Watch What Happens Live

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Adam appeared on Bravo TV's Watch What Happens Live with fellow guest Beth Ditto. Here's the full show:



Adam's appearance here is made of win and is a right treat. He seems to feed off Beth's energy, showing his humour and charm. The snarky side that hasn't been seen for a while comes out to play. He isn't afraid to get his claws out for some priceless moments but still stays classy. Love this!

The Human Guy that Sings - Chelsea Lately

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Adam was interviewed on Chelsea Lately last night and although it was great to see him, I didn't enjoy the interview much more than the previous appearance as I find her manner too abrasive.



Adam opts to wear a french navy jacket over a starred leopardskin T-shirt with black trousers and boots. I'm not keen on the colour combo, probably because of my aversion to leopardskin. It does go well with his hair though, and his fresh-looking face. The interview is meh for me though, as Chelsea's trying too hard to be funny at the expense of making the guest feel comfortable and allowing him to entertain. It seems she keeps trying to steer the conversation back to sexuality, but fair play to Adam for playing along, staying classy. Chelsea should pick up on the quote used in the title as a little dig as Adam tries to tug the focus back to his music and upcoming album. The most interesting parts of the interview are what Adam says about making music videos and the fact that FYE has passed 2 million sales.

Ellen - Better Than I Know Myself

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Hot off the heels of the Leno performance comes the next stop on the promo rounds, Ellen. Keeping his look consistent but in a more casual daytime affair, Adam sticks with sober colours, very little makeup and only a bit of jewellery for sparkle.



The mix is so much better than on Leno with each sound being more distinct. The bass and guitar are more noticeable with Adam's vocals right where they should be. His voice is clear, mellifluous and less whispery. Listen to the velvety smooth sound of truth with that little bit of vibrato. I could drink it up all day. The harmonies are delightful and I'm definitely feeling the fire in this one. There's less holding back from the beginning which makes the hunger for the crescendo a little less desperate but when it does come, it's an impassioned, spine-tingling moment that gets a huge cheer from me.

In the short interview, Adam touches on the two different sounds and moods on Trespassing. He acknowledges his relationship and falling in love before being quizzed about the drunken shenanigans in Finland over the holidays. Respect to him that he doesn't shirk it but handles his response with class. As well as give our dirty minds 'juicing' to smirk about as a euphemism.

A successful appearance and another gem for the collection for this second performance of BTIKM. Within the space of a couple of days, I'm shocked at how much room for improvement Adam was able to demonstrate, but by now I really should know better.

Majors and Minors

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This is something we'd been looking forward to for months and after a few delays, we finally got it. We already know that Adam makes a good mentor with his stints on AI and Project Runway but this one is a little bit different, being with a group of children who are preparing to put on a performance of WWFM:



I'm not one for going goo-goo over kids but it warmed the cockles of my heart to see all the flailing and squeeing so commonplace in this fandom, in miniature. They seemed quite precocious and perceptive, hitting the nail on the head when it came to describing Adam's poise and presence. Dressed as a casual rock star, he was very attentive towards them, giving much of that furrowed brow expression of intense concentration while imparting his wisdom through useful and supportive advice. I think his advice brought to the fore the fact that like any instrument, there are many intricacies to master when it comes to singing, such as using emphasis in phrasing and intonation to create an emotional connection to the audience, and how confidence and using your body can up your performance level. Adam makes it all seem so instinctive and easy. When he sings WWFM, he makes his voice sound so sweet that he's sure to always get whatever he wants with it, however major (or minor).

Here's something I made specially for the occasion:

Adam Lambert on Project Runway

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We first heard about Adam's appearance on Project Runway as a judge quite some time ago and this week we'd been teased by photos trickling out from the set. We all know about Adam's love for fashion and how he always makes a huge visual impact with his carefully considered fashion choices, often making headlines for all the right reasons. This and his ability to articulately provide constructive feedback makes him an ideal fit. Here's my playlist containing the full show (Adam's part starts at the 37 minute mark), extended critiques and finally, the contestants' opinions about Adam as a judge.



The task for the week is to put together a look for an unsigned scruffy-looking hirsute band called the Sheepdogs, whose appearance is worlds apart from Adam's dapper image and his sharp glamorous form-fitting ensembles. Adam is a musician who also lives and breathes fashion. We wouldn't have been as hooked as we were during his AI run had he not tailored his styling to suit each and every performance. How many of us wondered what he would be wearing and compulsively tuned in to see his outfits every week? How many of us studied what he was wearing at the start of the show to try to guess what kind of performance he would put in? How many of us fell into his Ring of Fire after staring at that zip? I'm sure you can still remember every single one of those outfits. If anyone knows how to use fashion to enhance a performance and captivate an audience, it's Adam. Unfortunately though, the Sheepdogs don't get a miraculous Adam makeover, which would've made for unmissable TV, but stay close to their style.

A few things of note from the videos: Adam's little gasp of delight as Heidi Klum introduces him as a "fashion forward musician"; the sunshine laughter he brings onto the set; introducing the angle of the musicians' movement and how the clothing can enhance it; respectfully not trying too hard to steal the spotlight through finding inventive ways of dissing the clothes; his expression revealing his wholehearted approval of making men's clothes sexy.

Overall, Adam gave useful feedback and did a fantastic job without being bitchy, which the contestants' comments support. Wonder how long we'll have to wait for his own collection... I can't wait!

A Flailworthy Return

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What a great time to return when there's so much to celebrate! Thanks for sticking around! I really needed that time off after the exhaustion of Glam Nation.

Here's what I missed in the past month in a very brief summary:

• Long hair with / without goatee
• Dark 2nd album
• Sauli
• Charity Water
• Cherry baby
• Grammy Social Media panel
• Pop-dance Aftermath
• Glam Nation DVD

And we've been spoilt rotten in the last couple of days with all the publicity appearances:

The Talk

Adam looks fresh-faced and happy as his disarming charm "Don't let the nail polish fool you!" reminds us why we all fell for him. If his vocabulary "rambunctious", "rudimentary" doesn't quite do it for you then his hero fireman or primal caveman certainly will. This appearance is made of win and it's impossible to keep a straight face as we see the love and excitement pouring out from the fans who are just too cute.

Extra TV - The Grove

Adam looks every bit the rock star that he is. That gilet is so retro-space but also reminds me of Michael Jackson's red Thriller jacket. The dulcet tones as he goes into a very brief a capella line from WWFM are just too painfully short and leave me wanting more.


Ellen


Adam performs an acoustic version of WWFM for the first time on TV, and since I haven't heard his voice for a while, I'm hit by its agonising beauty. It's so velvety and breathy and rich and soothingly mellifluous all at the same time. The start of the arrangement is similar to the Berlin NRJ performance where Monte gently picks the guitar and Adam whispers. Even after hundreds of performances, Adam still finds a way to refresh it for hardcore fans. There are changes in the timing and phrasing with the delayed "What DO you want from me?" making the question more direct and poignant, and much less defensive. The picking changes into a strum with the vocals building up to an unexpected intensity towards the end. The crescendo is stunning. I much prefer it when he stays away from his falsetto for "So DON'T give up". Sometimes this part can sound a little snatched or shouty when he stays in full voice but here the notes are given room to expand, sounding so smooth and full and resonant I just want to eat them up.

JLC Good Times

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Adam Lambert is back on UK channel Five on Justin Lee Collins: Good Times. I've seen a few of these and it's quite an entertaining show with a more imaginative format than most. The host is from the West Country with a country bumpkin farmer accent. He looks like a hirsute teddy bear and used to team up with Alan Carr as his comedy partner. He tends to be physically affectionate with a habit of kissing guys on the lips so I doubt he'll be able to resist planting a smacker onto Adam.

The show starts at 23:00 UK, 15:00 LA, 18:00 NY, 07:00 Tokyo time. While we're waiting, please go and vote for the IIHY video and sign the petition for PPV online streaming.
If you haven't got your legit copy of CLYG yet, you can get it on For Your Entertainment (EU Edition) (Incl. Bonus Tracks) from Amazon US.

Well that was major technology fail on my part, but here's full uncut version from Five.tv that wasn't aired:

Adam on Jonathan Ross - Live Stream

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Well I've finally managed to get my blog mostly back up to date, so please check out the posts over the last couple of days. This is my first attempt at streaming a show so I hope it works OK. My little laptop is actually an antique with a measly 1GB RAM and powered by hamsters, so apologies if it doesn't work or keeps buffering. To keep the load down on my computer, I won't be tweeting during the show or watching the stream. I'll try and be in the chat room so if there are any problems, let me know there.

Although he has his funny moments, I'm not a big fan of Jonathan Ross. I think he's an annoying prat but his show is the most popular late night one, drawing high-profile guests and attracting audiences of a few million. It will be good exposure for Adam, and satisfying to see the universal effect of the charmicide.

It kicks off here at 22:45 UK time, 14:45 LA, 17:45 NY, and 06:45 Tokyo. Enjoy the show!

UPDATE: Looks like it's been delayed by 15 mins because of election coverage.
New times 23:00 UK, 15:00 LA, 18:00 NY, 07:00 Tokyo

Here are the YT recordings of the stream. They're not great quality and I cut out the Feeling Good clip for copyright, but it includes priceless Adam as a 'Southern black woman'.



I've left up the full-length Ustream recording too, for those who want to play a 'Spot Adam in the Green Room' drinking game.

Sleepwalking Tonight

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How much do I fucking love this performance?

I didn't stay up for the stream so the first thing I did after getting up was seek out this Leno video. I'd seen it twittered about that the song was going to be Sleepwalker but didn't think much more about this first televised performance because I'm still not quite functioning normally after that acoustic WLL.



As always with Adam, his visual presentation hits me first before anything else and this look is an eye-popping WOW. In all the recent TV performances, he'd been dressed fairly down for WWFM so I wasn't expecting this for Sleepwalker. Looking fabulously glammed up to the max, I realise how much I've missed the dressing up. The huge spiky asymmetric quiff that looks like Sonic the Hedgehog in profile is gloriously OTT. There is something very retro-space-glam about his look, reminding me of both Ming the Merciless and Star Trek but infinitely more sparkly. It's the eye make-up (with rhinestones, bitch!) and regally ornate detailling on his jacket & boots that recall Ming. And despite all the jewels, the cut of the jacket teamed with the stripe down the side of his trousers is rather utilitarian. It must be his captain's uniform for when he's commanding his spaceship. After all, I don't expect him to be flying to Australia in something as normal or earthly as a plane!

I haven't even got to the singing yet. My word. He said he now warms up before performing and maybe that made a difference. I watched intently for any changes on this perfect rendition. The way he belts instead of going into falsetto on 'You're everything that I want' makes a vast difference to the song, delivering the impact that I feel was missing from the album recording. He's so expressive singing with such passion that I can't help but be awestruck. Although I do chuckle slightly as I see that tongue snaking out as he hits those highs. I love that incredible belt as it really gets the song rocking. In contrast, the final seraphic note on the ending is just sublime keeping my eyes wide open, stunned throughout.

Catching Up

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I know it's been ages so I'm pleased you're still here. I thought I should write a catchup post summarising the past few weeks it as it doesn't look like I'll be able to write about everything I missed in detail before this latest wave of happenings. that'll teach me for going away!

Part of the problem of writing about the Adam world while I was away is that, unlike everything else on this site, I didn't feel the excitement and anticipation in real-time and as a result there's definitely something missing. I didn't go through the process of celebrating confirmed gigs, speculating during the drum-roll over things like songs, appearance and fashion stylings, and didn't get to share the experiences with you all as they happened. I also missed gauging the reactions and reading the positive media responses in the aftermath. That's something I need to keep up the obsession - it's no fun without you. Gorging my solitary self on the mountain of tasties in a short space of time meant that everything got blurred and I wasn't able to associate distinctive emotions or memories to each of the events. It's much better in smaller regular bites and that's why it was probably so easy to get hooked in the first place during AI's regular routine. This obsession is part choice, part addiction. When I came back after having gone cold turkey for so long, I could easily have chosen to be just a regular fan. What makes me a bit of a nutcase is the ethusiasm of the community, which I choose to continue to be a part of.

The highlights for me include the performances and a couple of interviews (Lyndsey Parker porch interview for the detailed chat about the music, Jessi Cruickshank's fun interview and game), though there seemed to be a shitload of them all going over the same old territory like the AMAs, being gay, Lady Gaga, meeting Oprah and meeting Madonna which all got rather tedious. It was annoying to spend such a long time listening to the same things over and over because they were so time-consuming but there were useful bits of info such as the possibility of Adam doing his first tour solo. And let's not forget his fashionista gig at the Grammys which he was a little too kind for and the Canadian TV appearances.

The first of the many Adam Lambert goodies that came along was the music video for Whataya Want From Me? for which I'd already been partially spoiled during the shooting.



The video to me is biographical and seems to represent the time around the AMA fallout but on a more personal level. He's letting us see a side that we don't see or even think about. Conveying the message of the song, Adam is pleading for patience and understanding as he sorts himself out. The colours and spaces we see Adam in are bleak and sombre. Adam is a joyless solitary figure in his cold sparsely furnished home that he hasn't been able to make comfortable, which tells us that his rapid rise to fame hasn't allowed him time to tend to it. The high walls of the garden resemble a fortress, furthering his isolation. He hasn't even had time to even look after himself or his heart, expressing anger, regret and frustration at the observer. When we see that, behind the contrasting performer and pap encounters, we feel sympathy and come to realise that it's not all glitz, glamour and smiles. Who the observer is has been left open to interpretation, but if it is his fans he brings us in closer. The last shot of a hint of a smile on getting into bed with him reassures us that everything will be OK and sums up his optimistic nature.

I would have liked to have seen something a little more abstract and less real, with Adam indulging in some elaborate costumes. I originally had in mind a variety like some of his Halloween ones, maybe a clown, a robot, an alien, a magician, perhaps one in drag. At the start we can't really see who it is and the camera pans to each one in a trippy and slightly frightening manner. It slows as the performances end to differing audience reactions and feelings from our entertainer. Then at each dressing room mirror we slowly see him emerging from under the make-up as the characters in their various guises converge, and so do their moods to reveal Adam at his vulnerable core. Well, I didn't get what I had imagined, but the video as it stands is beautifully shot with plenty of Adam camera time looking his best with a loud and clear message.

Oprah
One of the first things that struck me about Adam's appearance on Oprah was how androgynous his hair and make-up was, making him look particularly pretty. He was charming during the interview. The emphasis was on him during the polished performances where the band were lowered from the stage platform. It was great to see the audience singing along.





Ellen
This was my favourite of all the performances and such a joy to watch. Adam performing Strut aptly seemed very confident, giving off a rockstar vibe, dazzling us with his fun energy, his dancing and astonishing vocals. He commanded the stage like no other.

Leno Plucking Adam Out

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I watched Leno in a very happy frame of mind after finding out Adam's album sales figures for the week, which were much higher than what I'd been expecting. Adam had already been a part of a few of Leno's sketches leading up to the appearance so I was looking forward to seeing the interaction between them.



I was amused by the house band's attempt to play FYE at Adam's entrance without any electronic effects, and the hug he gave Leno reminded me of the one he gave Randy Travis. Adam's look was the most casual I'd seen of late - no leather, not glam, and even slightly grungy. It most closely resembled that from the TFM video. There was plenty of make-up though, and I liked the jewellery, especially the snake.

The interview itself was one of the most enjoyable so far, talking about Adam's past and his family. He was so natural at endearing us to his human side and his voice impressions were funny. The pregnant pause and mischievous expression after Jay's emphasis on 'plucked' was a classic, and the 'safe plucking' response was hilarious, leaving us in no doubt once again as to his lightning-quick wit. It was reassuring that Jay was fanboying all over Adam, unable to resist touching him. One with lesser integrity and articulation skills may have nodded along and agreed with Jay's cynical take over the AMA furore, but it was admirable that Adam consistently continued to take responsibility for his actions. I loved the little sarcastic mention of Billy O'Reilly with a twinkle in the eye. I'm really curious to see them head-to-head, and whether he'd be able to resist Adam's charm.



Monte returned with the bejewelled guitar, with the foggy atmosphere and lighting Mad World-like. It was another beautiful and solid performance with a few changes like a low 'Please don't give in'. It just keeps improving. There was another back-to-back moment with Tommy but the camera went towards Lisa for the synth break. The sound mix was good and this was one of the best vocals of WWFM so far. Not glitzy, not angry, not sad but assured, very natural, understated and quietly confident.

I'll leave you the tweet of mine you liked the most, and as promised, part of the best plucking episode of Rainbow, a children's TV show - well worth watching for its innnuendo.

It's Me on Conan

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As you can tell from the title, my favourite part of the performance on Conan is where Adam changed up the song to emphasise the most pertinent 'It's me, I'm a freak' line at 1:50 with a startling 'nervous'-like jump into falsetto on 'me' with a little run on 'freak'. A beautiful touch. I would like to hear a little more rock grit tone from him but neverthless, a strong show. He looked fabulous once again with newly trimmed hair and plenty of makeup. Who else can work a brown leather jacket with tight leather trousers in combo with a shirt and a tie so well? We didn't see the return of the camp retro set from The View, but Monte's new bejewelled guitar was a nice touch.

A View of Lions Tamed

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The quote of the day from Ringmaster Adam has to be “I'm a little different. My dreidel spins the other way.”

Impatience has a time-warping effect and it seems like such a long time since the last televised performance. It doesn't help that we know Adam gave performances at the Vevo and ADL events but have yet to see videos of those. His appearance as one of the ten most fascinating people was disappointingly short, just going over AMA and gay, with little more than a few sentences from him. There was nothing new there for fans, but at least there were plenty of clips showcasing Adam's voice. Again, there followed more controversy and proof of Adam's point about double standards because Gaga's same-sex kiss was shown but Adam's wasn't.

Adam's announcement about appearing on The View was one of the many WTF? moments recently, but it seemed that Barbara Walters had already been won over. The show would be pre-taped just so that ABC wouldn't have to concede complete and utter defeat in the matter. I guess they wanted to make a point to show that Adam hadn't earned back the trust of the network yet, rather than really believe he wouldn't be able to resist tempting everyone into simulating oral sex with him.

I'd never seen The View but had seen the clips of their conservative prude Elisabeth Hasselbeck criticising Adam's AMA performance. I thought this would make for an interesting showdown coming second only to one with Billy O'Reilly. It seems that she got warned (threatened?) by Adam's fans to be pleasant to him and in order to reassure everyone, she gave Adam her phone to tweet from.

Well there was never any doubt in my mind of the power of Adam's charms once the ladies got within his glittery aura. I'd seen it time and time and again throughout every single interview. Adam always manages to disarm even those with the sharpest of knives aimed at him and this was no different. From the photo that was released before the show of Adam with huge fluffy hair all coiffed up dressed as rockstar for the daytime, we could tell. From the body language of smiling eyes all fixed upon him and legs crossed towards him I could see that the ladies were putty. They weren't lions hungry for a mauling but kittens playfully tugging him for attention. Hasselbeck even ended up defending Adam's AMA performance and made sure to give him a chance to talk about his charity work.





We'd already seen three recent performances of WWFM, all subtly different though I couldn't help but feel that I was going to get bored of this being the only song that Adam would be performing on the promo circuit, much like I did with MW straight after AI. I don't find it the most exciting song and wondered how Adam would keep it interesting. That was answered the moment the camera showed the jaw-droppingly brilliant set. It was hilariously camp and reminded me of Top Of The Pops re-runs from the 70s. The crudely written ADAM at the back was in a punk style, but the pink, red and yellow neon were so cheesily OTT disco-glam. Are you sure there were enough lights Adam?! This, unlike the album cover, needed no explaining for it was extremely and unashamedly kitsch. Like a kid at Christmas, I was so mesmerised by the lighting I paid little attention to the song when I first saw it on the stream. I just couldn't believe that this set was on daytime TV on The View. Adam sang it beautifully and the mix sounded better than in the previous performances. It wasn't quite perfect though, as the guitar and the voice lacked a little richness for me, but the backing vocals showed no signs of dissonance nor were they overpowering. My favourite part of the vocals are the very soft extended notes with a little vibrato mixed in, like 'down' at 3:06. There were a few iffy notes after that, like the 'don't' which he's been sharp on before, but the final note with the breath at the end just takes my breath away.

This was family-friendly Adam being his charming self warning people this is no longer Idol but his career, and to expect a difference. With the cancellation of Larry King, let's just hope that this is the point at which a bright, neon-lit line has been drawn underneath the AMAs. This was a great interview from Adam, who was assertive, personable and quick-witted, the perfect combination of 'Aww!' and 'Phwoar!'

Back Down to Earth

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Despite seeming quite upbeat on CBS, it seems that Adam has done plenty of self-reflection since then in a really difficult week. It's disheartening to know that he's feeling the pressure and as a result of that, has had to respond and back down somewhat. He tweeted about taking things in a different direction in the aftermath of the AMA controversy. I really hope that it doesn't mean he'll be too cautious and over-think everything he does in future, because it's his subversive streak and his spontaneity — which makes every performance unique — that are the very things that add the passion to my fandom. Here is his interview on Ellen:



Again, Adam looked great, smart but very understated with minimal makeup, which seemed to distance him from AMA Adam. He wore a brown leather jacket that had the cut of the WATC one without the embellishments, dark shirt, black trousers and gold tie. This look seemed to say that this was Adam, the real, bare human being rather than the fiercely sexual rockstar performer.

From the interview, I think Adam has analysed everything to death and has come to regret that the AMA performance wasn't quite suited to the intended audience, but I'm glad he still feels the content of the performance wasn't a mistake. Unlike after RoF where he talked about getting a kick out of the love/hate split in reactions, I get the feeling that he was much less happy about the negativity amongst even the fan boards where many voiced their disappointment. For fans to be lukewarm about your big debut performance in which you put so much effort must hurt, and I imagine that he has been harder on himself than anyone else.

Adam is so many different things to so many different people that everyone has different expectations. His versatility in applying himself to any style — one of his greatest strengths — makes it an impossible task to please all fans and I hope it's not something he's going to focus on. It would be a shame if he felt the need to tone down in order to make himself more palatable to those who aren't as open-minded as he initially assumed. I was hoping that he would now have much more artistic freedom after the Idol days of staying on his best behaviour so people would keep him on their screens. Unfortunately it looks as if it's not going to be vastly different now. Back then, it was arguably down to individual votes, but now the power is all in the hands of the networks and corporations and that's a different matter. Adam inadvertently made ABC and CBS look like fools and they can't have taken kindly to it. He may have enough buzz now to attract a huge audiences, but like it or not he needs the networks for promotion and has to be careful to keep them on board. As frustrating as it is, there will still be that balancing act between keeping his subversive edge by staying true to his art, and being TV friendly. Through various iterations, I'm sure he'll manage to nail the right balance for TV and perhaps leave the risqué for his tour. Although I hate that Adam felt the need to back down and concede his shortcomings, I think his humility during the interview was enough to pacify many and win over some.

This week has been a bit of reality check for us all and we've rather depressingly been reminded that corporations rule over artistic expression, especially in the US. Adam, despite all his fabulous alien glitteriness, is still subject to their rules. There is plenty of hope though, as without him, the debate about male sexuality would not be taking place. Without him, individuals would not have campaigned to stop ABC from condoning violence with GMA's invition to Chris Brown. I'd like for Adam to know that there are plenty of us in other parts of the world who don't think he went too far. I understand that he'll have to make concessions, but for me it's his dedication to staying true to himself, taking bold risks and pushing boundaries that win my respect and admiration. I think he's learned a lot over the past week and believe his positivity will make him much stronger after this. For now, I hope he knows he has enough support to feel confident in continuing to be bold and unapologetically Adam.



This version of Whataya Want From Me? was a vulnerable one and the vibe I got from this was closest to his performance of One, where he seemed very exposed. There were a few shaky notes and it wasn't as perfect as the one on The Early Show but he poured in plenty of passion and I loved it when he let rip with his vocals at the end.

FU With a Loaded Smile - The Perfect Vindication

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The fall-out from the AMAs gave Adam plenty of publicity with the cancellation by GMA inadvertently giving him another huge boost and plenty of backing. That The Early Show immediately snapped him up just proves how much he is in demand. We were all curious as to how Adam would handle his first live TV appearance after the AMAs and I was eager for him to show the low-key side of him, reminiscent of the RoF-ToMT arc on AI. I wanted him to show everyone how well he could sing and that he wasn't a just gimmick meant to shock.

His morning look was great with light make-up and perfect imperfectly sculpted pompadour - very Elvis. He was still undoubtedly rockstar with his AMA red carpet jacket, some spray-on trousers with sparkle, clunky boots and fingerless leather gloves. There would no doubt be some questions about the awards show and Adam handled them with grace. Some of the questions were difficult and perhaps pushing for an apology or an admission of regret, but Adam seemed unflustered, speaking eloquently. He gave convincing and intelligent arguments, backing them up with valid examples and opened up a debate about sexist double-standards. He spoke with conviction and made me proud that he refused to back down.



Whataya Want From Me? was the ideal choice of song after all the controversy. The way it related to the situation gave it that extra poignancy. There was a slightly distracting plucky sound throughout the song but the arrangement stuck close to that of the album. Adam was pitch perfect in his heartfelt plea for patience and understanding. This was perfect answer and antidote to the criticism over his AMA performance. Bringing Leila on was a transparent attempt to turn him into sweet momma's boy Adam suitable for kids and daytime TV, but by doing that, it was also giving the finger to ABC for deeming him unsuitable for a morning show. And I loved the comment about the how shoulderpads help him bear the weight of the pressure.



Music Again had a completely different energy that was lively and fun. He did forget the lyrics by singing the betterer line twice and missed the first jump into falsetto but nailed everything else. I loved the interaction with Monte and the timbre of his vocals was beautiful. His interaction with the fans after leaving the studio only further endeared him.



Whataya Want From Me? on Letterman was filmed the day after the AMAs and Adam toned himself down to suit the occasion, looking smart in a satin jacket and tight sliver trousers. This wasn't as pitch perfect as the Early Show performance as some places could have done with a little fine tuning. The vibe was different though, being impassioned and angrier-sounding, reminding me much of his BoW performance. You could see that he meant every word of that song, which injected that extra intensity.

I think after these peformances, there may be people who will be revising their opinions on Adam after the AMA debacle, thinking they over-reacted. He's certainly proven that he can sing well live, he's shown himself to be articulate and charming under fire and demonstrated that he can tone it down to suit whatever platform he's on. As far as I'm concerned, Adam is the big winner out of this because he's rightly pointed out and made us question our hypocrisies while the networks have only further proven his point. He's expertly managed to deflect the bulk of the fire and remained consistently unapologetic for his actions. This was a measured 'Fuck You!' response to his critics delivered with a sweet and confident smile, earning even more respect from me. Well done Adam!

Mad World, Mad World, Mad World, Mad World

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UPDATE:  Since we've been dubbed 'completists', here is one more to add to the Mad World collection.  Adam is on the Morning Show with Mike and Juliet, again with Michael Orland complementing on piano.  I think I'm gradually falling in love with the gently undulating instrumentals almost as much as Adam's vocals.  This is a very slow version marred slightly by the audience cheer at the big note.  His bewitching voice is soft and beautifully haunting.

This post is really one for those of you who are completely obsessed, especially if you watch it all the way to the end!

One good thing about Adam not having been crowned AI is that he hasn't had to sing No Boundaries on the press tour.  Although he hasn't dissed it outright, he's managed to tactfully wriggle around providing his frank opinion of the song by saying it's 'difficult to sing live', 'has lots of lyrics', and 'he wouldn't have chosen that as the final song of the season'.  So instead of being forced to sing a song that blatantly wasn't written with him in mind and doesn't suit him, we've been treated to several performances of Mad World.

The first performance was an outdoor one from the CBS Early show in New York.  There are a number of videos in addition to this one which show him warming up and doing sound checks where we get more of an insight into how he controls each aspect of his performance.  Even when just warming up, the clarity of his tone is quite astounding.  This rendition is a really beautiful one and I actually prefer the simplicity of just him and a piano to the arrangement we had on the show.

The next one is a performance on Good Day New York.  The sound mix here seems better than what was achieved on the show, and even the studio recording.  There are some small differences between this one and the last one in the phrasing, timing and melody.  I prefer Michael Orland's piano here because he's removed much of the beat so it's much smoother and flowing.  It's more mellow and there's a sadder, more subdued feeling to it, created by that and by Adam's gentle vocals.  His voice is stunning.

Next is Adam performing on Regis and Kelly with the same pianist as the CBS show.  The pianist sticks more along the lines of the Gary Jules version by keeping the rhythm more central rather than smoothing it out.  This gives the song a more depressing feel because it it accentuates the repetition and routine of being trapped in miserable life.  Adam again sounds different here and has varied the verses by bringing in the chorus earlier.  I think they went a little overboard with the reverb on this, but it adds to the haunting effect.

Adam at the Today Show and warm-up.  Here his breathtaking voice sounds so tender and silky smooth.  He seems to vary the lyrics with each performance, making each one unique.  This one is slower paced with Michael Orland back as the pianist who again really makes the song flow.  Adam takes us on a dream-like journey through heartbreaking sadness and melancholia.  This feels like his most vulnerable performance and I think it might be my favourite of this lot.

Well, he made sure he nailed the final note on all of those performances.  I'm happy that by not winning, Adam has managed to choose what song to associate himself with, which is a song that suits and resonates with him, enabling him to move people.  I think he chose the right song to do on the press tour because it's evocative without being too strenuous on his voice.  No Boundaries has quite a range and I can see how it could cause problems if you had to sing it repeatedly.  And it can never be a good thing to be tarred with a song you don't like, to introduce yourself to the world as a recording artist.

Now, if you're a Lambosessive who scored highly in the test, I expect, like me, you'll try playing the videos simultaneously just to work out the tiny differences.  Go on, you know you want to!