Better Than I Know Myself - Stream with Lyrics

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YESSSSS!!! I'm thrilled I didn't have to wait very long for the full song after deciding to skip on the snippets. It leaked earlier today but now I've finally listened to it for the first time from the official site. Here it is for your listening pleasure:



First impressions are it's got much more of an urban sound than what I was expecting. One of the things that stands out is the beat. I think the uniformity and simplicity of the beats from FYE let it down a little so I'm incredibly happy to hear something quite different. I wanted something more complex and this syncopated beat hits the mark. Brilliant. I recognise the rhythm but the names of songs on which it has been used escape me so if you could enlighten me I'd be grateful.

It's not your bog-standard catchy pop tune, being light on instrumental melody and with no instrumental hook. Instead it has a synthesiser drone in the background (which resembles the reverent sound of a church organ in the intro and also has a hint of Sleepwalker) that hardly competes with Adam's voice, allowing it to take centre stage. And that voice is marvelous. No vocal trickery or acrobatics but there's plenty of that graininess that I love and can't get enough of, especially on 'sometimes'. It's only the high notes in the chorus that I feel have lost a little in the production but I'm already excited about the prospect of being able to hear it belted out live in an attack of goosebumps.

Here are the lyrics:

Cold as ice
And more bitter than a December
Winter night
That's how I treated you
And I know that I
I sometimes tend to lose my temper
And I cross the line
Yeah that's the truth

I know it gets hard sometimes
But I could never
Leave your side
No matter what I say

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

All along
I tried to pretend it didn't matter
If I was alone
But deep down I know
If you were gone
For even a day I wouldn't know
Which way to turn
Cause I'm lost without you

I know it gets hard sometimes
But I could never
Leave your side
No matter what I say

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

I get kind of dark
Let it go too far
I can be obnoxious at times
But try and see my heart
Cause I need you now
So don't let me down
You're the only thing in this world
I would die without

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the lyrics because I see nothing particularly original or inspiring. I also prefer them to be implicit and not written in the first person addressing someone directly when it comes to relationships. But that probably says more about me than the songwriting. Anyway, lyrics tend not to be as important to me as the sound.

For me, the song is all about the groove and the atmosphere it generates. It's a self-reflective one for the headphones, a slow grindy one for the dancefloor, or a tender fucky one for the bedroom. It's quite a big step away from FYE and as a first single, it's a pleasantly surprising choice and one that has me very excited for what else is to come on Trespassing. I'm hooked already.

Better Than I Know Myself - Preview

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After months of waiting and tapping our fingers, we've finally got something to feast on! Adam first revealed the name of the single nearly a month ago. 'Better Than I Know Myself' leaves a bit of room for ambiguity. Could it mean that someone else understands me more than I do myself? Or does it mean that I'm better at something I than I realise? Anyway, Adam tweeted out the links to first the single cover, then a preview of his new single. It makes a welcome change that for once, the roll-out wasn't through an unauthorised leak but delivered personally from Adam, breaking Twitter in the process. I'm sure his inner control freak was involved, with his social media nous getting the official press release to arrive via Facebook.

Here's the preview snippet for you to listen to:

I'm afraid though that I'm in the minority and have been using all my willpower to resist the temptation to listen to it and avoid reading about it. Thankfully I don't have too long to wait as it comes out on 20th December, otherwise I would've wolfed it down. I remember listening to the snippets from FYE and realised how different I felt after listening to the full songs. I decided then that this time I'd listen to the whole thing with open mind and virgin ears, without any preconceived ideas. A new song only has one chance to make a first impression so I want to ensure I get the right one via a full undiluted experience.

Here's the single artwork, done by Lee Cherry:

While not as controversial as the FYE album cover nor as much of a talking point as the acoustic EP cover, I think the stark grainy image has a hard, raw feel. No glitter, no camp, with minimal make-up and desaturated colours, this is a definite step away from the FYE era. With the aged brown edges, I can't help feeling it looks like it was run through one of those preset Instagram filters that are a bit too popular these days. If I were to be hyper-critical, I'd say I'm not keen on the typefaces. There's something quite dark-humour-psycho-horror-flick about the style of his name, and the title looks a touch too rounded and light for my taste. I'm more than thrilled though that he didn't have that weird wide forehead shaved sides hairdo! The thick high hair gets the thumbs up from me.

The photo itself is one in which Lee Cherry once again captures Adam's beauty from the view of an observer, in a natural, non-confrontational way. He doesn't appear to be consciously posing but in contemplation, focusing his attention elsewhere. The imagery doesn't come as a surprise as I think it was something he'd been working towards. We'd seen glimpses of it from Moscow and various photos since then. I guess you could call it safe, but I'd say it embodies his desire not to appear too try-hard, just quietly content and confident that the music will be making all the bold statements.

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:

Crowning the EMAs

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Thoughts are a jumble, tuning in was a hectic scramble but got there just in time for this, the not-very-well-kept secret of Adam and global icons Queen crowning off the EMAs with a medley of "The Show Must Go On", "Under Pressure", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions":



MAGNIFICENT.

Power.

Panache.

What a voice.

What a frontman.

No one else could.

Global Icon.

I got my wish.

There may be some more thoughts tomorrow after repeated viewings.

Also, weird red carpet wide forehead hair with fugly clunky blue shoes that remind me of '80s wallabies. But I don't give a fuck when has a voice like that and performs like that.
Did I mention that he's a fucking megastar?

A Voodoo Halloween

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It's a bit late but I couldn't leave you on Adam's favourite holiday without a seasonal little treat: my edit of Voodoo from New Orleans, the place I consider to be the spiritual home of Glam Nation. I have to admit I cheated a little with this one and used Glam Nation Live to bulk up the sound a bit as we didn't get any good quality audio. Luckily for me, this is possible as Voodoo uses a backing track and doesn't vary as much as the other songs. Enjoy!



The opening chords of Voodoo often come entwined with a spinetingling moment as the dramatic silhouette of Adam against a full moon heralds the beginning of an excitedly anticipated set. This one is my favourite from Glam Nation for going that extra mile through the costume additions. Not only does he have the voodoo staff but the creepy troupe hide mysteriously behind their elaborate masks. Much attention to detail is paid through the snaky Brooke, creeping Sasha, marionette Taylor and undead Terrance choreography. The way that witch doctor Adam uses his voice at times is quite ghostly, seducing you into a trance at your pleasure and peril.

For more seasonal treats, visit the quotes and gallery of Adam's Halloween costumes through the years and Adam's Party City set, sung as a vampire with fangs in and all. And if you fancy a cute spooky T-shirt inspired by his Glam Nation Voodoo visuals, click the pic.

One other thing I want to write about is my belated flail which is fitting to mention at this time of year:

When Adam's tweet appeared in my feed during a twitter party, I had to do a double, triple, quadruple take to make sure it really was a reply to my tweet. I still find that I have to look at it occasionally to believe it happened. That tweet was just wonderful because he gave me much more than a simple answer. He fucking winked at me! He also complimented my choice of avatar (I guess it's also a compliment to himself) which is Adam in my favourite costume of his that I've cropped to focus on his commanding stare. I love that he looks so alien in it, like a Glamazonian ice queen. I really want to see him go all-out with his beautiful Halloween creations again. I guess it's not really surprising that he's a friendly drunk, all the more reason why he's someone I'd want to go out on the lash with and see what zany shenanigans would ensue. Sometimes I think he divulged a little more about that Halloween than initially suggested. With that random capitalisation, I do think that perhaps he didn't just have a good one, but an Ebeneezer Goode one, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I'm thrilled that my avatar reminds him of crazy fun times. If I'm not too late, have yourselves a crazy fun Halloween!

DOWNLOAD Voodoo mp3 - 3.52MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Voodoo iPod compatible mp4 - 16.32MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Voodoo HD mp4 - 75.52MB Alternative download link

Proud

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It's been quite a while since my last post as I've been busy with real life but the recent EQCA and PFLAG awards Adam has received along with the Advocate article have inspired me to get creative again. With a new era upon us, the old graphics feel dated so I wanted to make something new to reflect the less glam, less frivolous vibe I get for the upcoming album while still retaining a little humour.

I've been thinking about how Adam has unintentionally ended up gradually adopting a role in sociopolitical activism. At the start of the journey, it seemed to me that he just wanted to have fun and play dress-up while making music. It might sound somewhat superficial but that period was driven by excitement for the new and eagerness to carve out an identity. The album reflected this energy and optimism. Along came the Out interview and the controversial letter of criticism from its editor Aaron Hicklin accusing Adam of de-gaying himself by turning down the cover and doing a hetero Details photoshoot. Adam has since revealed that the AMA performance was in part an angry response to that criticism. It had been a rocky ride for our formerly reluctant poster-boy.

While it's unfair to expect every gay person in the spotlight to automatically take on the responsibility of leading the charge when all they want to do is go about their business like anyone else, Adam has come to the conclusion that it does play a part in his business, and now that he's in a position to make a difference, he's trying to use it in the fight for equality. Though the way Hicklin attacked Adam and his management in that letter was out of order, he effectively laid down a challenge which Adam has quietly stepped up to, with positive repercussions still making their mark. In an unpleasant and roundabout way, Hicklin got the result he wanted, to the benefit of many.

I felt that Adam's performance of ACIGC in LA signalled a shift in his degree of involvement with politics and we've seen this via the Trevor Project through the "It Gets Better" campaign and the Aftermath Remix. Although he still seems uncomfortable getting up on his soap-box to speak up about issues, I think he's in his element when expressing it through music — not on a political level where he isn't yet at ease but on a personal, emotional level as a consequence of those policies — in Outlaws of Love.

There are four designs here, which I created to reflect the role Adam has adopted. I wanted my illustration to parody a political propaganda poster with him as a stoic revolutionary, regal and exuding power. I went for a slightly ironic and humorous take (depending on how you see him), depicting him as the Gay Messiah / poster boy that some people have demanded of him. Who knows, history could well remove the irony.

The first design is of Adam against the backdrop of the rainbow flag with a simple word: "Proud". It could mean many things; Adam being out and proud and gay enough, thankyouverymuch; his support and contribution towards LGBT rights; pride in him for being publicly out and leading by example; pride for his working hard towards a dream inspiring millions along the way; pride for just being uncompromisingly himself. There was also something in the Advocate article about people being reluctant to admit to liking him as he sees himself as uncool:

“I pick up this kind of energy among young people that it might not be the coolest thing to say you like Adam Lambert’s music. People don’t think that I’m cool.”

Well the design is also a response to that. It's a way of showing that you are an out and proud Glambert, proud to be uncool (and therefore post-cool?) if that's what liking him makes you.

I've used a lyric from Strut as the slogan for the other designs, retaining the informal spelling to keep it light-hearted. The second one has a subtle rainbow flag in Adam's hair for those of you who aren't fond of wearing too much colour, and the last two are variations; one with a vertical flag, the other without any rainbows. It could well be that Adam will grow into a revolutionary figure for equal rights but for now, the revolution is closer to home. How many of us have changed, feel braver, stronger, happier within ourselves? In how many of us has Adam effected a personal revolution? I hope these are designs you'd be proud to wear in support of Adam, whether for counter-protests or as a constant reminder from him that the power for change is in each and every one of us.

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