Adam Lambert performs 'Whataya Want From Me' on Letterman's show. World does not end. [VIDEO UPDATED]

Adam Lambert's performance on David Letterman's show, sans any sit-down interview, couldn't have been scripted more perfectly to flow gently out of the week's American Music Awards controversy. [UPDATED, Nov. 26, 9:02 a.m.: The preview video previously embedded has been replaced with a full-length version, above.]

Singing "Whataya Want From Me?," the tune he also did on "The Early Show" on Wednesday morning, Adam took it down to his rocker essentials -- the band, the leather pants, the lyrics, the makeup, the voice.

Call the Ministry a mushy Pollyanna, but to us the words of the song sound more like a young person trying to figure things out than any provocative diatribe from a political-statement-making, standard-bearing lightning rod.

Just don’t give up
I’m workin’ it out
Please don’t give in
I won’t let you down
It messed me up, need a second to breathe
Just keep coming around
Hey, what do you want from me
What do you want from me

Maybe it's just the holiday, but we were touched.

Happy Thanksgiving, sports fans. Enjoy your day.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

P.S. "The Early Show" performance is after the jump. 

Photo: Adam Lambert on "The Early Show" on Nov. 25, 2009. Credit: Charles Sykes / Associated Press.

Click here for all things Adam Lambert, presented by the Ministry of Gossip.

Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Facebook and Twitter (we're @LATcelebs).

Comments

[justaskin']

why, God, why?

[Nadine]

I was touched too. I don't know why, maybe it's because I watched him on idol, but I feel very sorry and protective of him.

[Mary]

All this hype about Mr. Lambert in the news media is disgusting. One may notice that the noise is about his lewdness and not one word about his singing or the quality of his voice. Mr. Lambert needs to decide whether he wants to be a singer with a very good voice or someone who sprints around a stage being nasty, how pitiful for him.

[Dorena]

Just gorgeous. The man and the voice.

[irisita69]

He is lovely!
This is Adam!

[hal9000]

thanks for this extremely clear letterman clip. it was not perfectly synced but nobody's perfect. this tune screams of pink... i could be wrong. it contains at least 3 hooks. expand it to a rock opera.

[Don]

Sick, twisted and perverted.

[Dee Manning]

Maybe people have a hard time understanding musicians/celebrities who are multi-faceted, it's much easier to pidgeonhole. I totally applaud Adam's AMA performance, it's about damn time someone made music controversial and dangerous again. And I also appreciated the nice, vulnerable, really good singer part he showed on David Letterman.

Every was iconic music star in history was HATED by someone, and scared conservatives. Remember about Jim Morrison getting arrested, all the heavy metal stars who got tried for inciting suicide, the Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, etc. etc. etc. The big difference is, Adam Lambert is the first openly gay star who's upfront about being sexual and that scares the hell out of our still extremely homophobic society.

But for everyone who hates him, there are two RABIDLY dedicated fans. There were people at the Early Show who FLEW IN FROM JAPAN AND PAKISTAN just to stand in the cold and see him sing two songs. There's numerous people who spend the ENTIRE day Googling and retweeting every single bit of info about him. (And less rad people who have a life ;) but who still rushed out the morning of the 23rd to get the disc, and tivo'd all the TV appearances...)

[Michael]

I personally think he's a kid who's confused. He got all this fame and people praising him for being controversial and wall-breaking, and then when he did this the people said "Well, no, that's not right." So he's confused and he just wants people to accept him. But I don't believe for a second that his performance at the AMAs was him--that was him trying to be controversial, because that's what he thought the people wanted.

Be yourself, Adam.

[SusieMcGreger]

As a singer Lambert to me personally is just okay, not the super star voice, plus he screams and I don't like screamers. The X-Rated performance on AMA was bad, very bad. If I should want to see an X-Rated act I can rent a movie, or go to an X-Rated club. Singers today don't sing, they do a stage show, it's not singing for ones voice.
A singer standing on stage and singing a song without all the gizmos is better to me.
Lambert is lisp syncing...hee...hee...I don't care for gays either.

[SoCalGal]

Glambert sang: Hey, what do you want from me?

What do I want from you? I want to hear and see musical artistry, not watch you prance around on stage behaving like someone who jumped out of a trash can. Show a little restraint and leave the sex truss, nipple clamps and penis extender, with whomever you please, beyond the privacy of your bedroom door. Thankewverymuch.

[Ebova]

Adam is BRILLIANT!!!!!! An incredible talent and so inteligent...and so charismatic and so handsome! He has it all! BRAVO ADAM!!!!!!!!!!! You are FANTASTIC!!!

[ScottO]

America is afraid of sex. Period. They must be laughing their heads off at us in Europe. Sex and passion certainly have a place in music, and when Adam Lambert chooses to express this part of human nature while performing a song ... he is amazing!

[Barbara]

The song isn't the controversy, the 'pretend' oral sex, the groping of the female are the issues. He can kiss who he wants, when he wants, but unless their is a reason why I have to watch oral sex being charaded and someone grabbing a performer sexually, I choose not to watch it. I also want to be warned, so that my children do not have to watch it, and I have to spend time explaining the nonsense called 'entertainment'.

How sad that 'some of you' don't get it!

[chickc]

Forgive. Forget. Move on.

Give the kid a chance. He's new to fame and the responsibility that goes with it.

[EU]

You Americans need to get a grip! Yikes! Not a big deal at all. It's not sick, twisted or perverted, just of questionable taste. You would not kick up a fuss if he were straight or female! Remember kiddies, religion is a sociological disease, homosexuality isn’t – so forget that card. And stop passing your disgust off on your kids. Why were you letting them stay up until 11 for on a Sunday? Someone should question your own influence on your children, not Adam's.

[PacMan]

HE IS MEANT FOR GAY BAR SHOWS ONLY - THAT IS WHERE HE BELONGS !

DON'T PUSH IT TO HARD - HE CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO: SIMULATION SEXUAL ORAL ACT THE WHOLE NIGHT OR SPREAD HIS ASS.

NOBODY WOULD CARE !

NOTHING WRONG BEING GAY AS LONG YOU KNOW TO BEHAVE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AND AT THE RIGHT TIME.

NOT ALL GAYS ARE LIKE HIM - HE IS JUST DISGUSTINGLY VULGAR !

THERE ARE GAYS WHO ARE RESPECTFUL, PROFESSIONAL, DESCENT - BUT HIM HE HAS NO CLASS AT ALL.

FAME JUST WENT TO HIS THAT FAST AND WITH ALL THE HYPE HE THOUGHT HE IS ALREADY A SUPERSTAR AND HE HADN'T STARTED YET !

HE NEED TO GO BACK WHERE HE BELONG - GAY BAR SHOWS !

[BMac]

Anyone can simulate a sex act. It really takes no talent at all. It's not dangerous and no one is afraid. It's middle school behavior and its getting boring. This is pop music and it's about "artists" needing to be keep the spotlight and the talk on and about them and older women like Madonna trying to be relevant. That's what makes them money. I'd actually like to see someone write and interpret a good lyric. How about sing live and on key? That would be novel.

[mark in everett WA]

I get such a kick out of those who search on Adam's name, read the articles and then comment slamming him. Especially with all caps. A little obesessed are you? How many of you wish you could be him, gay and all? I think Adam is the bomb.

[kate parker]

Can't you see he is a great singer and great artist? Love him love his voice.

[Russb]

really AMAZING performance on Letterman; love it love it love it. great job! this is what it's about!

[charlotte]

Whoever you are Pacman, you are a narrowminded individual who only thinks of himself! ADAM is a GREAT SINGER and a GREAT PERFORMER! Whatever he did in the AMA awards does not change that a bit! Give the guy some space, you people....he is just starting out. Love you Adam and I have bought your cd.

[Adee]

True, there is something about Adam that makes me very protective of him. He is a wonderful person and an amazing singer. I want him to make it big in the music industry. We definitely need him.

[InFlux5]

"I also want to be warned, so that my children do not have to watch it, and I have to spend time explaining the nonsense called 'entertainment'."

Something tells me you don't have to bother explaining sex acts to your child. I'm not sure I'll ever understand parents who are so utterly naive and clueless when it comes to their kids and sex. It is utterly irrational (though said parents may very well realize that.)

I also don't understand why, out of all "moral" issues, nothing sends Americans into a hysteria more than the mere hint of childhood sexuality.

Meanwhile, where is one shred of evidence showing that your child will be harmed psychologically (or in any other way) by finding out about, say, oral sex a few years before you would like them to? There is none, because such things don't do any damage. In fact I can almost guarantee that your child is far more familiar with sexuality than you realize.

Your child is not as stupid and naive as you think. Your fear and hysteria surrounding sexuality (especially betwen two males) is the real sickness. Get a clue.

[Rice]

I loved it. It was a perfect performance you are right. This kid can really sing and it shows. You felt the emotion in his words. He is definately a huge talent.