Adam tweeted out a little preview of his upcoming music video for NCOE. We know how much he enjoys this part of making music so I'm sure he couldn't wait to share it with us:
It's only 17 seconds long but that 17 seconds of a rapid burst of scenes tells us a lot. It's set in sci-fi dystopia where Adam appears to be a prisoner living a regimented minimalist existence under constant surveillance. I wonder whether the pills are an escape, a necessity or a punishment. I like the colours and the sounds. It's the most cinematic of his music videos so far and I can't wait to see the whole story unfold. This is the type of video that I'd been hoping for since day one, something that works as a standalone piece of entertainment we'd keep going back to watch.
Showing posts with label Preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preview. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Friday, 16 December 2011
Better Than I Know Myself - Preview
After months of waiting and tapping our fingers, we've finally got something to feast on! Adam first revealed the name of the single nearly a month ago. 'Better Than I Know Myself' leaves a bit of room for ambiguity. Could it mean that someone else understands me more than I do myself? Or does it mean that I'm better at something I than I realise? Anyway, Adam tweeted out the links to first the single cover, then a preview of his new single. It makes a welcome change that for once, the roll-out wasn't through an unauthorised leak but delivered personally from Adam, breaking Twitter in the process. I'm sure his inner control freak was involved, with his social media nous getting the official press release to arrive via Facebook.
Here's the preview snippet for you to listen to:
I'm afraid though that I'm in the minority and have been using all my willpower to resist the temptation to listen to it and avoid reading about it. Thankfully I don't have too long to wait as it comes out on 20th December, otherwise I would've wolfed it down. I remember listening to the snippets from FYE and realised how different I felt after listening to the full songs. I decided then that this time I'd listen to the whole thing with open mind and virgin ears, without any preconceived ideas. A new song only has one chance to make a first impression so I want to ensure I get the right one via a full undiluted experience.
Here's the single artwork, done by Lee Cherry:
While not as controversial as the FYE album cover nor as much of a talking point as the acoustic EP cover, I think the stark grainy image has a hard, raw feel. No glitter, no camp, with minimal make-up and desaturated colours, this is a definite step away from the FYE era. With the aged brown edges, I can't help feeling it looks like it was run through one of those preset Instagram filters that are a bit too popular these days. If I were to be hyper-critical, I'd say I'm not keen on the typefaces. There's something quite dark-humour-psycho-horror-flick about the style of his name, and the title looks a touch too rounded and light for my taste. I'm more than thrilled though that he didn't have that weird wide forehead shaved sides hairdo! The thick high hair gets the thumbs up from me.
The photo itself is one in which Lee Cherry once again captures Adam's beauty from the view of an observer, in a natural, non-confrontational way. He doesn't appear to be consciously posing but in contemplation, focusing his attention elsewhere. The imagery doesn't come as a surprise as I think it was something he'd been working towards. We'd seen glimpses of it from Moscow and various photos since then. I guess you could call it safe, but I'd say it embodies his desire not to appear too try-hard, just quietly content and confident that the music will be making all the bold statements.
Here's the preview snippet for you to listen to:
I'm afraid though that I'm in the minority and have been using all my willpower to resist the temptation to listen to it and avoid reading about it. Thankfully I don't have too long to wait as it comes out on 20th December, otherwise I would've wolfed it down. I remember listening to the snippets from FYE and realised how different I felt after listening to the full songs. I decided then that this time I'd listen to the whole thing with open mind and virgin ears, without any preconceived ideas. A new song only has one chance to make a first impression so I want to ensure I get the right one via a full undiluted experience.
Here's the single artwork, done by Lee Cherry:
While not as controversial as the FYE album cover nor as much of a talking point as the acoustic EP cover, I think the stark grainy image has a hard, raw feel. No glitter, no camp, with minimal make-up and desaturated colours, this is a definite step away from the FYE era. With the aged brown edges, I can't help feeling it looks like it was run through one of those preset Instagram filters that are a bit too popular these days. If I were to be hyper-critical, I'd say I'm not keen on the typefaces. There's something quite dark-humour-psycho-horror-flick about the style of his name, and the title looks a touch too rounded and light for my taste. I'm more than thrilled though that he didn't have that weird wide forehead shaved sides hairdo! The thick high hair gets the thumbs up from me.
The photo itself is one in which Lee Cherry once again captures Adam's beauty from the view of an observer, in a natural, non-confrontational way. He doesn't appear to be consciously posing but in contemplation, focusing his attention elsewhere. The imagery doesn't come as a surprise as I think it was something he'd been working towards. We'd seen glimpses of it from Moscow and various photos since then. I guess you could call it safe, but I'd say it embodies his desire not to appear too try-hard, just quietly content and confident that the music will be making all the bold statements.
Friday, 11 March 2011
#AcousticAftermath
It's a welcome trip down memory lane today with all the excitement, nervousness, anticipation and speculation preceding an Adam performance on AI. Without the pressure of competition we can all relax and enjoy, the result of Adam's season a distant memory because of his success in the aftermath. This week is a celebration of the song with the debut of the remix yesterday for the Trevor Project, and a return to AI with a planned acoustic performance today to promote the remix and Glam Nation DVD.
It feels like this could be the final step in Adam's 'rehabilitation' following the aftermath of the AMAs, which, surprisingly is still a topic of conversation during interviews. This could be the perfect opportunity to exorcise any remaining ghosts with a new water-cooler moment. We know it's not going to be an 'ordinary' acoustic performance like we saw on the tour. It seems important for Adam to keep pleasing his existing fans with little surprises and Monte has certainly hinted at it. So how's he going to change it up? Well it looks like Monte will be there on guitar, but with rumours of The Blonds providing the outfit, we could be in for quite a visual spectacle. I'm wondering if the arrangement will only partly be acoustic with a dramatic costume change during the performance. He could literally shed his armour and come out even glitterier. I know that Adam won't be able to resist taking full advantage of the visual as well as audio medium. The excitement is building with only hours to go now...
While we wait with sweaty palms, here is my contribution to Aftermath week. It's my latest video edit of one of my favourite acoustic Aftermaths of the tour at LA's Club Nokia, the final stop.
I love this version because he radiates joy and positivity from the very start when he carries a stool from the stage and sings about it. We see him smiling and bouncing about on the steps during the song and the vocals are beautifully sweet with some powerful belts. We know that the song comes from a personal place as he feels every word he sings so I tried to make an edit that reflects this. Hope you enjoy it.
DOWNLOAD Aftermath (with intro) mp3 - 13.16MB
DOWNLOAD Aftermath (without intro) mp3 - 9.65MB
DOWNLOAD Aftermath iPod compatible mp4 - 39.11MB
DOWNLOAD Aftermath HD mp4 - 136.75MB
It feels like this could be the final step in Adam's 'rehabilitation' following the aftermath of the AMAs, which, surprisingly is still a topic of conversation during interviews. This could be the perfect opportunity to exorcise any remaining ghosts with a new water-cooler moment. We know it's not going to be an 'ordinary' acoustic performance like we saw on the tour. It seems important for Adam to keep pleasing his existing fans with little surprises and Monte has certainly hinted at it. So how's he going to change it up? Well it looks like Monte will be there on guitar, but with rumours of The Blonds providing the outfit, we could be in for quite a visual spectacle. I'm wondering if the arrangement will only partly be acoustic with a dramatic costume change during the performance. He could literally shed his armour and come out even glitterier. I know that Adam won't be able to resist taking full advantage of the visual as well as audio medium. The excitement is building with only hours to go now...
While we wait with sweaty palms, here is my contribution to Aftermath week. It's my latest video edit of one of my favourite acoustic Aftermaths of the tour at LA's Club Nokia, the final stop.
I love this version because he radiates joy and positivity from the very start when he carries a stool from the stage and sings about it. We see him smiling and bouncing about on the steps during the song and the vocals are beautifully sweet with some powerful belts. We know that the song comes from a personal place as he feels every word he sings so I tried to make an edit that reflects this. Hope you enjoy it.
DOWNLOAD Aftermath (with intro) mp3 - 13.16MB
DOWNLOAD Aftermath (without intro) mp3 - 9.65MB
DOWNLOAD Aftermath iPod compatible mp4 - 39.11MB
DOWNLOAD Aftermath HD mp4 - 136.75MB
Friday, 11 February 2011
Glam Nation Tour DVD Preview
We've been waiting for this for what seems like the beginning of time. Even before the start of the tour we all wanted a DVD with professional quality sound and video. Now we finally get to see the previews on Adam's Vevo channel. So far we have Fever and WWFM from the concert in Indianapolis:
I'm thrilled to be getting a clean audio recording, but after having spent so long tarting up videos to try to see Adam better, I can help but feel left wanting. I guess I have to blame Adam, for not realising how compelling he is to watch and how a hardcore fan such as myself wants to do it without such impediments as obstructing objects, shaky camerawork, frustratingly epileptic editing and wide-angle shots where he looks miniscule. I'll concede that the wide-angle shots suit some of the Fever choreography but I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of close-ups for WWFM where I want to see his facial expressions emoting the lyrics. On the plus side, I love the performers' view shots from the back of the stage which give me butterflies. Not to mention the surreal feeling of needing to pinch oneself walking out on stage in Adam's boots, performing in front of full house after full house on his sell-out maiden tour. What do you think of it? I guess I won't be retiring from editing videos quite yet.
I'm thrilled to be getting a clean audio recording, but after having spent so long tarting up videos to try to see Adam better, I can help but feel left wanting. I guess I have to blame Adam, for not realising how compelling he is to watch and how a hardcore fan such as myself wants to do it without such impediments as obstructing objects, shaky camerawork, frustratingly epileptic editing and wide-angle shots where he looks miniscule. I'll concede that the wide-angle shots suit some of the Fever choreography but I'm a bit disappointed with the lack of close-ups for WWFM where I want to see his facial expressions emoting the lyrics. On the plus side, I love the performers' view shots from the back of the stage which give me butterflies. Not to mention the surreal feeling of needing to pinch oneself walking out on stage in Adam's boots, performing in front of full house after full house on his sell-out maiden tour. What do you think of it? I guess I won't be retiring from editing videos quite yet.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Countdown
This is what we've been eagerly anticipating since May when Adam would once again explode onto our screens. I almost heard the collective intake of breath as we realised that he has the pimp spot at the AMAs. The excitement is palpable and I am already holding my breath amidst my dusted-off but familiar feelings of anticipation.
How's he going to change up the song? What's he going to be wearing? How's he going to style his hair? What kind of dance moves does he have planned? What are going to be the colours of the performance? What's going to be the feel of the performance? What kind of vocal improvisations are we going to hear? How's the arrangement going to be different to that of the single? What's the band going to be like? Will the band give it more of a rock rather than electronic sound and will they be doing much improvisation? Is he going to give us another provocative pivotal TV moment that's going to get everyone talking? One that's going to leave pearl dust all over the floors of conservative America? One that's going to cause a major earthquake as the whole of the US is collectively spasming in Adamgasm? Will they appreciate the message he's trying to put across? Will they be shocked in a good way or will they consider it gratuitous? Will it cause outrage? Will he push it a little too far? I can't freakin' wait! Get those defibrillators at the ready!
Many of these questions I found myself asking before the AI final but now I'm asking them again with the added bonus of feeling like Adam's already won. That he has the pimp spot is a major coup and speaks volumes about the confidence the show's producers have in him giving us a show-stopping performance. It's the perfect platform on which to promote his music and reach out to music fans who were too cool for AI. It's a chance to widen his fanbase but it's also possible he might alienate some.
The performance is supposed to be an extension of the music video, which contains plenty of scatily clad dancers dressed like they just walked off the set of Mad Max, or a Camden of warmer climes, writhing around in decadence in dark and opulent surroundings. From what I can tell of the rehearsal footage, it's going to be one sexy sizzling performance with pyrotechnics and dancers each doing something different. I think there's a light bondage theme in the costumes, with rumours of people on leashes and Adam wearing nipple tassels. I expect he'll be the dominator spanking up a storm with a cane or a whip, making us crawl on all fours screaming in agony for more. On the video, I can hear some changes that have been made to the song, including a new glory note and there are rumours of it starting a cappella. I've always preferred his live performances to his studio recordings so I expect the energy will be explosive. I have no doubt the performance is going to be deliciously risqué and hope it's well received. I'm looking forward to being blown away, screw sleep!
This performance signals the birth of post-AI Adam. This is where he's going to be re-branded and I realise that THIS is his fucking coronation! It's back to the same Nokia stage but not as the winner from a load of wannabes on some reality karaoke show dialling it down and singing a crap song, but as a fucking SUPERSTAR with his own awesome ideas, singing how he wants to sing his own awesome shit, crowning off a night of established stars. And it's a coronation with style. Fuck confetti, give me fire and bondage!!!
The performance is supposed to be an extension of the music video, which contains plenty of scatily clad dancers dressed like they just walked off the set of Mad Max, or a Camden of warmer climes, writhing around in decadence in dark and opulent surroundings. From what I can tell of the rehearsal footage, it's going to be one sexy sizzling performance with pyrotechnics and dancers each doing something different. I think there's a light bondage theme in the costumes, with rumours of people on leashes and Adam wearing nipple tassels. I expect he'll be the dominator spanking up a storm with a cane or a whip, making us crawl on all fours screaming in agony for more. On the video, I can hear some changes that have been made to the song, including a new glory note and there are rumours of it starting a cappella. I've always preferred his live performances to his studio recordings so I expect the energy will be explosive. I have no doubt the performance is going to be deliciously risqué and hope it's well received. I'm looking forward to being blown away, screw sleep!
Saturday, 14 November 2009
We Want a Master Plan
The goodies keep coming! They're playing havoc with my sleeping patterns but they keep getting better. Here are the songs. They are the full songs but I've added some interruptions of silence to encourage buying and discourage ripping.
MASTER PLAN (Ryan Tedder)
You run away from everything that you fear
So afraid, don't wanna be a part of it
You see the fake in everything that is real
You hate the paradox, you put us in a box
We don't define what makes us right or wrong
Waste of time, no we're just living it
I wanna seize you, touch you one on one
Don't stop until we're done, we've only just begun
We are the face of a new generation
We are the ones who have no reservation
Don't give a damn 'bout your cold calculation
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
Don't care if you understand
Welcome to the master plan
Your skin is burnin' at the sight of me
Your mask can't hide what you're thinking
Don't ask, don't tell, just take what you need
I'm an open book, so go on and take a look
We are the face of a new generation
We are the ones who have no reservation
Don't give a damn 'bout your cold calculation
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
Don't care if you understand
Welcome to the master plan
There's you, there's me, I feel your energy
I hope you'll see
Things ain't what they used to be
Look at the face
Look at the face
We are the face of a new generation
We are the ones who have no reservation
Don't give a damn 'bout your cold calculation
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
Don't care if you understand
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you under
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
WHATAYA WANT FROM ME?
Hey, slow it down
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Yeah, I'm afraid
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
There might have been a time
When I would give myself away
Oh once upon a time
I didn't give a damn
But now, here we are
So whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
There, it's plain to see
That baby you're beautiful
And there's nothing wrong with you
It's me, I'm a freak
But thanks for loving me,
'cause you're doing it perfectly
And there might have been a time
When I would have let you slip away
I wouldn't even try
But I think you could save my life
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me? Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me? Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up on me
I won't let you down
No, I won't ya let ya down
So wait
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
MASTER PLAN (Ryan Tedder)
You run away from everything that you fear
So afraid, don't wanna be a part of it
You see the fake in everything that is real
You hate the paradox, you put us in a box
We don't define what makes us right or wrong
Waste of time, no we're just living it
I wanna seize you, touch you one on one
Don't stop until we're done, we've only just begun
We are the face of a new generation
We are the ones who have no reservation
Don't give a damn 'bout your cold calculation
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
Don't care if you understand
Welcome to the master plan
Your skin is burnin' at the sight of me
Your mask can't hide what you're thinking
Don't ask, don't tell, just take what you need
I'm an open book, so go on and take a look
We are the face of a new generation
We are the ones who have no reservation
Don't give a damn 'bout your cold calculation
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
Don't care if you understand
Welcome to the master plan
There's you, there's me, I feel your energy
I hope you'll see
Things ain't what they used to be
Look at the face
Look at the face
We are the face of a new generation
We are the ones who have no reservation
Don't give a damn 'bout your cold calculation
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
Don't care if you understand
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you under
Welcome to the master plan
Don't care if you understand
WHATAYA WANT FROM ME?
Hey, slow it down
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Yeah, I'm afraid
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
There might have been a time
When I would give myself away
Oh once upon a time
I didn't give a damn
But now, here we are
So whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
There, it's plain to see
That baby you're beautiful
And there's nothing wrong with you
It's me, I'm a freak
But thanks for loving me,
'cause you're doing it perfectly
And there might have been a time
When I would have let you slip away
I wouldn't even try
But I think you could save my life
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me? Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me? Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up on me
I won't let you down
No, I won't ya let ya down
So wait
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Drip-Fed Entertainment
Hope you like the new look of this site, I figured a make-over was long overdue and it needed to be glitterier to do justice to Adam.
This wait for the album and all the leaks is like a very long tease. Here are the extended previews of some of the songs from For Your Entertainment with thanks to Hooplamagnet:
First impressions are that they all sound much, much better than their 30-second predecessors, including the ones I wasn't initially so keen on. More thoughts to follow after a sleep and more listens.
EDIT: It's a source of amusement how ridiculous it was to write reviews of 30 second song fragments of Adam's songs, but it wasn't just the preserve of us fans, oh no, the mainstream media also caught onto this insanity! I wonder how much more we're going to get drip-fed until we hear the whole thing, and whether each drip will generate another review. I now know that the 30 second previews didn't represent the songs very well as my opinions of them have changed after hearing these latest mashed-up fragments. I'll be brief because I'll no doubt be re-writing the review when I hear the whole songs. I've included what I can make of the lyrics and have left out some of the repetition but please feel free to correct them.
MUSIC AGAIN
“It has a classic rock riff to it that I thought was so sexy. Another band that was a major reference was Queen. You hear that influence in a couple different songs, and the chorus of that song, I wanted the harmonies to sound like Queen, I wanted it to be really full. Also, bands like Sweet used to do that with their vocals, glam bands. I just wanted to show people I had a sense of humor with this shit. It's fun, it's supposed to be kind of campy.” - RS interview
The extended preview isn't quite as choppy or crazy sounding as the 30 second one led me to believe as the OTT vocals don't continue throughout the song. It feels more retro than I'd imagined and the guitar reminds me of Free's Alright Now. Still, I love the harmonies and it's fabulously ridiculous and fun.
WHATAYA WANT FROM ME?
This was one of the ones I was less keen on to begin with. Apart from Adam's voice, I thought it was fairly generic soft-rock but there are a few things that have improved my opinion of it. Firstly, I like the inclusion of the electro synths in the break which makes the production less bland. I often listen to music without much in the way of lyrics but because of Adam's enunciation of the words, I'm made to take notice. The chorus lyrics were uninspiring but the verses are better.
IF I HAD YOU
This feels very different now to when it initially leaked. It's less of a club tune as we get to hear much more rock. Adam's voice in its more natural state singing personal lyrics makes it much more enjoyable. I'll be interested to hear how this whole song binds together the dance and the rock as I don't think it's done smoothly in the clip.
PICK U UP
I was a little 'meh' when it came to Pick U Up on the first listen, not being too keen on the drawl of the chorus. Now I like the melody of the verses and how it builds up to the crescendo. It feels dramatic and theatrical, providing a little adrenaline shot and breathing much more life into the song.
SLEEPWALKER
This is just beautiful. The chanting gives it a super-powerful epic feel and the guitar solo gives it more of a rock edge than my initial impression. The lyrics, the melody and production all come together for an awe-inspiring result.
This wait for the album and all the leaks is like a very long tease. Here are the extended previews of some of the songs from For Your Entertainment with thanks to Hooplamagnet:
First impressions are that they all sound much, much better than their 30-second predecessors, including the ones I wasn't initially so keen on. More thoughts to follow after a sleep and more listens.
EDIT: It's a source of amusement how ridiculous it was to write reviews of 30 second song fragments of Adam's songs, but it wasn't just the preserve of us fans, oh no, the mainstream media also caught onto this insanity! I wonder how much more we're going to get drip-fed until we hear the whole thing, and whether each drip will generate another review. I now know that the 30 second previews didn't represent the songs very well as my opinions of them have changed after hearing these latest mashed-up fragments. I'll be brief because I'll no doubt be re-writing the review when I hear the whole songs. I've included what I can make of the lyrics and have left out some of the repetition but please feel free to correct them.
MUSIC AGAIN
“It has a classic rock riff to it that I thought was so sexy. Another band that was a major reference was Queen. You hear that influence in a couple different songs, and the chorus of that song, I wanted the harmonies to sound like Queen, I wanted it to be really full. Also, bands like Sweet used to do that with their vocals, glam bands. I just wanted to show people I had a sense of humor with this shit. It's fun, it's supposed to be kind of campy.” - RS interview
The extended preview isn't quite as choppy or crazy sounding as the 30 second one led me to believe as the OTT vocals don't continue throughout the song. It feels more retro than I'd imagined and the guitar reminds me of Free's Alright Now. Still, I love the harmonies and it's fabulously ridiculous and fun.
Living for other people
Took meeting you to realise
I don't wanna lose ya, I wanna keep ya
Put your little hand in mine and
Look into my eyes very eyes
Oh you make me wanna listen to music again
Yeah you make me wanna listen to music again
There had been many moons before I met ya
And I ain't going nowhere
And now you give me back my raison d'être
And I'm inspired again
And I know in some ways I'm kinda evil
Got my roots in you, got ties
And my heart's no stranger to upheaval
Put your little hand in mine and
Look into my eyes very eyes
Oh you make me wanna listen to music again
Yeah you make me wanna listen to music again
Ahhh music again
Look in to my eyes very eyes
I just wanna listen to music again
Oh yeah oh yeah oh wooh!
WHATAYA WANT FROM ME?
This was one of the ones I was less keen on to begin with. Apart from Adam's voice, I thought it was fairly generic soft-rock but there are a few things that have improved my opinion of it. Firstly, I like the inclusion of the electro synths in the break which makes the production less bland. I often listen to music without much in the way of lyrics but because of Adam's enunciation of the words, I'm made to take notice. The chorus lyrics were uninspiring but the verses are better.
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
There, it's plain to see
That baby you're beautiful
And there's nothing wrong with you
It's me, I'm a freak
But thanks for loving me,
'cause you're doing it perfectly
And there might have been a time when I would have let you slip away
I wouldn't even try but I think you could save my life
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me? Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me? Whataya want from me?
Whataya want from me?
Just don't give up on me
I won't let you down
IF I HAD YOU
This feels very different now to when it initially leaked. It's less of a club tune as we get to hear much more rock. Adam's voice in its more natural state singing personal lyrics makes it much more enjoyable. I'll be interested to hear how this whole song binds together the dance and the rock as I don't think it's done smoothly in the clip.
But if I had you, that would be the only thing I'd ever need
Yeah if I had you, then money fame and fortune never could compete
If I had you, life would be a party it'd be ecstasy
Yeah if I had you
You y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do
If I had you
So I got my boots on, got the right amount of leather
And I'm doing me up with a black colour liner
And I'm working my strut but I know it don't matter
All we need in this world is some love
There's a thin line between the dark side and the light side baby tonight
It's a struggle gonna rumble tryin' to find it
But if I had you, that would be the only thing I'd ever need
Yeah if I had you, then money fame and fortune never could compete
If I had you, life would be a party it'd be ecstasy
Yeah if I had you
You y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do
If I had
The flashing of the lights
It might feel so good but I got you stuck on my mind, yeah
The flashing and the stage it might get me high right
But it don't mean a thing tonight
PICK U UP
I was a little 'meh' when it came to Pick U Up on the first listen, not being too keen on the drawl of the chorus. Now I like the melody of the verses and how it builds up to the crescendo. It feels dramatic and theatrical, providing a little adrenaline shot and breathing much more life into the song.
All my life, I've been waiting
Pass my time, procrastinating now
It's a trip on a fume
And flash right through the sea
Can't you see what I mean?
Breaking through the boundaries
Rolling on, strolling on
They won't ever find me
After all, we'll have a ball
I'mma pick you up, I'mma pick u up
We're gonna see where we can go
This is how I live, this is what I give
And you're the one I want to know
All my life, I've been waiting
Pass my time, procrastinating now
It's a trip on a fume
And flash right through the sea
Can't you see what I mean?
Tiny minded two-tone suckers
Same old faces make me shudder
Countless times I've screamed 'oh brother!'
Where are you? I need someone to be my lover
SLEEPWALKER
This is just beautiful. The chanting gives it a super-powerful epic feel and the guitar solo gives it more of a rock edge than my initial impression. The lyrics, the melody and production all come together for an awe-inspiring result.
I can't turn this around
I keep running into walls that I can't break down
I said I just wander around
With my eyes wide shut because of you
I'm a sleepwalker walker walker
I'm a sleepwalker walker walker
Let me out of this dream
Everywhere that I go
I see another memory
And all the places we used to know
They're always there to haunt me
I walk around and I feel so lost and lonely
You're everything that I want
But you don't want me
I can't turn this around
I keep running into walls that I can't break down
I said I just wander around
With my eyes wide shut because of you
I'm a sleepwalker walker walker
I'm a sleepwalker walker walker
Let me out of this dream, dream
Let me out of this dream
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Precious Morsels For Your Entertainment - UPDATED
WOW! What a collection! That voice!
I'm ill at the moment and my head is too congested to write anything that makes sense so I'll just leave you to listen and listen again:
EDIT: Thank you for all the well wishes and apologies for the delay. It's hard to listen properly to music when everything sounds like it's underwater. I still haven't fully shaken off my lurgies, but if I left it any longer, this post would become irrelevant. We were still on a giddy high from hearing the single when the album previews became available so I was surprised about the timing. Amazon UK has since taken them down which has left me stroking my chin fabricating various theories. Surely it couldn't have been down to incompetence? When I realised the clips were available, I hesitated, weighing up whether or not to wait to hear the full high quality songs first rather than short snippets. I promptly hit play. Then hit it again. And again. Then put together the video so I could have it on loop.
1. MUSIC AGAIN (3:16)
Writer: Justin Hawkins Producer: Rob Cavallo
“Glam is back, motherfuckers!”
Glam rock for me has never been my music of choice to listen to and I think it suffers a little if the visual aspect is missing. To enjoy glam, I need to be experiencing it in the right frame of mind, perhaps taking the piss, playing air guitar with friends and appreciating it in an ironic way. Here's a bit of trivia for you: Gary Jules's version of Mad World was a surprise Christmas number one in the UK in 2003, having edged out Justin Hawkins's band, The Darkness's 'Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)'. I was glad because Mad World was the first song in a long time to appear in the charts that I really liked a time when they were already saturated with cheese. For Adam to be able to span both styles is astounding. I don't dislike everything by The Darkness, but when I heard about the collaboration with Justin Hawkins, I was concerned about the joke act potential. The snippet opens with very a OTT falsetto and despite my musical snobbery, I immediately love it. I love the ballsy statement this makes as the album opener. It's like a big bold 'Fuck you!' to those critics who considered him too theatrical/gay. It's one to dress up for and bring out the mischievous party animal alter ego. The stomping beats and guitar bring back thoughts of big stadium rock bands of the '80s and the harmonies are reminiscent of Queen. You can't not love those lyrics. It jumps around quite a lot melodically and vocally in those 30 seconds but it makes it one of the most exciting tracks to look forward to. It definitely compels me to want to listen again.
2. FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT (3:35)
Writers: Claude Kelly/Dr. Luke Producer: Dr. Luke
Full review HERE
3. WHATAYA WANT FROM ME (3:47)
Writers: Pink, Max Martin, Johan Shellback Producers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback
“It works on a relationship level, but I also relate to the sense of talking to the public. Like, 'This whole thing's a little freaked out, but please have faith in me, because I won't disappoint you'”
After those first two songs, this one with its drop in pace sounds comparatively bland but it does have quite a catchy hook. I can see this as being one to sing along to, maybe even as a good driving song but I'm going to have to wait to hear the verses. The preview only includes the chorus which has a lot of repetition so I'm not very inspired so far. Plus I have an aversion to the spelling of the song title.
4. STRUT (3:29)
Writers: Adam Lambert, Kara DioGuardi, Greg Wells Producer: Greg Wells
“It's a Gary Glitter/T.Rex-type thing with an empowerment lyric. You're not gonna find love and happiness unless you let your hair down and strut your stuff.”
This is a funky one with a bassline melody that reminds me of 'Tainted Love'. It's exactly the type of choppy sound to strut to and I love the guitar solo. I look forward hearing the rest of lyrics in the first of the songs Adam co-wrote. I think there'll be some interesting, maybe funny commentary on people who are too up-tight.
5. SOAKED (4:33)
Writer: Matthew Bellamy (Muse) Producer: Rob Cavallo
This song is all about showcasing Adam's achingly beautiful voice. The tone is rich and full and powerful and makes me feel extremely greedy for more. I have a feeling that this one builds up into an epic performance with full orchestra. The tortured wailing reminds me a lot of Radiohead's Thom Yorke.
6. SURE FIRE WINNERS (3:33)
Writers: David Gamson, Alexander James, Oliver Lieber Producer: Rob Cavallo
This is an electro-infused rock anthem with a great melody. Its bass would whip me onto the dance floor, pronto. It's like the result of a gangbang between Queen's 'We Will Rock You', LT United's joke Eurovision entry 'We Are The Winners' and even Da Luniz's 'I Got 5 on it' amongst others. I love the aggressive tone and Adams enunciation of the 't's in glitter. And this must contain the most badass lyric ever for Adam.
7. A LOADED SMILE (4:04)
Writer/Producer - Linda Perry
“It's a bit dark, with all the vocals in falsetto. It feels like you're floating in space.”
There's an electronica vibe with spine-tingling vocals. It starts off quite dark but I expected it have an even darker other-worldly feel with more of a trip-hop vibe. I prefer the sound of the start of the snippet to that of the end with the louder instrumentals so it'll be interesting to hear how the rest of the song unfolds.
8. IF I HAD YOU (3:48)
Writers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback, Savan Kotecha Producers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback
This song seems very jarring after a slow track. The sound isn't particularly distinctive and I can hear it as a staple of Soho's gay bars with its slightly cheap-sounding production for the backing track. It does have the potential to take off as an Ibiza club anthem in an annoyingly catchy way though. The clip is mainly of the chorus whose multi-layered vocals mask Adam's voice a little. I like the thumping break and love the vocals at the beginning of the verse so I expect to enjoy the verses much more than the chorus. Dance tracks like this are usually dominated by female voices so I'm hopeful Adam's voice gives it that extra edge and saves the song.
9. PICK U UP (4:00)
Writers: Rivers Cuomo, Greg Wells, Adam Lambert Producer: Greg Wells
This is a pleasant sounding rock song and reminds me a little of Kelly Clarkson. It's not the most exciting so far, but I think its strength will be in the verse lyrics. I've spent far too long trying to work them out but they're still not right. Any suggestions would be welcome.
10. FEVER (3:26)
Writers: Lady Gaga, Jeff Bhasker Produce: Jeff Bhasker
This synthy disco number is fun and reminiscent of the Scissor Sisters. A small gripe I have is that I can't tell that the voice in the chorus chant belongs to Adam. I do love the low voice in the verses though, and the injection of camp OTT theatricality.
11. SLEEPWALKER (4:26)
Writers: Ryan Tedder, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey Producer: Ryan Tedder
This one has a grand dramatic feel with echoing drums and what sounds like a small choir in the background. The melody and lyrics are beautiful and I absolutely love the harmonies.
12. AFTERMATH (4:26)
Writers: Adam Lambert, Alisan Porter, Ferras, Ely Rise Producer: Howard Benson
This uplifting song has the sound of a big '80s power-ballad and could become the soundtrack to many awkward teenage years. The start of the clip is a little shrill for my ears but this song will give full license for Adam's voice to really let loose and soar.
13. BROKEN OPEN (5:03)
Writers: Greg Wells, Adam Lambert, Evan Bogart Producer: Greg Wells
“...is about encouraging a lover to become vulnerable enough to cry.”
This has a dated feel but it's all about the breathy emotional vocals. The sparse echoey arrangement of this song makes me feel like I'm lost and drifting alone with the only hope of rescue coming from Adam's ghostly voice beckoning me back. An enchanting song.
14. TIME FOR MIRACLES (4:42)
Writers: Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider Producer: Rob Cavallo
Full review HERE
The album is quite the box of tricks and contains such a huge variety of songs. It was a brave choice to put so many different styles together and you have to admire Adam's versatility. The snippets are a bit jarring but I'm going to wait to hear the full album before deciding how well the collection works. As expected, he's stayed away from boxing himself into any genre with an eclectic mix of pop songs. There's something for everyone and I'm sure we'll all have different favourites. I was hoping to be freaked out by a brand new sound so for me it feels more retro and safer than I would have wanted, but as a first album it's understandable. I prefer the first half, which contains stronger, more interesting sounds and less of the straight-up rock which isn't as distinctive. I'm sure I'll feel different when I hear the full songs. Although tasty, these precious morsels just aren't quite enough and only serve to further stimulate my appetite.
I'm ill at the moment and my head is too congested to write anything that makes sense so I'll just leave you to listen and listen again:
EDIT: Thank you for all the well wishes and apologies for the delay. It's hard to listen properly to music when everything sounds like it's underwater. I still haven't fully shaken off my lurgies, but if I left it any longer, this post would become irrelevant. We were still on a giddy high from hearing the single when the album previews became available so I was surprised about the timing. Amazon UK has since taken them down which has left me stroking my chin fabricating various theories. Surely it couldn't have been down to incompetence? When I realised the clips were available, I hesitated, weighing up whether or not to wait to hear the full high quality songs first rather than short snippets. I promptly hit play. Then hit it again. And again. Then put together the video so I could have it on loop.
1. MUSIC AGAIN (3:16)
Writer: Justin Hawkins Producer: Rob Cavallo
“Glam is back, motherfuckers!”
Glam rock for me has never been my music of choice to listen to and I think it suffers a little if the visual aspect is missing. To enjoy glam, I need to be experiencing it in the right frame of mind, perhaps taking the piss, playing air guitar with friends and appreciating it in an ironic way. Here's a bit of trivia for you: Gary Jules's version of Mad World was a surprise Christmas number one in the UK in 2003, having edged out Justin Hawkins's band, The Darkness's 'Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)'. I was glad because Mad World was the first song in a long time to appear in the charts that I really liked a time when they were already saturated with cheese. For Adam to be able to span both styles is astounding. I don't dislike everything by The Darkness, but when I heard about the collaboration with Justin Hawkins, I was concerned about the joke act potential. The snippet opens with very a OTT falsetto and despite my musical snobbery, I immediately love it. I love the ballsy statement this makes as the album opener. It's like a big bold 'Fuck you!' to those critics who considered him too theatrical/gay. It's one to dress up for and bring out the mischievous party animal alter ego. The stomping beats and guitar bring back thoughts of big stadium rock bands of the '80s and the harmonies are reminiscent of Queen. You can't not love those lyrics. It jumps around quite a lot melodically and vocally in those 30 seconds but it makes it one of the most exciting tracks to look forward to. It definitely compels me to want to listen again.
Look into my eyes in my eyes
Oh you make me wanna listen to music again
Yeah you make me wanna listen to music again
There had been many moons before I met ya
And I ain't going nowhere
And now you give me back my raison d'être
2. FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT (3:35)
Writers: Claude Kelly/Dr. Luke Producer: Dr. Luke
Full review HERE
3. WHATAYA WANT FROM ME (3:47)
Writers: Pink, Max Martin, Johan Shellback Producers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback
“It works on a relationship level, but I also relate to the sense of talking to the public. Like, 'This whole thing's a little freaked out, but please have faith in me, because I won't disappoint you'”
After those first two songs, this one with its drop in pace sounds comparatively bland but it does have quite a catchy hook. I can see this as being one to sing along to, maybe even as a good driving song but I'm going to have to wait to hear the verses. The preview only includes the chorus which has a lot of repetition so I'm not very inspired so far. Plus I have an aversion to the spelling of the song title.
Whataya want from me
Just don't give up, I'm working 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, hey
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
Whataya want from me
4. STRUT (3:29)
Writers: Adam Lambert, Kara DioGuardi, Greg Wells Producer: Greg Wells
“It's a Gary Glitter/T.Rex-type thing with an empowerment lyric. You're not gonna find love and happiness unless you let your hair down and strut your stuff.”
This is a funky one with a bassline melody that reminds me of 'Tainted Love'. It's exactly the type of choppy sound to strut to and I love the guitar solo. I look forward hearing the rest of lyrics in the first of the songs Adam co-wrote. I think there'll be some interesting, maybe funny commentary on people who are too up-tight.
...how you wanna be
Everybody's looking for some love but they don't know
How to let it all hang out and that's why they're solo solo solo
Don't wanna be solo solo solo
Don't wanna be solo
We're a complicated nation...
5. SOAKED (4:33)
Writer: Matthew Bellamy (Muse) Producer: Rob Cavallo
This song is all about showcasing Adam's achingly beautiful voice. The tone is rich and full and powerful and makes me feel extremely greedy for more. I have a feeling that this one builds up into an epic performance with full orchestra. The tortured wailing reminds me a lot of Radiohead's Thom Yorke.
...alone
It's not the first time
It's not the worst crime
Your soul will be OK
And you've had enough
Searching for love
6. SURE FIRE WINNERS (3:33)
Writers: David Gamson, Alexander James, Oliver Lieber Producer: Rob Cavallo
This is an electro-infused rock anthem with a great melody. Its bass would whip me onto the dance floor, pronto. It's like the result of a gangbang between Queen's 'We Will Rock You', LT United's joke Eurovision entry 'We Are The Winners' and even Da Luniz's 'I Got 5 on it' amongst others. I love the aggressive tone and Adams enunciation of the 't's in glitter. And this must contain the most badass lyric ever for Adam.
We are, yeah, we are, we are the sure fire winners
Sure fire winners, sure fire winners, sure fire winners
Flick the switch and the missile will fire
I'm a heat seeker when I'm full of desire
We're all drawn to the heat of the flame
'cause you wanna be a star in the hall of fame
I was born with glitter on my face
My baby clothes made of leather and lace
And all the girls in the club wanna know...
7. A LOADED SMILE (4:04)
Writer/Producer - Linda Perry
“It's a bit dark, with all the vocals in falsetto. It feels like you're floating in space.”
There's an electronica vibe with spine-tingling vocals. It starts off quite dark but I expected it have an even darker other-worldly feel with more of a trip-hop vibe. I prefer the sound of the start of the snippet to that of the end with the louder instrumentals so it'll be interesting to hear how the rest of the song unfolds.
I, I never felt so satisfied
Everything falls into place but
I think I need a little more time
And yeah I know my life has changed but
Honestly I don't know if we'll survive
8. IF I HAD YOU (3:48)
Writers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback, Savan Kotecha Producers: Max Martin, Johan Shellback
This song seems very jarring after a slow track. The sound isn't particularly distinctive and I can hear it as a staple of Soho's gay bars with its slightly cheap-sounding production for the backing track. It does have the potential to take off as an Ibiza club anthem in an annoyingly catchy way though. The clip is mainly of the chorus whose multi-layered vocals mask Adam's voice a little. I like the thumping break and love the vocals at the beginning of the verse so I expect to enjoy the verses much more than the chorus. Dance tracks like this are usually dominated by female voices so I'm hopeful Adam's voice gives it that extra edge and saves the song.
Fame and fortune never could compete
If I had you
Life would be a party it'd be ecstasy
Yeah if i had you
You y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do y-y-y-y-y do
If i had you
From new york to la getting high rocking
9. PICK U UP (4:00)
Writers: Rivers Cuomo, Greg Wells, Adam Lambert Producer: Greg Wells
This is a pleasant sounding rock song and reminds me a little of Kelly Clarkson. It's not the most exciting so far, but I think its strength will be in the verse lyrics. I've spent far too long trying to work them out but they're still not right. Any suggestions would be welcome.
... my life I've been waiting
Pass my time procrastinating now
It's a trip on a fume
And flash right through the sea
Can't you see what I mean?
10. FEVER (3:26)
Writers: Lady Gaga, Jeff Bhasker Produce: Jeff Bhasker
This synthy disco number is fun and reminiscent of the Scissor Sisters. A small gripe I have is that I can't tell that the voice in the chorus chant belongs to Adam. I do love the low voice in the verses though, and the injection of camp OTT theatricality.
I’m sick of laying down alone, hey
With this fever fever, yeah
My one and own
I wanna get you alone
Give you fever fever yeah
There it goes
You're still my soul and so
’cause, sweetheart
No-no-nobody a-kno-kno-knows me
Or can find ...
11. SLEEPWALKER (4:26)
Writers: Ryan Tedder, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey Producer: Ryan Tedder
This one has a grand dramatic feel with echoing drums and what sounds like a small choir in the background. The melody and lyrics are beautiful and I absolutely love the harmonies.
Outside the rain's fallin' down
There's not a drop that hits me
Scream at the sky but no sound
Is leavin' my lips
It's like I can't even feel
After the way you touched me
I'm not asleep but I'm not awake
After the way you loved me
I can't turn this around
I keep...
12. AFTERMATH (4:26)
Writers: Adam Lambert, Alisan Porter, Ferras, Ely Rise Producer: Howard Benson
This uplifting song has the sound of a big '80s power-ballad and could become the soundtrack to many awkward teenage years. The start of the clip is a little shrill for my ears but this song will give full license for Adam's voice to really let loose and soar.
In the Aftermath
Anytime anybody pulls you down
Anytime anybody says you're not allowed
Just remember you are not alone
In the Aftermath
You feel the weight
Of lies and contradictions that...
13. BROKEN OPEN (5:03)
Writers: Greg Wells, Adam Lambert, Evan Bogart Producer: Greg Wells
“...is about encouraging a lover to become vulnerable enough to cry.”
This has a dated feel but it's all about the breathy emotional vocals. The sparse echoey arrangement of this song makes me feel like I'm lost and drifting alone with the only hope of rescue coming from Adam's ghostly voice beckoning me back. An enchanting song.
I don't want you to go
Don't wanna see you back out in the cold
Air you're breathing out fills you with grey
Don't run away, find me
I know the battles of chasing the shadows of who you are
14. TIME FOR MIRACLES (4:42)
Writers: Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider Producer: Rob Cavallo
Full review HERE
The album is quite the box of tricks and contains such a huge variety of songs. It was a brave choice to put so many different styles together and you have to admire Adam's versatility. The snippets are a bit jarring but I'm going to wait to hear the full album before deciding how well the collection works. As expected, he's stayed away from boxing himself into any genre with an eclectic mix of pop songs. There's something for everyone and I'm sure we'll all have different favourites. I was hoping to be freaked out by a brand new sound so for me it feels more retro and safer than I would have wanted, but as a first album it's understandable. I prefer the first half, which contains stronger, more interesting sounds and less of the straight-up rock which isn't as distinctive. I'm sure I'll feel different when I hear the full songs. Although tasty, these precious morsels just aren't quite enough and only serve to further stimulate my appetite.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
The Final Preparations
The finale's nearly here and I hope we're not all turning into nervous wrecks! The big question is, as it has always been, is what is Adam going to do? I await with a combination of eager anticipation, excitement and anxiety. There will be three performances each, with rumours being that one of the songs is going to be the contestant's favourite from the season, one Simon Fuller's choice, and the other one the coronation song written by Kara.
What would I like Adam to do? I feel like I'm in a bit of a dilemma. There's no doubt I would consider myself a die-hard fan who would love to see him go all-out crazy OTT Glambert in his most extreme incarnation because I believe that to be closer to what he'd like to do. It would be mind-blowingly entertaining for him to let loose without inhibition, sending a enormous 'Fuck you!' to all his haters, subverting AI and turning TV talent shows on their head. To be so fearlessly audacious and be crowned with the win would be the biggest and sweetest reward possible for Adam, finally overcoming the battle to be accepted as his no-holds-barred, unadulterated and fabulous self. In my perfect scenario, he'd win by a landslide, and the world would undergo a creative revolution where everyone would open their minds, feel completely free to experiment with self-expression and be accepted and celebrated for all their quirks. In the real world however, because I don't have enough faith in America, I'm afraid it would mean Adam losing the competition because there'd be too many scared conservatives running back to the sanctimony of their pulpits to spout vitriol, condemning any perceived threat to the safe mundanity of their lives. Do I really want to see Adam in his full magnificence at the expense of his winning the competition? This is the balancing act that Adam has had to deal with all season and I'm going to have to side with him compromising just a little in order to win as there'll be plenty of time later to propel us out of this world. Although that doesn't prevent me from still holding out for some of this on the results show performances when the voting is over.
The thing about Adam is, because he gave us a teaser at the start of One last week, he also rather contradictorily has me ravenous for the complete opposite kind of slow song of that will really tear our hearts out, rip us to shreds and leave us as quivering bawling wrecks because I know he can do it, he can move the world to tears. The only problem might be that none of us will be able to recover sufficiently enough to vote afterwards. To be able to have both types of performance on the same night would be beyond awesome. Perhaps the reason why we didn't have such completely contrasting performances last week was intentional. Things are usually more intense after a period of deprivation and to make us ache for it could help to achieve the maximum impact in the finale.
For selfish reasons of wanting more new Adam performances to marvel at, I really hope we don't see a reprise but I do understand that three songs is a lot to sort out a few days, not to mention all the enormous pressure and freaking out before the big day. If I had to choose a song for him to reprise, I wouldn't choose Satisfaction because we've heard it twice already but there is potential for improvement in terms of the vocals. I wouldn't want him to reprise classic performances such as RoF, ToMT, WLL or MW because part of their appeal was in capturing the magic of the moment. I fear the surprise factor would be missing so that they wouldn't surpass the original. It's possible he could rearrange them, but any rearrangement of RoF would seem like he was retreating and bowing down to appease his critics. Which leaves BoW, PTFM, BTBW, IICHY, FG, One and Cryin'. Of those, I think IICHY, FG and One have the most potential for a 'moment' that were narrowly missed first time round. Both IICHY and One could help with being lengthened, and FG and One could be improved for the AI audience by sticking closer to the studio versions. I doubt One will be reprised, having been done so recently but Adam has the ability to make it sound completely different should he choose. BoW was done a long time ago so there's scope for improvement and to show how much he's grown since then. I doubt that reprising PTFM, BTBW or Cryin' would help Adam in the competition, considered to be his more 'screechy' tunes. I think it would work well if he chose any of the five songs he sang in the early rounds. Contestant's favourite is a term that's open to interpretation though, and could mean any song from the season. As it's a rumour, I'm still hoping for a new song.
The other songs are the coronation song and Simon Fuller's choice. I have no doubt that if Adam sings head-to-head against Kris with the same song, same arrangement, Adam will wipe the floor with him. Adam's voice is an additional instrument that can completely change a song, but it all comes down to a matter of taste. Some people will prefer Kris's arrangements and vocal imperfections, which although distinctive, on a night of three performances where he's weaker than Adam when it comes to varying it up, he'll sound quite samey. I'm guessing that Kara's song will be quite ballady although it depends on who she had in mind when she wrote it. I'm hoping for a pleasant surprise. Simon Fuller's choice will be quite revealing as to the producers' intentions but I'm hoping overall that the songs chosen will vary in tempo so that Adam can treat us with diverse and dynamic performances. I want to see one high-octane OTT performance with a dance routine where he goes crazy with his signature vocals, one emotionally rousing one and a bonus would be a really edgy left-field one that he'd bring into the mainstream (which, let's face it, won't happen).
Now is the time to leave these thoughts here, clear my expectations and go in with an open mind. I think my ability to do this has been improving as the weeks have gone by and I trust Adam's instincts in knowing what to do. I don't think the quality of performances are actually going to make a huge difference to the outcome of the competition because the casual voters won't be the ones voting frantically for a full four hours. I think it's going to be won based on the dedication of the fanbases and their ability to send group texts, so it's very important to do what we can. I want him to win for the way he has captured our imaginations and inspired us - we owe it to him. I need him to win for that elusive validation he seeks and I'd be so pissed off if he didn't. He is a superstar who is light years ahead of the competition and deserves to be recognised and rewarded for his talent and courage.
Tomorrow's reviews of the three performances may come out a bit later than usual and may be phased because I'll be exhausted after lack of sleep staying up to vote. I urge you to do the same so that we can all finish this journey celebrating together on the highest of highs. Please, GET VOTING!
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
The Run-Up to Top 3 - Judge and Personal Picks
It's getting to the final stretch and Adam needs to continue with his upward climb from the past two weeks. I think he'll manage it but if he plays it level, I'm afraid it won't be enough. This week is pretty open in terms of the type of music we're going to be hearing. I believe from the homecoming event that there are a couple of possibilities for Adam: One by U2 and Wicked Games by Chris Isaak. These aren't definite but I kind of wish I was clueless as I really loved it last week when Whole Lotta Love came out of the blue as a complete but very welcome surprise. I really appreciated the fact that Adam came back from the Glumbert Day scare with all guns blazing, giving us a thrilling performance. And frankly, we were gagging for some of that crazy Adam we hadn't quite seen since RoF. To be able to hear him sing two songs by himself tonight just hasn't come soon enough. I haven't managed to refrain from speculating, but I think I've managed not to build up my expectations too much.
I think One is a great song although I'm not quite sure what Adam could do with it to make it really special. It's not the most exciting song and I don't see it to be challenging enough as I think he does best when he's really pushed. I'm guessing we'll be relying on the pure emotion of the vocals to drive home the impact as I don't think One lends itself well to being re-arranged. But then again, although the song is lacking in light and shade, I feel I can pretty much rely on Adam to shine his fog lights and dig a trench, then slap a bonus 1000lb firework on top.
I love Wicked Games by Chris Isaak. It's one song I'd already entertained in my mind that I'd like to hear him sing. It's not quite mainstream and such a stirring, intensely gripping and steamy song that simmers a heartbeat away from boiling point. It doesn't have much range in terms of pitch, but there's a lot of room to play with in regards to the emotional delivery. Providing he doesn't mess with the arrangement too much, it's quite bare, which should enable him plenty of space to allow us to marvel when his voice unfolds its spectrum of nuances. I'd be interested to hear more of his lower range which I think would better suit the song's sensuality. Adam can express the anguish and desperation of obsession like no one else can. I have no doubt he'll be able to connect to the song and in doing so, he'll connect us to the song. The only problem is that we might die watching it! The lyrics describe how we feel towards him, and for him to return the sentiment might just send us over the edge! Someone will have to mop my remains up off the floor after I've melted in his heat then drowned in the agony of yearning.
Of course he might not even sing these songs at all as I'm doubtful that Wicked Games will get cleared. I'm not quite as nervous as last week, just a little apprehensive. I'm excited to see what's in store but a little concerned from the Tweets I've picked up that Kris has been doing very well this week. If Kris has a 'moment' and Adam doesn't amaze with his songs, then it's possible that Adam might end up in trouble. GET VOTING!
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Rock On!
Well after my last rather self-indulgent post, it's time to get back to business.
Adam has been ahead of his game so far. He's challenged himself like no other contestant and as a result, he's showcased his abilities with different genres before their dedicated week. He did Play That Funky Music ahead of disco week, and he's already done a brilliant electro-infused rock classic in Born To Be Wild before rock week. We know he can rock the pants off of everyone else there, but does that mean that he won't be able to rock it out this week? Much like how I felt during disco week, I would love to see him take the genre to the extreme, especially with Slash as the mentor, but at the same time, I don't want him to do it predictably. Adam is simply expected to do very well this week and I'm quite nervous that our expectations are way out of reach. Would he reveal to us yet another different facet of his craft?
After Wednesday's headfuckery, it's very tempting to be anti-AI. I'm sure Adam is way above it, but I would love for him to come out with a shockingly outrageous and subversive 'Fuck you!' performance so that if he's booted off, the AI machine might not be able to sink its claws into him as deeply as if he'd won, and he'd make a mockery of the show for its worshipping of dreary production-line mediocrity bereft of creativity. On the other hand, if there is a week in which he's able to get away with something like this, then it would be when his fans are fully riled and rallying around him, and he may be able to afford taking a massive risk to give us another pivotal moment like Ring of Fire. Oh how I'd love that!
I don't know exactly how popular Slash is, but would his appearance during rock week draw in a crowd who wouldn't usually watch Idol, and would they be struck down by the brilliance of Adam Lambert? And would this crowd be sizeable and is it possible for them to be tempted to vote, and what would motivate them? How would Adam adapt to appeal to that audience? What would the other contestants do, and how would he set himself apart? Should he play it safe after the scare? It's near impossible to satisfy his whole spectrum of fans, so which section is it more important to satisfy now and post-AI? Is it better for him to secure popularity with the casual voters so he wins the competition, or is it better to deepen his loyal following by sticking close to his artistic inclinations? I can't even begin to imagine what's goes through Adam's head as he weighs up all the different possibilities and outcomes to come to a decision. This game is so freaking complicated!
At the moment, we're expecting a solo performance along with a duet, which begs the question of how that will be played out. I'm annoyed that another Adam solo is being sacrificed for the sake of keeping the competition alive. I wish they'd just give him his own show to do whatever the hell he pleases. Will whoever gets to duet with Adam be able to bask in his halo or be forced to stand in his shadow? I think it'll be the former because Adam's had plenty of experience with duets so he knows now not to completely dominate. I'm interested to see how they'll be judged, whether it's on the overall performance or whether it's as individuals. Will the pairings reveal to us the producers' game? And how the hell are they going to fit it all in?
This post is full of questions I'm avoiding answering for now because I don't want to obsess any more over all the different possibilities of what I think Adam might do and with what kind of song. As I've written before, I don't want to sculpt my expectations and spoil my surprise. I'm going to have to stay away from the internet until showtime. Tuesday is finally here. I can't wait.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Cold Turkey? Give Me Hot Lamb!
Contrary to what I posted last week, starvation is unnatural and definitely not for me. Starving myself of my Adam fix just didn't work. If there's something tasty lying around, I'll eat it. Although it truly disturbs me how much of my waking hours are occupied by Adam Lambert, I can't break free from his captivation. Rather than stay away from all the forums and and fansites, I actually ended up joining and participating.
A few things in the news this week are a reported feud with Kris Allen which is pretty ridiculous, Adam kicking ass on iTunes downloads, Upright Cabaret's Adam night, where he sang a bit of 'Feeling Good' on speakerphone, and his eagerly awaited Upright Cabaret performances of 'Kiss From a Rose' and 'How Come You Don't Call Me?' on YouTube. They've given me plenty of viewing pleasure, a welcome bonus after a long week but have still left me wanting for more. I love all the Upright performances for many reasons. It's not a huge venue and so the atmosphere is relatively personal and Adam seems relaxed in himself, chatting away. The performances are more heartfelt because he's much more expressive, but if he were to repeat these to the big audience on American Idol, it would probably be labelled 'dramatic' or 'cabaret'. Another thing I love about the performances are the improvisations and ad-libbing. You feel that Adam and the pianist Gerald Sternbach are two phenomenally talented individuals just jamming together and making things up as they go along, but they manage to come up with something brilliant and flawless each time. I also love the simplicity of the arrangements where there's nothing to detract from the emotion of Adam's breathtaking voice. When Adam does his riffs and runs, they are always spot-on. For that reason, I'd like to hear Adam sing some soul/jazz/blues with just a piano accompaniment some time. We got a taste during 'Some Kind of Wonderful' where his riffs were outstanding but I really want to hear more.
Luckily aided by the theme of Rat Pack songs this week, I've done quite well in terms of avoiding over-analysing and trying to second-guess what Adam's going to do next. The songs that fall into that category are quite plentiful and they've been re-recorded and re-interpreted so many times that the choice of song and style are pretty broad. I've tried hard to not go through all the different scenarios, so that I'm still able to be surprised and feel the impact of Adam's performance. I'll be going in with as open a mind as possible, not weighted down with too many expectations. I was even going to try to see if I could maximise the impact of Adam's performance by waiting until Thursday (Thursday!) when it's aired on UK TV rather than on a slightly dodgy streamed version tonight, but the temptation is overpowering. I'd prefer sizzling Lamb to hot Lamb, but give me hot Lamb over cold turkey any day!
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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