Friday, 30 April 2010

G-A-Y Heaven


This is only going to be a quick post otherwise I'll never manage to catch up with this media blitz. I intended to go to this gig and was more excited about this one than the HMV one. It was the first UK concert and to an audience of predominantly cute gay guys so I fully expected Adam to be in horny mode on fire playing up to the crowd. But I'd been out all day and all evening with friends I hadn't seen in a very long time so my timekeeping was slack to say the least. I swear that since I was born premature, my lack of punctuality has been making up for it ever since. I expected Adam to be late so arrived as a huge crowd of people were leaving, telling me that I'd just missed it. I was gutted. Here's a playlist of the best videos I could find:



It's difficult to comment on the performances from the available video but they are quite structured in their choreography. Adam is dressed to impress, looking debonair in his three-piece suit. His rolled up sleeves are a nice touch though, like he's ready to get down and dirty with a bit of action.

Thursday, 29 April 2010

GLAAD to Have Adam


After all the bullshit from GLAAD in the aftermath of the AMAs, it was very satisfying for Adam to have been invited to perform at these awards and I guess it serves as both a show of support, and an apology. I was excited as to whether he would really camp it up in terms of appearance and performance. My questions were answered when he graced the red carpet in a dashing suit. I still had hopes he would dial up the outrageousness for the performance but as he strutted on stage, he looked as sharp as ever in a bejewelled suit. Here's the playlist:



Despite Adam's best efforts, the audience lacked a pulse. It's frustrating to see such a conservative reception that doesn't quite seem to know how to respond to him. The songs were performed very dramatically with stellar vocals to match. I enjoy the choreography with the dancers in Fever as I think adds to the fun and helps to generate energy both on- and off-stage. And I find myself much more amused than I should be at that renegade tuft of hair breaking loose from the pompadour.

He finishes by getting a little political, but I think his point is a very valid one because it's something that has affected his career so far. It seems that there are a number of parties who want him to represent them but at the same time want to box him into a stereotype that they see fit in perpetuating. I agree with Adam that it's time to blast those boxes into smithereens.

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

One Year


This blog is now a year old (plus a few days because I've been too busy flailing-celebrating winning tickets to see Adam in Heaven) and what a year it's been. For me it's bittersweet as it will always be tainted with sadness. I'd still choose complete ignorance of Adam over the circumstances in which I ended up discovering him. I would otherwise never have watched AI and would've been dismissive of anything that came out of it. Well, we all know how that turned out. The first thing that inspired me to want to write was RoF, and it was Googling him that pushed me over the edge into alien territory and I just had to describe this curious condition that many others seem to have shared.

It all started during Adam's stint on AI where we'd been hooked and stunned by performances like RoF and MW, then outraged and disappointed with the result. We were then relieved to have gotten the gay question out of the way, thrilled when his raunchier side came out playing with mic stands and whips while we listened intently through ear-bleeding static on the live streams for 'baby', 'woman' or 'honey'. Then we waited and waited for the faintest trace of new material as TfM was released, followed by the controversial album cover, the single, then and surprisingly eclectic album. We were shocked and hurt by the fall-out following the AMAs and showed solidarity as we made our support for Adam known during various campaigns while he went through a period of reflection. He gradually rebuilt his confidence as he went about damage control and FYE was scrapped for WWFM.

We started the decade on a high with Adam's first full set at Gridlock, followed by steady promo and performances and we cheered for every TV slot he landed. Then came that momentous WLL at Indio, wresting us from the comfort of fandom right back into the maelstrom of obsession. As he embarked on his promo tour, we stayed up until stupid o'clock glued to our computer screens following him and marvelling at his codpiece/no codpiece and his overwhelmingly positive reception from passionate fans all around the world. We whooped and celebrated Adam's majestic return to Idol as it became glaringly obvious how exceptional he is as he was awarded universal praise. Which brings us to now, where I'm looking forward to seeing him perform live for the first time, waiting for a miscreant volcano to start behaving.

Adam's list of achievements for the year is impressive and here I've listed only those I believe are most significant:

Magazine covers
Sales
  • FYE Album: Gold - USA, Canada, Singapore, New Zealand
  • WWFM Single: Double platinum - Canada; Gold - USA, New Zealand
  • FYE Single: Platinum - Canada; Gold - New Zealand
Awards
This year has also brought many firsts for me, and these include:
  • Writing for an audience and maintaining a blog
  • Experiencing fandom
  • Voting for a reality show contestant
  • Joining forums, live streams and twitter to cyberstalk
  • Making videos
There is so much I have learned in the past year. Windows Movie Maker had sat on my computer unused and I just decided one day to see what I could do with it. If you look at my oldest video edits, they started off as simple replacements of audio tracks and then grew into something much more complicated as I learned how to make the most of the tools available to me. The learning hasn't only been confined to video editing but also audio and image editing, scripting and so much more about marketing and the online world which will equip me well for the future.


Much has been written about the Adam Lambert Effect by various people but right now, I think one of the things that resonates is this: In almost every one of us I believe there's a battle between who we are, who we want to be and how we want to be seen. It takes so much effort to constantly keep up every aspect of what we do in order to portray ourselves in a certain way. It may be something as simple as wanting to appear stronger than who we really are or it could be as severe as being so fearful of being disliked that we remain completely closed. Adam has reconciled the battle by making us believe we can be whoever we want by following our true selves, and that what others think is irrelevant. By laying his true self open to scrutiny to a vast audience knowing full well he'd be hated by some, he's shown that the risk can be very rewarding. We've seen his extreme transformation from Apple Pie Adam, giving us hope that we too could be as fabulous if we believed and tried. The end of the battle and ceasing to give a shit about how others see us is liberating. He makes us feel that it's OK to freely express ourselves and has given us courage, paving the way for us. The effect is much further-reaching than just temporary escapism to weird and wonderful destinations with each performance, because he has allowed many of us to feel that little bit braver and has fired our imaginations to get our dormant creativity flowing. This has led to personal growth, newfound confidence and skills, and art that in turn inspires and puts us in touch with others who share this passion. I think this is the core of the Adam Lambert Effect, and as a result, our lives have been significantly enriched.

Thank you Adam, and thank you readers.

Friday, 16 April 2010

The Return of the King


Adam made an excellent mentor on his return to AI for Elvis week. Having a slick pompadour with a spiky modern twist, he was smart and business-like in his suit jacket for mentoring, and casually glamorous in his shirt and waistcoat on the show. He was much more bluntly honest than I was expecting, but every piece of advice ranging from presentation skills to vocal nuance to arrangement was spot-on and was much more useful than any of the nonsense dished out by the judges. It's just the contestants' loss that some frustratingly didn't follow through his advice. We saw contestant after contestant wussing out after Adam told them to push things further, take some risks and just let go. I can only conclude that it's a very difficult thing to do as fear seems to have debilitated everyone to some extent. One thing became clearer to me more than ever though, which is how much balls it takes to fully commit to going for it in every single performance. I would have loved to have seen Adam versions of all of the songs but none of the contestants would have been able to tackle any of his upbeat ones like Satisfaction, BoW, PTFM, BtBW or WLL, and neither do they possess the vocal mastery or emotional conveyance to successfully deliver RoF, MW or ACIGC. Adam Lambert is exceptionally brave but makes it look effortlessly natural with his powerful presence, dynamic range and electrifying energy on stage.

Here's a video I put together of all of Adam's parts during the show. It's not just a plain splice-and-stitch as I decided to take some artistic liberties. I hope you enjoy it.



DOWNLOAD Adam Mentor sessions AI9 v2 iPod compatible mp4 - 70.6MB

The excitement building up to Adam's performance on AI was unbelieveable. After enduring the rest of the show, when it finally got to Adam, I felt a hush sweep right through cyberspace where I was watching the stream. We held our collective breath as an air of nervous anticipation hung over us. I'd done my best to avoid any spoilers, but I had built up my expectation that this was going to be something special because Adam would want to exceed the standard he already set himself on the show. There were a number of options available, each one appealing in its own way. I was expecting to hear WWFM with a twist - perhaps one of the remixes or a surprising arrangement.



Our first view of Adam is as a solitary silhouette in front of a narrow laser spotlight ring. We wait for the spotlight to fill and brighten but it doesn't. We strain to see him, strain to see how he presents himself but he stubbornly remains shrouded in a mysterious smoke. We have to tune up our hearing sense to soak in this experience. The first ghostly elongated notes are a sublime a cappella, reminiscent of FYE at the AMAs, but there is an eerie echo. We are phantoms in an unfamiliar world, not sure where we are or where we're going. The spotlight widens to reveal turbulent clouds circling Adam in a barren alien landscape. The camera moves through the outer boundary limit and we are now sharing that dark inner space and realise we're enclosed inside a swirling vortex with the threat of something beautifully terrible looming ahead, and overhead is a portal we are both awed and frightened by because we know there's no return from it. The dizzying feeling is of floating and struggling to hold onto each other as we drift away aimlessly into an abyss.

In comes a hint of synthesiser, sounding like the slow build-up to a rave track as Adam slips from our grasp and we drift away from him. It feels like all is lost, our connection having been severed but then there's new hope as the voice becomes stronger and richer, the chorus kicks in with extra lights, and the spell that had banished us to that other world has been broken. We get our first close-up and can see Adam's hair and dramatic make-up but he remains elusive as he tries to emerge from the debris of that dark place. He's still lost in the thick fog. It leads us to some interesting camera angles where the stage looks huge and he looks so far away from everything.

It's in the second verse when we finally get to see his shiny beaded silver jacket, which I don't think is very flattering, and notice that his earpieces are glowing. The multitude of laser beams give off the feeling that Adam's in the line of fire as people are taking aim from all sides. That and the smoke make it seem like a noisy, confusing space we're now in and reflects the meaning of the song as he pleads to us. There are some breathtaking shots of Adam in iconic-looking poses singing to a spotlight ahead, but it's hard to make out his dancing. The timbre of his vocals is exquisitely rich and he hits some stunning notes in full belt. There are a few iffy notes here and there like in the final run, but in a performance like this, it doesn't matter because the audience is already spellbound. Even though I can't see him for much of the time, he owns the stage as my eyes are constantly trying to seek him out. I think he likes playing with us because he waits until we're all so desperate to see how he looks before unveiling himself.

Adam has come such a long way and it should be of no surprise that this return to the Idol stage is my favourite WWFM yet. The staging and atmospherics are staggering, the likes of which the Idol stage has probably never seen. The only thing I would change is for the smoke to get sucked away as soon as the chorus kicks in to deliver the visual impact of seeing him standing tall in the light. Impressively packed full of excitement and thrills, this is such an amazing multi-sensory spectacle to behold. I'm transported to another mood, another world. My expectations were shattered as he somehow manages to continually surprise us. Wow. What a show. Adam is king of the stage because you don't just see and hear his performances then question your senses, you are left with a lasting impression because you  feel them and want to feel them over and over again.

Sunday, 11 April 2010

Entertaining Glamajuku


This video is for my Japanese friends (especially @bani_, who keeps me up to date with all the latest news on her fabulous Adamholic blog) for the passion and excitement they bring to this fandom. It's also to mark the cover of Japanese Rolling Stone and its collection of stunning photos.

It seems like such a long time ago that Adam performed in Tokyo but it was one that I'd been looking forward to for a long time mainly out of curiosity as to how far he would push it in an environment where his quirks are celebrated. This FYE is shortened and is one of the very  few choreographed routines incorporating dancers. I remember thinking that he looked like a spiky glitterbomb. Enjoy!



UPDATED 14/05/10 - Watch just after the minute mark and you'll understand why I made a later version.
DOWNLOAD FYE v1 iPod compatible mp4 28.9MB
DOWNLOAD FYE v1 HD mp4 37.9MB

DOWNLOAD FYE mp3 2.2MB
DOWNLOAD FYE iPod compatible mp4 28.9MB
DOWNLOAD FYE HD mp4 37.9MB

I prefer the Rolling Stone Japan photos (thanks bani!) to the US ones, not only because we get more of them but because of their contemplative understated beauty. The US ones look rather static in comparison. The cover isn't as rich in symbolism as the US one but is just as striking. The high contrast highlights Adam's features with the lighting adding a hint of duality. On one side he's smooth and glowing brightly, the other, dark and brooding. Both his eyes are in shadow looking mysterious and his expression is commanding, leaving no doubt as to who's the bitch. If there's one thing I'd change about the cover shot, it would be to angle Adam's hand forward just a touch so his finger looks less stubby. I love this pale look of his which I think is a consequence of the different attitude in the Far East where porcelain white skin is prized over tanned. Sometimes I'd like Adam to keep this in mind before reaching for the bronzer, as at times, the result is a little too orange. I think his photo shoots have steadily improved since those early Sebree ones I wasn't keen on. These are much more flattering, with the poses looking less awkward and more natural. He also looks less plastic as much more of his personality is conveyed through his expressions and body language. According to the editor, the shoot was allocated only 45 minutes, which is very impressive considering the stirringly sensual results. Click for the bigger versions.

Adam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone coverAdam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone photo lying on groundAdam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone photo hands on templesAdam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone photo moaning in lift elevatorAdam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone photo red garage doorAdam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone photo fierce grabby handAdam Lambert Japanese Rolling Stone photo sitting pensively against wall

Saturday, 10 April 2010

River Rocking Glam-mover


This concert has a different vibe to the Red Robinson one. Adam is so happy and a lot more chatty, providing explanations for many of the songs. It also feels more free-flowing with the jams, and a headbanded Monte teases the crowd with some famous guitar licks, driving them crazy with the possibility that there might be a new cover on the way. Adam's look is laid-back glam, combining pieces that shouldn't really work together. When he takes off the tailed Gridlock jacket, he looks the most casual I've seen during any concert. His hair is in a kind of 'just rolled out of bed looking fab' do. The set list has an unusual order, finishing on Music Again with WWFM as the encore. Here's my playlist of the complete set, which I'll be updating as better videos turn up. Use the arrows to change songs:



The set starts off with FYE where Adam unleashes some moves. I'm happy to see the perfect return of the original 'Scrayeeyayeeyayeeyaym' glory note without the slide up and it ends with some welcome variations. Strut should get the Adommy/Lambliff shippers squeeing in excitement for their moment of interaction. Surprisingly, DTRH is next and I really love the way that Adam often sneakily smuts up lyrics with 'Take the leash of MY animal'. It's a fierce performance and recalls tour memories as Adam picks up a red cat o' nine tails to play with. The mood is changed abruptly with a rather depressing intro to Sleepwalker. This is one of my favourite renditions so far, especially with the belting at 'You're everything that I want' and the improvisations towards the end. IIHY brings back a party vibe where he really has to stretch to touch the crowd. It's great to see the shots of the audience all bouncing along in unison. Off comes the jacket with MW. The acoustic foot-tapping head-nodding upbeat arrangement is sung powerfully with an incredible bonus freestyling jam at the end. His voice goes from an aggressive rock it to a floaty haunting whisper. Adam excels when it comes to making sure we never get bored of it.

I'm sure when Adam was introducing acoustic Broken Open, he was expecting A Loaded Smile to be the next song. It's beautiful and the pace doesn't seem quite as fast as yesterday's. The anthemic Soaked is so OTT dramatic as he touches himself and gets the booze out. My favourite part has to be the ghostly drawn-out note. The jacket comes back on for A Loaded Smile and he radiates such joy during his funny banter at the start. It's sung in a very soft falsetto which I think could do with a shade of fine-tuning but like yesterday, he adds some bluesy stylings at 'When you're not around here, I don't even notice that you're gone' that any soul diva would be proud of. Fever is next as Monte does his teasing licks. There are some parts of the arrangement that sound quite different with what I think are extra keys but it sounds good. With hat on, Adam assumes a crazy character dancing around the stage. It looks like he enjoys dressing Tommy up with the black feather boa. We get another marvellous little bonus 'Disco' jam at the end, motherfuckers! I find it endearing that Adam can never seem to get the lyrics right in Music Again. Perhaps it's just because he just likes the word 'betterer'. It's a bundle of energetic fun and I find myself laughing at the way Adam sticks his tongue out like a leering old lech during the guitar solo. WWFM expresses Adam's appreciation of his fans and concludes another fantastic concert.

DOWNLOADS - Cleaned up versions of justfreakout's recordings
For Your Entertainment mp3 8.5MB
Down the Rabbit Hole - mp3 10.2MB
If I Had You - mp3 9.4MB
Mad World (Acoustic) - mp3 12.3MB
Broken Open (Acoustic) - mp3 11.6MB
Soaked - mp3 10.7MB
A Loaded Smile - mp3 10.49MB
Fever - mp3 9.4MB
Music Again mp3 8.4MB