Will Adam Lambert turn out to be a loser after winning 'American Idol'?
If Adam Lambert wins "American Idol" this week, as expected, where will he be in several years? Touring America's backwaters in old stage musicals like Taylor Hicks — or else not doing much at all like Ruben Studdard? Or will Adam Lambert be seen collecting major awards at podiums like past champs Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson?
If Kris Allen wins "American Idol," I can see parallels to top Grammy grabbers like Rob Thomas and John Mayer, as I reported earlier. But there's a problem trying to peg Adam Lambert. When was the last time we had his equivalent sweep the Grammys? The last guy who wore as much eyeliner as Lambert and won the Grammy for best record of the year was Billie Joe Armstrong and Green Day ("Boulevard of Broken Dreams," 2006), who's a lot more macho than Lambert. That quality sometimes is key to success in the music biz since CD sales are largely driven by love-struck gals.
But there are exceptions among past top Grammy champs. George Michael won album of the year for "Faith" in 1989. Michael Jackson won best album ("Triller") and record ("Beat It") in 1984. Both stars are a bit more androgynous. Do you think those are apt parallels? Or is success limited nowadays to the swaggering likes of Chris Martin and Coldplay ("Clocks," best record of 2004) and Bono and U2 (best album winners for "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" in 2006 and "The Joshua Tree" in 1988, best record champs for "Walk On" in 2002 and "Beautiful Day" in 2001)?
If you haven't yet voted in our poll — (Who'll win the most showbiz awards, Kris Allen or Adam Lambert?) — pipe in here.
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Photos: Fox TV, Epic Records
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Totally agree with this article. Anyway ...people just cannot tolerate Adams "Wailing" cos that's what it is. If you say he's talendted based on that....then i feel sorry fr all u Adam fans.
Kris is WAY BETTER than the wailin Adam....although I admit Adam is talented but not such a "Find" as some people say.
Posted by: SD | May 25, 2009 at 03:58 AM
mark my words, american idol will never again have a contestant like adam lambert!
Posted by: luth | May 21, 2009 at 06:43 PM
Who would you pay to see in concert? Unless you are a tiny bopper girl and voted for Chris 2 million times, clearly Adam will be a huge live draw. I would pay big bucks for good seats to see and hear the best effortless vocalist of our time. He's possibly the next Michael Jackson or better. What I'd really like to see, is he Tour and sing with Queen. Few people have the range of Freddie Mercury, Adam would fill the bill perfectly. With the right songs/hits could easily be the top of the charts and bigger than any Idol winner.
Posted by: Alfred James | May 21, 2009 at 01:39 PM
To the idiot that wrote wrote "Will Adam Lambert turn out to be a loser after winning 'American Idol'?" and to those say that he screams instead of singing, perhaps you should listen to his studio recorded version of Mad world and you will realise exactly how talented this amn is. I have never heard such an amazing voice because he can actually sing high and low notes and does it so beautifully. He will be a superstar and the rest will probably be one-hit "wonders", although I doubt it will be wonderfull. Go Adam Lambert. Fan for life
Posted by: Anon | May 21, 2009 at 12:57 PM
I am considering seriously to stop watching American Idol next season. The voting system they have sucks. You've got way to many " girly bubble chewing gum snappers" that have no idea that this show is about finding a supper star. Give them the opportunity to vote as many times as they want and watch their little fingers move like the wind when they start texting. I strongly believe that Adam should have won American Idol. Nothing againts Kris, he is an amzing artist, but my gripe is with the show. Unfortuantley what the show really is about; is who will sell more CDs for the producers of the show. But if a show is claiming to find a real superstar, they are really not sticking to what they are trying to accomplish.
Posted by: Jon | May 21, 2009 at 09:32 AM
This is the most ridiculous article. Have you forgotten about: Steven Tyler(Wears eye liner), Elton John, KD Lang, Ellen D. Will and Grace, Angelina Jolie, Richard Camberlain, Rock Hudson, and the list goes on.
Any of you Homophbes who have listened to Elton John, Queen, Kd Lang or Watch Will and Grace and Ellen D. are Hipocrytes!
Posted by: Melanie Gomez | May 21, 2009 at 06:54 AM
I cannot wait for Adam's record. I will buy it immediately. I believe he is quite marketable. You may be so accustomed to subpar performances that you cannot imagine just how well he will sell!
Posted by: belle | May 20, 2009 at 08:14 PM
I am laughing at all these comments..GET REAL FOLKS! Adam Lambert is talented and a good singer but I cannot stand the screeching and over the top performances. I dont care who wins- although I think Kris has a far better chance being a recording artist. I think Adam should be on broadway- he would do great there.
Posted by: Jeremiah | May 20, 2009 at 07:03 PM
Nay-sayers talk about about Adam’s over the top performances and say they are almost Broadway-like. First I’d like to ask-”What is wrong with Broadway?” And can we please have some realism in these discussions? Let’s take a look at the theatrics of Madonna, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Britney Spears, to name just a few of the greatest artists ever. Now we have the new breed putting in this extra dramatic energy and not just another boring performance, such as last week-Katy Perry and earlier in the season Kanye West and of course Christina Aguilera, Lady GaGa, etc. “Isn’t it time for a new artist to have a new look and a new way to deliver their songs?” Personally I would rather see Adam do any song, not just because I am a HUGE fan, but he keeps my heart pumping, my eyes riveted and gives me more bang for my buck. He is not just a great singer, but he is an amazing performer. I say “Different strokes for different folks”. And Adam strokes his stage with bright dramatic colors along super human vocals. It is at least time for this avid fan to experience all the wonders of this new Super Star, Adam Lambert!
Posted by: 1AdamFan | May 20, 2009 at 03:42 PM
Wow, Tom. You really stepped into a pile of doo-doo here didn't you? Just like Debbie, I am a 53 yr old, straight and married, (except male) admirer of Adam Lambert. I too will buy everything the guy's management puts out there for sale. CDs, tickets, merchandise and so on. Here's the one things great about your article...it certainly shows how passionate Glamberts are about their hero.
Posted by: chickc | May 20, 2009 at 03:16 PM
Adam will prove you to be wrong. What are you jealous or something?
Posted by: Betsy | May 20, 2009 at 02:48 PM
when i first saw and heard adam lambert i thought to myself...thank God someone with the charisma and talent of elvis has finally arrived...he is so talented and unique it would be a shame if he did not win...in any case he will become a superstar worldwide...madonna, elvis, michael, adam...
Posted by: kristina | May 20, 2009 at 09:53 AM
I agree u are a homophobe and need to be fired for this article! Your masculinity must be threatened or something, I am a 53 yr old straight married female and I will buy everything he puts out, he is the most talented and unique artist I have ever seen, I have already bought everything on itunes of his and so will billions, grow up and find a job you are talented at, it is certainly not writing and giving your opinion!!!!!
Posted by: Debbie | May 19, 2009 at 07:46 PM
Adam doesn't do it for me. I agree with the writer of this article. Go Cris! But I would rather have seen Danny in the finals.
Posted by: Sue Miller | May 19, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Adam Lambert is the most talented performer that I've seen in many years. Not "man enough"? Have you watched Elvis? He's certainly "man enough" no matter what his sexual preference is!!! I can't believe your comment! (eye roll)! I haven't watched Idol more than sporadically over the years because the performers didn't have the quality. This guy, I can't get enough of - even my first ITunes purchase! Please VOTE FOR ADAM!!!!!
Posted by: Christy | May 19, 2009 at 03:32 PM
The comparison to George Michael had occurred to me as well -- a polymorphous singer of vocal range and beauty who can turn a song into his own no matter what genre it started as (which he does best when trying least). Whereas today the NY TImes disparaged idol as a pop-recycling machine, what people don't get is that Adam is a true post-modern (think Moulin Rouge), able to recycle and be new, be camp and be transcendent, all at the same time. If he can't be successful, then it means that the commercial machine has gotten so clunky and cranky as to not allow culture to move on. But the excitement of such a variety of viewers testifies to how thirsty people are (oh sorry, "America is") for something unpackaged.
Posted by: julie | May 19, 2009 at 02:40 PM
Trilller?? TRILLER?
Posted by: Pjp | May 19, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I can not believe this article and I agree with everyone here.
Adam is in a league of his own and has a talent most people can only dream of.
I say, vote for Adam and let's teach the so called writer of this article a lesson.
Vote, vote vote!
Posted by: Anette | May 19, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Just... wow.... You say he can't make it because he's not a manly man. *rolls eyes* You know what? Not all men puff up their chests, want to fight bears with their bare hands and drag helpless women to their caves.
Seriously, I can't decide if you are homophobic our just stupid. Adam has charisma, the kind of appeal Freddie Mercury had that fascinated women and men and on top of it all he has the range of a high quality opera singer. Who knows what will happen in the future, but, this guy has something special. Something not seen in any talent show I've ever seen on television.
Posted by: Steph | May 19, 2009 at 10:24 AM
You can't peg Adam, there is no equivalent, in this or any other generation. You either get it or you don't, and YOU belong to the minority that doesn't. Read the results of your own poll, or anyone else's poll, for that matter, even though you still likely will have no clue what the hell's happening. Adam doesn't have to tolerate this kind of crap, he'll simply leave this country. The world is just waiting for him.
BTW, Chris will do alright, partly attributable to Adam's influence, and if he gets some vocal training.
Posted by: Rae | May 19, 2009 at 04:23 AM
Your question "When was the last time we had his equivalent sweep the Grammys?" brings the answer to why should Adam win... HE HAS NO EQUIVALENT! HE IS UNIQUE!!! and that's why he (and not the random singer Kris Allen) deserves to win!
BTW stop your pointless homophobia, welcome to the 21th century, brother...
Posted by: Alex | May 19, 2009 at 01:47 AM
You sure got a lot of hate, didn't you? Did you accomplish your goal. I'm sure you wanted to get us riled and you did. Adam would have won this contest by a mile if it wasn't for the media and their Adam-bashing. He has it all--fantastic vocals, personality, dreamy looks--and he's the most superb entertainer I've ever seen. And he's polite--which I can't say about many in the music business. Can't wait to see and hear his every performance. Who cares about his sexuality? I'm a straight 66-year-old woman and I can't wait to see him conquer the world.
Posted by: Edie | May 18, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Mr. O'Neil, if your intent was to rile everyone up, then your succeeded. I can't believe they pay you to write such biased garbage. What is your point. Your slimey backhanded insults remind me of my 5th graders at school. At least they have an excuse for their bad manners they are only 10. What's yours? You did get one thing right though, You can't peg Adam Lambert. He is something new and special and of course you can't see that because it appears you are really threatened by what you perceive him to be. Appearances aren't everything. Let's just let the two guys sing and America vote. That's what Adam wants. Since you are so obsessed with eyeliner you should try some it may change your perspective. vote for Adam
Posted by: Paula Adams | May 18, 2009 at 09:39 PM
uhhh... homophobe... the grammy's don't mean d**k. not really. except, perhaps, for the ego. a validation by one's peers.
adam's going to be a superstar. selling out arenas, platinum sales, making lots of moola. and, too, probably the trophies.
what's up with you, are you jealous? what other reason do you have for such bitchiness?
Posted by: celtcwrtr | May 18, 2009 at 07:48 PM
I believe Adam Lambert is the most talented American Idol there has ever been, and I also think he has that star quality that is so find to hard. I find it quite shocking that someone (a journalist) would think that his eyeliner or sexual preferences will have anything to do with his success. It is all about talent and personality, and he has it all. And also, he is sexy as hell (and I'm a woman).
This article is so mediocre.
Posted by: Chapis | May 18, 2009 at 06:14 PM