Smallscreen Features
Adam Lambert and Kris Allen top American Idol performers
By April MacIntyre Apr 22, 2009, 15:30 GMT
Kris Allen matches Adam Lambert for arrangement originality. Allen sang Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money” on acoustic guitar and it was just brilliant. Allen was so low-key in the beginning but has cleverly used every episode of this competition to prove himself worthy. Photo from FOX
Adam Lambert and Kris Allen blew the lid off Disco night on "American Idol."
So much so, that I am now completely convinced they will be the final two.
Disco diva and Boston girl Donna Summer's tracks were wheeled out by three contestants, as some made the songs their own and others did stepped-up karaoke versions of Chaka Khan.
Lil, I am talking to you.
Judge Randy Jackson seemed to exert a bit more serious tone and hailed Lambert's stunning performance of a Saturday Night Fever song, saying he (Lambert) was ready to go now, as in out "there", as a viable artist touring and recording.
Kris Allen matches Adam Lambert for arrangement originality. Allen sang Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money” on acoustic guitar and it was just brilliant. Allen was so low-key in the beginning but has cleverly used every episode of this competition to prove himself worthy.
Adam Lambert acts the star already; he is coiffed, styled and becomes the character in the song he sings. He reminds me of K.D. Lang, Elvis and Tim Curry, all in very good ways. People are just born stars, you can't just fall into it or train for it, and he is one. Paula damned near cried while he sang, and his performances for me hearken Bowie's "Lady Stardust" lyrics:
People stared at the makeup on his face
Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace
The boy in the bright blue jeans
Jumped up on the stage
And lady stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and disgrace
Now, with Kris and Adam being the fierceness of Idol, there is the wild card of a teenager, 16 year-old (16!) Allison Iraheta who also sang a Donna Summer song, “Hot Stuff.” She slowed up the tempo and rocked it out. Will she win this? Doubtful. But she has such a phenomenal rocker's voice, her future is set.
Danny Gokey sang Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.” Already expressed my feelings for Danny in past articles; he has a huge fan base but I am not part of it.
The Idol doldrums include Lil Rounds, who sang Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,” last week's saved by the bell contestant Matt Giraud, who sang “Stayin’ Alive.” And then there is Anoop Desai, singing Summer's “Dim All the Lights.”
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Older Talkback
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I don't think Kris is one of the contenders. I think Adam outranks Kris by 10 miles. It will be between Danny and Adam. I think Adam is the very best in quite a few years of American Idol. He can sing anything and has proven it week after week. There's never been an negative comment on any of his performances. Thanks for your time.
Gokey has NO juice, or stage presence. Allen is a smarter performer
Love Adam and Allison, they are my finalists. Adam is in a class by himself. Best Idol performer ever. Almost TOO good, too mature of a performer for Idol, which might cost him the title. Gokey has a strong voice, but I can't imagine an entire concert of just him on stage. Enough with the choir master arm gestures and dorky dance moves. Ugh. Kris is okay if you like that kind of thing (I don't). Think he's gettin' by on his looks and aw shucks charm. Giraud and Anoop should have been gone weeks ago. Both of 'em.
DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU! Anoop was so so so HOT last night and I have loved almost every performance. Doldrums? Wow - open up your ears. Danny should have gone home long ago. Adam is amazing - no disputing that. Allison just doesn't work for me AT ALL.
My favs are Kris, Anoop and Adam. Danny has shown no growth and his singing really isn't that great. Allison - no Lil - no Matt - sometimes. I hope Anoop stays on a bit longer. I agree about his hotness last night - who knew he could look like that? I guess Adam isn't the only one who can re-invent himself.
April - sort of obvious your a Kris fan. Way to dis some of the others. Simon's already doing that so we don't need to read your dis, too
The assessment is good-Kris and Adam are tops, Allison and Anoop then the Gokey and Lil last.
Adam was undeniably great last night. I don't think this writer is biased more towards Kris from what I see here.
Lil was awful.
Many people seem to forget that Adam was already a professional singer/actor for almost a decade before he appeared on American Idol. The other contestants like Anoop Desai and Kris Allen are not professionals. When Adam started working in the theater and on stage the other contestants were in Junior High School.
Many of them never had professional training or do not know how to work the cameras and stage professionally. So it is quite a feat that they can even match someone like Adam who is a seasoned actor and performer. So I give the other contestants a lot more credit than many people do for competing against Adam. They actually are disadvantaged compared to Adam's experience.
I am not saying Adam isn't great because he is, but I realize that the others, like Kris Allen, are just what the show American Idol used to be about which was finding undiscovered talent who were not already professionals.
I will never understand why contestants pick songs they like regardless of what they've been told about picking songs. Sure, they may like the songs, but that doesn't mean they can sing them well.
People don't forget anything David, they just like what they like and since most Idol contestants are some sort of professional, then they let it go. Kris has already put out several CDs and so have Matt and other Idol contestants from other years, just like David Cook. Matt's a dueling guitar player in a lounge/bar in his hometown. Danny is his Church's Choir Director. All these contestants are musically gifted and all stand a chance of really doing something wonderful in their lives. Also, almost every one of those contestants has had professional voice training, including young Allyson, whose training started when she was a young child. Adam did not know how to work a camera either since his “professional” work was done on a stage, which has been more a hindrance than an asset as he has had to try and learn to do everything differently.
Most of these people keep their day jobs and decided to work on music part time, while Adam, as he explained in an early episode, decided to jump right in with both feet. So, he is being penalized by many people for pursuing his dream full time. It is a hard field to break into and he saw this as a chance to do it. Only in America, would we reward hard work and pursuit of a dream with criticism and cruelty instead of support and good wishes.
I've watched this program all seasons and haven't cared one way or the other until this year. I haven't ever voted or bought a CD from anyone that has been on AI. I hear something in Adam's voice that will make me buy that CD. He is my choice. And for the first time and the last time, I am voting for a contestant every Tuesday night.
People like what they like. They are all different singers and what appeals to one person, might not to another. Instead of saying bad things about the others, I try to listen and enjoy them all. Because of what I've seen on the Internet this year, I will either stop watching AI or never let myself get involved in the outcome like I have this year.
Adam is my fav by far. I so look forward to see what song he's going to sing each week. Kris is getting better and better each week. He's surprised me sort of like the way David Cook did last season. Each week he chooses a great song as well. Allison is also another fav of mine. I love her voice and it's not the same old stuff that you hear on the top 40 charts. But none of them should worry because it doesn't necessarily matter if you come in first because look at Daughtry and Hudson who now have very successful careers.
We get American Idol hours after it has been shown in the USA, on Cable TV
and I have watched nearly every season. Being an avid music lover of all types no matter what syle, as long as its good, I can honestly say that I have never seen an unsigned performer that has the charisma, stage presence and downright amazing vocals as Adam Lambert. He knows how to perform and as someone said before, some are born to be stars and he is definately that.
He is not only going to be huge in the USA but also around the world. He is simply amazing. I think the whole 'Idol' format is not only to find the next big thing, but that someone special who will blow the music industry to their core and make someone a mega star. Sure it finds the Kelly Clarksons, the Carrie Underwoods, the David Cooks etc, but it is also really all about trying to find a star, a natural born star who will not be the run-of-the-mill star, but one that will become the biggest star of them all. For the producers to say, 'we found this person'! and really kick sand in the face of record companies who do not take the time to really look for talent when it stares them in the face.
I mean look at Danny Gokey who has released an album and Kris who has as well. If any music executive is any good, they would have signed these 2 up and if any music executive went to see the show Wicked, then they should all smack themselves in the back of the head for not signing up Adam Lambert.
That is what Idol is all about, kicking it in the face of music executives who think they know what the music public like and don't. With music so readily available on the internet, it is not about those who can get their 15 minutes of fame but it is those who can sustain their talent and ability to ensure their longevity in an industry that is so fraught with 15 minutes of famers!
The others, I don't think will ever become huge because they do not posses that talent of being something that is not already out there. That is something unique and different, which only Adam at this stage possess. Can't wait to see what he will do next. Certainly makes Idol one of the best so far and extremely exciting to watch.
David, I have to correct you. Adam was a jobbing performer in musical theatre. Something that in itself is seen as a great disadvantage in the recording industry because of the different skills and performance styles that that of a musical actor/singer and a recording artist demand, and most probably the reason why he hasn’t already been able to get a foot in the door with a recording company and has had to put his immeasurable talent up for very public judgement. Adam only ever resorted to musical theatre in order to pay the bills (he moved from home at a very early age) until the recording break that he longed for came along. As it turns out, it was probably a huge mistake as I have explained.
Anoop is a very experienced singer with an a capella band. Kris had a previous recording contract from which he was dropped. Allison has already won a TV talent show just over a year ago that resulted in a record contract from which she was also dropped. Danny has released an album. Matt and Lil have also been earning their living performing for almost decade.
Other contestants with previous recording deals have included David Cook, Taylor Hicks, Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns and Carly Smithson (Hennessy). David Archuleta, like Allison, was also the winner of a TV talent show prior to his appearance on AI.
The show has never been about inexperienced or “undiscovered” talent. For a start they are not going to leave the live shows in the hands of inexperienced complete amateurs. As far back as the first series, Kelly Clarkson, a jobbing singer and actress (not simply a waitress in a cocktail bar any more than Leona Lewis was merely a pizza waitress and receptionist), was practically chased across states by the producers to stop her from signing a film deal that would have meant she could not appear on AI.
The only stipulation for entering the show is that the contestant does not have a current recording contract. The same goes for its counterparts around the world including the UK’s X Factor. Ray Quinn, the runner-up in 2006 to Leona Lewis (who herself had a previous recording contract and had made previous TV appearances), was a junior champion ballroom dancer an award-winning TV child actor.
The fact is that God-given exceptional talent, together with charisma and that indefinable star quality, is something that you’re born with and no experience or training is going to give you it. Adam Lambert has it by the truckload on all counts. Who knows? Anything can happen. Adam still has such a struggle in the way he is perceived by some. However, for only the third time in all these shows that I have followed and for the first time in AI, I have to say that any result other than the victory of one particular contestant would be a travesty and, worse, an embarrassment to the show, the public and the actual poor soul who may win instead.
I have to say that Kris is totally lost on me on every level. He has had three performances – Ain’t No Sunshine, Falling Slowly and She Works Hard for the Money (in all of which he has been helped by Adam with the arrangement, though unlike Adam who always credits any assistance, Kris has failed to even hint at this) that in the hands of a better singer and performer would have soared. Unfortunately, Kris has a reedy, poorly controlled and not dependable voice, his performance skills are practically non-existent and quite frankly he has the charisma of a microphone stand. The resulting performances were a bit of a let down as a result. They were good by comparison to his other ones so fair play for the judges’ good comments but if Adam suddenly turned out a performance of the standard of even Kris’ best, the judges would wonder if the real Adam Lambert had been abducted by aliens. Kris’ best is above average but above average is not good enough to warrant winning a talent show, particularly not when faced with such a major talent in opposition.
More so than on his looks, which are nice but unremarkable (it’s interesting, considering his unconfirmed orientation, though not surprising considering his striking and far more conventionally handsome looks, to see that Adam gets far more girly screams on the show and more fan mail from females), he is getting a lot of support from many of Adam’s fans who see him as his friend and vote for him too. This could end up being Adam’s downfall.
To even suggest that Kris Allen at his best is an equal to Adam Lambert at his mediocre is to do Adam as big an injustice as him not winning this would be.
LUCY W ,
I totally agree with you. Enough said. No one compares to Adam Lambert. He is way too good for this show. He is a legend in the making.
This show is a good showcase for talent, and a lot of them go on to have a great career regardless if they were the last few voted in. The public votes for who they like, and whose cds they would buy, and most of the time that goes a long way in telling who will be successful. Not all of them will be a so-called 'pop' star, but they will have a successful musical career anyway.
It is so interesting to read all of your 'opinions'. In the end It will be all in the eyes of the beholder and who gets the most votes!!!
This is a 'comment' site - duh! I'm sure everyone knows the winner will be the one with the most votes, but that doesn't mean they will be successful in the long run - look at previous contestants!
i like the unusual singers -this lot i wouldnt buy any of there records-megan joy really is the only one i had any emotional connection to-but the djs only want to play black music.-give them shit-let them eat it.
you're listening to the wrong stations. Mine play a great mix and a lot of the top American Idol's songs.
Danny has zero charisma and his voice is so average. I'm sick and tired of this show pushing him down our throats from the very start with his shameless backstory. Paula calling him into the finals disgusts me to no end.
Lucy W, Where did you get the idea that Adam has been helping Kris with his arrangements? Kris does all his own arrangement and has even helped other contestants, as has been noted on the show. Adam is a great singer and entertainer, but Kris needs no help from anyone with respect to arrangements.
i realy wanted allison to go up against adam cross dresser she would have won but im hoping kris wins tonight
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Robert HershburgerApr 22nd, 2009 - 16:29:59
Per usual, Lambert dominated the night. There is not one contestant on that show that can match his vocal talent. Although Kris's arrangement was noteworthy, his vocals are that of the average singer. Marketable but ehhh, just so so. I would not seek out a Allen CD or even remotely think of going to an Allen concert. Lambert on the other hand I'd be first in line. The final two should be either Lambert and Allen or Lambert and Allison.
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