Aural Only: Adam Lambert

Whataya-want-from-me-adam-lambert-single-cover

I couldn't have cared less when he was on American Idol, but I'm trying really hard to like Adam Lambert these days. Even though I'm fully aware that he's not the first gay pop star, his acceptance into the pop mainstream could mean a lot in times like these. There's just one problem. As a fellow gay man, I'm having trouble accepting him into the pop mainstream.

It's not that I don't think Lambert is talented, because the boy has got some serious pipes. It's just that he doesn't seem to have any foundation as an artist. Perhaps this is because all the foundation is on his face, though it's more likely that industry executives aren't giving him much room to breathe and develop his own image.

Take Lambert's second single "Whataya Want From Me" as an example. It's a castoff from Pink's Funhouse album, co-written by mega-producer Max Martin. It should have hit written all over it, but it misses the mark somewhere along the way. It has no voice. Because rather than making it his own, Adam sounds like he's doing an expertly mastered karaoke version of an unreleased Pink song. At least it's better than his last single?

– Dewitt

To listen to "Whataya Want From Me", follow the JUMP:

18 thoughts on “Aural Only: Adam Lambert

  1. Oh god just more proof that Adam Lambert should not have a record deal. The boy always sounds like a dying cat in heat when he sings. It doesn’t help he used being gay as a play to gain notice and popularity instead of any actual talent…

  2. Great job. I think Adam Lambert brings something different to the pop/rock scene. He’s a bit over the top but who isn’t these days. He’s very talented and a showman. Let’s not hate him for being an entertainer!

  3. I totally agree with your assessment of Lambert as an artist. The first time he stepped on the national stage at the AMA show, he blew his career, in my opinion. Instead of seizing that opportunity to prove what a great singer/artist/performer he is, he made the choice to be outrageous instead, to stir up controversy, to shove his “gayness” in the face of middle-class America, and that was a serious error. In the end, the right guy really did win “American Idol” last year. Kris Allen made a fantastic album. Unfortunately, they released the wrong cut as the first single and seem to be giving him almost no promotion or visibility, and that’s a real shame, ’cause he’s such a talented kid and beyond all that, he’s so damn cute I practically jizz just looking at his face!

  4. As much as I agree with not liking Adam, I loved his performance at the AMA’s. It wasn’t great music, but I loved that it was totally outrageous and got so many people enraged about it. That is what he wanted–for people to talk about it. Lady Gaga does the exact same thing with being outrageous with her shows and outfits. Is there a difference? Yea, Lady Gaga actually has real talent.

  5. I’m feeling some reverse discrimination on Adam Lambert. His AMA performance made me think of Madonna’s first worldwide performance on the MTV Awards (also the first). At the time, her performance was seen as outrageous and extremely provocative, though looking back now it’s tame in comparison. It helped to rocket ‘Like A Virgin’ to #1. Adam Lambert essentially took that page from the Madonna handbook and made it his own, but since he is a male, and a gay male on top of that, he’s being dogged. He’s being judged by that single performance, and not on the sum of his parts. He’s unfortunately not being allowed to grow naturally as an artist because of “AI”, but given time I think he could be a great talent and star.

  6. “It’s just that he doesn’t seem to have any foundation as an artist. Perhaps this is because all the foundation is on his face.”
    Ahahahahaha, never really cared for Adam, and your assessment is spot on1

  7. But why is he trying to look like a rock version of Liza Minnelli? He’s a good looking MAN… Boy George, I understand enhancing (?!) his looks or (lack thereof), but this kid is seriously cute! Seems like he’s trying to hide behind the makeup, to make up for lack of decent material to sing…

  8. I think it is a good song. I am not looking at anything but how the song makes me feel, and it touches that inner place that good songs do. I do not know why people are so fast to dismiss Adam and his music.

  9. I totally agree with Brothercasey here. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of AL, but when I heard this song, I loved it. It definitely did pluck on the heartstrings.

  10. I totally agree with Jimmy T . Adam Lambert is becoming his own worst enemy instead of showing off his vocal talents on the AMA he chooses 2 show off his gag reflexes ….

  11. I thought the song was lame and sucked. I have no interest in his album or his downloads. PASS! he DID NOT have me at hello..

  12. None of you haters are listening.
    He states in the song, “What do you want from me?”
    What can he do that will be good enough to you?
    Seems to me that you’re all projecting your self loathing on to him.
    Personally, I am a gay man who is very comfortable in my own skin and I applaud and support Adam for strutting his stuff and doing his own thing. He’s doing it his way. Just like any pioneer or leader, he must face much abuse from the fearful and ignorant.

  13. How ironic gays saying someone is too gay or not liking how he flaunts his gayness. Guess he is just asking what do you want from him, be less gay, more gay, or what?
    Amazing how gays become such hypocrits and still yell about not being equal yet can not treat our own as equals.

  14. I get so sick of people comparing Madonna/Gaga and Lambert. Madonna’s song was called “Like a Virgin” so the wedding dress, the rolling on the floor, somewhat expected. Lambert’s song was called “For your Entertainment” which it wasn’t. It was about being a douchey faggot when it wasn’t called for. Gaga is outrageous, yes, but it’s in her character, it isn’t in Lambert’s. Madonna and Gaga do there thing and people go, “wow, that was fierce”. Lambert does his thing and goes “hey guys, look over here, aren’t I fierce?” It’s a league that Lambert simply has no ability to sustain himself in. Bye Bye Pumpkin!!

  15. I think Adam’s great. He’s got a great voice, and he’s smart, not another Britney-like puppet. Keep in mind his background is musical theater (he was in the ensemble of “Wiked” in CA when he began on A.I.), so being a ‘rock star’ is new to him and he hasn’t quite found his footing in that arena yet. The fact that he DIDN’T apologize for his AMA performance shows he’s on the right track. (Madonna never made any apologies for her outrageous behavior and she’s the top concert draw in the world. Janet Jackson on-the-other-hand apologized for her “wardrobe malfunction” and hasn’t had a hit song since.) Adam’s handling himself w. confidence and intelligence. I think he’s gonna follow in the footsteps of Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood and become one of the few genuine stars to have emerged from A.I. Go Adam!

  16. Anyone ever notice how he ALWAYS wears a jacket or somethin’ to cover up his arms? You NEVER EVER see his actual arms! what’s going on under there huh?..

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.