When Ryan Seacrest did the results from the voting last night on American Idol and put Adam Lambert in the bottom three, my reaction was like Kara's. It was a jaw-dropper. How was it possible that Adam, who's been flying through week after week and has been wowing the judges, was suddenly on the short end of the votes? Being just a tad suspicious, my first thought was that the producers had manipulated the votes or something to make it more dramatic.And it was! Not only was Adam in the bottom group, so was Kris and Matt. I expected Matt to be there because he's been hanging by a thread for weeks, ever since the judges used their new rule -- the Judges' Save -- to keep him in the competition. So, Matt made sense. Kris was quickly moved to the top group, so sweating over him wasn't in the cards.
That brings it back to Adam. What was really going on? Well, here's my theory. Adam went to the well once too often with the outre rock stylings. The show a salute to Rat Pack era music, standards and classics from the likes of composers George Gershwin ("Someone To Watch Over Me"), Harold Arlen ("Come Rain or Come Shine") and Rodgers & Hart ("My Funny Valentine"). Even Kris's choice was an Oscar-winning ballad from the 1936 Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers movie Swingtime, "Just the Way You Look Tonight." All those songs were familiar and comfortable.
Instead of singing something from the '30s or '40s, Adam chose "Feeling Good." On the surface, it seemed like a standard, but it's a Broadway song. It's from The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newly. That was a hit in 1965. Anthony Newly, a very over-the-top singer in his time, made it a minor hit. Others have followed.
But even Randy recognized the theatrical nature of the song, calling it too Broadway. Adam's take on the song was his dramatic rock style and it came off as an imitation of Adam. It was like watching Adam do an impression of Adam. He's becoming a caricature of himself and that's not a good thing.
But it is a good thing for Adam and his fans that this happened now. This can be a wake-up call for Adam. Next week, when they sing rock 'n roll, Adam should do traditional rock. Maybe Buddy Holly or Elvis. Stay away from Freddie Mercury and Kiss.
Go mainstream, Adam, and course correct while you're still in the race. It's like politics, run to the middle to consolidate your power. Everyone knows you can do the wild stuff; now show us you can do the quiet stuff, too.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-05-2009 @ 8:32AM
swthompson said...
I think you're half right. I think Adam chose a song that didn't fully engage both the tweens and the adults. The song is great when done by Nina Simone or Seal-- but Adam's more over the top than those two. I don't mind Adam singing his usual style at all-- he just needs to keep the audience in mind (unless he'd rather go out in fourth place so TPTB won't try to make him fit into the Idol image, but that's another story...)
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4-30-2009 @ 3:51PM
tqlasnrz said...
Being a total "Adam" fan I couldn't believe that Adam was in the bottom 3 last night. I thought that he did a great job as always and that his fans thought he was safe so they slacked on voting. Sort of what happened to Chris Daughtry but he wasn't so lucky. Adam already has proven that he can sing softly remember "tracks of my tears" Anyway calling all fans we need to keep voting for him to keep him in!!!
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4-30-2009 @ 4:04PM
Jimmy said...
So basically what you're saying is Adam should sell out. Nice. You sound like Simon when he advises contestants not to stretch too far and stay within the small confines of what is considered mainstream.
Now, that being said, this was a good thing. I've not been an Adam fan and the only performance of his that really got my attention was "Born to be Wild," but he need to come down a peg or two. The judges have been coddling him a little too much over the last few weeks. Simon especially seems to be smitten with him. He's often contradictory in his advise to other contestants and what he says to Adam.
I don't think Adam needs to sell out and go "mainstream," but he could tone it down just a little and actually sing (which he can most certainly do) rather than scream.
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4-30-2009 @ 4:14PM
Lisa said...
Excuse me, will you listen to the itunes studio version. It is fantastic. A longer and lovlier version of the song instead of 60 seconds they have on stage.
5-04-2009 @ 7:49PM
Barbara said...
I agree with you. At times I think he is really going to sing instead of all that screamming he does, then it happens he screams! This is not a screaming contest and he is not trying to get a part in a slasher movie, it is a singing contest. I think he has totally messed up his songs with all the screaming. I could have died country week when he sang. I just got up and left the room.
4-30-2009 @ 4:10PM
Jojee said...
I think Adam has done to the Adam well too many times. I was not blown away by his performance and thought he should have been in the bottom 3. But definitely before Kris.
I think Adam needs to change it up next week and do something different to stay in the competition I agree that his performance this week was too Broadway.
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4-30-2009 @ 4:49PM
jmak said...
I am glad that he was in the bottom 3 last night. He is not beyond getting booted off the show. Yes he can sing but at this point they are really good now. Look what happened to Chris Daughtry, he should have won that season and the old man Taylor Hicks won. Yes it would have been shocking and unfair but Life is unfair and you just have to deal with it.
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5-01-2009 @ 11:10AM
Will said...
With all due respect, I totally disagree. Danny and Kris are not even close to being in the same league as Adam and that statement is not out of some crazy Adam worship, it's just a fact. Adam, no matter what you think of him, is clearly cut from the same cloth as entertainers such as Freddie Mercury or David Bowie and I could easily see people paying money to go to an Adam Lambert concert (just like they would pay to see Michael Jackson, Prince or Madonna). Can you actually see people paying top dollar to go see Danny Gokey or Kris Allen? Sorry, I just don't see it. Kris is getting by on the tween girl vote because of his looks, but where it comes to his actual talent he might make a perfectly pleasant crooner on a show like "Sesame Street" or "Electric Company" singing about the ABC's but that's about it; Danny, on the other hand, will likely have a career singing Christian pop music or something similar but charting one major pop hit after another? Doubtful. If I'd expect that from anyone other than Adam it would be Allison, who I think has a raw talent that's only beginning to be developed (and, once it is, could give someone like Kelly Clarkson some major competition).
I could be wrong about all of this and, since they all appear to be good kids, I actually hope I am (I'd never deny anyone a great career if they can get one), but Adam to me is the only real breakout star here.
4-30-2009 @ 5:10PM
Nornny said...
I think you're making it more difficult than it actually is. Just like any other shock boots before him, his fans got complacent and didn't vote for him.
And with amazing performances from the other 4 as well, Anoop and Lil fans and unbiased casual voters just split their vote amongst all 5.
Adam's performance was awesome. I'm definitely a fan. I'm still in awe at his held note. But I didn't vote for him. Didn't feel like I needed to (never actually felt like I needed to). I voted for Kris and Allison, who went first and got bad (and undeserved!!!) critiques from Simon.
It wasn't song choice. I don't think anyone else is blaming the song choice or the arrangement. If anything, because of Buble and other modern covers, his song choice should have helped him. No typical teenager is going to recognize "Come rain, come shine" over "Feeling Good"
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4-30-2009 @ 7:51PM
christi miller said...
You are an Adam fan, eh? I agree that Adam being in the bottom is the result of fan complacency. And you gave your vote to Kris and Allison. Sooo, where does Adam figure into your claim of fandom when you are not voting for him? But thanks for pointing out the complacency so eloquently.
5-01-2009 @ 10:08AM
Karen said...
If Adam had not been put into the top 4, I would have difinately thought that the voting was "fixed". I am 55 years old and have NEVER cared that much about any superstars of the day. However, this boy has captivated me completely. Every time I see him there is more to discover....maybe another Elvis. Everyone who wants him to win apparantly needs to send in their vote. I guess we just all thought he didn't need the help.
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5-01-2009 @ 11:02AM
smartalek said...
Well I would recommed voting for Adam even if you are older. I've noticed that most younger people do not seem to support Adam (ironic since they call themselves liberals.) Thank god I'm not liberal. My parents are also in their 50s and they along with myself recongnize how amazing Adam is.
Adam has a lot of older fans because they recognize he could be trully great instead of just one of those flash in the pan really good karaoke singers. I will vote for Adam. But I think his older fans must make their contribution voting from here on out or he will lose to Danny, Kris, and Allsion. That would completely suck!!!!!
4-30-2009 @ 6:13PM
Kay said...
First of all for ANY of these people to actually have "FANS" when all they are at this point are contestants in a singing competition is very weird. In addition to that, this Adam character needs to keep his nasty tongue in his mouth. The guy is just weird and he does more screaming than anything else. The ONLY TWO contestants that have actually won on American Idol that were deserving of the title were Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. The others have done little to nothing with their "careers". It's consistant that those who do not actually win this competition are the one's who actually go on and make something of themselves.
Also, the current judges panel really does need replacing. They are boring and ever so predictable
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4-30-2009 @ 8:32PM
Jen said...
In response to your comment about keeping his tongue in his mouth... that is actually a singing technique to help him hit the high notes. It is a difficult technique and simply shows his training. You should try reading reviews by Masterclass Lady to understand the level of skill that Adam shows each week. He is absolutely amazing!
4-30-2009 @ 6:26PM
Pinwiz said...
Or...
Adam fans are likely Allison fans, and they all voted for Allison because she was in bigger trouble. They'll switch back to Adam next week.
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5-03-2009 @ 12:49AM
sage said...
Absolutely. I've found that lots of Adam fans have Allison as there number 2 pick. I voted for both Adam and Allison but this week Allison is on her own....all of my votes will go to Adam.
5-06-2009 @ 5:04AM
andi said...
I thought that the last 2 would be Adam and Danny but after seeing Adam and Allison's duet last night I hope it's between them two. They were so cute together. I could feel alot of pressure between Danny and Kris. They seemed to be in a panic....gotta beat Adam, gotta beat Adam! I myself thought they were a mess. Go Adam! And Allison, stay behind him!
4-30-2009 @ 6:36PM
Scott said...
OK, here's the deal. Adam was NOT in the "bottom three". The producers manipulated the perception of who was in the "bottom" to create drama, and to make favorites like Adam and Kris seem vulnerable. Nothing more. Adam Lambert is the new American Idol. The only question remaining is who will come in 2nd?
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4-30-2009 @ 7:01PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Though speculative, you could be right because the votes are not authenticated, certified, or otherwise disclosed in any detail. Ryan's proclamation of 46 million votes could very well be a totally made up number just as its supposed allocation among the contestants.
How AI has been permitted to spout unaudited numbers for so long now is beyond me. Shouldn't the FTC or FCC be concerned that a fraud is being perpetuated upon the viewing public ?
5-01-2009 @ 8:50AM
willy the impeached said...
Yep, great idea Eludium-Q36. Lets get the government involved! its not like they ever cook the books or anything right?