Kris Allen said it best when, after being crowned the 2009 American Idol, the first words out of his mouth were: "Adam deserves this."
Yes, Adam most certainly did. He took a cynical and uppity middle-aged man and turned me into a lover of what I once considered America's most low-brow pleasure: American Idol.
I spent seven years mocking the very concept of the show. Real stars like the Beatles played dive bars and nightclubs for years before working their way to the top. American Idol replaced the years of sparse crowds and stale beer with a wait in a line more apropos for an amusement park ride.
Karaoke had already ruined all my favorite bars. Why would I want to watch it ruin my Tuesday nights at home as well?
Normally, when my wife watched the show I read a book in the office. A couple of months ago my sweet tooth got the better of me and as I scavenged for dessert in the kitchen, I heard what I initially took to be a Slumdog Millionaire commercial. The sitar, the exotic Indian sounding music, the melodic wail of the vocalist . . . I had never heard anything like it until the singer reached the chorus.
"And I'll go down, down, down in a burning ring of fire."
Johnny Cash? WTF! I couldn't help but take a peek into the living room and, like seeing the prettiest girl in school for the first time, I haven't been able to take my eyes off Adam ever since. Anyone who dared speak during his performances risked my wrath. Tuesday nights became my new Friday. Like Calgon, Adam always took my troubles away.
Yes I love me some Adam Lambert, in that kind of way.
After wasting way too many hours watching VH1 and listening to classic rock, I thought I had seen and heard it all but Adam must be Jesus in guy liner because he resurrected classic songs from the brink of Muzak and gave them each new life like Jesus did to Lazarus.
I remember flipping through last year's Rolling Stone Top 100 vocalists list and thinking I had missed out on seeing all the legends like Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley and Robert Plant in their primes.
Man, was I wrong.
There is a new legend in town and his name is Adam Lambert.
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bluestocking babe
Jeanette DeMain
From The Midwest
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Comments
America chose an idol who has no stage presence, very little originality; outside the world of idol Kris will blend in and be forgot in weeks time. Adam has style, great stage presence, and can sing everything; he has longevity, something most idol winners seem to lack.
Looking forward to hearing the great work Adam will be releasing on his first album.
Reuben Stoddard
'nuff said ~
And I love this "coming out of the AI closet."
1_Mom - my two words are "Taylor Hicks." Kris ends up doing acne ad jingles, Hicks is destined to do them for Metamucil.
Adam is technically superior, but also a bit image-contrived. Designed in some PR lab to become a performer, he'll be able to catch several waves in the future.
But for Kris -
Smurf's Up!
Anyway, it is accurate (and simultaneously not a completely fair representation) to say that Kris is Peter Keating: a likable guy, an OK singer who clearly looks up to an indomitable Adam and wishes he had that kind of talent, charisma and chutzpah. And who knows he didn't deserve to win. And though he coveted that title, and prayed for it, I doubt there ever was a man on that stage, in his shoes, who felt less confident and less deserving. And I like Kris, so I feel badly for him. I felt terrible for Peter in the book, too.
As I said to my husband last night, as we deflated in the disappointing denouement of that ridiculous conclusion to weeks of excitement:
Americans don't actually like excellence. They don't like change or "different." They fear it because they don't want to have to compete.
Newsweek is running some story today about the "7 reasons Kris won over Adam." Something like that.
To me, there's only one: Different in America is not good, it is threatening. Excellence in America is a tradition, but perhaps no longer as much a reality as it is something we give lip service to. And we reward what's safe.
Kris is safe. I wish him the best, but he never galvanized the millions like Adam did.
I would love to see a production of Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway with my man Adam reprising Tim Curry's role.
Adam is one of those kinds of guys other guys feel comfortable adoring. He just is cool.
He shoulda won...but this is the way things worked out...and he handled it like a man. His future is assured. I cannot wait for his first album.
And to all the people who thought his "Ring of Fire" was an insult to Johnny Cash...my guess is if he were alive, he would be absolutely thrilled with Adam's rendition. I think sung the way Adam did...it is one of the best songs of all time.
Obviously Kris DID "galvanize the millions", since he won more votes. I do hear that there were may homophobic votes going his way, and there were rabid Christians voting for him, and there were Gokey's fans voting for him. I guess those folks were "galvanized" in other ways.
I just thought the theatricality of Adam's perfomances were hit or miss. I LOVED him last night with Kiss. I like the "Mad World" performance. I even liked the "Ring of Fire" performance. But sometimes he just veered off into unlistenable territory. His take on "One" was caterwauling...it was horrid! Sometimes the high notes would peel paint as they wavered off pitch. That voice is so well suited to Broadway. It just needs some modulation. I don't always like him as an "avant garde" arranger though.
Kris is quietly talented. Maybe he won't make headlines, but it isn't HIS fault that SOME homophobes or SOME "Adam haters" voted for him.
Win or not Lambert showed his talent--but the last couple of weeks in kind of a "screeching" way. I totally agree that "Ring of Fire" is what I first noticed--also accidentally--and it is one of the most incredible interpretations of a piece of music I have ever heard. Arguably Idol contestants who have come in second (or lower) have professionally done very, very well. It may be easier than to overcome the "stigma" of being the winner (think Reuben Stoddard).
Juliet Waters: I've wasted so much of my life avoiding guilty pleasures that I now just do and watch whatever I like. My wife got me hooked on Hell's Kitchen w/ Chef Ramsey as well. I actually gave up my two favorite shows the Office & 30 Rock to watch it on Thursday nights. Oh well, I can always catch up when they release the DVDs.
sjxylib: I agree with everything you wrote. Adam did luck out of those infamously one-sided Idol winner contracts. Simon Fuller would probably have forced him to do Disney movies, a la David Bowie in "Labyrinth".
1_Irritated_Mother: Two more words: Taylor Hicks.
Stellaa: It's a sad day for Adam fans everywhere.
FabFlamingo: According to Hillbilly Aunt's post, 38 million of you Razorbacks cast votes on Tuesday night. No wonder Kris won!
BuffyW & Proud and Progressive: I'd like to say I was shocked but I kind of expected it after those photos of Adam playing tonsil hockey with other guys hit the Internet.
Lisa Romero: Never read the Fountainhead. I had always heard Ayn Rand help start the modern conservative ideology so I always avoided the book on that account. I loved your comment though. If I was allowed to do an Editor's Pick for comments left on my own blog, I would choose your well-written response.
I'll try to answer the rest of you on my next break. Thanks for commenting.
great post.
now i am off to find more of his songs on youtube.
It also seems that on American Idol, you most often win by losing, with the notable exceptions of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Those who have had the biggest post-Idol successes-- Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Daughtry particularly--are those who finished second, or in Hudson's case even lower.
And, well, there has always been the pre-packaged star in pop music. American Idol is just the latest device for finding it. But it still doesn't change the fact that those musicians, like The Beatles or others, that took the time to pay their dues and hone their talent, are the ones who tend to have lasting success.
And here's why --
http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/05/adam-lambert-qa.html?cid=153495199#comment-153495199