2009-11-22 American Music Awards (Nokia, LA) - PERFORMANCE

#341

'photobug' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:21 AM'

Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—Or His?

Adam Lambert is fully embracing his new solo career—as well as his keyboard player, too.

The American Idol runner-up gave the final performance at the 2009 American Music Awards, and he delivered much of what earlier outings by Janet Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Lady Gaga and others had: Lots of back-up dancers, a stumble or two and just a bit of raunchiness.

OK, in Lambert's case, there was more than a bit of racy material as he mixed together a so-so song, some S&M imagery and a bit of simulated sex. Oh, and that juicy mid-song kiss, too.

For your entertainment, of course. Was it enough to make his performance the best of the evening?

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b154991_ad...entmdashor.html

#342

'HollyinCa' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:24 AM'

There's a poll for the best performance after that article. He's winning so far.

The 2009 AMAs Poll

Who gave the best performance of the show?
23.2% Lady Gaga
14.5% Carrie Underwood
11.8% Janet Jackson
17.8% Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
32.7% Adam Lambert

#343

'Bestbuy99' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:29 AM'

I bet he's gonna be completely stripped down and acoustic - focusing on show casing his vocals and soft side during GMA and other shows. This is the Adam we know and love!!!

The reason he can get away with being risky with his performance tonight is that he's already built a reputation for being vocally very strong. One performance is not going to take that away from him.

Welcome to the twisted but forever interesting world of marketing!

#344

'hollygo72' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:34 AM'

Hey, I'm back! Do I even want to read the boards tonight?

Anyhoo, red carpet and press room was pretty much a best. The majority of the big acts rushed right past us on the red carpet (ALL the Idols did! ) and hardly anyone came back stage to give interviews to the press. Honestly, I think like 5 or 6 acts came back and talked to us. Well at least they had tons of free food. :P

If it means anything, the press got QUITE the kick out of Adam's performance and his name was on many of their lips afterwards. After talking to some other press people, most of the artist didn't stop by for interview. They posed for photos and made beeline down the red carpet to get inside.

TONS of them showed up at the last minute and were rushing in. But it didn't matter though, the show started and they weren't letting ANYBODY into the theater in the middle of Janet's performance. I know that because as we walked to the press room we saw a TON of celebs (including Adam and Perez Hilton) standing outside the doors waiting for security to let them in.

Kinda disappointed in the whole press situation. At first they said Adam and Lady Gaga were coming and then all of sudden they weren't. Even Daughtry refused to stop. He zipped by waving. Talked to InStyle then practically ran back out. I wonder why no artists wanted to give interviews!?

Anyhoo, we DID run into 4 of Adam's dancers as we were leaving. I'm pretty sure one of them was the guy who had his face in Adam's crotch. But I felt uncomfortable asking. I mean, what do you say? "Soooo....what was Adam's crotch like?" :haha: The guy dancers were pretty cute but, I'm sorry, dem girls were looking ROOOUGH!! Woof! Woof!

I asked them about the fall. The confirmed that Adam did fall but they all felt he played it off very well. I asked if he got hurt and they said he was fine. I asked why Adam didn't meet the press. They said that he and 4 of the dancers had to catch the red eye flight to New York. Overall they seemed QUITE pleased with how the performance went and were eagerly awaiting all the "scandalous" press tomorrow.

Well, I guess that's it. If you have any question, I'll try to answer them.

#345

'sweetmm' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:35 AM'

More pics

http://img7.yfrog.com/gal.php?g=adam001kd.jpg

#346

'sweetmm' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:36 AM'

RollingStone

Adam Lambert Says Censorship of American Music Awards Song Would Be “Discrimination” http://bit.ly/7epe8u 3 minutes ago from twitterfeed Retweeted by you and 22 others

#347

'sweetmm' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:38 AM'

Adam Lambert Says Censorship of American Music Awards Song Would Be “Discrimination”

11/23/09, 1:29 am EST

In approximately 30 minutes the West Coast will get a look at the American Music Awards performance that has everyone talking: Adam Lambert’s racy rendition of For Your Entertainment’s title track. When Lambert finished his song — complete with simulated oral sex with a male backup dancer and a passionate kiss with a male keyboardist — earlier tonight, fans hit the Internet to debate whether the American Idol runner-up’s first major televised performance since the Idol finale pushed the envelope too far. Lambert tells Rolling Stone he didn’t do anything female performers haven’t done on television already — and that if ABC cuts any part of his performance for the rebroadcast it will amount to “discrimination.”

“It’s a shame because I think that there’s a double standard going on in the entertainment community right now,” Lambert tells RS backstage after the show at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre. “Female performers have been doing this for years — pushing the envelope about sexuality — and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out. We’re in 2009; it’s time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people’s eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I’m not for them. My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom.”

If ABC opts not to broadcast several of the more risqué moments of “For Your Entertainment” in a few moments, “In a roundabout way it’s a form of discrimination because it is a double standard,” Lambert says. “They didn’t censor Britney and Madonna macking onstage did they? But yet two men kissing they’ll censor?”

#348

'PillowLips' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:39 AM'

From Rolling Stone

“It’s a shame because I think that there’s a double standard going on in the entertainment community right now,” Lambert tells RS backstage after the show at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre. “Female performers have been doing this for years — pushing the envelope about sexuality — and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out. We’re in 2009; it’s time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people’s eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I’m not for them. My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom.”

If ABC opts not to broadcast several of the more risqué moments of “For Your Entertainment” in a few moments, “In a roundabout way it’s a form of discrimination because it is a double standard,” Lambert says. “They didn’t censor Britney and Madonna macking onstage did they? But yet two men kissing they’ll censor?”

#349

'CastroFan4Life' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:40 AM'

MTV on the stumble: "In the middle of the song, as he moves from one riser to another, Lambert can be seen tripping, tumbling and rolling. But to the man's credit-we guess all that music theatre training not to mention his months on "American Idol" paid off-he barely misses a beat."

Adam is certainly very agile. He sorta dove for the ground, did a sommerault and came up on his mark. Bless his heart.

#350

'hollygo72' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:43 AM'

No, I was backstage in the press room. THEY got a kick out of it. Oh, and the dancers said they didn't tell people about some of the more risque stuff they did on stage tonight. They wanted it to be a surprise.

#351

'Jesses_Girl' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:52 AM'

@ladybianco LOVE Adam Lambert's ability to turn a trip into a tuck dive and roll. epic.

#352

'hollygo72' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:58 AM'

Just saw it on the west coast. They cut out the simulated blow job but left the kiss in.

#353

'Vortex' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 1:59 AM'

I was just looking at pics and Adam didn't even grab that chick's crotch, the one on the stripper pole. He pulled on her leather harness type thing:

#354

'grammamia' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:07 AM'

Just saw it again on west coast..much better! I think that we are just soo used to his stellar vocals (never mind being hyped for the show) that it didn't sound so good.. the performance ROCKED!! He made the fall look like it was part of it.

My phone rang but I let it go to voice mail.. It was my 25 yr old son..called him back ..he wanted to know if I had seen my boy doing his provocative performance..lol.. He thought the vocals were good and that it was great that he had shocked (some) people..hehe (great kid I have) and wants to hear his album! <3
He was getting it for Christmas anyway..

#355

'Jesses_Girl' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:09 AM'

PeaMay while i find you about as controversial as mild cheddar, next time, Adam Lambert? Kiss the guy in the leather harness, kthnx bai.
less than a minute ago from web

#356

'PillowLips' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:10 AM'

Longineu Awsome show !!!!! Thanks to all of you!!!!!!!
about 2 hours ago from TwitBird iPhone

#357

'~SilverGirl23~' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:13 AM'

West coast checking in - yes, we got the kiss, they censored the word pleasure (WTF?), did not see the BJ moment or him flipping the bird, they did show the female dancer grabbing his crotch.

The only concern I have is not the provocative nature of the performance (whoop de doo) or the trip but the fact that the vocals sounded off to me. :( I guess FYE isn't a great live song? I dunno...

Anyway, VERY proud of him! He pulled that trip (yeah, pretty much my worst nightmare) off flawlessly. I think there will be a ton of buzz about the performance, positive AND negative, but I also think that this will be a recurring them throughout his career, so we just have to roll with it. He is doing things his way.

#358

'Vortex' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:24 AM'

This is from Allison:

Allison4Realzzz So damn proud of @adamlambert.. Oh hermano !! How I love your crazy amazing ass!!

#359

'joooory' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:26 AM'

Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks Review of the Adam's AMA .. chill lady .. !!! it ain't that deep !!

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityro...it-on-the-amas/

#360

'sahabo' date='Nov 23rd 2009, 2:26 AM'

:D http://www.examiner.com/x-4107-Internation...Issues-Examiner

Adam Lambert went for full-on shock effect at theAmerican Music Awards tonight with his titillating onstage performance of the first single from his new album, For Your Entertainment (releasing tomorrow, 11/23).

The definitely non-PC, probably NSFW performance featured crotches being grabbed, faces being pushed into crotches, men on leashes (hey, didn't Madonna do that in her Confessions tour?), pole dancing, and other NC-17 rated goodies. Adam had promised the LA Times a "sexy, kinky performance" tonight, and he definitely delivered.

The performance got the attention of fans and non-fans alike, with some leaving comments on discussion boards calling it "disgusting" and "pornographic" (well, yeah) while others saw it for what it was - Adam's official post-American Idol arrival.

One can't help but wonder, if a straight female artist like Christina Aguilera, Rihanna or Britney Spears had given the same performance, would their be all this fuss? It's doubtful. Is there perhaps some homophobia in the air?

This performance was Adam's way of letting the world know he's loud and proud, he doesn't give a damn about critics, and he's going to do this thing his way, take it or leave it. That's the heart and soul of a true Rock n' Roller. No more Mr. Nice Gay.

The controversy will have his album flying off the shelves next week, and probably for a very long time afterward. This is nothing new. Every major star stirred up controversy at the beginning of their careers to sell albums and make a name for themselves. Adam's ventures into "forbidden" territory will be like catnip to the lustful masses.

Adam became an international star tonight. He did what he needed to do. He will follow in the footsteps of the greats. He deserves our respect as the unique and talented artist that he is, and one thing is for sure - he won't disappear into music oblivion.

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