It wasn’t your mother’s version of “Ring Of Fire,” that’s for sure. American Idol gay Adam Lambert performed a sitar-infused rendition of the song last night, which left Simon Cowell warning Lambert against ever stepping foot in Nashville. (Yea for thinly veiled gay bashing warnings!) But even if Lambert dial-in-and-text vote total add up to beat the competition, might he be headed for the Final Four either way? Scandal! (Possible spoilers ahead.)
Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, Alexis Grace, and Lambert are all said to be selected as Idol‘s Top 4. Producers, the rumor mill assures us, have already selected these four to close the show and compete for the title — and that’s according to an anonymous show staffer. Interestingly, it’s these same four that show up on TV Guide‘s prediction list.
Except even if these two guys and two girls have been pre-selected — and doesn’t that make the entire “America votes” thing pointless? — Idol‘s producers (that would be guys like Simon Fuller and Ken Warwick) have a final two in mind, and Lambert’s not on the list. Reports Gatecrasher:
“Adam Lambert and Lil Rounds are better singers and musicians than Gokey and Grace, but they’re too much like past winners and ‘A’ successes,” the woman said. “Adam’s too close in style and sound to Chris Daughtry, while Lil Rounds is a dead ringer for Fantasia. Even their background stories are similar!
“The producers really want it to be Danny or Alexis. They think they’re very commercially viable, have a good image and a great story.”
Gokey’s sorrowful story of the death of his wife, Sophia, during heart surgery a month before his audition is “a huge reason viewers are tuning in,” said the staffer. “Fox likes the attention that he’s getting, and they’ve taken to giving Danny much more airtime as a result.”
While Fox’s reps had no comment on the allegations, another TV insider told us, “It’d be very hard to manipulate the entire final four. Sure, the judges get one vote to save someone, but that’s before the top five, so theoretically, it’s just delaying the inevitable.
“There’d have to be so many people lying for them to pull something like this off — so I doubt it’s true.”
This isn’t the first time Idol stands accused of rigging the show. Ryan Seacrest‘s former wingman Brian Dunkleman, who co-hosted the first season of the show, says last year Sanjaya’s ability to stay on the show wasn’t because America voted that way, but because producers kept him on.
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UPDATE: Rumors false? Alexis was sent home on tonight’s show, spoiling the chatty Idol staffer who insisted she’d be in the Top 4.
kevin (not that one)
No one’s gayer than Clay Aiken, not even Adam. In fact, Adam fits my vision of what a gay rocker should aspire to – I have no use for another gay lounge lizard. I thought his version of Ring of Fire was the best thing I’ve ever heard on this show and that Simon’s rock vocabulary is stuck in the 20th Century.
You know what it was like? It was like an old fuddy duddy ripping on the young whipper snapper with long hair and funny music sounds.
We see this with every generation.
Jon B
I have been a fan of Adam’s for several years now, and I’m pretty obsessed with him. I’ll admit that I thought the first verse was a little weird, but once he got into the first chorus, it was one of the coolest things I’ve heard in a long time. I felt like I was watching a movie montage of a drugged out sex scene in a hookah bar in a 70’s period pic. It was very un-idol, but I think that’s what Idol needs.
Also, I can’t stand the obsession with Danny Gokey. He’s so boring. I can’t believe the producers think that he is commercially viable. He has a great voice, but that can’t make up for being so whitebread. And those glasses!
Alexa
That insider sounds bogus to me. Not that I think Idol is fair, I know they manipulate things, even if they don’t outright cheat, but some of the things the insider says are odd. Like saying Adam is too much like Chris Daughtry (maybe they use the same brand of eyeliner? otherwise, I don’t see it) while ignoring the very real similarities between Danny Gokey and Taylor Hicks. Dial Idol predicts Alexis could be going home tonight (she’s last in their predictions, but Allison and Meghan are close to her). I guess if she does we’ll have the answer as to the insider’s credibility.
@kevin (not that one): I loved Adam’s performance last night, and Simon’s criticism was ridiculous. I can see not liking it, I know several people who hated it, even some who liked his other performances, but his comments were just stupid.
Jamie
I don’t trust that insider at all. There’s a very good chance that Alexis could go home tonight, and she hasn’t been praised much at all the past couple weeks.
I thought that Adam was pretty amazing last night. I certainly don’t think it was “rubbish” like Simon said.
Hint
Could just be someone who has seen the real numbers of the voting totals and is making an educated guess. Plus the judges save helps in this dept.
Even if people are manipulating it, I doubt more than 2 or 3 people know about it, ot some random lackey.
vernonvanderbilt
Simon’s critiques are spot-on at least 90% of the time. Last night, he was more wrong than he has ever been. Of course, this is the guy who probably still thinks Il Divo was a good idea. I love you, Simon, but bland is bland, and bland ain’t Adam.
I’ve been a Cash fan my entire life, having grown up listening to his music. I’m also an unabashed Adam Lambert fan. That being said, I think his performance of “Ring of Fire” was one of the most fascinating, creative, and unexpected things we’ve ever seen on Idol. Will Nashville embrace it? Of course not. They didn’t exactly embrace Johnny for most of his career either.
Obviously, it’s a love it of hate it performance, and I suspect there will be plenty of people in the latter camp. Will it be enough to hurt his chances in the competition? I’d like to think not, and I suspect he will be back next week in spite of the haters.
As far as the allegations of “fixing” being done…truth be told, I don’t doubt it in the slightest. Does that diminish my enjoyment of the show? Not really, because the contestants I want to win rarely do anyway. And actually, considering how crappy most Idols’ first albums are, I now hope that my favourites don’t win most years. You’re more likely to put out a decent, listenable album if you’re a runner-up. Considering the winners aren’t the only ones locked up by 19 Entertainment now, though, I’d say we can expect that to change. Shame, really.
Whatever happens, Adam has definitely benefited by being on this program and increasing his visibility. I believe he will have a long, glorious, and oh-so-dramatic career when it’s all said and done. Kudos to him for not giving in to expectations and continuing to do things his way.
And while we’re talking about who’s going home tonight, I have two words for you: Michael Sarver.
vernonvanderbilt
Correction: “love it or hate it”
Sam
“No. 1 · kevin (not that one)
No one’s gayer than Clay Aiken, not even Adam.”
That’s just stupid. Nobody mistakes Adam for straight, not even his blue haired fans. Clay is not flamboyant or queeny, not that there’s anything wrong with it, but he was just a regular guy, neither gay or straight, which is why so many of his fans didn’t think he was gay till he came out.
The person going home tonight is Scott McIntyre because #1 he isn’t that good and #2 because they are too cheap to give him the support he needs as a blind man to be on the tour.
geoff
Sorry, but I think Simon was absolutely right in his critique. Having said that, Adam isn’t going anywhere. I miss last season where there were several singers worth rooting for. The only one I really like is Allison and unfortunately I don’t think she has that great of a chance of winning.
AladinSane
Sorry, Lambert nailed it. The man is the best thing ever to appear on AI.
Swellster
The title of this post implies that he “butchered” the song. He didn;t butcher it. He reinterpreted it. His vocals were spot on. People are free to disagree about the stylistic choice he made in the reinterpretation (I happen to think it was brilliant — at least as brilliant as the David Cook ripoff of Chris Cornell, or Blake Lewis’ pop remix of Bon Jovi), but it wasn’t butchered by any stretch.
I usually agree with Simon’s critiques but he was dead wrong on this one. Adam Lambert’s performance last night was in the same vein as Michael Hutchence and Trent Reznor.
SG
Adam is just Mika with an expensive haircut. He has no lower range to his voice what so ever.
kevin (not that one)
@vernonvanderbilt: “They didn’t exactly embrace Johnny for most of his career either.”
Good point!!!
In fact, Nashville didn’t embrace Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Merle Haggard either. Nashville certainly hasn’t been good to the Dixie Chicks.
When you see the dreck that calls itself “country music” these days, it’s fairly clear that Nashville is fairly irrelevant, at least as far representing the authentic spirit of country western music.
RS
I think this rumor got started because those four are all considered front-runners by most oddsmakers. By throwing out that speculation as “rigged” early on, they can claim it genuinely was rigged if the odds pan out.
And Dunkleman doesn’t know jack shit. He was only on season 1. How would he be privvy to inside secrets from subsequent seasons. He’s just trying to keep his name in the news.
BTW, I was initially apprehensive about Adam’s interpretation of the song but warmed up to it about halfway through.
sal
he rockedddddddd!total star appeal that guy
frances
Comedian Jim David admits his Adam obsession –
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-david/my-adam-lambert-obsession_b_174918.html
hardmannyc
Jesus, people still watch this shit? Oh, I get it, y’all are up on the IRONY of it.
JonDorian
In partial concurrence with Simon, I did find it VERY self indulgent. It was pretty much as close to vocal masturbation as you can get.
Having said that I’m not going to say I didn’t enjoy it; I thought it was brilliant.
Another artist that I very much admire, M.I.A., said “You’re an artist first, the medium is second.”
I very much believe that a true artist subscribes to that. He took what he had and made it his own. He was an artist up there and stayed true to his genre, his art.
I know if you’re not an artist that what I just said above would sound absolutely earth-mother-crazy but think about it, if you’re an auto-engineer and someone comes up to you and says “make me a skyscraper”, you’re going to be able to do it, but you’re not going to be as good at someone who specializes in it. Why should artists do the same? Because it’s “easy”?
If you’re really true to your work, no matter what your field, you take what you’re given and you make it your own. That’s the indictor of talent in any field. Adam didn’t butcher the song, he interpreted it in his glossy, dramatic image and it was an overindulgent extravaganza.
Brian
@RS — I couldn’t agree more about this “rumor.” I think it’s widely assumed by many that Adam, Danny and Lil will be the final three. So someone just threw in a random “fourth,” who happened to be Alexis. That’s a plausible scenario; I think of the remaining contestants, probably only Alexis, Kris and Matt have a shot at making it to that fourth slot.
The thing that sucks is that you know the judges are aware of the rumors. So what if at some point there is a “shocking” elimination of, say, Adam, and the judges really want to use their veto power to keep him. Will they do it, or will they not want to stir up controversy by taking an action that feeds into these type of ridiculous conspiracy theories? It seems like this “harmless” rumor could end up screwing one of these kids, and that’s not cool.
Paul
@Jon B: The fact that you even admit you’re obsessed with this overrated tranny is even scarier than that fool herself……
Keith
I’ve decided after last night I no longer will post any more comments on this blog about Adam. It’s just not worth it.
To those who love him, he can do no wrong
To those who don’t, he’ll never impress
To those on the fence, they will stay on the fence.
I tried so hard to like him, really I did, but alas to no avail. He’ll probably win but I won’t be buying his CD.
Adieu
KillerBeeze
So yeah..it was a little odd, and I got the giggles (and not in a good way) but what do you expect from him?? I can live with his performance, but I don’t think I could if he came out wearing a cowboy hat and pretended to be something he isn’t. Now I want to see what he’ll do next.
Bill in PDX
Thought Adam was great. Gokey was hokey– truly WTF– Jesus take the wheel?!!!
There were only three good performances and it was not Gokey..
I think Adam is edgy and will keep his following go Adam– real and proud and gifted.
loved Randy Travis reacting that was fun … closet story there, though…..
Hint
This runor was proven bunk a couple of minutes ago. Alexis was voted off.
vernonvanderbilt
Well, that’s a shame. Sarver should have been sent packing long before Alexis got the boot. He simply does not deserve to go on the tour. So lame.
rogue dandelion
i’ve heard people do a lot worse to songs on this show.
and i never really like ring of fire that much anyhow.
Doug
Adam owned ring of fire and made it GAY! way to go Adam…
Szabolcs73
I was on the fence about Adam leaning to disliking until this song. He won me over.
Chris
Adam’s version of Ring of Fire was beyond atrocious. Everything about him screams act and affected. I’m going with Megan, who, while certainly quirky, feels original and natural. I’m over fakes for the sake of fake.
dellisonly
Simon warned Adam because Cash fiends like me would string him up for making a mockery of a classic song. It had nothing to do with his ability to suck cock. You don’t mess with the color scheme of a Van Gough. You don’t remodel a Frank Lloyd Wright. You don’t re-step Martha Graham. And you don’t re-work Johnny Cash. Adam Is a hack. Plain and simple. If he wins the show would have officially jumped the shark.
Andrew W
@ dellisionly
“You don’t mess with the color scheme of a Van Gough. You don’t remodel a Frank Lloyd Wright. You don’t re-step Martha Graham.”
Scribbling over a Van Gogh or gutting a Frank Lloyd Wright would destroy the original works. Doing a cover of a Cash song (and it’s one of Cash’s most hokey, least weighty songs) does nothing to change or invalidate the original. People do create new art based on Van Gogh. People do take inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright by changing it around. People can and will re-step Martha Graham. Art dies if you refuse to build on the past.
Not that a rendition of Ring of Fire on American Idol is anyone’s idea of high art, of course, but if you’re going to protect the right of artists to take inspiration from the past, you have to allow that all the way down the line to reality show contestants.
Brian
@dellisonly: But it’s okay to mess with the spelling of van Gogh? 🙂
vernonvanderbilt
@dellisonly: Adam would qualify as a hack if he’s attempted a slavish retread of the song. Instead, he got creative (the antithesis of “hack”) and did it in a style more fitting for him. I’m a huge Johnny Cash fan (nearly 12 hours of mp3’s on my hard drive, and I don’t even know how many CD’s I own) and I absolutely loved Adam’s take on “Ring of Fire.” Why? Because it took the song in a direction it had never occurred to me it could go.
And that’s the mark of a great artist, isn’t it? If a musician can write a song that is able to convincingly work in a variety of genres and styles, that is a tribute to the artist’s versatility. Look at how many people have reinterpreted Bob Dylan. I’ve heard Dylan’s songs done in virtually every style under the sun, and while they’re not all brilliant, they are all evidence that Dylan is one of the great songwriters of the modern era. The same goes for Johnny, and I’m thrilled that the new generation is getting around to discovering that.
And since we’re talking about remakes that are drastically different from the originals…what about Johnny himself? Have you listened to any of his American albums, produced by Rick Rubin? He took “Hurt” by Nin Inch Nails and completely flipped it on end, turning it into a painfully beautiful paean to nostalgia and regret. Is he a hack for doing that? How about his remake of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage?” Or “Thirteen” by Danzig? “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode?
In music, change is generally a good thing. If music fans fear reinterpretation, then they’re not really music fans at all.
vernonvanderbilt
@dellisonly: Adam would qualify as a hack if he’s attempted a slavish retread of the song. Instead, he got creative (the antithesis of “hack”) and did it in a style more fitting for him. I’m a huge Johnny Cash fan (nearly 12 hours of mp3’s on my hard drive, and I don’t even know how many CD’s I own) and I absolutely loved Adam’s take on “Ring of Fire.” Why? Because it took the song in a direction it had never occurred to me it could go.
And that’s the mark of a great artist, isn’t it? If a musician can write a song that is able to convincingly work in a variety of genres and styles, that is a tribute to the artist’s versatility. Look at how many people have reinterpreted Bob Dylan. I’ve heard Dylan’s songs done in virtually every style under the sun, and while they’re not all brilliant, they are all evidence that Dylan is one of the great songwriters of the modern era. The same goes for Johnny, and I’m thrilled that the new generation is getting around to discovering that.
And since we’re talking about remakes that are drastically different from the originals…what about Johnny himself? Have you listened to any of his American albums, produced by Rick Rubin? He took “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails and completely flipped it on end, turning it into a painfully beautiful paean to nostalgia and regret. Is he a hack for doing that? How about his remake of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage?” Or “Thirteen” by Danzig? “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode?
In music, change is generally a good thing. If music fans fear reinterpretation, then they’re not really music fans at all.
vernonvanderbilt
Apologies for the double post. Didn’t realize I had clicked the submit button before I made my correction.
Alan down in Florida
I thought it was Adam’s best performance so far but it also made it abundantly clear (finally) just who he wants to be. So abundantly clear that even that ditz Paula got it. Adam’s 3 performances show that he wants to be Robert Plant. Whether America will buy that remains to be seen. Especially on the heels of David Cook’s win last time.
What I see happening more and more in the judges remarks is that they have already pigeonholed each of these people musically and don’t like them stepping out from that pigeonhole. Forget being “relevant,” the judges are looking for the next same thing. Alexis’ downfall was choosing a song that required vulnerability and desperation when the judges (and America?) had already pigeonholed her as “the naughty girl”. If they didn’t buy Lil Rounds singing country, there shouldn’t be a Country Week. God forbid this woman sing anything that Mary J. Blige wouldn’t sing, and then get called on being to soundalike when she sings something Mary J. would.
This is a great bunch of singers in the hands of a pitiful bunch of judges.
edo
SIMON IS A MORON…
He considers himself a judge of talent?
I guess he would have told Edison the light bulb was a stupid idea or Einstein that he willnever make it…
SIMON is living in the stone ages … is this show about talent or hiring someone to represent WALT DISNEY?
ADAM is original his vcal are flawless pitch wise and if u disagree download it before u comment and just listen to the vocals without watching it….
Ill tellyou what iwant to buy a ticket to a concert to watch someone entertaine me and give me great vocals…. you think im gonnabuy a ticket to go see Gorkey? ..man are they off base pushing him…
ADAM will draw because of curiousity talent and showmanship…drop him out of the show and your left with the BORING BUNCH
Drew
@SG:
Please take a moment and listen to “Quiet Desperation” by Adam Lambert on youtube. I think you might be surprised. Thank you.
Others that you might enjoy are “I just love you,” Brigadoon, and “The Prayer.”
For those who enjoyed ROF, check out “Crawl thru the Fire.”
He is truly multifaceted.
Kenster999
Semi-related comments:
vernonvanderbilt: I agree with your comments completely. I also found it interesting that no one mentioned that “Make Me Feel Your Love” (sung by Kris) is actually a Bob Dylan song. I hated Bob’s original at first because the voice was weaker than even I was able to take (and that’s saying something!) and the whole recording just sounded like a cheap demo version. But after giving it a few more tries (ya gotta stick in there sometimes!) the genius of it comes through. Amazing that he can still put out such brilliantly simple and beautiful songs.
Favorite version of Ring of Fire: Social Distortion.
vernonvanderbilt
@Kenster999: It’s amazing how many people say they aren’t Dylan fans because of his voice, yet will unknowingly listen to his songs being performed by others. I’m not going to say Dylan’s an all-time favourite of mine or anything, but I do like a lot of his work, and I recognize genius when I hear it.
And getting back to Adam for a moment…how many people were bitching when he balladized Cher’s “Believe” during Hollywood week? I’d figure at least a few Cher-worshippers would be floating around here. Every song Adam has decided to put his own spin on so far has been delightful. If he can take a piece of shit like “Believe” and turn it into something I can enjoy listening to, I’m willing to bet the boy can do almost anything.
GENE
Youtube Statistics for Adam’s “Ring of Fire”
#3 – Most Discussed (This Week) – United Kingdom
#4 – Top Favorited (This Week) – United Kingdom
#10 – Top Rated (This Week) – United Kingdom
He’ll be a superstar in the UK. His popularity there is already significant across the message boards.
fredo777
@SG: no lower range?
what a load of rubbish.
Kenster999
@vernonvanderbilt: “It’s amazing how many people say they aren’t Dylan fans because of his voice, yet will unknowingly listen to his songs being performed by others.”
Not to turn this into a Dylan thread, but that reminds me of a favorite moment from years ago. This girl I was in love with (!) was looking through my CDs, and laughed dismissively when she ran across some Dylan. About 30 seconds later she pulled out U2’s “Rattle and Hum” and said excitedly, “Ooh, you know what song I love on this? ‘All along the watchtower’.”
Heh.