Adam Lambert Loses 'American Idol,' The Glam Mistress Is Not Surprised
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 10:05PM 
I’d like to say that Adam losing the title of American Idol shocked me – but it doesn’t. After all, this is America: the land of the free and home of the brave. If you are middle of the road “normal” you’ll be embraced. In America, mediocrity is king.
Kris Allen, often referred to as “that other guy” by every legitimate artist in the business will have a fine career. He’s not without talent: the guy can sing in his own, laid back style. He’s not a star, he’s not a super talent, he’s safe.
A lot of people were surprised at my enthusiastic support for Lambert. There’s no denying the guy can out sing anybody – but he’s so much more than that. For everyone that thinks Adam is a phony or cocky, I disagree, but that is neither here nor there. I don’t know Adam and neither do you – so really such arguments have no merit. Since American Idol has evolved to the largest popularity contest in the world, we need to look at both Allen and Lambert as the entire package: excellent vocal chords aside.
So much has been written about Lambert over the past three months. In short, Adam became a media darling, thanks in large part to his immense talent, but also for his good looks and interesting back story. See, Allen is a cheerful newlywed from nowheresville USA. Lambert is an over-the-top androgynous creature from Los Angeles. What a lot of casual fans don’t know about Lambert is that he’s been trying to make it in music for years – and that includes singing in off-Broadway productions, in cabarets, at Bar Mitzvahs and in a band on the Sunset Strip. Yep, Adam is the lead singer for a band called The Citizen Vein and he’s played in some of the same clubs as our beloved Glam heroes.
Moreover, Adam didn’t need to be styled for the stage. What you see is what you get: a man who likes to experiment with stage persona, to match song to performance. Sounds like a star to me. That voice certainly doesn’t hurt anything.
A lot of people will immediately point to Adam’s sexuality as to why he lost the prize. I don’t discuss a person’s sexual orientation on this site, but I will say this: I’ve never understood why straight people would want to keep others from the same rights and happiness? Why is it better for a straight person to get married and divorced six or seven times, but Glam forbid someone else from choosing one life partner and being happy. I guess unhappiness is next to godliness in some people’s eyes.
But maybe that’s the point. Maybe America really is just a backward nation, where the ones with the loudest voices and biggest platforms – and Bill O’Reilly, I’m looking at you here – always prevail. I think America made a giant step forward electing Obama to the presidency – but please believe he benefited a lot from the anti-Bush vote. You know, the “anyone but another Republican” mentality – and that isn’t great either. Republicans are not the enemy, any more than Democrats are a bunch of freewheeling baby killers. It’s all perspective. I have no doubt in my mind Kris won because of the Christian “anyone but a gay Jew” vote. I also wholeheartedly believe Kris has millions of fans who genuinely prefer his voice. Is he a better singer than Adam? No, not by a long shot. Then again, American Idol has never been about the voice: it’s always been about the most popular kid in school.
The real contest begins in a few months when Adam and Kris hit the studio to record their debut albums. There’s no doubt both will be on the opposite end of the rock spectrum, with Kris sounding exactly like Jason Mraz and Adam sounding like...well, no one knows what Adam will do. That’s the endgame right there: far too many people would rather go with what they know instead of the unknown.
Being different is always, undeniably, METAL. Good luck Adam!
Kiss with Adam Lambert - American Idol Season Finale
Reader Comments (63)
That seems to me to be evidence that Adam actually won more of the casual vote around the country.
@Brian
I really, really wish someone could point out one thing that is a true standout about "other guy". In my eyes, he's just another dude strumming his guitar with a mediocre voice.
As Simon Cowell said this week, Adam Lambert is one of the best, most original contestants they've ever had on the show.
@Jr
Try an ENT doctor- it might be tinitus. If you heard scream during Mad World and Tracks Of My Tears, I would be be VERY concerned.Or if you really want to know what screeching sounds like, this would be a good example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6wiYAJjaGo
@LiamGallagher
Listen to this "Adam Lambert - Mad World"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iNqCN-ElBw
Personally , I'd like to see Adam front Queen. He'd be a perfect fill-in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHZnGquPPX4
Last week I was awarded the "dumbest post" award and all I have to say is I TOLD YOU SO!!! Lambert sucks!! The reason he lost is because all the attention he got drove america crazy and the exposure made everyone realize that he is not that great of a singer. Could you actually listen to a 2 hour concert of this guy?? All the screeching would make your ears bleed! Kris won because there was no other choice and I bet it was a landslide vote!! Adam was way to cocky, already thought he was a superstar and was way over exposed. Hell even the AI machine wanted him to win and he couldn't. Look at the way he was treated...Kris gets to sing some short country song in the middle of the show while Adam gets 3 Kiss songs with full pyro etc...
Like I said before his best bet would be that Geoff Tate from Queensryche needs replacing....by the way Queensryche sucks too!!!
Now hopefully that AI is over this site will get back to normal!!!
Not being a hater just telling it like it is!!!!!!!!
I don't see how anyone is mad at Adam. He got on the most watched show in the US, and he fronted KISS. He played classic rock/metal to a huge audience, and he nailed it. Hello ???
I saw that, and thought there was NO way he could lose. Right now, I think it was fixed, b/c they know Adam will sell records in 6 months, and Kris would not.
Some parts of his performance with Kiss were great , other were painful to hear.
How can you say Adam doesn't make the songs his own. Did you hear Ring of Fire? He does more to change the songs up than any other contestant I can remember. Kris Allen only changed one song the entire season!
Glam Man,
Hell yes I could listen to a 2 hour concert, and hope that is an option in the very near future.
Fitz,
Your comment upsets me on so many different levels. Let me just say this: I just encouraged Allyson to write about Idol, past and present, for as long as she can pull it off just to prove a point to people like you. This his her site. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Kris isn't "safe" unless safe means "has appeal" and "marketable." I don't care if he was 1st or 2nd this kid was going to sell way more records than Adam and it's not even close. Anyone thinking anything else is living in a Glam fantasy land.
Please... Are you stupid, those songs that Rob Halford screams in are ment to scream in...
Oh, and anyone who thinks Adam is a screamer and not a singer 1) can't hear and 2) knows nothing about
vocalization. Truth hurts.
I love Heather's idea of more Idol coverage. Hmmm...
- Allyson
Leave it the pros dude , seriously... LMAO.
Adam's my American Idol! Haha.
That song you posted was FUCKING horrible!! OASIS are without a doubt one of THE worst bands EVER to come out of the garage.
Dude , my 7 year old outsings that non-singing , non-talented , one octave wonder who has the feel of a dying cat. FUCK man , whiney-ass no-feeling - no depth , no chops. How ANYONE likes that Kurt Cobain wannabe is beyond me. What the FUCK are you doing at a glam site when you worship that worthless SHYTE???
Oasis is everything I can't stomach about 90s/00s 'popular' music.
ABSOLUTE TOTAL 100% FUCKING SUCK.
There I said it , and feel much better for doing so.
Adam DESTROYS that one-octave whiney-ass punk 6 ways to Sunday.
KAPICHE????
Don't worry, Jr - you don't have to read the musings of someone you consider "too young" to know anything about Glam anymore. You've been eliminated from Glam island.
Cheers.
Allyson