As much as I love all the performances from the album so far, one of the things that got me so excited about Adam in the first place was his ability to sing one song a myriad different ways. He's a Magical Remix Machine: input any song and he'll use those same lyrics and same basic melody to give you something that sounds much better. He even has a vast array of settings to choose from to suit your mood. I've been listening to the album songs since November so alternative arrangements is something I've been really looking forward to. For them to have considerable impact, the audience needs to already be familiar with the songs, which would be around about now.
Rather than embed each video separately and to save you from waiting for the page to load, I've embedded a playlist with the clips in set order.
Adam has the ability to re-invigorate and extend the life of those songs we've grown tired of, and as I'd grown a little tired of hearing 'Whataya Want From Me?' over and over on the publicity circuit, these acoustic versions came at a welcome time. His voice is so delicately light and silky, and each rendition is unique in melodic improvisations. As for the person blathering on the phone, rude and ungrateful bitch should've given her ticket to someone more deserving.
Who would've thought I'd be so thrilled to hear Mad World again after the 50+ different performances of the AI tour? This is a beautiful version with a nice change in 'I went to school' and a startling crescendo on 'Best I've ever had'. We've already heard an acoustic guitar version of Mad World during a corporate gig but this has a considerably different arrangement and a different feel. This is why I think Adam has longevity - as soon as things start to stagnate, our Magical Remix Machine gets to work and wows us over and over again.
Fever edit:
After hours of work all I got was out-of-synch audio and stuttering on this edit because my little laptop can't actually cope with such high resolution video. Well, I'm glad I can at least watch it on YouTube! Though not quite to the same extent as the Wild Idol gig, it's a pleasure to watch Adam increasingly let loose on stage with such a physical performance. It's all very OTT and hilarious at times when he acts out the lyrics. He's bursting with energy as he dances and shakes his way through the performance with stellar vocals and feel-good factor. What I find interesting is his reaction just after he finishes which you can see clearly in this video. He pauses for a moment with a stunned look on his face, perhaps slowly gauging and registering the audience reaction before switching out of performance mode with a big smile.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Adam, Rock My World!
UPDATE 27/02/10: Added Improved Music Again.
Well I did tune in to the cellcast but soon gave up. It seems like it was the best concert yet judging by those twitter rumours going around and the available video. Our Wild Idol Adam was truly on fire. He seemed so uninhibited, liberally dishing out his improvisations. He was extra glittery, shimmering from head-to-toe No time to go through each one in detail, heck I haven't even finished Gridlock yet but here are the best videos so far:
(Click here for Whole Lotta Love camera lick video)
Well I did tune in to the cellcast but soon gave up. It seems like it was the best concert yet judging by those twitter rumours going around and the available video. Our Wild Idol Adam was truly on fire. He seemed so uninhibited, liberally dishing out his improvisations. He was extra glittery, shimmering from head-to-toe No time to go through each one in detail, heck I haven't even finished Gridlock yet but here are the best videos so far:
(Click here for Whole Lotta Love camera lick video)
What a Session!
I'd been waiting for these for quite some time and when they came out, WOW! Just WOW! Adam's look is most reminiscent of his Santana performance at the AI finale, which I described as “...looked like a detective in a fabulous Glambert universe where the most serious crimes possible to commit, for which he was head of investigations, were crimes against fashion. Yes, I'd happily commit a fashion crime in order to get arrested by Adam before getting styled...”. This one is less sparkly and more utilitarian though, and I realised that it's rare we get to see Adam performing without a jacket on so we can see his lithe figure. The sound on these is much better than from any of the TV show performances and he's pitch perfect. One thing that I found a little annoying though, was the cameraman's fixation with Lisa. I don't have time at the moment to write about all of these individually, but Soaked - #%*^!!! That voice is truly a marvel.
WWFM
IIHY
Fever
Strut
Soaked
WWFM
IIHY
Fever
Strut
Soaked
Catching Up
I know it's been ages so I'm pleased you're still here. I thought I should write a catchup post summarising the past few weeks it as it doesn't look like I'll be able to write about everything I missed in detail before this latest wave of happenings. that'll teach me for going away!
Part of the problem of writing about the Adam world while I was away is that, unlike everything else on this site, I didn't feel the excitement and anticipation in real-time and as a result there's definitely something missing. I didn't go through the process of celebrating confirmed gigs, speculating during the drum-roll over things like songs, appearance and fashion stylings, and didn't get to share the experiences with you all as they happened. I also missed gauging the reactions and reading the positive media responses in the aftermath. That's something I need to keep up the obsession - it's no fun without you. Gorging my solitary self on the mountain of tasties in a short space of time meant that everything got blurred and I wasn't able to associate distinctive emotions or memories to each of the events. It's much better in smaller regular bites and that's why it was probably so easy to get hooked in the first place during AI's regular routine. This obsession is part choice, part addiction. When I came back after having gone cold turkey for so long, I could easily have chosen to be just a regular fan. What makes me a bit of a nutcase is the ethusiasm of the community, which I choose to continue to be a part of.
The highlights for me include the performances and a couple of interviews (Lyndsey Parker porch interview for the detailed chat about the music, Jessi Cruickshank's fun interview and game), though there seemed to be a shitload of them all going over the same old territory like the AMAs, being gay, Lady Gaga, meeting Oprah and meeting Madonna which all got rather tedious. It was annoying to spend such a long time listening to the same things over and over because they were so time-consuming but there were useful bits of info such as the possibility of Adam doing his first tour solo. And let's not forget his fashionista gig at the Grammys which he was a little too kind for and the Canadian TV appearances.
The first of the many Adam Lambert goodies that came along was the music video for Whataya Want From Me? for which I'd already been partially spoiled during the shooting.
The video to me is biographical and seems to represent the time around the AMA fallout but on a more personal level. He's letting us see a side that we don't see or even think about. Conveying the message of the song, Adam is pleading for patience and understanding as he sorts himself out. The colours and spaces we see Adam in are bleak and sombre. Adam is a joyless solitary figure in his cold sparsely furnished home that he hasn't been able to make comfortable, which tells us that his rapid rise to fame hasn't allowed him time to tend to it. The high walls of the garden resemble a fortress, furthering his isolation. He hasn't even had time to even look after himself or his heart, expressing anger, regret and frustration at the observer. When we see that, behind the contrasting performer and pap encounters, we feel sympathy and come to realise that it's not all glitz, glamour and smiles. Who the observer is has been left open to interpretation, but if it is his fans he brings us in closer. The last shot of a hint of a smile on getting into bed with him reassures us that everything will be OK and sums up his optimistic nature.
I would have liked to have seen something a little more abstract and less real, with Adam indulging in some elaborate costumes. I originally had in mind a variety like some of his Halloween ones, maybe a clown, a robot, an alien, a magician, perhaps one in drag. At the start we can't really see who it is and the camera pans to each one in a trippy and slightly frightening manner. It slows as the performances end to differing audience reactions and feelings from our entertainer. Then at each dressing room mirror we slowly see him emerging from under the make-up as the characters in their various guises converge, and so do their moods to reveal Adam at his vulnerable core. Well, I didn't get what I had imagined, but the video as it stands is beautifully shot with plenty of Adam camera time looking his best with a loud and clear message.
Oprah
One of the first things that struck me about Adam's appearance on Oprah was how androgynous his hair and make-up was, making him look particularly pretty. He was charming during the interview. The emphasis was on him during the polished performances where the band were lowered from the stage platform. It was great to see the audience singing along.
Ellen
This was my favourite of all the performances and such a joy to watch. Adam performing Strut aptly seemed very confident, giving off a rockstar vibe, dazzling us with his fun energy, his dancing and astonishing vocals. He commanded the stage like no other.
Part of the problem of writing about the Adam world while I was away is that, unlike everything else on this site, I didn't feel the excitement and anticipation in real-time and as a result there's definitely something missing. I didn't go through the process of celebrating confirmed gigs, speculating during the drum-roll over things like songs, appearance and fashion stylings, and didn't get to share the experiences with you all as they happened. I also missed gauging the reactions and reading the positive media responses in the aftermath. That's something I need to keep up the obsession - it's no fun without you. Gorging my solitary self on the mountain of tasties in a short space of time meant that everything got blurred and I wasn't able to associate distinctive emotions or memories to each of the events. It's much better in smaller regular bites and that's why it was probably so easy to get hooked in the first place during AI's regular routine. This obsession is part choice, part addiction. When I came back after having gone cold turkey for so long, I could easily have chosen to be just a regular fan. What makes me a bit of a nutcase is the ethusiasm of the community, which I choose to continue to be a part of.
The highlights for me include the performances and a couple of interviews (Lyndsey Parker porch interview for the detailed chat about the music, Jessi Cruickshank's fun interview and game), though there seemed to be a shitload of them all going over the same old territory like the AMAs, being gay, Lady Gaga, meeting Oprah and meeting Madonna which all got rather tedious. It was annoying to spend such a long time listening to the same things over and over because they were so time-consuming but there were useful bits of info such as the possibility of Adam doing his first tour solo. And let's not forget his fashionista gig at the Grammys which he was a little too kind for and the Canadian TV appearances.
The first of the many Adam Lambert goodies that came along was the music video for Whataya Want From Me? for which I'd already been partially spoiled during the shooting.
The video to me is biographical and seems to represent the time around the AMA fallout but on a more personal level. He's letting us see a side that we don't see or even think about. Conveying the message of the song, Adam is pleading for patience and understanding as he sorts himself out. The colours and spaces we see Adam in are bleak and sombre. Adam is a joyless solitary figure in his cold sparsely furnished home that he hasn't been able to make comfortable, which tells us that his rapid rise to fame hasn't allowed him time to tend to it. The high walls of the garden resemble a fortress, furthering his isolation. He hasn't even had time to even look after himself or his heart, expressing anger, regret and frustration at the observer. When we see that, behind the contrasting performer and pap encounters, we feel sympathy and come to realise that it's not all glitz, glamour and smiles. Who the observer is has been left open to interpretation, but if it is his fans he brings us in closer. The last shot of a hint of a smile on getting into bed with him reassures us that everything will be OK and sums up his optimistic nature.
I would have liked to have seen something a little more abstract and less real, with Adam indulging in some elaborate costumes. I originally had in mind a variety like some of his Halloween ones, maybe a clown, a robot, an alien, a magician, perhaps one in drag. At the start we can't really see who it is and the camera pans to each one in a trippy and slightly frightening manner. It slows as the performances end to differing audience reactions and feelings from our entertainer. Then at each dressing room mirror we slowly see him emerging from under the make-up as the characters in their various guises converge, and so do their moods to reveal Adam at his vulnerable core. Well, I didn't get what I had imagined, but the video as it stands is beautifully shot with plenty of Adam camera time looking his best with a loud and clear message.
Oprah
One of the first things that struck me about Adam's appearance on Oprah was how androgynous his hair and make-up was, making him look particularly pretty. He was charming during the interview. The emphasis was on him during the polished performances where the band were lowered from the stage platform. It was great to see the audience singing along.
Ellen
This was my favourite of all the performances and such a joy to watch. Adam performing Strut aptly seemed very confident, giving off a rockstar vibe, dazzling us with his fun energy, his dancing and astonishing vocals. He commanded the stage like no other.
Friday, 8 January 2010
An Inconvenience
I'm sure the speed of the passage of time is directly proportional to one's age. Time seems to have crept up on me in the Gridlock excitement and I've realised that I'm going away tomorrow for three weeks. No internet for three whole weeks! If that doesn't kill me, I'll be back blogging and finishing the Gridlock videos on my return (provided no one else has done them).
In the meantime, I'll leave you with some links to enjoy:
Adam Lambert Obsession:
http://bit.ly/4zo88D Re-live all of the AI journey including speculation, performances, reviews and articles
http://bit.ly/7Q5kSd Watch all of Adam's AI performances
http://bit.ly/6zXets Watch all of the AI group performances
http://bit.ly/5SVna4 Compare the rehearsals against the live performances
http://bit.ly/5oTa9z Read my articles
http://bit.ly/5Gqy0J Read my obsessings
http://bit.ly/57TCw8 Take the Adamometer fan test
http://bit.ly/2TK4zC Listen to the album from the Facebook stream (with lyrics)
Other sites:
http://adamholic.com/blog All the latest news and media
http://alreference.blogspot.com Facts and timeline
http://www.mr-l.org Collection of media
Communities:
Adam Without Pity
Hoopla Magnet
IDF
Planet Fierce
As tempting as it is to cancel, I'm slightly pleased that Adam Lambert doesn't quite rule my life to that extent! I know I'll be missing so much, so please enjoy all the upcoming events that little bit extra for me in my absence. I hope I'll see you back here when I return. Thank you all for visiting!
In the meantime, I'll leave you with some links to enjoy:
Adam Lambert Obsession:
http://bit.ly/4zo88D Re-live all of the AI journey including speculation, performances, reviews and articles
http://bit.ly/7Q5kSd Watch all of Adam's AI performances
http://bit.ly/6zXets Watch all of the AI group performances
http://bit.ly/5SVna4 Compare the rehearsals against the live performances
http://bit.ly/5oTa9z Read my articles
http://bit.ly/5Gqy0J Read my obsessings
http://bit.ly/57TCw8 Take the Adamometer fan test
http://bit.ly/2TK4zC Listen to the album from the Facebook stream (with lyrics)
Other sites:
http://adamholic.com/blog All the latest news and media
http://alreference.blogspot.com Facts and timeline
http://www.mr-l.org Collection of media
Communities:
Adam Without Pity
Hoopla Magnet
IDF
Planet Fierce
As tempting as it is to cancel, I'm slightly pleased that Adam Lambert doesn't quite rule my life to that extent! I know I'll be missing so much, so please enjoy all the upcoming events that little bit extra for me in my absence. I hope I'll see you back here when I return. Thank you all for visiting!
Friday, 1 January 2010
Happy New Decade(nce)!
UPDATE 10/02/10: Added Improved Soaked with comments.
UPDATE 06/01/10: Added Improved If I Had You with comments.
UPDATE 04/01/10: Added Improved Music Again with comments.
I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and had a blast! The build-up to Gridlock was all very exciting as we were all trying to guess yet again what Adam would be singing, how he'd be singing it and what he'd be wearing. This was one appearance where I wasn't at all nervous and it was a great feeling not to have the pressure of needing to behave in front of the TV cameras. I'm really not a morning person but managed to set my alarm to half wake up for the streams. Unfortunately only a couple of them worked, some lacked sound and another kept buffering so I'm thankful for all the videos that were taken.
Adam's look 'I wanted to look like a firework' was styled like the AMAs with the exception of a tailed coat with symmetrically rhinestoned shoulder detailing. From what I could tell, the set started with Music Again, leading to If I Had You. Adam's voice had somehow managed to slice through all the ear-bleeding static and I could hear its power and clarity on the second song. WWFM was next, followed by Strut, Sure Fire Winners, some beautiful vibrato on Soaked, FYE and Sleepwalker which had Adam doing the most incredible vocal 'guitar solo'. Next was Fever, and the set ended with a crazily pumping Down The Rabbit Hole. WLL was the encore and sounded very different with the new band and the inclusion of a drum solo. The gig seemed to have a club vibe rather than that of a rock concert, and Adam was on fire. It was a wild high-octane show with Adam's energy and dancing electrifying the whole audience, whichever corner of the globe. I wish I could have been there at the first Adam concert, as the advantage of the performance not being televised was that the reigns were finally fully off, and what better way to start off the new decade?
Here are the best quality videos of each performance so far, which I'll be updating and tweaking as they come. My improved versions are the big one. More comments will follow as I work through them.
MUSIC AGAIN
This video was a real labour of obsession, made out of 29 separate cuttings from various videos and I'm really pleased with the result. Thanks for all your help in keeping me up to date with all the latest uploads.
To steer clear of expectations, I hadn't really thought much about the set or the order when I tuned into the stream, but despite being able to hear jack shit, I could still make out the distinctive and cheeky ascending beats at the intro of Music Again. It's the perfect party starter.
The interaction with Pamela at the start was deemed interesting enough to have been reported by the British press. Although the exchange was friendly, they seemed to mirror each other's defensiveness by intercepting hands from wandering into their personal space.
Right from the start, Adam reminds us that having his ABC gig cancelled could actually be a good thing for us fans because he's allowed to welcome us into the new 'motherfucking decade' with a show on his own terms. He can let loose and enjoy himself without having to worry about the bullshit, and it reflects in this most thrilling and explosive party of his where the crowd are not just spectators but are participants providing Adam with energy to feed off. After all the chat show appearances, this makes a most welcome change. This isn't a concert about vocals despite their being perfect on this song, nor is it exactly about what Adam does on stage but it's all about the effect on the atmosphere of the party. Adam is here for our entertainment, making us enjoy ourselves.
It's a little strange seeing him under red lights instead of blue as it gives off a slightly different feel. I associate red lights with debauchery and my many crazy hazy drunken nights out in various clubs. My favourite parts of this song are his evil claw, his fluid hip action and the way he seems to be so relaxed and beaming with joy.
IF I HAD YOU
Flippin' heck these edits are getting more and more complicated - this was was made up of 39 pieces!
From when the bassline kicks in at the very start, we are powerless to resist stomping to its rhythm. The song is full of booty-shaking energy with a club vibe that just makes me wish I were there for the party. This was the first time I'd seen it performed, and although there is a very rare painful note in the recording, it more than achieves its goal in getting the party going. My favourite part has to be where he drops and is led back up by his crotch.
WWFM
STRUT
SURE FIRE WINNERS
SOAKED
Here's the first video I've done in a while, it was trying to make the best sound file I could that ended up taking the longest so I hope it was worth it.
This is the performance that epitomises the phrase “I'll show you theatrical, bitch!” where Adam works the mood right from the start as he shimmies on his stool. He physically interprets the cymbal clash with a snap pose, and watch how it looks like he hits Lisa in the head. His voice at the start has a floaty, quivering ethereal quality to it, aided by the deifying rotating halo spotlight. Since his movement around the stage is limited, all eyes are on him and I find his swaying and expressions ethralling; the way he stretches, moulds and folds his lips (especially at the 2:15 mark) to not only create the sounds but to evoke the feelings of self-loathing interpreted from the lyrics. He seems to lose time during 'Take shelter and hide forever' but swiftly corrects himself. During the instrumental break, we get a change to red lighting and Adam steps up the melodrama with his acting skills. We have hand gestures, panting, the rehearsed reach for his hip flask (I wonder what was in it) which arrives just a little bit early, and the angry sip and wipe of the mouth. I find myself laughing at the theatrics wishing I were a tipsy member of the audience rather than viewing him via the footage. From this song, we perhaps get a glimpse of what Adam would be like as a drunkard! I must comment on the spot-on vocals, the dynamic range of which are just staggering. It takes a quality singer with a huge voice to be able to bring this song to life as Adam has done. My favourite part has to be that note. It sounds ghostly the way it lingers in the air before drifting off, leaving a lasting impression that continues to haunt.
FYE AND SLEEPWALKER
FEVER
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
WLL
Happy new year! Happy new decade(nce)! Have a fun-filled glitterified one!
UPDATE 06/01/10: Added Improved If I Had You with comments.
UPDATE 04/01/10: Added Improved Music Again with comments.
I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and had a blast! The build-up to Gridlock was all very exciting as we were all trying to guess yet again what Adam would be singing, how he'd be singing it and what he'd be wearing. This was one appearance where I wasn't at all nervous and it was a great feeling not to have the pressure of needing to behave in front of the TV cameras. I'm really not a morning person but managed to set my alarm to half wake up for the streams. Unfortunately only a couple of them worked, some lacked sound and another kept buffering so I'm thankful for all the videos that were taken.
Adam's look 'I wanted to look like a firework' was styled like the AMAs with the exception of a tailed coat with symmetrically rhinestoned shoulder detailing. From what I could tell, the set started with Music Again, leading to If I Had You. Adam's voice had somehow managed to slice through all the ear-bleeding static and I could hear its power and clarity on the second song. WWFM was next, followed by Strut, Sure Fire Winners, some beautiful vibrato on Soaked, FYE and Sleepwalker which had Adam doing the most incredible vocal 'guitar solo'. Next was Fever, and the set ended with a crazily pumping Down The Rabbit Hole. WLL was the encore and sounded very different with the new band and the inclusion of a drum solo. The gig seemed to have a club vibe rather than that of a rock concert, and Adam was on fire. It was a wild high-octane show with Adam's energy and dancing electrifying the whole audience, whichever corner of the globe. I wish I could have been there at the first Adam concert, as the advantage of the performance not being televised was that the reigns were finally fully off, and what better way to start off the new decade?
Here are the best quality videos of each performance so far, which I'll be updating and tweaking as they come. My improved versions are the big one. More comments will follow as I work through them.
MUSIC AGAIN
This video was a real labour of obsession, made out of 29 separate cuttings from various videos and I'm really pleased with the result. Thanks for all your help in keeping me up to date with all the latest uploads.
To steer clear of expectations, I hadn't really thought much about the set or the order when I tuned into the stream, but despite being able to hear jack shit, I could still make out the distinctive and cheeky ascending beats at the intro of Music Again. It's the perfect party starter.
The interaction with Pamela at the start was deemed interesting enough to have been reported by the British press. Although the exchange was friendly, they seemed to mirror each other's defensiveness by intercepting hands from wandering into their personal space.
Right from the start, Adam reminds us that having his ABC gig cancelled could actually be a good thing for us fans because he's allowed to welcome us into the new 'motherfucking decade' with a show on his own terms. He can let loose and enjoy himself without having to worry about the bullshit, and it reflects in this most thrilling and explosive party of his where the crowd are not just spectators but are participants providing Adam with energy to feed off. After all the chat show appearances, this makes a most welcome change. This isn't a concert about vocals despite their being perfect on this song, nor is it exactly about what Adam does on stage but it's all about the effect on the atmosphere of the party. Adam is here for our entertainment, making us enjoy ourselves.
It's a little strange seeing him under red lights instead of blue as it gives off a slightly different feel. I associate red lights with debauchery and my many crazy hazy drunken nights out in various clubs. My favourite parts of this song are his evil claw, his fluid hip action and the way he seems to be so relaxed and beaming with joy.
IF I HAD YOU
Flippin' heck these edits are getting more and more complicated - this was was made up of 39 pieces!
From when the bassline kicks in at the very start, we are powerless to resist stomping to its rhythm. The song is full of booty-shaking energy with a club vibe that just makes me wish I were there for the party. This was the first time I'd seen it performed, and although there is a very rare painful note in the recording, it more than achieves its goal in getting the party going. My favourite part has to be where he drops and is led back up by his crotch.
WWFM
STRUT
SURE FIRE WINNERS
SOAKED
Here's the first video I've done in a while, it was trying to make the best sound file I could that ended up taking the longest so I hope it was worth it.
This is the performance that epitomises the phrase “I'll show you theatrical, bitch!” where Adam works the mood right from the start as he shimmies on his stool. He physically interprets the cymbal clash with a snap pose, and watch how it looks like he hits Lisa in the head. His voice at the start has a floaty, quivering ethereal quality to it, aided by the deifying rotating halo spotlight. Since his movement around the stage is limited, all eyes are on him and I find his swaying and expressions ethralling; the way he stretches, moulds and folds his lips (especially at the 2:15 mark) to not only create the sounds but to evoke the feelings of self-loathing interpreted from the lyrics. He seems to lose time during 'Take shelter and hide forever' but swiftly corrects himself. During the instrumental break, we get a change to red lighting and Adam steps up the melodrama with his acting skills. We have hand gestures, panting, the rehearsed reach for his hip flask (I wonder what was in it) which arrives just a little bit early, and the angry sip and wipe of the mouth. I find myself laughing at the theatrics wishing I were a tipsy member of the audience rather than viewing him via the footage. From this song, we perhaps get a glimpse of what Adam would be like as a drunkard! I must comment on the spot-on vocals, the dynamic range of which are just staggering. It takes a quality singer with a huge voice to be able to bring this song to life as Adam has done. My favourite part has to be that note. It sounds ghostly the way it lingers in the air before drifting off, leaving a lasting impression that continues to haunt.
FYE AND SLEEPWALKER
FEVER
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
WLL
Happy new year! Happy new decade(nce)! Have a fun-filled glitterified one!
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