I was just contacted by Conde Nast (publisher of Details magazine), who has given us the official magazine cover and official photos, along with permission to post. I was also given some additional information you might be interested in. I’ve added the cover photo and the information from the publisher on the original “The Devil’s in the Details.” I will post the remainder of the photos later today (with Fernando’s blessing as well as that of Conde Nast!)

UPDATED: Here are the photos I was given permission to post, along with the details.com video and additional information that was sent to me:

From Conde Nast:

You’ve heard the buzz but now see for yourself! Adam Lambert lands the November cover of DETAILS magazine and it’s his sexiest photo shoot ever. He opens up to DETAILS about getting bras thrown at him onstage, kissing gorgeous women and living the American dream. Plus, exclusive outtakes and video from his racy photo shoot on DETAILS.com! See for yourself why every woman in America wants to sleep with Adam Lambert. The November issue hits stands October 27.

Plus, beginning at 10am today, go to DETAILS.com to enter for a chance to win a photo shoot with Adam! That’s right- you and Adam Lambert together for a professional photo shoot!

Full story, slideshow and video: http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/cover-stars/200910/american-idol-cover-star-adam-lambert

Photo credit: Alexei Hay for DETAILS.

On kissing women: “I am gay, but I like kissing women sometimes. Women are pretty. It doesn’t mean I’m necessarily sleeping with them.”

On entertaining: “It’s all fantasy – that’s what entertainment is. I’m here to entertain you, and if my sexuality is apparent and you respond to it, and you’re attracted to it, then great, I’m doing my job.”

His American Idol past: “There’s a feeling of entitlement [with the fans] because they voted to get us where we are. But you know what? I am responsible for what I created on the show – you voted for what I created, and thank you, but I created it, you didn’t.”

And from Laura Saltman of Access Hollywood, here’s a great video showing Adam’s reaction to the photo shoot:

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

After such a seemingly long dry spell of no Adam news, we are finally feeling the wind and rain, and we’re loving it! Each day now seems to bring either music news, new interviews, or new photo shoots.

To the magazine alerts we can now add InStyle magazine. The November issue has a nice one-page spread on Adam with some fashion and non-fashion Q & A.

Here’s a transcript of the article, courtesy of Mr. L:

Itching to work with?
Lady Gaga. She has a bold look and her music is awesome. We could have a lot of fun performing together.

Favorite discovery
The IPhone. I love the Bump app that lets you exchange contact information with someone by bumping your phones together and Speak Easy is really great for recording vocals.

Signature scent
Dior Homme. It’s so yummy

Style Icons
David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, Prince and Michael Jackson were big influences on me.

Fashion faves
Gareth Pugh has a men’s line that’s unbelievable. There’s Skin Graft, a L.A. design house that made a lot of my leather jackets and accessories on Idol, Brian Lichtenberg who does holographic leggings and sweatshirts, Diesel jeans and Loree Rodkin jewelry.

Drink of choice
I’m addicted to those 5-Hour Energy shots and unsweetened ice coffees.

Recent splurge
My four day get away to Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara. It costs a pretty penny but was well worth it.

Beauty essentials
OPI nail polish, M.A.C. Smolder eyeliner and Bad Head styling products.

Necessary extravagance
Manicures. Often I paint my own nails, but on tour there is manicurist on site – and she does a much better job!

If I didn’t audition for Idol..
I would still be a chorus boy in ‘Wicked’ in Los Angeles.

Looking forward to
My album – it’s 100 percent me. Rock, pop, dance, electronic and funk – a little bit of everything.

So how many of you are the type to buy a product just because Adam uses/endorses it? I have to plead guilty to buying a few of Adam’s “favorites” - his “Me” by mezhgan eyeliner and OPI onyx nail polish, but I don’t automatically run out and buy everything he endorses. I’d go broke!

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

Did our “Wicked” Adam know way back then that he was brewing such a storm?

First off, this is just a recap, so swallow and don’t spit your coffee. The storm is coming, though – for some time now Adam’s fans have been referring to the impending wave of Adam songs, videos and appearances as the storm of the century. It remains to be seen how the outside world (the people who say “Adam who?”) will be affected by the coming onslaught, but if the thousands of posts, blog comments, and tweets that blazed across the Internet yesterday are any indication, Adam’s fans are about to be blown away.

Since the tour ended, we’ve been in the doldrums, with only a few tantalizing whiffs of news to stir us. The teasing has left us only wanting more, and yesterday we were finally hit by a microburst of Adamness – enough to wake us up, refresh us, and get us moving. But we still want more! We want a spanking storm that will assault us with powerful and amazing sounds we’ve never heard before. We want a whirlwind to grab us like a dance partner, twirl us around, and take us to dizzying heights of rapture we’ve never been to. And when we come back to earth we want to move our feet and shake what the Lord gave us. In the end we want to be left windswept - raw, exposed, sobbing and moaning, but most of all…alive!

Most people want relief from a storm, but not us (Adam’s fans are just a little bit different!) - we want it! It’s on the horizon, and IT’S COMING!!!

Make sure your calendars are marked:

Tuesday, October 13 – Adam will assist in announcing the nominees for the American Music Awards. Will not be televised as far I as know, but bound to show up in photos/videos.

Friday, October 16 – Possible release date of the single Time for Miracles (Amazon is showing both Oct. 16 and Oct. 20 as release dates.)

Tuesday, October 20 – The other possible release date of the single Time for Miracles.

Tuesday, November 10 – Soundtrack for 2012 drops.

Friday, November 13 – The movie 2012 premieres.

Sunday, November 22 – The American Music Awards will air. There is speculation Adam might be present to promote the release of his album.

Tuesday, November 24 – Adam’s CD drops and Adam will appear on TV on GMA.

The above dates are US dates. Still missing, of course, is the drop date (and title) of the single off the CD. It has been confirmed, in case any of you thought otherwise, that TFM will NOT be the CD single. I’m hearing speculation that it could be another couple of weeks before a decision is made on the single. ARRGGGHHHH! We also haven’t heard dates for the Special Edition CD or the TFM music video.

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

All this waiting…waiting…waiting has Adam fans all over (not just us!) frustrated and going absolutely nutzoid! We’re waiting for news of the single (title? drop date?), news of the CD (title? final playlist?), news of the Special Edition CD (drop date? special content?), and news of the “Time for Miracles” music video (premier date?) – not to mention just waiting for those few dates we *do* know to actually get here!!!

Adam sites everywhere are scrambling to find content to give their fans their daily fix during these long days. Many are taking looks back at Adam’s early career. So today’s fix…er, spotlight is on The Citizen Vein, Adam’s pre-Idol band. The band consisted of Adam, composer/guitarist Monte Pittman, bass player Tommy Victor, and drummer Steve Sidelnyk. Some of the band’s more well-known songs include Beyond the Sky, Rough Trade, Nocturnal By The Moon, The Circle, and Turning On.

Here is a short video of Turning On, from the Pitcher House in Hermosa Beach, CA. The audio isn’t real good, and the band sort of drowns out Adam, but I love Adam’s look in this video!!! Soooo beautiful and sexy I almost don’t mind not being able to hear him.

If you’re interested in downloading the Citizen Vein songs listed above or Adam’s other pre-Idol songs, here’s a great link for you.

Ironically, Dreamsound posted an article about The Citizen Vein way back on March 11th with another nice video. Unfortunately, this website didn’t have the amount of fans it has now, so sadly that article had no comments posted. I remember those early days very well - we couldn’t get a single soul to post comments on the articles! Haha, how things have changed. Anyway,if you’d like to view the video that Dreamsound posted way-back-when, check it out here.

So what do think of The Citizen Vein and their sound? Like it, love it, or not so much? Personally, not my favorite sound.

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

This is Jeanette, and I’m back!!! I got home last Sunday after vacationing in Arizona – it was a great trip, but I have to say that even the Grand Canyon was anti-climactic after Madison and Grand Rapids. The scenery I saw was spectacular, but rocks are just rocks, and Adam is a precious one-of-a-kind soul. I missed you guys, and it will take a while for me to get caught up on the website. Thanks to Sue for bringing you guys home with TOUR VIBES – she tells me she enjoyed it, so you guys must not have skered her too badly!

Now that the tour’s over, I thought it would be interesting to reflect back on the journey of the past two and a half months. I think many of us would agree that it’s been a life-changing experience, but what exactly happened? Did we see it coming? Just what was the big surprise, and where do we go from here?

For me, the tour began in a rather selfish, single-focus manner – it was me and Adam, and my one goal was to get the best ticket I could for the Milwaukee concert. I ordered on pre-sale day, got a floor ticket, and I was happy. I felt my goal had been accomplished. And after the tour started and the youtube videos and fan reviews revealed Adam’s incredible outfits and moves, my initial questions of how he would look and sound were answered. All I needed to do was sit tight and wait for August 28th to roll around.

But a very strange thing happened about 3 weeks after the tour started. In doing the TOUR VIBES and in reading the comments and reviews, suddenly my one small goal of seeing Adam in Milwaukee wasn’t enough. I wanted more of Adam, and it seemed the obvious way to do this was to attend more than one show. The idea of the multi-concert experience grabbed me, and I bought tickets for Madison and Grand Rapids. When I mentioned this in one of my articles, I think I helped to spread the idea, just as it had been spread to me. Adam was HOT HOT HOT, the notion of seeing Adam multiple times burned in us, and like a wildfire, the flames passed from Glamb to Glamb.

And another strange thing happened – the goal was no longer a self-centered one. We wanted to share the experience with each other. It wasn’t about “Adam and me” anymore, but “Adam and us.” I did my best to hook up with other Glambs for all my concerts, and I’m happy my efforts paid off. As incredible as Adam is, and as joyful as he makes me feel, in the end it was the sharing of the concerts with others that made the whole experience so memorable. I truly will never forget any of my 4 concerts or the new friends I met at each one.

This, for me, was the surprise of the tour – not how unbelievably beautiful and talented and sexy Adam is (I already knew all of that!) – but that my selfish goal of “me and Adam” could so thoroughly be transformed into a goal of fellowship and sharing. It is a tribute to Adam’s character as well as his talent that he can inspire this feeling in us. His appeal is universal, and he has proven this by uniting so many of us who never otherwise would have met.

For Adam’s future solo tour, I anticipate that multiple concerts and the sharing of the concert experience with other fans will be our mindset from day one. Certainly this will be my plan, and we here at Glambs Central will do all we can to make this happen for as many fans as possible.

To Adam and all the Idols – thank you for a fantastic tour! We appreciate your hard work and dedication, and we know you persevered through sickness and exhaustion to put on unforgettable shows for us. We know we went a little crazy (OK, a LOT crazy!), but thank you for remaining calm and positive and steadfast through the madness. You’ve set an example for all of us to follow by remaining so composed and centered, and we will all be better people because of you.

Adam, we love you, and we can’t wait to see you shine all on your own!!!!!

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

We started with Adam’s jackets, and it was suggested we also look at his jewelry (to quote Carol, “don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the pants!) I don’t think anyone who has been following Adam since his audition has failed to notice his jewelry. It’s part of his fabulous sense of style, but more than that, I think it’s very much a part of who he is. I get the impression that Adam chooses his jewelry with as much care and thought as he plans the rest of his look. Yes, he has stylists and people who help him with his wardrobe, and yes, he has fans giving him tons of gifts, but I think in the end, Adam is making his choices, and I think there are probably reasons for his choices. I get the impression that Adam is very spiritual, and I think that much of what he wears, beyond being simply ‘sick,’ has meaning for him. Just my personal opinion.

First is the Egyptian-style jewelry and the meaning of the Egyptian symbols. I think it’s pretty safe to say that Adam’s ankh ring is his signature ring. I don’t know if he wears it ALL the time, but he wears it a lot. This particular ankh ring also incorporates a scarab design into it. Now I’m not an expert on Egyptian symbolism, but from what I’ve read is that the common meaning for the ankh is eternal life and power. The loop of the Ankh is held by the Gods. It is associated with Isis and Osiris in the Early Dynastic Period. The Loop of the Ankh also represents the feminine discipline, while the elongated section represents the masculine discipline. These two units come together and form life. Another explanation for the two parts of the ankh is that the circle symbolizes eternal life and the cross below it represents the material plane.

The scarab design is also present in the pendant that Adam has frequently worn and is now wearing during his concerts. The scarab was a very important, perhaps even the most important, amulet in ancient Egypt. The scarab, like the ankh, symbolizes new life and the eternal, daily rebirth of the world. The behavior of the scarab beetle, which maintains balls of dung, was likened by the Egyptians to the forces that roll the sun across the sky. Young scarabs, emerging from the dung balls in which scarab eggs were laid, were seen as life emerging from dead matter. This association reinforced the notion that scarabs symbolize rebirth, resurrection, and renewal.

Interestingly enough, Adam’s rocker pendant with the sparkly stones surrounded by the metal spikes, worn during the Whole Lotta Love Idol performance (among others) could possibly be interpreted as the sun, adding to the “life” symbolism Adam seems to like.

And speaking of Egyptian symbolism, even though it’s not jewelry, how could I not mention the tattoo? I think most of Adam’s fans know that he got the Eye of Horus tattoo on his right wrist during the Idol season. What you may not know is that later on, Adam had the tattoo revised. In a quote from Adam in an article by Brian Mansfield for USA Today, Adam says, “Right after the New York press circuit, I went and had additions put on to it – put more color, put extra lines into it. In a way, it’s cool, because it kind of completes the experience…these are my colors. I love these colors – turquoises, blues and greens.” Adam adds that the Eye of Horus “symbolizes protection – it’s like an evil eye.” If you look at the “before” Motown week photo and the “after” photo, the extra color becomes obvious.

Many thanks to Theresa/Canada (Terry) who helped me with the idea for this article and with photos! Next up – Part 2 will look at those slithery creatures that Adam really, really loves!

By the way, I don’t want to pimp any particular retail outfit, but many of Adam’s favorite jewelry pieces are available for sale online. I know for sure that the ankh/scarab ring, the scarab pendant, and the sparkle Whole Lotta Love pendant are available. It just takes a little googling.

If you have any insight into the jewelry or the symbolism discussed in this post, please feel free to chime in. As I said, this article is just fun speculation on my part!

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

 

Okay, so I admit it – I just wanted an excuse to post this dishy photo of Adam!  It was taken on July 17^th outside the Staples Center while Adam was taking part in American Idol Live, which was being held there.  (Thanks to ShowBizSpy for the photo.)

Also during the Los Angeles stop, MTV News interviewed Adam and asked about the upcoming debut album.  Here’s what Adam had to say…“It’s kind of taking the best parts of music from the ’70s, like the classic-rock era, and trying to somehow fuse it with modern, dancier, electronic production. It’s kind of a fusion thing.”  According to MTV News, Adam will not only be working with Lady Gaga producer RedOne, but with Greg Wells, the producer and songwriter behind hits by Pink, Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson.  Adam is also reported to be working with OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, who wrote Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” as well as with Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” Gwen Stefani’s “What You Waiting For” and much more).

As has been widely reported already, Adam plans on mixing up tempos and styles on his new album.  “It goes back and forth,” Adam said. “There’s some ballads, there’s some uptempo, there’s some songs that are a little bit more straightforward, current pop. There are some songs that are more dance; there are some songs that are straight rock.”

The reporter asks what’s his favorite song so far.  ”I can’t tell!” Adam laughs. “I’m not allowed.”

The MTV article ends on this high note. “The music’s gonna be great. Just wait a couple months. You gotta be patient,” promises Adam.

Okay, so there’s not much here that we haven’t heard before, but hey, we still hang on every word that comes out of Adam’s mouth, don’t we?

I personally don’t really care what will be on the new album.  I’m partial to rock, but I will buy it, listen to it, and love it regardless!  What about you?  Are you happy with the “fusion” that Adam promises, or would you prefer all rock or something else entirely?

Here’s the link to the MTV News article: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1616491/20090717/story.jhtml

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

***Note: Be sure to follow our adam-lambert.org twitter at: twitter.com/adamlambertidol

 

 

UPDATE - 7-17 - ADAM’S TWITER IS STILL IN A STATE OF HACKEDNESS - SEE ADAM’S BUBBLE TWEET FROM DANNY’S ACCOUNT (AND FAIR WARNING, YOU MAY HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR PANTS AFTER HEARING ADAM’S LAST WORDS!!!)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pyWDKb5OuE

***UPDATE - SUNDAY, 7-12 - ADAM NOW HAS OVER 100,000 FOLLOWERS!!!*** 

My original Twitter article was lost in the server switch, and I saw the comments that many of you made asking for the article to be reposted, so here it is, back by popular demand!  Not only is Twitter a fairly recent phenomenon in itself, but it’s new to many of us.  One of our fans, Lorrin, has been posting a guide elsewhere on this site explaining exactly how Twitter works.  Her guide is excellent, so Lorrin, please post your Twitter guide here as well.

My original Twitter article was prompted by Adam’s new Twitter address and curiosity as to where Adam stood with followers compared to the other Idols, so I’ll repeat that information with current numbers.  Adam’s new Twitter is “adamlambert.”  If you were following Adam’s original Twitter address of “therealGlambert” then you don’t need to do a single thing – you are automatically receiving Adam’s new Tweets.  This is a great time to be following Adam as well as all the Idols, since they have down time on the bus and are not only giving shout-outs to the cities on the tour, but responding to fans on occasion and also giving out news.  Those following the Idols during the past few days have heard that Adam didn’t sign autographs after the Sacramento concert because of a severe headache (hoping you’re feeling better Adam!), found out that No Boundaries has been removed from Kris Allen’s set, and heard that Michael Sarver hurt his foot pretty badly.

So who has the most followers?  Adam, who else!!!  As of this writing, he has 97,382 followers, followed by Danny with 80, 458, Kris with 52,974, Matt with 37, 698, Anoop with 37, 698, Allison with 22,923, Scott with 15,681, and Michael with 10,928.

If you’re curious as to how these numbers compare with the number of followers from my original article from a couple of weeks ago, here are those original numbers:

“Adam has only been on Twitter since early in June and already has, as of this writing, 72,988 followers.  That’s a pretty awesome following considering it’s been only a couple + weeks.  Adam hasn’t even had time to customize his page yet.  I hope he does eventually, but I know he’s multi-tasking like crazy right now, and I know I for one would rather have him working on his music.

I was curious if Adam, of all the top 10 finalists, had the most followers, so I did some checking.  I was rather surprised to find he does not.  Kris is new on Twitter and already has 39,594 followers, but it’s Danny who has the most people following him, with 73,063.  Matt has 32,791, Anoop has 32,692, Scott has 13,380, Allison has 10,348, and Michael has 9,212.” 

It’s easy to see that the number of people following Adam has exploded, and with good reason!  I think it’s a testament to Adam’s popularity, of course, but I also think it’s because of how Adam uses Twitter.  He’s given us rumor control, cool photos (like the awesome photo of his tour jacket), fan shout-outs, laughs (Adam calls lame and boring Tweets “Twats”), and of course news (the explanation of why he didn’t sign autographs in Sacramento.)

So if you haven’t already signed up on Twitter to follow Adam, do it!  And if you have any technical problems or questions, our tech wizards are here to help you.

~~Jeanette, Glamb #5

*** UPDATE: Adam nicely says he thinks that is some people just talking shit when asked if he was a diva and that’s just how it goes :

http://adam-lambert.org/insane-paparazzi-attacks/

It was sadly inevitable. With the success of an individual comes that army of low-lifes determined to bring him down. I don’t understand their motives, but their weapons are gossip, rumor, and lies. How do we spot these? Look for unsubstantiated claims, unknown sources, and outlets with an obvious bias.

Most of you have probably already seen the online articles regarding Adams supposed diva-like behavior. Courtney Hazlett of MSNBC quotes unknown sources that say Adam is a diva and rude to everyone, from fans to lighting folks. Media outlets all over the web have thrown gasoline on the story, and the trash fire is burning, folks. Thankfully there are voices of reason - responsible journalists and bloggers as well as Adam fans all over - who are coming to his defense. See http://mjsbigblog.com/is-adam-lambert-a-diva.htm for all the speculation regarding this story.

I wondered what we could do as a group on this site, and I thought that one thing we could do would be to start a thread of personal experiences with Adam – a permanent log detailing fan or professional interaction with Adam that shows him as the man we all believe him to be – humble, polite, always with a smile, and willing to go the extra mile for his fans. This could include any of you who saw Adam during his homecoming (ahem, guys – you know who you are), during press week, or during a show. Maybe you were at a taping, in the crowd, or got his autograph. The log of comments may start out short (how many of us have been lucky enough to see Adam in person?), but as the tour starts and more of us have the chance to see and/or meet him, I’m sure it will grow.

This is our ammunition against those who would spread lies about Adam. Anyone wanting to know how Adam really acts has only to come here and see the proof of personal experience. If you’ve had such an experience and are willing to share, please comment with the particulars and what you heard or saw from Adam that shows him to be the person WE believe in.

~~Jeanette

I think many of us would agree that Adam will redefine the current music scene – to what extent, we will have to wait and see.  I believe Adam is having a more immediate impact on how we, as individuals in a society, view our fellow man.  Adam’s “don’t be ashamed to be who you are” message is not just touching his fans superficially, but striking deep chords in many of us.  But is Adam redefining what is sexy in a man as well?

It’s expected that Adam will address his sexuality in the upcoming Rolling Stone issue.  I’m not going to talk in length about the gay issue here because firstly, the media has harped on this and hounded Adam relentlessly, and I’m sick of it. Secondly, if Adam wasn’t gay, he wouldn’t be the Adam we love.  Lastly, it’s nobody’s business but Adam’s.  The only thing I want to add is that it’s been the policy on adam-lambert.org since day one that we don’t discuss Adam’s sexuality.  Simply put, it doesn’t play into how we feel about Adam, except maybe to love him more for his fearlessness in living his own life. 

Now that the pink elephant has left the building, we can move on.  Okay, Adam is a good-looking guy.  He’s tall, has a body that wears clothes *extremely* well, and has striking features, not the least of which are the most beautiful blue-grey eyes this side of heaven.  With these characteristics alone, many would think him sexy.  But ‘sexy’ involves more than looks.  In Adam’s case it means makeup, eyeliner, nail polish, more makeup, enough jewelry to make Mr. T envious, and clothes that few of us would dare to wear.  These are hardly defining attributes for male sexiness in America, where the standard, according to TV, magazines, and everything else we as consumers get shoved in front of our face — seems to be cookie-cutter washboard abs.  And more washboard abs.

So why do we all find Adam so sexy?  Is it attraction to his good looks in spite of the eyeliner and jewelry or because of these things?  Is it because he’s a “Rock God,” as Kara dubbed him?  Is it traits other than his looks – like his smile and sense of humor?  Or is it just our undeniable reaction to those tight leather pants and striped spandex?

I think that as women, we react to all these things.  If this is true, are we ushering in a whole new perception of what we find sexy in a man?

Tell us what it is that you find sexy in Adam (keep it clean!), and do you think our attraction to Adam’s looks is a once-only phenomenon, for Adam only, or is just the beginning of a shift in our perception of what it is to be sexy?

~~Jeanette

“Smoke and mirrors – the truth’s out,” said Adam with a nod-and-a-wink smile at the end of his TVGuide interview, referring to something we all already knew – that his hair is naturally strawberry-blond, not black.

But the remark got me thinking about image vs reality.  As a fiction writer, it’s one of my favorite themes.  We all present an image to the world whether it’s a conscious decision or not.  The way we dress, the way we wear our hair and makeup, and our manner of speech all contribute to our image and what people think of us.  Sometimes a person’s image matches the reality of who they are.  Adam says of Kris, “what you see is what you get.”  Perhaps that’s what many voters responded to – a “reality” that was easy for them to see, palatable, and didn’t take too much thinking about.

Adam’s outward appearance has gone thru a true metamorphosis – the dyed hair, makeup, nail polish and flamboyant outfits present an image which some people apparently can’t process.  As a result, Adam has had numerous labels pinned to him, the mildest being “theatrical” and “over the top” and the nastiest being “evil” and “anti-Christian.”

But should outward appearance alone define someone?  I don’t think so.  Our attitude, actions, and words should define our “reality” much more than our physical image should.  If the Adam-haters would take the time to look beyond the black nail polish and really listen to his interviews, they’d hear a calm, good-humored, humble and respectful young man who credits everyone else before himself.  With those things he chooses to talk about or answer, he is open.  With topics he’d rather not discuss, he politely deflects with either a laugh or a question of his own (“really?”).  And yet some people criticize even this, calling Adam “coy” and even going so far as to suggest he wouldn’t make a good role model to kids.  When in the world did the desire to keep certain things private make someone devious and less than real?

We all deserve some privacy, even celebrities.  I sense that spirituality, religion, and symbolism are important to Adam.  He puts them on display in very subtle ways, but he doesn’t talk about them.  Nor do I think he should.  The private things we hold close to our hearts are a big part of what keep us grounded.

So while some may look at the “smoke and mirrors” and see a person who is false, devious, or a pretender, I see the smoke and mirrors as simply fantastic entertainment.  And behind the image I see and hear the actions and words of a man who is as real as they come.

So, people, what do you think it is that defines us?  And should we judge celebrities at all for who they are, or should we simply admire them for their talent and artistry?

~~Jeanette

Okay, I’m still in withdrawal – I admit it. I know people think a lot of us are insane, but that’s all right. I’m learning to embrace my feelings and accept them. Anyway, I find I am really, really missing Adam’s weekly performance. I miss hearing what he’s going to sing and how he’s going to interpret a song. I miss seeing how he’s going look and which way the hair will be worn. I miss the endless variety of pants, footwear, and ways in which leather can we worn and adorned. I miss the download of new songs and new photos for my worn-out ipod.

This is interview week, and I’m getting my Adam fix from the slew of talk show appearances, radio interviews, and video clips that are flooding the web. There are a few performances of Mad World, which are wonderful to hear again, and the TV interviews give me a chance to once again drink in Adam’s beautiful self and marvel at the style he brings to something as mundane as a talk show interview. (Loved the painted-on jeans and boots he wore to the Live with Regis and Kelly show!)

For the most part it’s Adam speaking and not singing. And you know what? I’m just as enthralled. All of Adam’s fans know he’s articulate, but I was trying to think what exactly it was that that was keeping me glued to his interviews. Was it curiosity in wanting to find out as much as possible about Adam? Was it the reassurance I sought that he was perfectly okay with not winning American Idol? Was it the speculation on his album, whetting my appetite for the future while I salivated shamelessly over those skinny jeans and rapier-toed boots? Yes, all of the above, I think.

But as he spoke, answering some potentially uncomfortable questions regarding his sexuality and his reaction to the disses of Clay Aiken and Bill O’Reilly, I found my admiration for Adam growing. He never hems, haws, or hesitates, but answers with confidence, humor, and a great positive attitude. He seems to know himself so well, and he is so NOT embarrassed by any topic that there is simply no such thing as a hard question. He laughs at controversy and he laughs at himself. He realizes that people hung the “cause” sign around his neck, and though he says he didn’t seek that in the beginning, he accepts the responsibility. He wants to be a role model to kids. (Don’t laugh!)

How about you? Why do you feel drawn to Adam’s interviews? Has anything he’s said surprised you? Is there a question you haven’t heard asked yet that you are dying to hear the answer to?

~~Jeanette

OK, so I know Season 8 really is over.  The votes have been counted, the winner announced, and the confetti swept up.  So why am I here on this site?  Why are you?  Well, I can only speak for myself.

Season 8 lives on for me because I was not just entertained, but invested.  Strangely enough, the definition of “invest” in my dictionary doesn’t describe how I feel, but I can think of no other better word.  “To commit money in order to gain interest” is what the dictionary says.  OK, I did spend money – I admit it, much more than in any previous season.  I downloaded itunes, bought a tour concert ticket, bought an AT&T phone so I could text vote (hey, they weren’t passing out free phones in my area) and purchased merchandise.  But those things were just a tiny part, and the least significant part of my “investment.”

No, the reason I am here is because a one-in-a-million contestant came along, caught my eyes and ears during his audition, and continued to awe me, amaze me, surprise me, and bring me to tears week after week.  There was the voice, of course – that otherworldly perfect voice that could go anywhere and do anything.  Investment #1 – awe at vocals so majestic mingled with dread that I will never again hear a voice like that.

Then there was “the look,” which I guess you either loved or hated.  Personally, I loved the hair, eyeliner, nail polish, and *ahem* tight pants.  But the important thing about Adam Lambert’s look is that he dared to be different.  Was he just “being himself” or was it just to be controversial?  I’m not sure.  I’ve heard Adam in interviews say both “this is me” and “I like to get people talking.”  Whatever, it took guts to take those risks, and even after the hate mail started pouring in after Ring of Fire (my personal favorite) he went back to that look again and again.  Investment #2 – admiration for Adam’s fearlessness in doing what he wanted to do regardless of the consequences.  Would I have the guts?  I don’t think so.  Most of us conform to fit into society and gain acceptance from our peers.

Then there was Adam’s humility and grace.  If he’d come off as arrogant to me, I wouldn’t have cared about him, regardless of his talent.  On stage, he commanded both it and the audience 100%.  But when the performance was over, he didn’t applaud himself, but stood quietly, only mouthing a silent “thank you” when the judges praised him.  I’ve watched lots of his interviews, and Adam has never said an unkind word, even though he, and he alone, was asked questions that are nobody’s business.  Investment #3 – Respect.

By the end of the season, I was totally invested.  I wasn’t just cheering for my favorite contestant, I was emotionally tied to a man who is rare, unique, and inspirational.  As much as you can love someone you’ve never met, that’s love.  And so the season is over, and the other guy won.

American Idol got what it wanted from me – a good chunk of my wallet.

But the rest of my investment?  That all goes to Adam.  I continue to be invested, and that means I’ll support Adam any way I can.

~~Jeanette