Apologies for the long delay, I've been suffering from massive computer fail as well as various other failures!
Adam's first gig in the UK was at G-A-Y so it's only apt that he would kick off his Trespassing era with a return. Plus I'm sure this is probably one of his favourite venues for obvious reasons. He must love performing for this audience. Here's my playlist:
Adam's in his trusty starred leopardskin T-shirt with suit jacket and tight bikery leather trousers. Trespassing opens the set where he's brilliant in voice, followed by a stompy, booty-shaking Kickin' In that has less of a rock vibe with the electronic elements coming through, which I think works better. Shady is damn fierce and it's quite interesting to hear a different shade of his voice for the bridge part that's sung by Sam on the album.
Adam does his utmost to get the audience to strip for Naked Love, removing a layer himself. This is where he really works the crowd, getting his potty mouth in on the act. He gets his banter on before Cuckoo and I just have to laugh at him pulling his trousers up as his arse is moving for the crowd. He gets the echo effects that he asks for and more. Never Close Our Eyes concludes the set and it's a joy to see him so relaxed with his swearing while plugging his album.
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Saturday, 30 June 2012
Friday, 8 June 2012
Rays of Sunshine London
This is Adam's first UK Trespassing-era gig open to all and is part of a charity extravaganza for Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity. The line-up has lots of big name pop acts with a large proportion originating from TV talent shows.
The venue is the iconic Royal Albert Hall, home to many a famous concert. It's been a long-standing wish of mine to see Adam perform an acoustic concert there so I guess this comes close. He's back to looking dapper in an electric blue suit and tie with lots of sheen. I'm rather partial to that colour on him and he completes the look with some outrageous leopardskin boots. I think he has a bit of a Teddy Boy look about him.
Adam uses session musicians instead of his usual band and though they don't have the same on-stage rapport and energy, I think they do a great job. They even have all the clapping nailed for Trespassing. I can't really hear the backing singers but they alternate between high and low claps. Needless to say, his voice is on top form and he works the stage.
On saying this is his second UK concert, Adam seems to have forgotten about all the FYE era concerts. Oh Adam, how could you forget us! The set is only three songs long so he goes on to do a fine job on Cuckoo and NCOE. He never seems completely happy about the sound though. I would've loved for Shady to have been part of the mix. The next gig is at G-A-Y which I expect to be a completely different affair.
The venue is the iconic Royal Albert Hall, home to many a famous concert. It's been a long-standing wish of mine to see Adam perform an acoustic concert there so I guess this comes close. He's back to looking dapper in an electric blue suit and tie with lots of sheen. I'm rather partial to that colour on him and he completes the look with some outrageous leopardskin boots. I think he has a bit of a Teddy Boy look about him.
Adam uses session musicians instead of his usual band and though they don't have the same on-stage rapport and energy, I think they do a great job. They even have all the clapping nailed for Trespassing. I can't really hear the backing singers but they alternate between high and low claps. Needless to say, his voice is on top form and he works the stage.
On saying this is his second UK concert, Adam seems to have forgotten about all the FYE era concerts. Oh Adam, how could you forget us! The set is only three songs long so he goes on to do a fine job on Cuckoo and NCOE. He never seems completely happy about the sound though. I would've loved for Shady to have been part of the mix. The next gig is at G-A-Y which I expect to be a completely different affair.
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Never Close Our Eyes Music Video
I've finally gotten round to doing my write-up so apologies for the delay. Here's the video with my review:
We already saw the intro of this from the teaser so now we get the full thing. Adam lives in a gloomy colourless dystopian facility where everything is uniform and linear apart from the slaves that inhabit it. But even they move like robots, living a regimented existence of repetition and living off a diet of pills. Adam is the only one who seems to have had enough to want to rebel, crushing one of his sustenance pills that in turn releases an intense burst of blue smoke.
Part of the routine is to go to individual pods where it seems like the drones are being programmed and their eyes all turn black. Apart from Adam of course, who seems to be immune. Some of the shots there make his mouth look huge. The slaves start scrubbing the floors in synch and it's then that Adam decides he's had enough, starting off a chain reaction as everyone else leaves their chores to dance and make an escape by heading underground. The guards at the perimeter fence start blowing smoke at Adam and his gang, but they're protected by a forcefield which turns the smoke into vivid colours. The guards get scared and back off and that's when the rave begins and everyone's dancing away with choreographed moves in brilliant acid colours.
I think this is Adam's best video to date and very entertaining to watch. From the teaser I was expecting more of a story as it looked so cinematic but it's not very long. It's a shock to see Adam in such bright colours but he looks fabulous throughout. I do particularly like that bare fresh-faced look when he's in the pod. The euphoric dance part reminds me a bit of the IIHY music video but this is a more sophisticated effort.
I think this is a reflection of real life, an interpretation of the way many people just exist by drifting along, doing their 9-to-5s, lives mapped out and going with the flow of expectation. They are slaves to the rat race, never really opening their eyes and minds to the multitude of possibilities out there that could release their true potential. It just takes a bit of bravery (or Adam leading the charge) to break out of the comfort zone and do something different, the rewards of which could be transcendent. I wonder just how many eyes Adam has opened.
We already saw the intro of this from the teaser so now we get the full thing. Adam lives in a gloomy colourless dystopian facility where everything is uniform and linear apart from the slaves that inhabit it. But even they move like robots, living a regimented existence of repetition and living off a diet of pills. Adam is the only one who seems to have had enough to want to rebel, crushing one of his sustenance pills that in turn releases an intense burst of blue smoke.
Part of the routine is to go to individual pods where it seems like the drones are being programmed and their eyes all turn black. Apart from Adam of course, who seems to be immune. Some of the shots there make his mouth look huge. The slaves start scrubbing the floors in synch and it's then that Adam decides he's had enough, starting off a chain reaction as everyone else leaves their chores to dance and make an escape by heading underground. The guards at the perimeter fence start blowing smoke at Adam and his gang, but they're protected by a forcefield which turns the smoke into vivid colours. The guards get scared and back off and that's when the rave begins and everyone's dancing away with choreographed moves in brilliant acid colours.
I think this is Adam's best video to date and very entertaining to watch. From the teaser I was expecting more of a story as it looked so cinematic but it's not very long. It's a shock to see Adam in such bright colours but he looks fabulous throughout. I do particularly like that bare fresh-faced look when he's in the pod. The euphoric dance part reminds me a bit of the IIHY music video but this is a more sophisticated effort.
I think this is a reflection of real life, an interpretation of the way many people just exist by drifting along, doing their 9-to-5s, lives mapped out and going with the flow of expectation. They are slaves to the rat race, never really opening their eyes and minds to the multitude of possibilities out there that could release their true potential. It just takes a bit of bravery (or Adam leading the charge) to break out of the comfort zone and do something different, the rewards of which could be transcendent. I wonder just how many eyes Adam has opened.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
98.5 KRZ's Summer Smash Wilkes-Barre
Adam looks fantastic in off-horizontal stripes under a black jacket that still has a black armband. Here's a playlist of my video picks:
The set starts as usual with Trespassing which has a wow moment in that glory note that is so high and sustained. Kickin' In is very camp with OTT expressions, wiggly-ass dancing and great vocals. The sound of the bass on this version of Shady sounds most like the studio version and Adam includes a long bluesy riff at the end. WWFM has a certain grandness to it and is just beautiful, the backing singers are a very welcome addition.
Chokehold sounds a little different to the other versions so far and the bridge is amazing. Brian is getting in on the banter between songs as the band chemistry grows. Broken English includes a crotch stroke that makes the crowd lose their shit. The bridge here is an instrumental-only one without Adam's wailing over it. The high notes are unbelievable. A bouncy Naked Love sees Adam getting people to wave their arms as he gets friendly with the crowd, giving one of them a hug. The singalong is a lot of fun and I really enjoy this performance.
Adam tries to mobilise his troops to get NCOE on the radio and he really nails this one. Sung with freedom, it's a bit faster than usual and he's on such scintillating form with impressive high notes, ending on his favourite riff. There's quite a bit of banter before Cuckoo. He's really on fire for this with his dancing legs fully on, ass wiggling about. It's very discoey with the keys rather loud. For the first time, I really enjoy the band intros because of Adam's freestyle ad-libbing, which briefly goes off on a Chaka Khan tangent. Tommy's solo is also great but it's Adam's vocals that are incredible.
Despite Adam being unsatisfied with the sound throughout, this is by far the best concert so far from this era in terms of energy and vocals. He's back as the ringmaster, commanding and conducting the stage and the audience throughout. I can see that he's made a concerted effort to chat more with the audience, involving them and allowing his personality to shine through. He's also been building more of a rapport with the band, getting them to reveal more of themselves and as they all get to understand each other, the performances have become freer and significantly improved. This evolution is so satisfying to witness.
The set starts as usual with Trespassing which has a wow moment in that glory note that is so high and sustained. Kickin' In is very camp with OTT expressions, wiggly-ass dancing and great vocals. The sound of the bass on this version of Shady sounds most like the studio version and Adam includes a long bluesy riff at the end. WWFM has a certain grandness to it and is just beautiful, the backing singers are a very welcome addition.
Chokehold sounds a little different to the other versions so far and the bridge is amazing. Brian is getting in on the banter between songs as the band chemistry grows. Broken English includes a crotch stroke that makes the crowd lose their shit. The bridge here is an instrumental-only one without Adam's wailing over it. The high notes are unbelievable. A bouncy Naked Love sees Adam getting people to wave their arms as he gets friendly with the crowd, giving one of them a hug. The singalong is a lot of fun and I really enjoy this performance.
Adam tries to mobilise his troops to get NCOE on the radio and he really nails this one. Sung with freedom, it's a bit faster than usual and he's on such scintillating form with impressive high notes, ending on his favourite riff. There's quite a bit of banter before Cuckoo. He's really on fire for this with his dancing legs fully on, ass wiggling about. It's very discoey with the keys rather loud. For the first time, I really enjoy the band intros because of Adam's freestyle ad-libbing, which briefly goes off on a Chaka Khan tangent. Tommy's solo is also great but it's Adam's vocals that are incredible.
Despite Adam being unsatisfied with the sound throughout, this is by far the best concert so far from this era in terms of energy and vocals. He's back as the ringmaster, commanding and conducting the stage and the audience throughout. I can see that he's made a concerted effort to chat more with the audience, involving them and allowing his personality to shine through. He's also been building more of a rapport with the band, getting them to reveal more of themselves and as they all get to understand each other, the performances have become freer and significantly improved. This evolution is so satisfying to witness.
Saturday, 26 May 2012
95.5 WPLJ Scott & Todd's Super Summer Blast-Off
For an early morning gig, Adam looks chipper with an unusual sartorial choice of checked shirt over a white T-shirt. The crowd looks a little different to the usual flailing females, with quite a few stationary blokes in baseball caps near the front.
A strong Trespassing starts the set before the shirt comes off to go round Adam's waist for WWFM. It's a bit disconcerting that the crowd, for once, doesn't sing along, but I guess the point of these gigs is to capture a new audience. It's a lovely version with some new runs. Shady is next. It doesn't have the best of starts but the band sounds very tight, the arrangement hits the spot and there's a wow moment as he stretches out a powerful note that lasts forever. A great NCOE concludes the set.
I wonder if Trespassing and Shady were chosen for such a short set because they're considered to be the most commercial, and an indication of subsequent singles. NCOE is a given and WWFM was included for being Adam's biggest hit.
A strong Trespassing starts the set before the shirt comes off to go round Adam's waist for WWFM. It's a bit disconcerting that the crowd, for once, doesn't sing along, but I guess the point of these gigs is to capture a new audience. It's a lovely version with some new runs. Shady is next. It doesn't have the best of starts but the band sounds very tight, the arrangement hits the spot and there's a wow moment as he stretches out a powerful note that lasts forever. A great NCOE concludes the set.
I wonder if Trespassing and Shady were chosen for such a short set because they're considered to be the most commercial, and an indication of subsequent singles. NCOE is a given and WWFM was included for being Adam's biggest hit.
Watch What Happens Live
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!
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!
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
Q102 Springle Ball
Adam has new ash blonde highlights up top with those stars and stripe trousers and blue jacket. The crowd is well up for it, egging him on and he's returning the energy. He isn't happy with the sound for much of Trespassing and Kickin' In. Despite myself, I'm singing along to Naked Love, finding that bit by bit I'm being ensnared. Even though WWFM is an old song, it's a highlight for me. The crowd sings along and he includes an absolute beauty of a glory note, jazz hands and all. Unmissable. NCOE has some stellar vocals and some slightly different drumming at end. The set ends with Cuckoo and band intros with Adam really playing up to the crowd. Out of all the radio concerts so far, this one's my favourite for vocals. Here's my playlist:
AOL Sessions - Trespassing Promo
Here's the AOL session that was originally recorded on 25th April. It's made up of NCOE, Trespassing, Cuckoo, Naked Love and Broken English. I've watched all of these through just the once so I'll only post brief first impressions for now.
Adam sounds incredible and looks fantastic despite my mild aversion to leopardskin. I'm so happy to get such a good quality recording of a live performance, even though there's a bit of distortion on the drums. The band sound tight and the backing singers are harmoniously great. Throughout the set we get all the big notes sung higher than what we've had on recent performances. I'm so glad the camera isn't fixated with a band member like the last time.
There are funny expressions aplenty as Adam enjoys goofing it up on Cuckoo. I really like the way it sounds here, very discoey without going overboard on the effects. It's also nice to have a version that's uninterrupted by the band intros. Naked Love continues to be a grower but I still think the abrupt ending needs a tweak. Broken English is such an enchanting song inhabited by a beautifully wailing banshee and his voice is a supernatural phenomenon. Love it.
I've included the interview here as Adam gives some interesting answers. He sounds hoarse like he's lost his voice a bit though. Enjoy!
Adam sounds incredible and looks fantastic despite my mild aversion to leopardskin. I'm so happy to get such a good quality recording of a live performance, even though there's a bit of distortion on the drums. The band sound tight and the backing singers are harmoniously great. Throughout the set we get all the big notes sung higher than what we've had on recent performances. I'm so glad the camera isn't fixated with a band member like the last time.
There are funny expressions aplenty as Adam enjoys goofing it up on Cuckoo. I really like the way it sounds here, very discoey without going overboard on the effects. It's also nice to have a version that's uninterrupted by the band intros. Naked Love continues to be a grower but I still think the abrupt ending needs a tweak. Broken English is such an enchanting song inhabited by a beautifully wailing banshee and his voice is a supernatural phenomenon. Love it.
I've included the interview here as Adam gives some interesting answers. He sounds hoarse like he's lost his voice a bit though. Enjoy!
Monday, 21 May 2012
103.5 KTUphoria
Adam steps onto the stage donning a luminous yellow vest under a sleeveless leather jacket with very tight stars and stripes trousers.
First up we have Trespassing to set the mood and he sings a surprisingly high "GPS" line. It leads straight into Kickin' In. I like the verses but think the structure of the song needs tweaking to come alive. Perhaps another verse or a shortened repetition section. That section works OK as a club tune but for the live concert, not so much. There's a good finish though.
It sounds like Adam misses his cue on Naked Love coming in a bar late. I enjoy the performance but think he needs to finish it with a bang. I would suggest kicking in with a blast of instruments for one final chorus. Otherwise, it just seems to fall a bit flat. There's some lovely humming at the start of WWFM as a reverent hush sweeps the crowd. It reminds me of soaked in that respect.
Unusually for Adam, he plugs his new album before the start of NCOE. I wasn't particularly keen on the chorus from the single but I get it here. It's that euphoric feeling of bursting to jump around, which I guess reminds me of IIHY. Good strong vocals here.
Adam invites a "crazy bitch" fan onto the stage, who wraps her legs round him. He then gives her a spanking before proceeding with Cuckoo. He includes a massive glory note, some hilarious dance moves and band intros. The vocals are magnificent.
First up we have Trespassing to set the mood and he sings a surprisingly high "GPS" line. It leads straight into Kickin' In. I like the verses but think the structure of the song needs tweaking to come alive. Perhaps another verse or a shortened repetition section. That section works OK as a club tune but for the live concert, not so much. There's a good finish though.
It sounds like Adam misses his cue on Naked Love coming in a bar late. I enjoy the performance but think he needs to finish it with a bang. I would suggest kicking in with a blast of instruments for one final chorus. Otherwise, it just seems to fall a bit flat. There's some lovely humming at the start of WWFM as a reverent hush sweeps the crowd. It reminds me of soaked in that respect.
Unusually for Adam, he plugs his new album before the start of NCOE. I wasn't particularly keen on the chorus from the single but I get it here. It's that euphoric feeling of bursting to jump around, which I guess reminds me of IIHY. Good strong vocals here.
Adam invites a "crazy bitch" fan onto the stage, who wraps her legs round him. He then gives her a spanking before proceeding with Cuckoo. He includes a massive glory note, some hilarious dance moves and band intros. The vocals are magnificent.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Never Close Our Eyes - Video Teaser
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.
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.
KISS 108 Concert 2012
For this concert, Adam's got the daytime rocker look nailed with a sleeveless hoody over a T-shirt adorned with native American patterns. Here's the video along with my comments below:
I think Trespassing is one of the most enjoyable songs performed live and it's absolutely fantastic to see such a huge crowd getting into it and clapping along.
Kickin' In is a rocking version with great funk guitar. I'm not sure the rock vibe works as well as the album version. Adam does some fun shuffly dancing and does lots of ad-libbing with his voice over the repetitive part towards the end.
Shady has a troubled start. Adam is unable to find the right pitch and sings the first verse off-key much lower than intended. I assume it's because he can't hear properly. He finds his way back when the guitar kicks in and does his best to make a good performance out of it. I still like it though, especially when we get to hear the more melodic part of his voice towards the end.
WWFM brings a shift in the mood and it's a beautiful sweeping dramatic ballad with lots of echo. The backing vocals are a little off at points but overall I like the effect they give. I'm growing to really love this arrangement.
At the start of Naked Love we hear Adam complain about the sound. He loses the hoody and makes an effort to be family friendly and not swear. I'm now starting to see the appeal of the song as it's so poppy and right for this kind of sunny summer singalong that gets the crowd going. I still don't like the ending though as it just fizzles out. I think Adam needs to sing a few notes to give it a definitive finish.
Oops Adam, I'm sure you weren't supposed to say "piss" in family-friendly mode. The NCOE synths are overpowering. This isn't an album favourite at the moment but I can start to understand the rushy excitement of being able to experiencing this live, perhaps at a festival. It's an excellent performance where the high notes wow.
The set ends with Cuckoo. The guitar sounds more electronic and less 70's wah-wah than some of the other recent versions. He forgets to censor himself for the f-words and I just love this version with his crazy dancing. It includes a jazzy psychedelic instrumental bridge just before the band intros.
DOWNLOAD full in-synch Kiss108 concert mp4 (136.17MB) Alternative download link
I think Trespassing is one of the most enjoyable songs performed live and it's absolutely fantastic to see such a huge crowd getting into it and clapping along.
Kickin' In is a rocking version with great funk guitar. I'm not sure the rock vibe works as well as the album version. Adam does some fun shuffly dancing and does lots of ad-libbing with his voice over the repetitive part towards the end.
Shady has a troubled start. Adam is unable to find the right pitch and sings the first verse off-key much lower than intended. I assume it's because he can't hear properly. He finds his way back when the guitar kicks in and does his best to make a good performance out of it. I still like it though, especially when we get to hear the more melodic part of his voice towards the end.
WWFM brings a shift in the mood and it's a beautiful sweeping dramatic ballad with lots of echo. The backing vocals are a little off at points but overall I like the effect they give. I'm growing to really love this arrangement.
At the start of Naked Love we hear Adam complain about the sound. He loses the hoody and makes an effort to be family friendly and not swear. I'm now starting to see the appeal of the song as it's so poppy and right for this kind of sunny summer singalong that gets the crowd going. I still don't like the ending though as it just fizzles out. I think Adam needs to sing a few notes to give it a definitive finish.
Oops Adam, I'm sure you weren't supposed to say "piss" in family-friendly mode. The NCOE synths are overpowering. This isn't an album favourite at the moment but I can start to understand the rushy excitement of being able to experiencing this live, perhaps at a festival. It's an excellent performance where the high notes wow.
The set ends with Cuckoo. The guitar sounds more electronic and less 70's wah-wah than some of the other recent versions. He forgets to censor himself for the f-words and I just love this version with his crazy dancing. It includes a jazzy psychedelic instrumental bridge just before the band intros.
DOWNLOAD full in-synch Kiss108 concert mp4 (136.17MB) Alternative download link
Fantabuloso
The set was made up of Trespassing, Kickin' in, Shady, WWFM, Cuckoo and NCOE. We finally have acceptable sound so here's my playlist and comments below:
Adam is dressed all in black apart from a leopardskin shirt. I wonder whether the black armband is for Donna Summer. Those trousers are impossibly tight!
Trespassing is fun and cheeky, make sure you catch that pelvic action just before the bridge. The vocals here are fantastic.
The instruments sound really loud and a bit off at times on this version of Kickin' In. Adam's shuffly bandy-legged dancing just before the bounce part is hilarious, he's such a dork. You can really appreciate his showmanship here he commands the stage.
This is the type of performance I missed during all the acoustic radio station gigs. I really like this Shady for Adam's energy and how he involves all the band members making the stage feel more than the sum of its parts. There's a lot of dancing and he just makes me want to get up too. I would like the bass to be louder, shaking my bones and making this feel a bit nasty but judging from the other mic-frying recordings, it's probably loud enough for the crowd.
I'm really loving this arrangement of WWFM, especially the unfamiliar start and that moment of recognition where the crowd all realise which song it is and cheer it on. It feels like a much grander affair than the rock and acoustic versions. I've heard this song a squillion times but find such enjoyment from this beautiful version. The only down side is that it doesn't quite seem to fit sandwiched between upbeat dancey songs in the set.
This Cuckoo is loose and camped up with some funny dance moves and hip action. It includes the band intros over a jazzy instrumental section and Adam sings it invariably well.
Adam's voice sounds strong and those wonderful long notes are a marvel on NCOE. This high-energy song is the perfect way to end the set.
Adam is dressed all in black apart from a leopardskin shirt. I wonder whether the black armband is for Donna Summer. Those trousers are impossibly tight!
Trespassing is fun and cheeky, make sure you catch that pelvic action just before the bridge. The vocals here are fantastic.
The instruments sound really loud and a bit off at times on this version of Kickin' In. Adam's shuffly bandy-legged dancing just before the bounce part is hilarious, he's such a dork. You can really appreciate his showmanship here he commands the stage.
This is the type of performance I missed during all the acoustic radio station gigs. I really like this Shady for Adam's energy and how he involves all the band members making the stage feel more than the sum of its parts. There's a lot of dancing and he just makes me want to get up too. I would like the bass to be louder, shaking my bones and making this feel a bit nasty but judging from the other mic-frying recordings, it's probably loud enough for the crowd.
I'm really loving this arrangement of WWFM, especially the unfamiliar start and that moment of recognition where the crowd all realise which song it is and cheer it on. It feels like a much grander affair than the rock and acoustic versions. I've heard this song a squillion times but find such enjoyment from this beautiful version. The only down side is that it doesn't quite seem to fit sandwiched between upbeat dancey songs in the set.
This Cuckoo is loose and camped up with some funny dance moves and hip action. It includes the band intros over a jazzy instrumental section and Adam sings it invariably well.
Adam's voice sounds strong and those wonderful long notes are a marvel on NCOE. This high-energy song is the perfect way to end the set.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
American Idol - Never Close Our Eyes
Adam's third return to AI to perform was something that had been on the cards for quite some time and one that I'd really been looking forward to. When Adam's on the Idol stage, he's determined to give us an audiovisual feast, never failing to impress. Who can forget that swirling vortex of WWFM or the dark intimate set of Aftermath? I was very excited about what Adam would bring to the stage this time.
There have been some symmetries and full-circle moments with Adam on AI and this is another example. Not only does Adam physically resemble Elvis and his mannerisms,he mentored for Elvis week and now he performs on the same show as his daughter. Here's the performance:
NEON!!! Who the fuck would've thought that Adam in his sombre black glitterless phase would go for UV-glowing neon? It's in his earrings, on his nails and appears as accents on the band members' outfits. Trust him to make such a strong visual statement. Time to go clubbing! The colour makes him look very tanned. He completes the look with tight leather trousers, gloves and a grey jacket which I wonder if he's personally customised. He also has an evil Bond-villain little finger claw as jewellery. Behind him is a massive visual of Adam's eye. It must be Adam's eye because of the iris markings circling his pupil and the separate dot below it. Not that I'm obsessive or anything. I think overall, the graphics with flashing lights and smoke, along with the zooming in the editing make the video too busy for my liking.
The opening chorus is shortened probably so that the producers can fit more adverts into the allotted time. A fierce Adam prowls the stage, working it with his fun dancing and shoulder-shimmying and engaging with the band. I'm sure he's dying to thrust his crotch around when he sings this song but knows much better. He sings it flawlessly with a powerful and rich rock vocal despite some wobbly jaw moments. The backing singers sound great if a little loud on the high notes, but they guarantee that the sound is never thin. He ends with an unexpected long run, reminiscent of many performances on that stage. He looks like he's having so much fun on stage which in turn makes him an absolute joy to watch. He leaves me with warm fuzzy feeling of pride.
After the end of the song, we see Adam revert to his non-performer persona, lighting up the room with his cherubic smile and modest demeanour. I'm a little disappointed there isn't a short interview seeing as we can't get enough of him saying words, but I really liked the performance. The lasting impression I have is that he has used the Idol stage to re-brand himself from glam rocker to clubber for this Trespassing era, a transition he has made effortlessly with style while remaining true to himself.
There have been some symmetries and full-circle moments with Adam on AI and this is another example. Not only does Adam physically resemble Elvis and his mannerisms,he mentored for Elvis week and now he performs on the same show as his daughter. Here's the performance:
NEON!!! Who the fuck would've thought that Adam in his sombre black glitterless phase would go for UV-glowing neon? It's in his earrings, on his nails and appears as accents on the band members' outfits. Trust him to make such a strong visual statement. Time to go clubbing! The colour makes him look very tanned. He completes the look with tight leather trousers, gloves and a grey jacket which I wonder if he's personally customised. He also has an evil Bond-villain little finger claw as jewellery. Behind him is a massive visual of Adam's eye. It must be Adam's eye because of the iris markings circling his pupil and the separate dot below it. Not that I'm obsessive or anything. I think overall, the graphics with flashing lights and smoke, along with the zooming in the editing make the video too busy for my liking.
The opening chorus is shortened probably so that the producers can fit more adverts into the allotted time. A fierce Adam prowls the stage, working it with his fun dancing and shoulder-shimmying and engaging with the band. I'm sure he's dying to thrust his crotch around when he sings this song but knows much better. He sings it flawlessly with a powerful and rich rock vocal despite some wobbly jaw moments. The backing singers sound great if a little loud on the high notes, but they guarantee that the sound is never thin. He ends with an unexpected long run, reminiscent of many performances on that stage. He looks like he's having so much fun on stage which in turn makes him an absolute joy to watch. He leaves me with warm fuzzy feeling of pride.
After the end of the song, we see Adam revert to his non-performer persona, lighting up the room with his cherubic smile and modest demeanour. I'm a little disappointed there isn't a short interview seeing as we can't get enough of him saying words, but I really liked the performance. The lasting impression I have is that he has used the Idol stage to re-brand himself from glam rocker to clubber for this Trespassing era, a transition he has made effortlessly with style while remaining true to himself.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
MLB Fan Cave
Here's a video of the recorded stream from the concert which I'll update when we get better quality ones coming in, along with brief comments below:
It seems that Adam has decided to invert his outfit from the earlier GMA performance, going with what looks to be the trouser half of the infamous Horse Suit Jacket and all black up top.
Trespassing - Adam's voice is incredible in this. A great start to the set to get those feet moving.
Kickin' In - The bassline is banging and there's something so appealing about the way he orders "Girl, don't you hit the ground!". There's lots of echo which makes it sound like more of a club tune.
Shady - The recording can't really handle the bass here but it's so funky I could have this in repeat.
WWFM - This is a completely revamped and re-arranged version with a different drum beat. It could actually fit on Trespassing with its moodier feel and the backing singers lend a different angle.
Broken English - Phenomenal vocals, he hit those highs with gusto.
Cuckoo - Different slightly trippy instrumental interlude with loads of fabulous funk guitar and Adam's voice on top.
NCOE - Some unbelieveable notes.
Fuck me stupid that was awesome! Even though many of the songs are in still their infancy performance-wise, I love it that Adam is averse to singing straight-up versions, preferring to play. Lucky, lucky New Yorkers.
It seems that Adam has decided to invert his outfit from the earlier GMA performance, going with what looks to be the trouser half of the infamous Horse Suit Jacket and all black up top.
Trespassing - Adam's voice is incredible in this. A great start to the set to get those feet moving.
Kickin' In - The bassline is banging and there's something so appealing about the way he orders "Girl, don't you hit the ground!". There's lots of echo which makes it sound like more of a club tune.
Shady - The recording can't really handle the bass here but it's so funky I could have this in repeat.
WWFM - This is a completely revamped and re-arranged version with a different drum beat. It could actually fit on Trespassing with its moodier feel and the backing singers lend a different angle.
Broken English - Phenomenal vocals, he hit those highs with gusto.
Cuckoo - Different slightly trippy instrumental interlude with loads of fabulous funk guitar and Adam's voice on top.
NCOE - Some unbelieveable notes.
Fuck me stupid that was awesome! Even though many of the songs are in still their infancy performance-wise, I love it that Adam is averse to singing straight-up versions, preferring to play. Lucky, lucky New Yorkers.
Friday, 11 May 2012
The Human Guy that Sings - Chelsea Lately
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.
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.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Radio Promo Picks
This is long overdue but I still think it's a necessary post. Adam's radio gigs went by in a bit of blur and it was hard work staying on top of it all. But I have managed to watch and sort everything now, so here's a playlist of my recommendations:
I hope you'll find these highlights easily digestible, useful for catching up with, and finding for future reference. I tried my best to narrow down my favourite highlights but obviously picking one of each song was impossible. So we have the following:
BTIKM
B96 Chicago - Not the best quality, no tricks, but it's like looking in on a private moment. Very intimate and raw.
94.5 PST Princeton - I chose this for the sweet fluttery warbling near the end.
106.1 Kiss FM Seattle - Excellent quality, beautiful tone and different set of notes to finish.
OOL
Kidd Kraddick Dallas - The guitar isn't great but the quality is and Adam's emotive voice is wonderful.
WWFM
Q100 Atlanta Bert Show - The video is beautifully shot and Adam's rich voice is perfection.
99.7 The Point Kansas - There's a big note wow moment and Adam plays around with the melody in a new way.
Mix 106.5 San Jose - Adam sings a very different-sounding bridge that hasn't been done before.
Fever
Mix 104.1 Boston - This was only Fever I'm aware of, lots of freestyling and so much fun.
Trespassing
93.9 Lite FM Chicago - Foot-stomping fun as Adam's voice soars towards the end.
Mix 93.3 Kansas - This version is unexpectedly extended and Adam fills it with excellent improv.
104.3 MY FM LA - This is the only version with a drum, giving a different vibe. The sound is great though a bit out of synch.
Cuckoo
105.1 The Buzz Portland - Adam is brilliant in voice, doing plenty of riffing on this fun theatrical version.
Energy 103.7 San Diego - Lots of cheeky attitude as Adam dances in his seat and claps in this mic-less version.
NCOE
Star 101.3 San Francisco - Some magnificent powerful glory notes in this.
Live 95.5 Bing Lounge Portland - The vocals are majestic and the quality is excellent.
I hope you'll find these highlights easily digestible, useful for catching up with, and finding for future reference. I tried my best to narrow down my favourite highlights but obviously picking one of each song was impossible. So we have the following:
BTIKM
B96 Chicago - Not the best quality, no tricks, but it's like looking in on a private moment. Very intimate and raw.
94.5 PST Princeton - I chose this for the sweet fluttery warbling near the end.
106.1 Kiss FM Seattle - Excellent quality, beautiful tone and different set of notes to finish.
OOL
Kidd Kraddick Dallas - The guitar isn't great but the quality is and Adam's emotive voice is wonderful.
WWFM
Q100 Atlanta Bert Show - The video is beautifully shot and Adam's rich voice is perfection.
99.7 The Point Kansas - There's a big note wow moment and Adam plays around with the melody in a new way.
Mix 106.5 San Jose - Adam sings a very different-sounding bridge that hasn't been done before.
Fever
Mix 104.1 Boston - This was only Fever I'm aware of, lots of freestyling and so much fun.
Trespassing
93.9 Lite FM Chicago - Foot-stomping fun as Adam's voice soars towards the end.
Mix 93.3 Kansas - This version is unexpectedly extended and Adam fills it with excellent improv.
104.3 MY FM LA - This is the only version with a drum, giving a different vibe. The sound is great though a bit out of synch.
Cuckoo
105.1 The Buzz Portland - Adam is brilliant in voice, doing plenty of riffing on this fun theatrical version.
Energy 103.7 San Diego - Lots of cheeky attitude as Adam dances in his seat and claps in this mic-less version.
NCOE
Star 101.3 San Francisco - Some magnificent powerful glory notes in this.
Live 95.5 Bing Lounge Portland - The vocals are majestic and the quality is excellent.
Friday, 27 April 2012
NewNowNext Awards - Trespassing
I've finally managed to get on top of all that radio promo so it's time to write about Adam's first plugged-in performance of Trespassing at the NNN awards earlier this month.
Footage of the performance was surprisingly released a few days before it was aired on TV so there wasn't the usual excited gathering experiencing it all together. Kelly Osbourne's long gushing introduction may have been slightly embarassing even though it's probably what every Glambert thinks (but just won't say out loud to millions of people).
Adam is dressed head-to-toe in black with minimal make-up and big fluffy hair. His ensemble without a shirt and tie looks more casual that his usual dapper suit outfits but it's still more rhinestone glam than expected. He completes the look with leather lace-up trousers and gloves, making it consistent with this era. He's joined on stage by Ashley, Isaac, Tommy, new keyboardist Brian London and backing singers Keisha Renee and Octavia Latrice. The Trespassing identity features strongly on stage, with colour co-ordinated outfits and yellow and black stripes blinking to the rhythm.
As soon as the camera pans in on Adam standing tall and his neck wriggle, we can see that this one's going to be performed with attitude. He's definitely the fierce bitch in charge, sneering with disdain. The backing singers make quite a lot of difference to the often dry feeds we hear, adding a welcome depth of sound. I like that they have sufficiently powerful voices to accompany his. There's plenty of energy right from the start as the band claps out the rhythm. I'm loving the sound of the bassline which is unrelentingly cool. Adam's voice has a bit of a delicious hard edge and along with the electric guitar kicking in complements the funk with rock.
I don't understand the pose where Adam clamps his hands around his waist and I find some of the dance moves involving his hands and head a bit contrived. I think he should've left the extra "Crack" to the backing singers. Perhaps it's because I think of the song as rebellious and angry, but Adam refuses to take it too seriously, unable to resist a little injection of camp. As a result, I think it lacks a bit of the fire that I imagine this song would bring. The drop-down is fun though, and I'm almost willing him into some mic molestation.
There's a little bit before the second verse where I'm not keen on Adam's added riff. For once, the tone sounds weak and shaky in stark contrast to the rest of the strong defiant vocals. The bridge here takes me back to his BoW performance but with more control and less aggression. Maybe he could've channelled a bit more of that, but then again it doesn't sit quite right with funk. He moves to other side of the stage to prepare for the climax, and when it comes, oh fuck! The jizzing confetti says it all. There's so much clarity and power in that ringing voice, with just the right amount of rasp. It goes much higher than expected and sustained for much longer. Amazing. No wonder the whole stage is covered with so much 'confetti' we can't even see him! It's a few years late but it's so satisfying to see him finally get his confetti shower and in his own colours. He ends the performance abruptly by slamming down his mic stand and strutting off the stage.
This is a sassy introduction to the Trespassing era that makes me enjoy the song even more. I prefer this plugged-in version for the bass and the greater variation in light and shade. Not to mention being funky as hell. Even after it has stopped playing, I can feel my body grooving to it and can hear it in my still-nodding head. I would say it's an earworm trespassing in there but it's more than welcome to stay.
Footage of the performance was surprisingly released a few days before it was aired on TV so there wasn't the usual excited gathering experiencing it all together. Kelly Osbourne's long gushing introduction may have been slightly embarassing even though it's probably what every Glambert thinks (but just won't say out loud to millions of people).
Adam is dressed head-to-toe in black with minimal make-up and big fluffy hair. His ensemble without a shirt and tie looks more casual that his usual dapper suit outfits but it's still more rhinestone glam than expected. He completes the look with leather lace-up trousers and gloves, making it consistent with this era. He's joined on stage by Ashley, Isaac, Tommy, new keyboardist Brian London and backing singers Keisha Renee and Octavia Latrice. The Trespassing identity features strongly on stage, with colour co-ordinated outfits and yellow and black stripes blinking to the rhythm.
As soon as the camera pans in on Adam standing tall and his neck wriggle, we can see that this one's going to be performed with attitude. He's definitely the fierce bitch in charge, sneering with disdain. The backing singers make quite a lot of difference to the often dry feeds we hear, adding a welcome depth of sound. I like that they have sufficiently powerful voices to accompany his. There's plenty of energy right from the start as the band claps out the rhythm. I'm loving the sound of the bassline which is unrelentingly cool. Adam's voice has a bit of a delicious hard edge and along with the electric guitar kicking in complements the funk with rock.
I don't understand the pose where Adam clamps his hands around his waist and I find some of the dance moves involving his hands and head a bit contrived. I think he should've left the extra "Crack" to the backing singers. Perhaps it's because I think of the song as rebellious and angry, but Adam refuses to take it too seriously, unable to resist a little injection of camp. As a result, I think it lacks a bit of the fire that I imagine this song would bring. The drop-down is fun though, and I'm almost willing him into some mic molestation.
There's a little bit before the second verse where I'm not keen on Adam's added riff. For once, the tone sounds weak and shaky in stark contrast to the rest of the strong defiant vocals. The bridge here takes me back to his BoW performance but with more control and less aggression. Maybe he could've channelled a bit more of that, but then again it doesn't sit quite right with funk. He moves to other side of the stage to prepare for the climax, and when it comes, oh fuck! The jizzing confetti says it all. There's so much clarity and power in that ringing voice, with just the right amount of rasp. It goes much higher than expected and sustained for much longer. Amazing. No wonder the whole stage is covered with so much 'confetti' we can't even see him! It's a few years late but it's so satisfying to see him finally get his confetti shower and in his own colours. He ends the performance abruptly by slamming down his mic stand and strutting off the stage.
This is a sassy introduction to the Trespassing era that makes me enjoy the song even more. I prefer this plugged-in version for the bass and the greater variation in light and shade. Not to mention being funky as hell. Even after it has stopped playing, I can feel my body grooving to it and can hear it in my still-nodding head. I would say it's an earworm trespassing in there but it's more than welcome to stay.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Promo Rounds Chicago-Kansas-SLC-Seattle
Here's the playlist of Adam's promo rounds from Chicago to Seattle and some brief comments about each of the performances:
93.9 Lite FM
WWFM - Adam addresses the crowd as his babies and gives a spot-on vocal with lots of interesting little changes and riffs that are quite different from anything he's done so far for this song.
BTIKM - This splendid vocal is pretty close to perfect and it's great to see him having fun pointing at the audience and laughing at himself at the end.
Trespassing - This is a massively enjoyable one that's not to be missed. It's impossible to stay still through this. Adam stamps and provides his own bit of percussion at the start and it looks to me like he's demonstrating a higher tempo that he wants Tommy to follow with his guitar playing. He misses his cue for the second verse and laughs at himself. The stamping kicks back in later on as Tommy appears to slow down. His voice has the perfect roughness and rings with such clarity despite the rapid delivery. Fantastic stuff.
B96 FM
BTIKM - This one is another 100% unplugged performance without amps and mics. It seems to be a much more internalised affair without the outward expression for a targetted audience. He has closed eyes or looks at the floor for much of it, like he is deep in contemplation, in the zone if you like, singing for himself. Maybe it's partly due to the lack of mic focal point. The emotion is expressed is raw and I can't help but feel that we are looking in on him when vulnerable, at a private moment. Not the best recording but a wonderful performance.
101.9 FM The Mix
BTIKM - Adam finds himself smiling through some of this and you have to wonder what he's thinking about. Pretty vocals with mic-frazzling belting.
99.7 The Point
BTIKM - This one has a super long glory note.
WWFM - There's a variation on the freak line and a wow moment towards the end as Adam stretches a big note and plays around with the melody.
Cuckoo - The first acoustic performance of this song, you can't help but move to it. Adam's in magnificent voice but I think it would work better with drums driving the beat.
Mix 93.3
BTIKM - This gets off to a slightly slow start but once it gets going, Adam's full voice is a joy to listen to.
Cuckoo - Adam can't resist dancing in his seat and censors the f-word in the lyrics. His voice has a bit of a rock edge and there's lots of improvisation towards the end.
Trespassing - A great energetic performance where Adam seems to hump his stool. I think it's meant to have an abrupt ending where Adam does the cut sign, but it seems Tommy is oblivious and keeps playing. It's all to our benefit through as we hear just that little bit more.
Mix 107.9
This is another mic-less set.
BTIKM - It's a quiet start but you can really appreciate the volume range at which Adam sings.
WWFM - Adam's voice sounds so sweet and smooth here in this mellow performance with great use of both falsetto and belt towards the end.
Cuckoo - Adam leaves out the F-words in this rendition and rouses the audience to laugh as he swings an imaginary lasso while sitting on an imaginary horse for dancing. There's a lot of thigh-slapping and improvising towards the end.
97.1 ZHT / My 99.5
BTIKM - This one is sweet and floaty with an impressive crescendo.
Cuckoo - Again, Adam leaves out the swearing in this very fun version where Adam's wonderful voice shines.
106.1 Kiss FM
BTIKM - Performed live on air in the studio, there is excellent quality sound on this recording. Adam's voice sounds velvety smooth and so close. We get to hear a very different set of notes at the end as he continues to make every single performance unique.
Amazon Fishbowl
This was a corporate event at Amazon's HQ.
Trespassing - Adam's voice sounds full and brilliant with that gorgeous and slightly rough tone.
93.9 Lite FM
WWFM - Adam addresses the crowd as his babies and gives a spot-on vocal with lots of interesting little changes and riffs that are quite different from anything he's done so far for this song.
BTIKM - This splendid vocal is pretty close to perfect and it's great to see him having fun pointing at the audience and laughing at himself at the end.
Trespassing - This is a massively enjoyable one that's not to be missed. It's impossible to stay still through this. Adam stamps and provides his own bit of percussion at the start and it looks to me like he's demonstrating a higher tempo that he wants Tommy to follow with his guitar playing. He misses his cue for the second verse and laughs at himself. The stamping kicks back in later on as Tommy appears to slow down. His voice has the perfect roughness and rings with such clarity despite the rapid delivery. Fantastic stuff.
B96 FM
BTIKM - This one is another 100% unplugged performance without amps and mics. It seems to be a much more internalised affair without the outward expression for a targetted audience. He has closed eyes or looks at the floor for much of it, like he is deep in contemplation, in the zone if you like, singing for himself. Maybe it's partly due to the lack of mic focal point. The emotion is expressed is raw and I can't help but feel that we are looking in on him when vulnerable, at a private moment. Not the best recording but a wonderful performance.
101.9 FM The Mix
BTIKM - Adam finds himself smiling through some of this and you have to wonder what he's thinking about. Pretty vocals with mic-frazzling belting.
99.7 The Point
BTIKM - This one has a super long glory note.
WWFM - There's a variation on the freak line and a wow moment towards the end as Adam stretches a big note and plays around with the melody.
Cuckoo - The first acoustic performance of this song, you can't help but move to it. Adam's in magnificent voice but I think it would work better with drums driving the beat.
Mix 93.3
BTIKM - This gets off to a slightly slow start but once it gets going, Adam's full voice is a joy to listen to.
Cuckoo - Adam can't resist dancing in his seat and censors the f-word in the lyrics. His voice has a bit of a rock edge and there's lots of improvisation towards the end.
Trespassing - A great energetic performance where Adam seems to hump his stool. I think it's meant to have an abrupt ending where Adam does the cut sign, but it seems Tommy is oblivious and keeps playing. It's all to our benefit through as we hear just that little bit more.
Mix 107.9
This is another mic-less set.
BTIKM - It's a quiet start but you can really appreciate the volume range at which Adam sings.
WWFM - Adam's voice sounds so sweet and smooth here in this mellow performance with great use of both falsetto and belt towards the end.
Cuckoo - Adam leaves out the F-words in this rendition and rouses the audience to laugh as he swings an imaginary lasso while sitting on an imaginary horse for dancing. There's a lot of thigh-slapping and improvising towards the end.
97.1 ZHT / My 99.5
BTIKM - This one is sweet and floaty with an impressive crescendo.
Cuckoo - Again, Adam leaves out the swearing in this very fun version where Adam's wonderful voice shines.
106.1 Kiss FM
BTIKM - Performed live on air in the studio, there is excellent quality sound on this recording. Adam's voice sounds velvety smooth and so close. We get to hear a very different set of notes at the end as he continues to make every single performance unique.
Amazon Fishbowl
This was a corporate event at Amazon's HQ.
Trespassing - Adam's voice sounds full and brilliant with that gorgeous and slightly rough tone.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Radio Promo Rounds
As there are so many videos from this round of promo, instead of doing a post for each, I've put them all together in the embedded playlist below along with some brief comments. There are 15 performances in 14 videos in at 8 different stations. There should be more but we don't have anything yet for Sirius XM.
95.5 WPLJ New York
WWFM features Kevin strumming on guitar, and as before, I still feel that there's something slightly unpleasant about the sound. Maybe it's one string that's affecting the balance of the chords, I don't have enough expertise to put my finger on it. The performance has quite a lively energy and it's rather endearing to see Adam twisting around on his swivel chair. I'm pleased to hear Adam still changing it up with a lovely run on 'now' and notable variations at the end.
This BTIKM has only a guitar accompaniment so I'm thrilled they decided to dispense with the drum machine. It's very quiet, all the better for hearing Adam's gentle voice, which has quite a bit of an echo. We realise it's only quiet because the mic's too far away and someone comes to move it closer. The expression on Adam's face when it happens is priceless but he's unaffected by it, showing no signs of being distracted with the beautiful vocals and harmonies.
Fresh 102.7 FM New York
Again, there's something with the guitar that sounds imperfect to me in this WWFM. There are more variations to this one and I really like the low 'Just keep coming around' and how Adam plays with the timing at the end. He takes the unusual step of singing a final 'me' which doesn't sound like 'may'.
He sounds wonderful on this slightly mournful BTIKM, even though there is a shaky moment at 'All along' from which he quickly recovers. There's less grain in his voice than some of the other versions but there are so many pretty embellishments, especially on the 'whoa's near the end.
B104 Allentown
This WWFM sounds quite different with lovely improvisations in both the melody of riffs and the timing.
BTIKM has a wonderful ending which alternates rapidly between power and tenderness, a bit like the contrasting sides of himself in the video.
94.5 PST Princeton
This BTIKM is a bouncy one that sounds rushed compared to some of the others. I realise that I always look forward to listening to ending of his performances, not only for the crescendoes but I think he's at his best and vocally most creative when he's outside of the confines of song structure. This is one ending that I love, where his sweet falsetto floats like the chirping of a songbird at dawn.
This WWFM features lots of the rougher texture of Adam's voice.
Q102 (Mix 106.1) Philly
This WWFM, although acoustic, has a harder edge than the others.
It's during this performance of BTIKM that I really get to appreciate the the less-is-more beauty of the bridge which goes from a hectic plucking of the guitar evoking the chaotic feeling of being rushed, to the soothing tranquility of ''Cause I need you now'. It's like the climax of the song, counter-intuitively, is a diminuendo. A powerful, belting performance.
B98.5 Jersey Shore
Unusual for any performance, this mini-set has no speakers set up for the audience. It's my dream to be able to hear Adam's actual, unprocessed singing voice that hasn't gone through any audio equipment. Lucky them. This is the first performance where Adam skips all the yodelly parts, and I actually prefer it as it sounds more elegant. Without backing vocals, Adam balances his delicate falsetto with some belting freestyling at the end.
WWFM is powerful and more aggressive than the other versions.
94.3 The Point
BTIKM is rather fast and bouncy, again without backing vocals and yodelly parts. Adam is spectacular in voice in both falsetto and belt.
There is little to report about this WWFM other than the voice being near perfect.
92.7 WOBM
Adam seems to have only sung WWFM at this station. There's not a lot that's particularly different about this version but this is as perfect as it gets.
95.5 WPLJ New York
WWFM features Kevin strumming on guitar, and as before, I still feel that there's something slightly unpleasant about the sound. Maybe it's one string that's affecting the balance of the chords, I don't have enough expertise to put my finger on it. The performance has quite a lively energy and it's rather endearing to see Adam twisting around on his swivel chair. I'm pleased to hear Adam still changing it up with a lovely run on 'now' and notable variations at the end.
This BTIKM has only a guitar accompaniment so I'm thrilled they decided to dispense with the drum machine. It's very quiet, all the better for hearing Adam's gentle voice, which has quite a bit of an echo. We realise it's only quiet because the mic's too far away and someone comes to move it closer. The expression on Adam's face when it happens is priceless but he's unaffected by it, showing no signs of being distracted with the beautiful vocals and harmonies.
Fresh 102.7 FM New York
Again, there's something with the guitar that sounds imperfect to me in this WWFM. There are more variations to this one and I really like the low 'Just keep coming around' and how Adam plays with the timing at the end. He takes the unusual step of singing a final 'me' which doesn't sound like 'may'.
He sounds wonderful on this slightly mournful BTIKM, even though there is a shaky moment at 'All along' from which he quickly recovers. There's less grain in his voice than some of the other versions but there are so many pretty embellishments, especially on the 'whoa's near the end.
B104 Allentown
This WWFM sounds quite different with lovely improvisations in both the melody of riffs and the timing.
BTIKM has a wonderful ending which alternates rapidly between power and tenderness, a bit like the contrasting sides of himself in the video.
94.5 PST Princeton
This BTIKM is a bouncy one that sounds rushed compared to some of the others. I realise that I always look forward to listening to ending of his performances, not only for the crescendoes but I think he's at his best and vocally most creative when he's outside of the confines of song structure. This is one ending that I love, where his sweet falsetto floats like the chirping of a songbird at dawn.
This WWFM features lots of the rougher texture of Adam's voice.
Q102 (Mix 106.1) Philly
This WWFM, although acoustic, has a harder edge than the others.
It's during this performance of BTIKM that I really get to appreciate the the less-is-more beauty of the bridge which goes from a hectic plucking of the guitar evoking the chaotic feeling of being rushed, to the soothing tranquility of ''Cause I need you now'. It's like the climax of the song, counter-intuitively, is a diminuendo. A powerful, belting performance.
B98.5 Jersey Shore
Unusual for any performance, this mini-set has no speakers set up for the audience. It's my dream to be able to hear Adam's actual, unprocessed singing voice that hasn't gone through any audio equipment. Lucky them. This is the first performance where Adam skips all the yodelly parts, and I actually prefer it as it sounds more elegant. Without backing vocals, Adam balances his delicate falsetto with some belting freestyling at the end.
WWFM is powerful and more aggressive than the other versions.
94.3 The Point
BTIKM is rather fast and bouncy, again without backing vocals and yodelly parts. Adam is spectacular in voice in both falsetto and belt.
There is little to report about this WWFM other than the voice being near perfect.
92.7 WOBM
Adam seems to have only sung WWFM at this station. There's not a lot that's particularly different about this version but this is as perfect as it gets.
Friday, 2 March 2012
HR3 Radio Germany - Better Than I Know Myself
As you can tell, I'm a bit behind on all the reviews after the overload of radio promo performances (imagine what it would've been like for him!) so I'm going to just post brief comments with the videos.
Adam performed this BTIKM at Germany's HR3 radio station on his birthday, dressed as Light!Adam in what looks to be a turtleneck for those with necks the width of a torso. It looks so comfortable, ideal slouchwear but there's no slouching here.
An acoustic performance with Kevin, Isaac and Tommy, the piano is flowy and Adam's voice has a beautiful balance of both tenderness and grit.
Adam performed this BTIKM at Germany's HR3 radio station on his birthday, dressed as Light!Adam in what looks to be a turtleneck for those with necks the width of a torso. It looks so comfortable, ideal slouchwear but there's no slouching here.
An acoustic performance with Kevin, Isaac and Tommy, the piano is flowy and Adam's voice has a beautiful balance of both tenderness and grit.
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