Gabbing with Glambert

Gabbing with Glambert

Appropriately for someone whose goth-glam appearance is the subject of much tabloid fodder, out-and-proud American Idol alumnus Adam Lambert was on his way to get his roots touched up when he spoke to Sydney Star Observer.

“I’m in my house in Los Angeles and, as I’m talking to you, I’m going to drive to a hair appointment,” he laughed. “I can do it, I promise!

“My hair’s looking a bit more natural, so I think I’m going to go back to my technicolour look, with a bit of blue and turquoise in there. You know those black feathers that are almost iridescent? That’s the inspiration.”

Iridescent is also a pretty apt description for the cover of Lambert’s debut album, For Your Entertainment. When the cover art leaked online late last year, it caused something of a stir: sure, Lambert was already out, but the airbrushed, feathered, gaudy picture couldn’t have looked gayer if he was side-saddling a rainbow unicorn.

“I intended it to be campy and fabulous — that old-school glam, Bowie, Prince kind of thing. People used to do that all the time, the provocative rock star look, but here in the States, people were so confused. It cracked me up.”

There’s probably no higher praise that could be given about Lambert’s debut than to say it sounds nothing like an American Idol runner-up’s album. From the sweaty sleaze of the title track (the one that got poor Adam in a spot of trouble when he performed it at the VMAs) to the perfectly-crafted angst-rock of current single Whataya Want From Me, it’s a surprisingly strong, diverse collection.

And with a credible list of contributors on board, it was clear that Lambert’s outstanding performances on the 2009 season of Idol struck a chord with those beyond the usual pop-teen crowd — after all, season winner Kris Allen didn’t have the likes of Muse, Weezer and Pink clamouring to submit songs for his debut.

“It was great that we got amazing people contributing amazing material. It made me feel good — obviously it’s a business thing, but maybe there’s a part of them that really believed in me and what I have to offer,” Lambert said.

Among the contributors is Lady Gaga, who penned the saucy (and very gay) disco strut Fever. Lambert gushed about his studio session with the fashion-forward diva.

“She gets it, she just gets it. She understands the whole business, and she’s not afraid to take risks. We keep in contact, and she’s very sweet.

“Maybe someday in the future we could hang out, write some more, maybe perform together. I would relish that opportunity.”

Perhaps on some sort of genderfucking love duet?

“That’d be great! Maybe she could dress up as a boy and I could sing to her.”

While being an openly-gay ex-Idol is not in itself a terribly unusual thing — the UK has dapper crooner Will Young, while we have balladeer Anthony Callea — Lambert is the first to talk, and sing, so openly about his sexuality.

“Being an artist, it’s important to reflect your personality. I found it really important to be myself and be honest about who I am — and I’m very sexual,” he laughed.

“I happen to be quite a sexual guy, so I thought it was important for me to put that into my art.”

Of course, this openness has occasionally landed him in hot water, never more so than in the aftermath of his performance at the American Music Awards last November, where he pashed a male keyboardist and ground a back-up dancer’s face into his crotch mid-song. Provocative, sure, but no more than previous award show party-lesbian pash-ons by the likes of Britney and Madonna.

To his eternal credit, Lambert remained unapologetic, even as the shit hit the fan in the days after the performance.

“As an audience member for certain scandals, I always think it’s lame when someone caters to that bullshit and apologises when they didn’t do anything wrong. I wanted to stand my ground.

“Female performers and straight male performers have been overtly sexual before, but the minute a gay performer does it, we’re all freaked out,” he said.

One pundit aptly described the media reaction as “the most overblown gay panic this side of Bruno”.

“Totally. I could’ve foreseen a few people taking offence, but that it went so far — and that the network took action about it — that’s what blew my mind. They took me off Good Morning America and all these other chat shows. I thought, ‘Wow, really?’

The storm eventually passed, and Lambert’s talk-show ban was lifted. The day before we spoke, he’d appeared on new American Idol judge Ellen DeGeneres’ program. Of course, the two have more than Idol in common — both have borne the brunt of a predictable ‘moral outrage’ about their sexuality (remember, before Ellen was reborn as America’s daytime TV sweetheart, she was ‘Ellen Degenerate’, with a career in tatters thanks to a very public coming-out).

“Ellen and I talked a lot about coming out, being a gay public figure… I guess in her instance, it kind of helped that she’s not overtly sexual. In many ways, I think that’s what helped her recover.”

Lambert recently revealed to Rolling Stone that he decided to audition for American Idol after ingesting a particularly potent batch of mushrooms.

“I don’t want to be a product my whole life, I want to be Adam. I think if I try and be something that I’m not, it’ll catch up with me. It’s much easier to just be myself,” he explained.

There’s the notion of clearing out the skeletons in your closet before others do it for you…

“Exactly. I’m going to be an open book so that nobody can try and fuck me.

“Or fuck with me, rather!”

In this hyper-connected age, surely one of the first fears to strike anyone experiencing instant fame is how long it’ll take for all your drunken, debauched Facebook photos to emerge as press fodder?

“Well, that all happened right at the beginning. There were pictures out there of me kissing an ex-boyfriend, pictures of me in drag… anything you can imagine. Luckily I’ve never done a sex tape, so we don’t have to wait for that to leak.

“Although maybe I’ll make a music video that looks like a sex tape. That’ll get everyone comfortable — middle America will really love that!”

info: For Your Entertainment (Sony BMG) is out now.
Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Lambert’s performance was at the MTV Music Awards, not the American Music Awards.

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21 responses to “Gabbing with Glambert”

  1. Wow once again certain bitter fans troll any article about Adam Lambert they can find because they can’t stand that America isn’t fawning over Kris allen. It is NOT Adam’s fault Allen’s album isn’t selling! Blame Kris or his Management but leave Adam out of that mess

  2. ah! i love adam’s honesty but don’t give too much honey, it doesn’t hurt to save some for rainy days. i love your music and like you as a person.

  3. Fab interview. I am a huge fan and could not care less about the American Idol rubbish. He is a star in his own right. I would go so far to agree with Damians X+Y=U column this week saying that he is a role model. Go Adam !

  4. To be honest I don’t like Kris’s CD at all. However, I loved his rendition of “Apologize” on American Idol last year and that’s about all I like about Kris. Sorry Kristards!!!!! I can’t wait to see the storm that Adam is bringing to the UK and Germany later this week!!!!!!!

  5. I wish both Kris Allen and Adam Lambert fans would get over this silly bickering that nobody else wants to read or hear. It matters to NOBODY else. American Idol is in the past for both of them and I wish it was for you people as well. They are completely different artists who appeal to different fan bases. Support whatever artist you choose and quit taking pot shots at the other one. Time to give it a rest and move on. Please!

  6. It is really amazing to watch Adam’s star rise. His ability to stay true to himself (and stay honest to a fault, as he has said) amidst the endless barrage of media scrutiny is really something to behold. Great article. It’s nice to see Adam in the spotlight around the world. Can’t wait for the tour.

  7. Katie is a known Krisbert troll, she even tweets Adam sick ignorant offensive tweets yet was too cowardly to post them here. Still bitter Kris Allen had the worst selling Winner’s album in History whlst Adam’s fanbase and sales keep growing ans growin? LOL GET OVER IT! Half of KA’s tracks were B Sides! Adam co-wrote and wrote half of his so there you go BS-ing again. Kris fans are the reason I went off him months ago. They’re so biased and vile it’s beyond pathetic.

  8. @Katie

    Well, Kris’s original songs suck that’s why he is the worst-selling Idol-winner. Adam is doing better than Kris internationally. Get over it and stop acting like a sore loser.

  9. Thanks for this fab article! I adore Adam Lambert – he is wild and sweet and fierce and adorable. Rock on Adam!!

  10. This guy is sex on legs, but will also help old ladies cross the street, a real sweetheart!!

  11. ouch Katie, a little bitter there or what, or should I say kritterbert, go away and support who you like. Adam is Adam, he is honest, open and a lot of people like katie just can’t handle it. Well, you just stay boring and plaid kiddo. See? bashing is not nice, bet you didn’t like that. Kris is great, I think he is doing wonderful and wish him the best. There was no diss against Kris, he didn’t have writers like Adam , it is a fact, what is so wrong with that, my goodness you people are so senstive and defensive and make up stuff just to ax Adam. I am an Adam fan from day one and I love his music and who he is. Kris loves him, so maybe you should look and see why? otherwise in a sense you are going against Kris. Haters can go bite it, anyone like that has mental disorders and needs help anyways.

  12. Ahh with the mention of a certain someone(from Idol and Not Adam) I think there is going to be a flood of bitter whiny US fans. As someone who found Adam through Youtube, has never watched Idol (or any of its Ilk) and does not live in the US I can honestly say I agree with this article whole heartedly. Adam is refreshing and a surprise to come from one of these talent shows.
    It is a shame that fans of another artist don’t understand that American Idol is over. I really couldn’t care less(or even know about)anybody else from the US idol.

  13. Thanks for this fun and interesting article about Adam. He is so fresh, exciting, and superbly talented. There are so many established professionals who gush over him and want to work with him, the fans of the other idols get very jealous. Adam is having a good amount of success, all the while facing uphill obstacles of homophobia here in the somewhat backwards USA. And Adam can write….he co-wrote four of the songs on his album. He brought a lot of creativity to his album, fusing glamrock, electropop, rock, and even a little hip hop to his sound. Other people are attempting to be the poor man’s Jon Mayer or Chris Daughtry. Adam’s got oodles of creativity which he brings to all aspects of his performance. His ability to riff on songs and perform them differently every time he sings is unbelievable. I am thrilled to see him getting love and attention from all these other countries now. Thank you Australia for enjoying and giving some props to Adam.

  14. He didn’t perform at the VMA’s. It was the AMA’s… The American Music Awards on the TV Station ABC. I’m pretty sure that Viacom (who owns MTV, VH1, etc) has nothing to do with ABC, which is owned by Disney.

  15. I just love Adam! It’s so refreshing to have someone in the entertainment biz who is honest, up front and doesn’t take any crap. Plus he’s a super sweet, funny, talented guy and I can’t wait for him to bring a full tour to Australia. Also this was a fantastic interview – thanks!
    Kerrie

  16. wow, loved it, great interview:) I am a Lambert fan forever and just waiting to see what else he has to offer :)

  17. Nice article, but it was the AMAs (American Music Awards), not the VMAs or MTV Awards that caused the conservatives here in the states to get their panties in a bunch. Always so glad to here Adam is staying true to himself and not feeling the need to cave to the the vocal puritans.

  18. Thanks for such a fun article about Adam and for being so respectful to him….It’s great to see so many people adore him down under. I live in San Francisco and am enjoying all the attention Adam is getting around the world-like his Album going platinum in Canada! YES!

  19. A little fact-checking might help. Adam’s raunchy performance was NOT on MTV, a cable network, and the one that has featured previous raunchy performances and the infamous Madonna-Britney-Xtina kiss. It was on ABC on network television. I see Adam is being his usual self–whining about doubleK standards while refusing to take any responsibility for the fact that he put the network in the position of facing millions of dollars in fines, all so he could have fun. Get over yourself, Adam.

    (Also, just as an aside, your little diss at Kris Allen not having people like Muse and Pink want to submit songs for him is ridiculous. Kris wrote or co-wrote almost all the songs on his album. He didn’t need as many cast-off songs from other artists, like Adam did.)

  20. What a breath of fresh air Adam lambert is! Finally, an artist that has tht “what you see is what you get!” An open book, honest, humble, never throwing away himself to please others! He doesnt beg anyone to love him, he just wants to entertain, if you like it, enjoy, if you dont, move on! I love his philosphy! Too bad the haters dont have that philosophy, but insist on trying to destroy him! I dont kniw how Adam stays his sweet, huble self when so much is thrown at him but I admire it! He is a true inspiration! And the guy can sing his face off! You go Adam, Rock On!!!!