Carol
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 |  Subject: How Adam Lambert Changed "American Idol"  06.04.10 15:46 | |
| - Quote :
- Although American Idol may still seem to be going strong even after the semi-disastrous song choices made by several of the contestants―the show still frequently tops the
ratings, for all of its flaws―there still seems to be something missing, a sour note amidst the other sour notes being croaked out by some of the worst performers the series has seen. While some might see this as a result of the judges―and it is, to some extent at least―what is really part of the problem is the lack of celebrity. In that sense, we can see how last year's runner-up Adam Lambert changed the series.
There are those who like to mock Adam for being too theatrical, and there are also those who want to bash him for his unabashed and unashamed use of sexuality on stage. The fact remains, however, that no matter what your opinion on him was (or is), you couldn't (and can't) deny that he had a potent star power. What do I mean by star power? Simply put, the ability to dominate the camera, both on-stage and off, and a way of taking control of the conversation going on about him. Both during and after his Idol career, Adam had (and continues to have) a powerful star presence.
Sadly, this season of Idol has seen a marked lack of this same type of celebrity or star power. Even the most consistent of the performers, Crysal Bowersox and Casey James seem to be the two representatives from both genders, still don't have the same power of personality that was such a hallmark of Adam's Idol presence. For example, neither of them have been able to gain a standing ovation from Simon Cowell, something that Adam did and which stands as one of his most lasting accomplishments on the Idol stage.
It wasn't so much that Adam was physically beautiful (although he was attractive, he did not have quite the same clean, white-washed good looks of Kris Allen,) it was that he knew what to do to capture the stage. This year, we have several beautiful contestants of both genders, the above Casey James being one of them. For all of that, they don't quite know what to do when they're onstage, almost as if they're little deer paralyzed by the glaring power of the footlights.
Finally, there are the performances. While the above two contestants have given quite good performances (with a few notable gaffes, such as Casey's unfortunate rendition of a Gavin DeGraw song,) neither of them has managed to grasp the performance aspect of their songs. If they want to make a lasting impression on the Idol world, they are going to have to learn how to master the power of the stage.
Clearly Adam, merely through his abilities, has reshaped the way that people think about and look at American Idol. Although it still is clearly a singing competition (as Mr. Cowell constantly reminds both us and the contestants,) it has also increasingly become a performance competition, in which the young men and women must not only show that they can sing, but that they can take charge of the stage. They would do well to remember Adam Lambert's performances and to take a lesson. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2860382/how_adam_lambert_changed_american_idol.html?singlepage=true&cat=2 | |
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