The results show was billed to have a group performance choreographed by Paula Adbul, which I looked forward to because I hadn't seen many of Adam's moves so far, especially in a set routine. Ever since I saw his Crazy video, I knew that he would do really well in the dancing department although they'd never allow him to dance like that on the show!
There was a clip showing the preparation for the routine, with Adam doing situps, goofing around and talking about being worked hard and sweating, to which he wiped his forehead with a tissue, mouthing a 'thank you' to whoever it was that handed it to him with a very cheeky and mischievous look on his face. One of his very cute moments.
The routine was set to Michael Jackson's 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)' and when the group came on, the first thing I noticed were the silly amateurish clothes. It seemed like a tongue-in-cheek parody, like a bunch of students going to their weekly cheap and cheerful 'Cheesy Funk' night instead of American Idol. Everyone apart from Adam wore sunglasses with most of the outfits just not working, although they were funny. One of the first awkward moments came when Matt sung in his falsetto shortly after the start which, despite being pre-recorded, I thought sounded terrible. Other cringe-inducing moments came from Danny, who should have his arms and legs tied together whenever on stage so he can't even attempt to dance, Kris, who was awkward and completely devoid of rhythm in his solo, and Matt who didn't quite pull off impersonating Justin Timberlake. I thought Lil and Allison did well but Anoop seemed to have a little difficulty in fully committing to his moves.
Adam was by far the best dancer there, with great lines aided by his long, slender frame. He seemed very supple, getting deep down in the knees and his movements were very full, fluid and natural. He had great timing and rhythm. He had a couple of solo parts which I found hilarious. The first was a dance solo and he did a couple of loose-limbed lunges and a wave from fingertip through the arms to fingertip and back, with a funny expression on his face. I thought it was so cheesily OTT and realised he was being intentionally goofy and taking the piss. He reminded me so much of Mr. Tickle then! The other solo was a singing part and he did some Jacko-esque hip-shaking and shoulder-shifting. The routine ended with a lot of hip-thrusts, which Adam did with conviction. He was the only one to appear like he didn't have a spare arm that he didn't know what to do with. All the contestants seemed to really enjoy it, and I was beaming watching what I thought to be Adam just relaxing and having fun because it looked so effortless for him.
I loved the whole routine, which was a fabulous ironic cheese-fest done with attitude right through to the primary-school-project plain white Comic Sans MS graphics in the background. They should definitely get Paula doing more of these in the future!
When it came to announcing who was at the bottom, Adam graciously nodded to his screaming fans and thanked the judges. He then explained a little about how the arrangement of the song wasn't of utmost importance, as long as he was able to honestly emote the lyrics to the audience. He was told to sit down and was safe.
One more Adam appearance I noted was when the Anoop and Lil tribute clips were shown, Adam tenderly touched Lil's face and said some words which made her laugh. It was just another Adam moment to melt my heart.
Showing posts with label Disco Week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disco Week. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
The Paradox Of Obsession
I touched on this briefly in my last post but I'd like to explore it a little more. In my obsession, I spent the last week going through Adam Lambert on the internet, spending ages trying to second-guess what he was going to do during disco week, reading other people's comments and predictions on various forums and blogs.
A number of comments that I've read have been to the effect that Adam can no longer jump over his own bar but needs to pole-vault over it, thus the last two performances have slightly disappointed some. We've been looking at his performances through the lens of his previous performances which sets an almost impossible challenge.
If I hadn't been obsessed and continuously speculating and scrutinising Adam's performances, I might have just expected him to do a very good, high energy spin on a disco number and ended up gobsmacked. But the fact that I had, means I tried to analyse how he was going to play the game, went through the multiple possibilities and came up with a shortlist of three options, loosely categorised as 'showman', 'slow' or 'miscellaneous'. I'm guessing that many others including myself were hoping for 'miscellaneous', but the fact that he went for 'slow' means that in our minds we had already entertained that possibility, so it was 'predictable'.
I thought Kris's performance was very good. However, if I were a Kris fan as much as an Adam fan, I would have thought about what he'd do, so that what he did this week was predictable. He would never have done an upbeat disco number and so the choices for him were to either balladise it or do something with his guitar or piano. But the fact is that I hadn't been following Kris so I was pleasantly surprised by it. Do you see what I'm getting at?
Now here's the paradox. Can you be a massively obsessed fan of Adam AND avoid speculating about what move he's going to make next? And isn't it the case that the more you speculate, the likelier you are of being disappointed because you've thought about the outcomes so much that whatever he does won't surprise you enough? If the answers here are 'no' and 'yes', then isn't it impossible for obsessed fans to be completely satisfied, only adding more pressure?
So to feed my Adam obsession, I'm going to have to starve it first by trying to go cold turkey this week, avoiding the temptation to read everything written about him and keeping him away from the microscope. I think it's better if I don't even know the themes so I can watch him with an open mind, free of preconceived ideas. Then I'll be able to appreciate him fully, and give him the praise he deserves, no 'buts'.
Who's with me?
Top 7 (Part II) - If I Can't Have You
We know by now that part of the excitement of Adam is in seeing what he does with his appearance. So far I hadn't been that big a fan of the clean-cut look but my gosh, he looked so fine this week. The suit ensemble was simple but had enough detailing to avoid being generic. I loved the slightly upward-turning shoulder detail and the tailoring of the suit was impeccable. The colour was understated but the material showy. His hair was a bit on the bouffant side but was rougher and not like his pompadour. His look suggested 'classic crooner' but it had a strong Adam edge to it.
I'd seen a few spoilers as I couldn't help myself, and from his look, I guessed he was probably going to do a slow number but I didn't want to be correct because that would make him predictable.
The song started off softly with some very vulnerable tender notes, kind of like silken chocolate melting in your mouth. He sang a verse and then broke into the chorus and the way he built up to the high notes was beautiful. The melody was heartbreaking. There was a single note that I didn't like though, which I felt was a little too harsh and out of place, and that was the highest note - the 'if'. If I were to nit-pick, I would say that he over-enunciated some of the words rather than sing them - perhaps that's what they mean by 'theatrical'. The song seemed to end very quickly after that. I wasn't all that keen on the lighting and camera work as his face was in darkness much of the time, and the camera could have done with less movement and long shots.
*UPDATE*: On seeing the performance on TV for the first time rather than through the internet, the high note didn't sound nearly as harsh and his chest voice was much richer, full and resonant. I want to hear more of it!
Once again, I loved Adam - his look, his vocals and his stage presence but I couldn't help but feel a tinge underwhelmed by the performance for a number of reasons. The biggest reason was the length of the performance. It all seemed a bit too rushed and abrupt for my liking, as if it was a quickie without foreplay. I wanted to see more of Adam sing. There weren't enough verses to reel me into his world and build up the emotion before wrenching at my heart in the chorus and finish. As a result, the song's climax didn't have the impact it should have done.
Another reason is because it was ever so slightly predictable, perhaps even 'safe' by his standards. I can't blame him for this, but rather my pre-performance over-analysis and scrutiny which may have spoiled it. If I weren't so obsessed with him then perhaps I would have expected an uptempo disco number and it would have come as a surprise. Maybe it's because I knew he would go with one of two options rather than just watch with an open mind. Still, I don't want him to fall into a predictable see-saw pattern throughout the weeks. Unlike last week, his performance didn't stand out way above the rest of the pack. There were various song interpretations but a large number of contestants also chose to balladise disco. I think the others are growing and learning from him, giving more of their own spin on their performances.
*UPDATE*: On seeing the show again on TV, I noticed that the other contestants were being much more ambitious with their final note runs but it was painfully obvious that Adam's were in a totally different league. They all measured up so poorly to Adam's final note on Born To Be Wild, which completely blew me away.
My enjoyment of the performance was also heavily hampered by the fact that I was watching it streamed online since I am in the UK. My need for an Adam fix wouldn't allow me to wait a whole two days before he is aired on proper TV. I'm thinking now that perhaps I do need to be patient so I can fully enjoy the Adam Lambert Experience without jerky pixellated visuals and noise-filled audio.
After Adam finished his performance, he wasn't beaming as usual, but seemed a little apprehensive as to what the judges would say. Perhaps it was the emotion or the pressure beginning to affect him. The comments were very positive, but didn't seem to provide useful feedback. He further endeared himself to me by giving credit to the person who helped with the arrangement.
During his confessional, he revealed that he took notes from the judges' comments and was trying to appeal to the masses. I see the performance as being a result of that. He was happy, relaxed and upbeat in it, but it did trouble me that he might end up playing it safe by not going for 'left-field' performances in the future. The appeal and the edge that Adam has is his fearless risk-taking and if he were to tone it down to get more votes, I feel he would compromise his artistic inclinations too much.
Yes, I do have rather unreasonable expectations of Adam now, which are adding to the increasing pressure. Perhaps the best thing I can do is to stop obsessing and picking apart every detail. But Adam means much more than a singer to me. He is an Idol, one who is bold and unapologetic about who he is and I want him to dare to push the envelope out that little bit more. To me, 'Ring of Fire' was a seminal moment and I'd hate for him to allow a single person's comments (Simon's - which I think were exceptionally influential on this occasion because people just didn't know what to think) to make him cautious about venturing into risky territory again. I think in time, people will get to appreciate it more - they just weren't quite ready for it and if he takes a risk like that again, maybe it would be better received. It's an extremely difficult balancing act to undertake -- being true to himself, trying to satisfy his whole spectrum of fans and getting the votes all at the same time.
I'd seen a few spoilers as I couldn't help myself, and from his look, I guessed he was probably going to do a slow number but I didn't want to be correct because that would make him predictable.The song started off softly with some very vulnerable tender notes, kind of like silken chocolate melting in your mouth. He sang a verse and then broke into the chorus and the way he built up to the high notes was beautiful. The melody was heartbreaking. There was a single note that I didn't like though, which I felt was a little too harsh and out of place, and that was the highest note - the 'if'. If I were to nit-pick, I would say that he over-enunciated some of the words rather than sing them - perhaps that's what they mean by 'theatrical'. The song seemed to end very quickly after that. I wasn't all that keen on the lighting and camera work as his face was in darkness much of the time, and the camera could have done with less movement and long shots.
*UPDATE*: On seeing the performance on TV for the first time rather than through the internet, the high note didn't sound nearly as harsh and his chest voice was much richer, full and resonant. I want to hear more of it!
Once again, I loved Adam - his look, his vocals and his stage presence but I couldn't help but feel a tinge underwhelmed by the performance for a number of reasons. The biggest reason was the length of the performance. It all seemed a bit too rushed and abrupt for my liking, as if it was a quickie without foreplay. I wanted to see more of Adam sing. There weren't enough verses to reel me into his world and build up the emotion before wrenching at my heart in the chorus and finish. As a result, the song's climax didn't have the impact it should have done.
Another reason is because it was ever so slightly predictable, perhaps even 'safe' by his standards. I can't blame him for this, but rather my pre-performance over-analysis and scrutiny which may have spoiled it. If I weren't so obsessed with him then perhaps I would have expected an uptempo disco number and it would have come as a surprise. Maybe it's because I knew he would go with one of two options rather than just watch with an open mind. Still, I don't want him to fall into a predictable see-saw pattern throughout the weeks. Unlike last week, his performance didn't stand out way above the rest of the pack. There were various song interpretations but a large number of contestants also chose to balladise disco. I think the others are growing and learning from him, giving more of their own spin on their performances.
*UPDATE*: On seeing the show again on TV, I noticed that the other contestants were being much more ambitious with their final note runs but it was painfully obvious that Adam's were in a totally different league. They all measured up so poorly to Adam's final note on Born To Be Wild, which completely blew me away.
My enjoyment of the performance was also heavily hampered by the fact that I was watching it streamed online since I am in the UK. My need for an Adam fix wouldn't allow me to wait a whole two days before he is aired on proper TV. I'm thinking now that perhaps I do need to be patient so I can fully enjoy the Adam Lambert Experience without jerky pixellated visuals and noise-filled audio.
After Adam finished his performance, he wasn't beaming as usual, but seemed a little apprehensive as to what the judges would say. Perhaps it was the emotion or the pressure beginning to affect him. The comments were very positive, but didn't seem to provide useful feedback. He further endeared himself to me by giving credit to the person who helped with the arrangement.
During his confessional, he revealed that he took notes from the judges' comments and was trying to appeal to the masses. I see the performance as being a result of that. He was happy, relaxed and upbeat in it, but it did trouble me that he might end up playing it safe by not going for 'left-field' performances in the future. The appeal and the edge that Adam has is his fearless risk-taking and if he were to tone it down to get more votes, I feel he would compromise his artistic inclinations too much.
Yes, I do have rather unreasonable expectations of Adam now, which are adding to the increasing pressure. Perhaps the best thing I can do is to stop obsessing and picking apart every detail. But Adam means much more than a singer to me. He is an Idol, one who is bold and unapologetic about who he is and I want him to dare to push the envelope out that little bit more. To me, 'Ring of Fire' was a seminal moment and I'd hate for him to allow a single person's comments (Simon's - which I think were exceptionally influential on this occasion because people just didn't know what to think) to make him cautious about venturing into risky territory again. I think in time, people will get to appreciate it more - they just weren't quite ready for it and if he takes a risk like that again, maybe it would be better received. It's an extremely difficult balancing act to undertake -- being true to himself, trying to satisfy his whole spectrum of fans and getting the votes all at the same time.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
The Run-Up to Top 7 (Part II) - Disco Week
I must say, I've been very nervous for Adam this week. We've all put him on a pedestal that's so high and I'm so afraid that he might spectacularly fall off. How can he even meet our expectations when our expectations are now so astronomically high? How can he meet the expectation that he's supposed to exceed our expectations? I want to be surprised and thrilled by him but I'm not sure how he can do that.
There were some warning signs last week that perhaps momentum was starting to fizzle. 'Born to be Wild' was great, but I've heard grumbles that it wasn't surprising or inspired enough. How can we be disappointed in a performance like that? We're obviously judging him by different standards and using his own yardstick to beat him with. I mean, are there any contestants who whould have been able to pull off anything close to what he did? He just skipped onto the stage and gave a high octane performance using unbelievable vocals that have been improving week by week. Charisma was exploding out of him and the crowd was in a frenzy. I mean seriously, how can anyone find that disappointing?
Adam is well aware that he might be seen to be turning into a two-trick pony with performances and looks that fall into the category of being OTT or very toned down which have been occurring during alternating weeks. During disco week, the expectation is that he will give yet another great performance and add to that the pressure that Cowell has put on him by stating that it would suit him better than any of the others. So what are his options?
He could do a stripped down version of a disco song. This would seem to keep him in his alternating week pattern. Would most of the other contestants choose something uptempo and do it very badly so he'd be the breath of fresh air in amongst the mediocrity? He could avoid being really cheesy by doing this, and perhaps be more popular, but it could signal him falling into a predicatable pattern and losing his edge.
He could go all-out glam on a disco classic and give us a great, exciting performance. I think it's a bit of a waste if he doesn't go uptempo because I'd like to see it and he should be able to beat everyone else at it. The problem is that it might not be that popular as slow songs usually seem to do much better. The question though, is will it be enough for us, or will we grumble about it not having the surprise factor that we expect?
How would he Adamise the song? He could find a song that's definitely not disco and give it a disco beat and arrangement. Or conversely, he could take a disco classic and turn it into something else such as electro-pop, punk rock or a even a ballad. I suspect that drastic changes would be polarising though, and perhaps not provide him with winning votes.
He could give a performance somewhere between the two extremes. This is kind of risky because he could just end up having a middle-of-the-road performance, but then again, what is Adam without risk? I'd like to hear him sing something vocally mid-range but still use some of his signature high notes to great effect. If he did this well, he would break the pattern and maybe give us an element of surprise.
It is Adam I'm talking about though, and my simple mind is nowhere near as creative as his. So I'm kind of thinking that he'll do none of the above and wow us with something unexpected. All I know for sure is that it's been a very long week and I can't wait to see what he's going to do next. I need to satisfy my Adam Lambert obsession, and soon!
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