to write about Adam Lambert twice back-to-back.He's making me do it.
I wanted to see him go into musical and visual areas that might risk his confidence, that would at least shake up his
Phantom of the Eighties eyeliner shtick. I wasn't sure he could do it.
He did it. Twice. The last two "American Idol"-casts, Lambert changed a lot without changing what seems to be real Adam.
The week after my mini-fit post, Smokey Robinson mentored the Idol cast through Motown week.
Hey, talk about a natural spot for glam/theater rocker Lambert to oversing, over arrange, overdress, and blow himself to bits. Instead, he wiped
off the eyeliner, ditched the nail polish, swept the black
bangs back into a patent leather pomp. He wore a suit
coat.
The arrangement and the vocal he created for Robinson's "Tracks Of My Tears" quieted
everything down to a few instruments (with cello providing much of the melancholy) and a reigned-in piece of singing.
Smokey Robinson himself gave Lambert a standing ovation.
This past week, the final nine had to choose from the vast world of iTunes downloads. Like
it's often said, give anybody enough rope...The judges found their mantra early in the night:
"I just don't think that song choice works for you."
Lambert kept the brushed-back pomp hair (one small victory for dragging him into the 21st century). He took the goofball classic "Play That Funky Music White Boy" (Wild Cherry) and switched the time signature, for most of the song save the guts of the choruses. Singing it in 2/4 gave the song a transfusion of modern funk/hip hop. Unexpected, and just too much fun.
Lambert himself was having more fun than anyone else in the Kodak Theater, which is saying a whole lot. His falsetto chased the high passages of the original out of town. He remade a version that's legitimately his own.
The guy may have hideous taste in hair, eye make-up, manicures, and some stage clothes. He may have questionable taste in musical heroes. He may say too much when asked questions.
Those things matter less each week. Not only can Adam L. sing just about anything, he co-creates (with the "Idol" house band) pretty original arrangements and instrumentation.
He has fun doing all of it.
Okay, I yell uncle. I may not ever be a devoted
Lambert fan, but the man has my respect.
If he'd lift several shades of black dye from his hair? I'd reconsider the fan thing.
