.
(part 7)Perhaps I choose not to believe it was a question of religion or sexuality that determined the outcome because that would be so wrong. But it is reasonable to conclude that those last few episodes, in which Adam was not at his best while Kris was solidifying an identity, swayed the new listeners to vote along with those who already knew they preferred Kris's ever likable, highly accessible sound.
(Please start reading this post below at the first "Julie says" and read upward. Had no choice but to post in segments.)
Finally, accessibility often determines short-term popularity, but what Adam has will not be ignored. Good for him for finding this platform to out himself musically.
Dionne Warwick? You're comparing Adam Lambert to Dionne Warwick? I wish you'd done that in your first comment so I wouldn't have had to read five more. Are you out of your mind? Dionne Warwick is a pseudo-spiritualits, isn't she?
what a huge load of horse manure.....
Adam is mad talented.....but he didn't lose because he may or may not be gay.....I'm tired of people always making excuses....
He lost because people got tired of him screeching..
don't get me wrong...he can totally sing...he has a great voice. He just doesn't need to scream all the time.
Don't make excuses for him.....I don't think he would want it. Don't try and blame him not winning on people being homophobic or whatever..why is there always an excu
Kris solidifying an identity? Are you kidding. What a forgettable performer and voice - he looks spastic when he sings. Oh, sorry, we should make fun of minorities! What happened to Adam is a tragedy. It's shameful that America can elected a black president and pretend to be so forward-thinking, yet let runaway and unfounded media reports about Adam take over his outstanding voice and artistry. Adam will be successful, thank you very much, and not just successful, but another rock icon. He's a w
Sarah, if you had any respect for gay men and woman you wouldn't be referring to us as "homos"
It is effeminate men that america is not ready for, it is seen as gross and a weakness. Unlike masculine women like Ellen Degeneres and Rachel Maddow.
Its that age old struggle man vs woman.
Sounds like sour grapes to me. Sounds like Adam is really jealous of the other guy's win and can't accept that America preferred the other singer. Doesn't matter who the judges like. America does the voting.
NO, TomSJ, I was NOT making any comparison between them as singersl! I only mentioned Warwick as an example of a wonderful vocalist who did not write her own material, but had great music provided for her (in the 60's-70's). It is hard to find a better example of a great marriage of material and voice. But A.L. has said he wants to do some writing... so we'll see.
Really what it cones down to is the fact that fans of Adam Lambert know American Idol doesn't matter. Several have written that, knowing Adam was off to a great career no matter what, and wishing all the best for Kris (who more needed the win), they didn't bother to vote on the final. It was the dedicated tween texters who won it for Kris.
This was defintiely a tainted contest. There is too much evidence trickling in to suggest otherwise. It makes no sense that Kris Allen won American Idol title fair and square. Even Kris Allen knows it. Adam Lambert has more talent in his little pinky finger. It is shameful and I feel sorry for Kris because he will never be considered the clear winner fair and square. There will always be a huge cloud of doubt hanging over Kris's head. I will say this; Kris needed to win and Adam was already a winner. I think America and the world is outraged because it wasn't a fair competition. Each individual should be allowed one vote only. If that had been the case Kris would have lost. But, instead Kris needed 10 plus votes per person to win. That is not a competition based on talent. THAT IS CALLED CHEATING!!!! That is how America and the world feels. This show is looking really fake and many will not watch knowing the show is not real!!
adam didn't win because he's gay, that is that. God didn't create man to be with man, He made it for man and woman. tha's what you should be teaching kids. homosexuality is unacceptable for an american "idol".
adam is amazing!!! idc if hes gay or not, he is amazing and 10 times better than kris! and if anyone here says that god meant for only women and men to b together, ur wrong! if u think that ur really stupid!
Most of the average Americans don't know spit about music. I am a straight mom with two kids and proud to call Adam my Idol. If South Africans were allowed to vote, Adam would have won. Why do you think there is a South African flag on Daughtry's award. We know good music when we hear it. To think, a country which prides itself to be first-world, can still be cave-manish when it comes to sexuality. Shame on you.
Simon Cowel said it in his interview that America got it right if all they wanted was the nice boy, with middle of the orad talent. He said, "Did the best singer win? No." I agree with him. He's an expert & made millions in the business discovering talents. he described Kris Allen as a "puppy dog." And, that's what American Idol viewers want - just cute & so-so. America may be 1st world but they don't act like they do. Sexuality is such a big issue when America can embrace wearing Armani, Valentino, Versace, etc. It's a country that's confusing in itself. You have a pageant contestant losing because she despised gay marriage, but a singing contestant who's despised for his sexuality. I mean, how ambivalent can Americans be? They don't even know what to know. By the way, I'm Asian. At least, we orientals know our cultural, religious & spiritual convictions. And, we recognize talent where talent is due.
Janette, you go girl!!!
why does adam lambert hurt when somebody calls him GAY? he even already admit that he's GAY!!! lolz XD
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