So, I just came back from the American Idol Concert in Dallas, TX. The night started with a girl stopping me and telling me that I look like Danny Gokey. It was funny that before the show started every time Adam was shown on the screens people would go nuts screaming. It was just a little taste of what was to come, people went crazy during his set. Just a quick review of the night…
Michael Sarver: He did a good job starting the night, his vocals were good, not amazing.
Megan Joy: Wow, she is beautiful and I absolutely love her voice and quirkiness.
Scott McIntyre: I was impressed with him, I was not a fan during the show but his voice sounded very good.
Lil Rounds: She looked very comfortable on stage and her voice sounded good, messed up a bit on Single Ladies but good overall.
Anoop Desai: He sounded good, got be a bit bored but sounded good. (Maybe I was just expecting my favorites)
Matt Giraud: He was amazing, for sure one of the highlights of the night. Hopefully he will have a career because he was awesome.
Allison Iraheta: She’s definitely a rockstar, her voice is very unique and she did a graet performance.
Danny Gokey: Singing right before Adam, didn’t help Danny, his set was one of the roughest for me, but people seem to like it.
Adam Lambert: Adam went all out, crazy dancing, innuendos and amazing vocals. Had everyone on their feet and screaming, he is an amazing performer, I guess we pretty much know that. The best of the night, of course.
Kris Allen: Kris was great, after seeing him today I am very glad that he won the competition, he is humble, has a really good voice and really likable.
Let me make something clear. I say that I’m glad that Kris won, not because I’m his fan but because he needed it more. Adam did not need to win. Adam knew this, you should know this too if you are an Adam fan. Adam always said he wanted to go all the way through and perform all the nights and he did. So my dear Glamberts, if you get a chance to see Adam live you totally should, the guy is awesome. Wow. Enjoy the pics and videos!
More Videos coming soon!
Loved your recap especially the Matt part. Just wondering did you take any video of Matt? Thanks!
love the article and video and picts. the videos are so CLEAR!!!
Thanks!!!
I do not like your review. You give Adam credit for being an amazing performer and then you say Kris is a “nice” guy and you are glad he won. First, from all reports Adam is a very nice person, second this was a singing contest and Adam out sang everyone. The fans all favor Adam. Kris cooked the votes in Arkansas and does not deserve first, second or third place.
It is the Adam Lambert show. I will be happy when Adam is not with Idol anymore. He steals the show at every performance and people like you are glad Kris won. A future thought, who do you think will fill a concert when the Idol tour is over? My money is on Adam.
What the hell does being a nice guy have to do with winning American Idol? Kris is humble? I guess so, he’s humble because he knows he shouldn’t have won AI over Adam. Kris is a nice, sweet guy with OK vocals but once again, people don’t get the idea behind American Idol, it’s about SINGING and no one sings better than Adam Lambert!
Yeah, this review makes no sense. You say Adam had amazing vocals and was an amazing performer, and Kris has a really good voice, he is humble, etc. So you are admitting Adam has more talent than Kris, but you still think Kris should have won because he is a nice guy? Adam is also an extremely humble, caring, loving, and nice person. All the idols seem to love him (more of them claim he is one of their best friends than any other idol).
Easy there my dear Glamberts! The reason why I say that I am glad Kris won is because he needs it more, Adam absolutely knows this. Adam didn’t want to win, he has said many, many times that his purpose was to go all the way to the end to do all the performances. I guess you didn’t realize by the title of the post that I am an Adam Fan. He is awesome, awesome, awesome and was my favorite this season. I am glad I got to see him live and share his videos and photos. You are welcome.
I am 86 years old and will go see Adam in Tampa. All of my friends love only Adam. We have been around and seen the greats like Elvis, Frank and the Beatles. Adam will be on the list of the greats. My friends and I like all of the sexy moves as well. We are going with black nail polish and glitter. That other boy who won just does not have it. No sex appeal, no voice, nothing.
I liked your review. I’m a huge Adam fan but I’m satisfied with the outcome of AI. Kris’ and Adam’s talents are completely different and cannot be compared to each other. In my mind, Adam wins in his category as a great performer/singer/showman and Kris wins as a great instrumentalist.
I can’t help to wonder how AI would have wound if there had been no Adam this year…..
Thank you!
You are wrong when you say that Adam did not want to win. He sang his heart out to win. Simon even pointed that out and Adam agreed. His mother toward the end went to the show on Wednesday night in case he was eliminated, she wanted to be there for him. If you look at the shots of Allison and Adam watching Kris sing “No Boundaries” you can see him trying to stay composed. He was such a gracious loser and a real winner in life in the way that he moved forward, but do not say that Adam did not want to win. What Arkansas did was ruthless. I do not blame Kris, but I just do not find him to be a deserving winner or my taste as an entertainer.
Ok. Good. Thanks for your comment!
ebonyandivory, are you a musician? Both my husband and I play the piano (my husband sounds professional) and Kris is not a great instrumentalist. He is just average on guitar, and a beginner on the piano. Now Scott Macintyre, he is a great pianist.
Adam is amazing vocally, and he moves pretty well too-what an understatement. I’m very happy he didn’t use any profanity in addressing the audience as he has in an earlier concert—as in my opinion that cheapens everyone. Also, any old act can stoop to that. Keep it classy Adam-don’t want to see you just join the “Rank and File” that is out there. The moves are fine…I mean…FINE!
I think you were right on with your review! I went to the LA show and although I do love Kris, many started leaving when he came on to sing
Adam just has some type of magnetism that give people wanting more. Can’t wait to see him again in Bahstin’!
Congrats to ALL the idols, they’ve made it this far because of pure talent!
Thank you for the videos! Keep them coming.
Love Adam sooooooo much!!!
Hi there, thanks for sharing the videos and your recap. The only thing I want to add is that Adam DID want to win. Sure he’s happy with the outcome and is gracious about Kris winning, but in one of his weekly chats (can’t think of the name of it) during the show, he stated that he thinks he could actually win this thing. I think initially he didn’t think he would go as far, but once he got into it, I think he was in it to win it. You can tell by his facial expressions and his eyes especially. I agree, Kris did need the win, because I don’t think he would have much of a career without it.
Of course we all know Adam will go on to be Iconic but that isn’t the point of our comments to you Rand. Adam SHOULD HAVE WON, HE WANTED TO WIN, WE WANTED HIM TO WIN but something went horribly wrong. About Kris being a nice guy, I thought nice guys finish last… that’s what happened to Adam. Nice, beautiful and wonderfully talented with a God Given voice… that’s Adam Lambert.
Rand, I think you hit it on the nail. As a huge Adam fan, I think the end results were correct. The title of “American Idol” has nothing to do with what will happen in their future, as so many other “not #1′s” have proven. The voting done on AI has more emotion than just who is the most talented, which is always subjective anyway. Adam just needed the stage to expose his talent, which I am so glad he finally decided to do! Kris will do well too but I don’t expect him to be the “superstar” that Adam will become.
I can’t resist posting this but since when did American Idol become a charity contest? The one who wins should be the one who needs it the most because otherwise they’ll go no where without it? So the one with the most talent doesn’t get the million dollar contract because he has the most talent? Am I living in an alternate universe? Sorry but your logic alluded me and I couldn’t resist. The next time I need to hire someone for my company I’ll look for the least qualified because they deserve it the most because otherwise they’ll have a hard time finding a job. I don’t care if the destroy my Company just so long as they are a nice guy and have a sweet smile. Ahhhh makes perfect sense (after a few shots of tequilla).
Thanks – good review. I liked your conclusion – I agree, and I think both Adam and Kris fell into a win-win situation by Kris winning. Plus Adam and Kris are so good together that it’s a joy to watch the two of them – two very nice men.
I’m a huge Adam fan, and I think he will be a superstar, like Elvis. The first record I ever picked out and bought myself (OK, my mom paid) was an Elvis record. I was four years old and remember it vividly. I played it to death. I loved Elvis at four. People love Adam the way people loved Elvis – he has the It factor, not to mention all that talent, beauty, and intelligence.
to me adam lambert is the real winer- and has a great voice what a voice. kris ok but hes just an ordinary singer guy.adam is my elvis preley this time.
I was nodding along — until I came to your comments about Adam not wanting to win (totally untrue) and why it was better that Kris won. Then you lost me.
Yes, Adam will obviously be hugely successful, probably a superstar — even without winning American Idol. That much is true. Kris is a nice guy whose career got a huge and needed boost by winning AI. That much is also true.
However.
By your logic — IF Kris needed the win to be successful and therefore it was best for him to have it, THEN Norman Gentle or Bikini Girl or Sarver or Jorge should have won over everyone else because obviously they all needed it more than Adam or Kris to have a career. I did not realize that the show was some sort of telethon for the needy. Did not get that memo.
BOTH Adam and Kris are nice, lovely, well-brought-up guys.
I am over my butthurt about Adam not winning this show. But to justify his loss based upon Kris’ need and nice guy qualities is illogical.
Not winning will prove to be best for Adam, a performer like Adam will work better not being constrained by the management of a show like this. By coming in second I believe he will be much more famous, oh well, he already is. If you get the chance to see him live do it. It will blow you away.
Not to rehash all this but I saw several posts that Arkansas tallied up some 35 million votes, in a state with the population of 2 million people. Doesn’t take a mathematics whiz to figure that one out. I think the contest was stolen from Adam but it’s water under the bridge. He can hear. . .he knows his singing is in a different league than Kris’ but he’s been nothing but classy about it. And, as everyone here as well as Simon has said, he will be the next international superstar. Sinatra. . .Elvis. . .The Beatles. . .Michael Jackson. . .Adam Lambert. Not only are all these stars wildly talented they are all transitional artists who led music in new directions. That’s what Adam will mean to music. Ya just can’t put Kris’ name on that list. True he is nice but the music industry is a business. If he doesn’t cut it, his niceness will be irrelevant to the record execs and producers not to mention the public. I think the people that rigged it for Kris did him a disservice. His body language speaks volumes–he is not comfortable–he knows Adam should have won and that he won under the most dubious of circumstances. Kris surely assesses the greetings he gets from the audience as well as the critics to those of Adam. There is no comparison. Reportedly, some concert-goers are leaving after Adam’s set. In several recent interviews, Kris seemed to be almost defending his win by saying that people saw him as multi-talented–a singer/songwriter/musician–thus elevating him to a different level than Adam who is just a singer!! I added that last part after the dashes but that seemed to be what he was alluding to. But again, music is a business. Several music reviewers have pointed out that his guitar skills are passable but that he should not be playing the piano on the tour–his skills aren’t at that level. Anyway, Adam will be fine, more than fine, but I think Kris is suffering right now from a growing feeling of illegitimacy, of course, not of his doing but rather done to him. I think American Idol will suffer from the debacle–it now has a glaring credibility issue. So the “cheaters” did nothing but harm the one they wanted to help and damage the show that America has enjoyed for years. All just my opinion! Thanks for giving us the platform to vent our thoughts and feelings.
Thank you lindajean139 and kathyk -you saved me having to say the same thing! You are both right!!
Love all the action going on here!
When Kris tries to justify his win he makes me sick. He once said his appeal was more appealing then Adam’s. Isn’t that delusional? His beginner piano and forgettable guitar do not escalate him beyond ordinary. His timing and phrasing are off when he sings. He had to ditch “No Boundaries”because he could not sing it and has to bring Adam on sage at the end of his set to get applause. He did not deserve to be in the top five, let alone win against the most talented and exciting singer ever to set foot on Idol. Everyone I know wanted Adam to win, Adam wanted to win, the anger will continue as the tour continues to prove that Adam was the choice of America. Kris is a sick Arkansas joke.
In reference to some of the comments here, this is the Google Trends website comparing Adam and Kris and I just find it very interesting. I am not trying to start something here but the Idol results just bug me especially after the response Adam is getting at all the venues. As far as AI is concerned I will probably not watch it again, there will never be another Adam on that show and they were so lucky to have him this year. Anyone care to speculate what this season or this tour would have been like with no Adam? Snorefest! Here is the link, take a look at Arkansas.
http://www.google.com/trends?q=adam+lambert%2C+kris+allen&ctab=0&geo=us&geor=all&date=mtd&sort=0
It amazes me how bitter the Adam Lambert fans still are. :\
I went to the concert in San Jose and it was absolutely incredible. I’d read several times, and heard Adam say himself that Idol performances do lose a little bit in the transition from live to TV. But I thought how much better could they be? Well, WOW. Seriously, the TV does not do that boy justice. His voice in full Whole Lotta Love rocker wail reverberates right through you, his soaring high notes in Starlight made my jaw drop, the aching emotion infused into his voice during Mad World is a revelation. And don’t even get me started on the full out party that is Slow Ride, and the seeexxxxaaaay of the Bowie Medley!
So, uh, I guess I’m an Adam fan. Along with many of you who are, whichever faction (Glambert, Lamb Skank, Adam Bomb, Globert, Glambrit, ONTD_AI Kradam fan) I was so sad watching Adam’s brave face during the finale, and I loved Allison so much in that moment she manhandled Adam into a hug and helped him cheer on Kris while he belted out the much-maligned NoBo for the first time as the winner. I wasn’t exactly in mourning or anything, I do have an actual life, but still. And in retrospect, a big part of it was that I was cheated out of MY moment, envisioned for weeks, of ADAM singing under the swirling confetti. Hmmm, perhaps that was a bit selfish of me.
Anyway, after seeing the concert in person and enjoying the enormous variety of tweaks Adam makes to his vocals and performance choices via the concert youtubes, I think I’m finally at peace with the result of the contest. And for me it’s not so much that Kris needed it, but that in the end Adam actually didn’t need it, and actually not having the “Idol” mantle does have a few silver linings. I am sure in that moment he WANTED it, hell he worked his ass off for it, in the face of unbelievable media heat, still taking risks every single week. But producers are beating down the door to work with him, you can the joy in his eyes when he talks about his album so it seems like it’s really coming together for him, and despite some occasional Ed Sullivan style lighting choices at the concert the Idol team seems to be giving Adam the absolute freedom to own that stage in a way that only he can. I truly believe he would be more constrained as the winner, and I will take the loss as a fair trade for a concert performance I never thought I’d see within 1000 MILES of AMERICAN IDOL.
Peace.
Yeah in a way I am glad that he came 2nd because of the liberties he now has. He lets loose on that stage.
Annie: Loved the charts! Not a big surprise!
Matt: Bitter? We’re thrilled. He’s positioned to be the next music superstar. Open your ears and listen to the Voice. You can barely hear Kris sing at the end. It was merely a travesty that we’re revisiting.
Wow that chart sure is interesting. Thanks for posting! Well looks like Kris will be getting some much needed love once the tour visits his hometown. Hawaii does not so interested in the winner but they sure seem interested in Adam Lambert!
Wish it also showed a country breakdown.
So here is my two cents worth. Firstly I agree with posters saying that Adam did want to win. I don’t think he was concerned either way but of course he wanted the win, he sure as hell deserved it.
As far as the voting scandal goes: Kris won the competition fair and square. It was a voting competition whereby the contestant who generated the most votes won. Kris’s state managed to generate him more votes. He won. I don’t believe it’s all that relevant once the competition is over anyway and the tour is proving that. (By that I mean Adam Lambert is proving that it doesn’t matter by being the true headliner on the tour.)
Us Adam fans are not bitter. It’s the principle of the matter. It was just plain WRONG that Adam didn’t win. The judges praised Kris for his phrasing, interpretation, and his ability to play instruments, but rarely for his SINGING ability. Take Kris’ instruments away from him and what have you got left? A mediocre voice.
Thank you for allowing us to voice our opinions.
Kris is definitely a humble and nice guy, but that to me is not sufficient to make him a talented or great singer. He is more a radio guy with OK, average but not amazing vocal, and little stage presence. People saying that Kris is a talented singer in his own way. I can’t see this point just because he can play instruments. Talent is somewhat a born gift and different from trained skills. I am not saying that Kris cannot sing but his singing is not outstanding and great enough to distinguish him from many other singers in the industry. If I have to pay more than an album’s price to see an artist perform live, that is Adam. I cannot imagine sitting through a whole concert just seeing Kris running to and from the guitar and the piano. Adam is a singer and a performer on stage. His vocal is amazing. He can hit the high notes and rock out a song but at the same time, sing a haunting ballad emotionally. I felt so disppointed that AI8 did not crown Adam. I am not bitter on the results but still feel that justice should be seen. I know Adam is doing well. The many positive reviews and great audience reactions to Adam’s performance in the tour further made you realise who should have won. I will take a trip across the ocean to see Adam perform live when he has his solo tour!
Awesome. I can wait for Adam to have his own tour. That will be awesome.
The Google Chart I posted earlier can be used to check international trends and can be manipulated by months, countries, years. On the top right of the site you can search however you want. Try it, it is very interesting especially if you go back my month. Here is the link again.
http://www.google.com/trends?q=adam+lambert%2C+kris+allen&ctab=0&geo=us&geor=all&date=mtd&sort=0
thank you Annie … that just made the chart even more interesting!
Wow. In a recent interview Kris said that they are going to release his album internationally. Me thinks this album has the potential to flop given that he is not really on the radar internationally (not on the charts in the UK and very little interest in Canada). Lambert on the other hand – well goes without saying! Winning a voting competition does not always equal success. But … time will tell!
Thanks – Annie – bookmarked the Google trends.
great review–love ADAM!!!!
Arkansas may have stolen the votes, but Adam Lambert has stolen our hearts.
ADAM GOT THE CONV 2010 MUSTANG, AND KRIS GOT A FUSION!!!
HOW FUNNY IS THAT!!! LOVE U ADAM!!!
Yeah, that was funny for me as well.
Ughhhhhhhhh. PLEASE know that not all Adam Lambert fans are over zealous, obnoxious ‘Glamberts’. BARF. They really f-n show Adam and his fans down. I get second hand embarrassed reading their smug comments. Putting someone on a pedestal and predicting they will be as big as Elvis and MJ is not only beyond hilarious, it’s the worst possible jinx.
Adam’s IMMENSE and my favorite but I am HAPPY Kris won. Really happy for him. He’s a total stand-up guy with a lot of talent and an amazing voice. Adam and Kris are each others’ biggest fans. Kris is always the first one to defend and support Adam and vice-versa. He’s a really funny, accepting guy.
“If you’re a fan of mine, you won’t knock my friend Kris down. You’ll look forward to the future with us because we both achieved what we came here for. We both have the chance to make an album and kickstart our career. Let’s move forward.”
Great comment. Thank you.
BITTERBERTS are my crack. LOOOOOL.
Adam is awesome. Kris is awesome. Allison is awesome. Went to the show w my sis. Kris has a sick voice, don’t get why people knock it.
Thanks for the report dude.
That’s true. He sounds very good. Them 3 and Matt Giraud were the best in my opinion.
I think people will be surprised with Kris Allen’s album. I think he will do VERY well. And his voice is absolutely lovely, gives me cills. I’m a Adam fan.
Thanks for the vids and recap. You had a good view/have an awesome camera.
Thanks for your comment. Yes I really hope he does well, Adam is my favorite but I hope Kris does good.
What American Idol did is seriously damage their credibility. Adam is by far the most talented performer ever on their stage. Kris is an ordinary singer, guitar player and I would not call what he does playing the piano. The claim of 38 million Arkansas votes has never been denied. The Idol rules have it at their discretion to allow power texting votes to count or not. There is a conflict of interest between a fair vote and profits for the corporate sponsor, AT&T. I believe that whoever made the call to allow Arkansas votes to count believed that Kris, with the bump in interest from the win, could pull off the underdog beating the favorite scenario. The arguments were that Adam is gay or Danny’s votes went to Kris, or Kris was more “main stream”. The problem is that whoever made the call underestimated Adam Lambert and his popularity. No one is going to convince a Lambert fan that we got it wrong and the kid from Arkansas is more talented or popular. Market research has shown that the vast majority of Americans do not care if Adam is gay, more of Danny’s fans actually like Adam and Kris is much more in a niche then Adam who can sing just about any genera of music. What Idol did not count on is the fact that Kris cannot deliver an even passable attempt at appearing like he won legitimately. It is not the two Davids, it is David and Goliath. What can Idol do to recover from this fiasco?
New video coming very soon! Lots of dancing!
I think that’s a good question, it can sure hurt their credibility. Or maybe not much will happen. Remember, a now Oscar and Grammy winner was eliminated in 7th place on season 3.
Adam made the statement, “I didn’t lose American Idol, I just got less votes”. You know you can read a lot into that statement. Adam *knows* something went amuck at vote counting time. What is going to be hard on Kris is when it all “comes out in the wash” as my grandmother used to say. I predict that Adam’s CD will dramatically out sell Kris’ CD. The people who “voted” Kris to the “crown” did nothing but hurt him in the long run! I think he will be shamed. Just my two cents!
I agree with Janet. Adam’s sales will out-distance those of Kris. Plus if the professional reviews of their performance on the tour are any indication, Adam will be better received by the music critics, too.
Yes I am pretty sure he will outsell not only Kris but most of the idol contestants in general. He is in another league.
Just added a post on this website with all of my photos of Adam.
http://www.randrambles.com/2009/07/the-adam-lambert-show-part-2/
I am not from the US, but I watched AI on TV in my country. To people like me, not rewarding the worthiest participant of the competition just took away from the credibility of AI. I found it frankly ridiculous that Adam did not win. But what to do. Someone elsewhere said that America celebrates mediocrity, which I think is true. It doesn’t matter now, I am happy things are going well for Adam and his future, but the injustice of it remains.
What do you think about sound in the American Airplane center? I was there like you. I’m still thinking about my impression of the concert, it left me confused. It felt rushed and struggling to please and deliver but lacking the pleasure. I’m not sure I liked it. Sound was horrible so maybe that was the reason of all my doubts.
Really? Maybe it is because I was far but from where I was it sounded very good. I guess there’s at least a benefit of sitting far.
No, I sat not to close. Balcony? not sure how they called in there. Connection… I didn’t feel it most of the time. I enjoyed the freedom with what Matt played piano, and how playful and flirty he was in general with public and I felt some connection somewhere in the middle of Allison’s “Cry baby”, when her voice suddenly swam to me through sharp noise and band distraction, and I felt her. But overall it was like a chasing elusive harmonies. Very tiresome. I went to another concert few weeks before in the same AA center. And they had the same problems with how vocals sounded. Guitars sound was great.
Well, did you feel the energy, connection with performers or songs or whatever people call this lovely feeling?
I kind of think maybe I should stop buying tickets to this venue at all.
Old news now, I realize, but I missed it before, somehow. So, you think it’s the best idea to vote for someone mediocre because he’s not going to do as well as someone who is an outstanding vocalist and who works their ass off during the competition in order to win? I think that’s like buying a car that’s loosing oil instead of the shiny new model because it needs a home more. How nice of you to decide for Lambert that he didn’t need the win. The pained look on his face just before the announcement that Allen won told it all: he was very disappointed and determined to make a good show. He realized that he might not win and struggled to keep face. THAT’S what his fans know.