Adam Lambert Loses 'American Idol,' The Glam Mistress Is Not Surprised

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

Comments

[Amanda]

Hi, Adam Lambert was the best I didn't see anyone winning except him. I'm sorry, no offense to any Kris fan out there. But he didn't deserve to win, I can't feel happy for him. I'm trying but I honestly can't. American Idol is supposed to be a singing competition where politics or religion shouldn't matter. But apparently it does. Congratulations America. You screwed up.

[Brian]

Actually, perhaps he lost because he oversings EVERYTHING. Without exception. Watching him screech his way through Detroit Rock City was painful. Yes, he has an incredible range. Yes, he has immense talent. But he sings to exhibit his talent, and I get no feel from that guy that he sings to fit the song. 'The other guy' does.

[Jason]

Nice article, but I wouldn't expect any less from you. I agree with your ideas of why he didn't win, but suspect he will have a big career ahead of him.

While I didn't watch the show much, I would definitely prefer to listen to Adam, based on tonight's show.

[warrant1390]

adam singing with KISS was fucking amazing

[Will]

40 million votes came from my home state of Arkansas. Thats as far as u need to look.

[crüe düde]

i agree with Brian

[Capt. Rock]

I'm gonna have to go with Brian on this one... I don't think his losing has to do with the middle-America thing as much as Adam just overplayed his hand. And (with apologies to the Glam Mistress) I think the media over-kill on the kid really hurt him. America, left and right, tend to rebel against the hype if it's been going on to long. Adam will still do well, but I don't think he'll have the kind of huge rock-star career that people have essentially imposed on him. But then gain, I'm completely wrong about a lot of things (at least according to my wife).

[AngryGeekGirl]

In some ways it is actually better to NOT win. If you win, you are locked into an "American Idol" recording contract and have no real control over your destiny. Adam Lambert has options he wouldn't have if he'd won. He can choose his own path, instead of the powers that be at "American Idol" choosing for him.

[Heather]

Adam Lambert is a brilliant performer. He can outsing anyone who was on that stage this year, or any year. The only reason he didn't win is because people are afraid of anything different. Oh no! He wears eyeliner! Oh no! He's gay! They can't see past the stereotypes and recognize true talent when it is standing right in front of them.
It makes me sad, not only because I truly believe he deserved to win, but because I don't like the fact that that's the world we live in.

[Adamfan]

I agree with AngryGreekGirl -- look how well Chris Daughtry has done by losing. Can't even remember who "won" that year. Oh, and I think Adam also wins by not being stuck with that horrible song that "the other guy" had to sing at the end!

[Christian]

Adam singing KISS was beyond amazing. I hope he joins a rock band, and I am sure he'll have more success than the other guy.

[Jr]

It was a singing contest. Not a screaming contest. Just because you can scream doesn't mean you can sing. It had nothing to do with glam.

[Heather]

Jr, I think you may be insane. Did you see him perform with KISS? Tell me that was not glam. Seriously

Kris Allen won because he looks and sounds like everyone else. Period.

[Jr]

Heather, what I was trying to say was Adam didn't lose because he was glam. He lost because he wasn't the better singer. I'm true blue rocker, metal, glam, what ever you want to call it. I've seen plenty of bands to know the difference in singing and screaming. Steelheart, killer singer, doesn't scream on every song!

[Adamfan]

Adam actually made Kiss sound GOOD. They always put on a great stageshow but come on, those guys could never sing. Adam made Kiss sound better than they ever have.

Like Heather said the other guy looks and sounds like everyone else -- whitebread, vanilla, bland, boring.

[Heather]

Jr, I totally disagree with you. Did Adam scream once in awhile? Sure. But he could still outsing Kris without even trying. There is nothing special about Kris' voice. If he ever comes on the radio, you won't be able to identify him. That is not the case with Adam. America does not need one more person that sounds just like everyone else.

[Nada Kohm]

I am really dissapointed.Its just not right.

[Retrospect Records]

Adam is a phenomenal talent that will go far in this industry - actor , singer , showman - he has it all. Allyson may not see eye to eye with me on a number of issues but I agree with her 100% on this one. FINALLY we see a star that has more than a one-octave range and is not a clone of Eddie Vedder (+cough Daughtry +cough Cook +Cough). He is ORIGINAL and he's a wake-up call to 'bring back glam'. He's a 'screamer'?? HAHAHAHA You're fucking right he is and I love it!!!

[looksthatkill]

It's the music "business" folks, a marketing tool to draw in the masses. Sure Adam has substance but he is a puppet of AI and win or loss he is now an employee of Simon C money making machine. There is nothing real about "winning" this gig except good people that have talent get exploited beyond belief. He would do better on his own because he has talent. Enough said!

[LiamGallagher]

Well, he killed two good KISS songs, and please, dosent Paul Stanley have a unique voice and Adam has not.
He screams to much, can he learn how to controll his voice, then maybe he can do a descent record.

Thats a voice, Allyson!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaoPqy3gl1E