Evil Adam Lambert slams sweet Susan Boyle? Not exactly

What is it with celebrity interviews lately? Must everyone take things out of context?

Adam Lambert spoke with U.K. magazine Gay Times for its March issue, in an interview excerpted here. Yes, he criticizes Susan Boyle's album. But does he "slam Susan Boyle"? Was the point of the interview to trash her album and extend his "15 minutes of fame"? Has he "gone on the record to tell everyone what he really thinks" and blame SuBo's album for his failure? Hardly. 

[A]dam answered his critics when For Your Entertainment sold 200,000 copies in its first week on sale, charting above new releases from Rihanna and Lady Gaga, albeit outsold by a certain Scottish lassie… 

"I know, if only it weren’t for Susan Boyle!” Adam laughs. “I’m happy for her success, but that album is terrible. Wild Horses is the one that made me laugh the hardest. I just died when I heard it, I was crying with laughter. It was the most horrendous, sacrilegious treatment of that song! 

"Still, when my album charted, it was validating. I was feeling [a] bit attacked, like I had to vindicate something. I thought: ‘Wow, look what I did.'"

Does that read as if the Real Adam Lambert was twirling his villainous imaginary mustache, or shaking a fist at the heavens, and, in the spirit of "Scooby-Doo," cursing, "If only it hadn't been for Susan Boyle and those meddling kids! I would've gotten away with it!"

Or does it read as if, perhaps ...

... the singer is responding to a fact-based mention that Boyle's first album debuted higher than Lambert's? Did the reporter note that Adam laughed at that moment perhaps to make it clear that the glittery one wasn't cursing his non-competition?

You decide.

(Of course, objectively, "I'm happy for her success" is about as horrific as an attack on another human can get. We realize that brutality might sway your interpretation.)

Now let's take a trip into the irony department, with a bit pulled from higher up in the interview, before the alleged Boyle-clubbing section. (Shock! His album comments aren't actually the lead of the story! Which you'd never know if you did a Google news search of the two names right now!)

These are the words of Gay Times writer Jamie Taberrer; the bold emphasis is mine:

From his forgivable penchant for guyliner (don’t pretend you haven’t been there), to his opinion-polarising album cover, to his controversial performance at last year’s American Music Awards (in which he kissed and groped a male member of his band, inducing thousands of complaints to TV network ABC) it seems Adam can’t bat a mascara-clad eyelash without offending somebody. The irony being, of course, that Adam’s really not shocking underneath it all. In fact, he’s a just a normal guy who – shock, horror! – is actually WILLING to talk about his sexuality.

Boyle and Lambert were both pop-culture sensations on their respective continents and beyond, and were both runners-up in high-profile singing competitions -- so bringing up the comparison isn't shocking. And even if, like me, you have no problem with SuBo, giggling at her take on the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" is hardly out-of-the-box thinking.

Today's flurry sounds suspiciously like widely repeated reports of Adam putting "one of his own fans on blast" for talking on a cellphone during his performance (If what Adam actually said was an attack, a lot of what's on the Ministry probably violates Geneva Conventions). Despite the American Music Awards uproar, Lambert has a track record of good manners and general decency toward others. So of course the search is on for the story or headline that "reveals" some heretofore unseen mean and nasty "real Adam" lurking under the surface.

"Adam's not really shocking at all" doesn't drive Internet traffic like "Adam's picking on poor sweet Susan Boyle" does.

Context, people. It's all about the context. Call me when there's video of Adam clubbing a baby seal, and then maybe I'll believe he's a jerk.

Maybe.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

P.S. Scroll down for a side-by-side comparison of the Stones' original "Wild Horses" recording and Boyle's updated version.

Here's Susan's:

And here it is as envisioned by the Rolling Stones:

Photos: Yeah, the charity work (by both singers) is clearly just a cover-up -- Adam Lambert, in partnership with education charity DonorsChoose.org, delivers music books to a class at Belvedere Middle School on Feb. 18, 2010, in Los Angeles, top. Susan Boyle sings in Copenhagen on Jan. 30, 2010, at a concert to raise money for women in Africa and for earthquake victims in Haiti. Credits: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times, top; Casper Christoffersen / EPA, right.

We're fans. And we're out about it. Step into the Ministry's glittery gallery of all things Adam Lambert: 

Happy birthday Adam Lambert! Time for a news-link party

Adam Lambert, Justin Bieber in VMan [pictures and video]

Art of Elysium: Adam Lambert parties in a paved paradise (designed by Shepard Fairey)

Adam Lambert: An ex-fat, ex-closeted, ex-redhead who's 'very normal' on 'Chelsea Lately. Funny too.

Adam Lambert, shiny and fab for Gridlock 2009 (with a flashback to NYE 2008 at Upright Cabaret)

Barbara Walters' '10 Most Fascinating People of 2009': observations, and a poll

PREACH IT! Just for you, ABC, a post about Adam Lambert that is Totally Not Gay

Poll: Adam Lambert's AMA performance: provocative or porn?

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Comments

[Mel6]

There have been many well written, intelligent comments here in support of exercising some levity with regard to this situation, so I will only add that Lambert is a candid guy, but quite respectful of people in general. I follow his career, I have to admit it, and I have to fess up that I have read and watched and listened to many, many Lambert interviews - and I have to say that he is continuously intelligent, well spoken, considerate and actually, quite business savvy. Now, I do not expect people, readers, to consume the volume of media output that I do about Lambert, so they simply might not realize this, but Lambert presents himself quite consistantly as a thoughtful human being. He is smart, candid but kind, worldly and wise consistantly in the media...if he weren't authentically these things, he would falter somewhere/sometime, and he very rarely does, in interview after interview and appearance after appearance... if he were faking his thoughtful self and hiding a snarky self, it would have surfaced before now. He seems to have a little snarky in him, sure, we all do, but actually his whole thing is sort of a "make love not war" type of mentality - so I'm quite doubtful of a true ill-will or malice lurking in his SuBo comments. Other posters here have commented on the Gay Times agenda at play here, and I will add that Brit media is historically known for sacrificing some truth for sales - it is a well known aspect of the British rags, even more so than U.S. "fluff" outlets...a long running, well known fact! And yes, as others have said, the blogosphere has jumped on this story TO CREATE HITS FOR THEIR SITES!!

[celtcwrtr]

susan's rendition of "wild horses" IS horrendous... something akin to an elderly auntie warbling @ a family holiday get-together. in fact, that entire album is devoid of original material and pablum for the walmart masses.

so what if lambert gave an honest opinion/answer to a direct question? he gets more grief from navigating without a filter... here's hoping he doesn't cave to pc sensibilities and changes.

[Canadiann]

Thank you for writing a rational article on this issue. Adam is certainly entitled to his opinion on Susan Boyle's album. However, even if he is not a fan, I'm certain he would not express his opinion in the manner printed in the GT article. Adam is always charming, gracious and extremely articulate in interviews. It would be extremely out of character for him to publicly ridicule another artist's work in this manner. GT, post a video or audio version of the interview. If not, it didn't happen.

[BRAD]

Adam
PLEASE do not support wearing fur. Animals suffer when skinned for their fur. Maybe Ellen Degenerous can explain to you the horrific suffering of animals, so people can just wear fur. Ellen is a great supporter of animals and does not want animals abused.

[Tina]

Most of the people here don't get it. It is not the case if you agree with him or not.It is not ethicall of him to do so. You don't put down other artists work,you just make yours better. Anyway, it gets my attention that he only critizice Susan work, the one that it is doing better than him, and not any other like Lady GaGA . Susan is in a lige of her own, she is older than him and market for a different public, Why keep putting one agains the other, they both have their own public, and they both can make a very succesful career without steping on the others foot. Did you notice? there is room for all in this Universe.

[jordan]

i think the problem is not that adam lambert may or may not have uttered those words, but that every single thing he says is scrutinized and scandalized for the sake of hits or headlines. from the interviews i've seen, he is an extremely respectful kid, especially of other artists (who damn HIM with faint praise all the time, despite his obvious talent). i appreciate that this writer has at least tried to right that ship, and demonstrate the way inflammatory words can twist the meaning and tone of what's intended. thank you for that; and thank you for giving me the opportunity to listen to the stones do "wild horses"! (it's been way too long ... i tried to listen to susan boyle's version but either i didn't much like it -- or i just couldn't wait to get to the real deal.)

[CDZ from the Ministry]

@jordan -- Christie D'Z here -- don't you just love the 45 single, with the record label's actual LABEL showing? Ahhh, memories.

:)

[chelle]

THANKS SO MUCH for clearing this up for everyone! Adam is a super sweet guy and is NO where near mean-spirited or cocky!

[KathyMu]

Look at all of Lambert's fans doing exactly what he did.
Knocking Boyle's CD.
You're really not helping the situation.
You claim that Boyle's Wild Horses is laughable. That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it, but that doesn't mean you're right.
Obviously it's a matter of taste and obviously a lot of people like it. Just deal with it.
They're 20 years apart in age, sing totally different types of music and have totally different types of fans.
Buy the music you like, but don't knock Boyle just because Lambert did. She did NOTHING to deserve that. Nothing.
She made a cd, it sold well, be happy for her. She's not hurting anyone, so why hurt her?

[SuzieQ]

The problem with all of this is that we do not know exactly what Adam said, what was the tone of his voice & if, as I have read, this article is in a rag of a newspaper. Not only that, what exactly is wrong with someone having an opinion? What is the big deal that he said he didn't like her album or her rendition of "Wild Horses?" Is she now someone people cannot speak negatively of...cuz I know Adam has had to put up with horrible, hateful remarks but he doesn't exactly break down into pieces on the floor. I know Subo is a "delicate" woman who apparently breaks down easily but if she can't take criticism, she better get out of the show biz! And, she did do an intolerable, laughable rendition of Wild Horses & Daydream Believer!!!!! How's that for an opinion!!!!!

[Dave]

Vageta WOW Now for something completely different a gay bashing Adam Lambert and telling us all how the gay community is not proud of him.

Don't know what put your collective knickers in a twist but this is one gay man who finds Adam not only beautiful, talented, and articulate, but way to much of a gentleman to have actually said the words credited to him in the Gay Times article.

[Maja Maire Hayley Smith]

THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!! And Thank You! The last sentence sums it ALL up "when he slugges a baby seal then maybe I'll believe he's a jerk" I love this person for writing this article!!! I LOVE ADAM LAMBERT SOOO SOOO FREAKIN MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE WOULD NEVER PUT SOMEBODY DOWN!!!! Adam has a lot of heart!!! Thanks for being on his side! Everyone I know Hates Adam and its all because he's Gay!!! I think its time for Idiot America to realize that Gay ppl are some of the sweetest ppl on the planet!!! Americans are IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!! GAY NATION PRIDE!!!!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS ARTICLE!!

[David]

He says her album is "terrible" (if he did), and that's not attacking Boyle? It's actually a compliment, and we're taking it out of context?

[Dakota Collins]

Thank you for the confidence shown in Adam. For those who have followed Adam over the last year, it is hard not to be totally impressed with his humor, his honest, and his kindness. I don't pretend to know what happened in his interview about SuBo, but whatever it was, it did not come from an evil or jealous heart. Let's go back to the old, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." If he didn't say it, don't jump until you know the truth. If he did say it, whoops, that's mistake # 2 in 12 months. Don't we all wish that was our track record.

[CDZ from the Ministry]

@David -- Christie D'Zurilla here from the blog.

What I'm referencing is how people reporting *about* the article pulled those quotes out and blew them up into this big thing, separate from the context of the article. Even if you read only the excerpt that's online -- I'm not in a position to buy the magazine to read what I assume is an expanded article -- it's clear (at least to me) that Adam didn't wake up one morning, don his Heretofore Hidden Cape of Evil and decide to light into Susan Boyle simply for the sport of it.

Which, if you were to search on Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle online today, you might think is exactly what happened.

//cdz

[KathyM]

@SuzieQ, what on earth does her fragility have to do with anything, I doubt she even knows what he said.
The point is, why did he have to say that in the first place?
What was the point?
He tried to make himself look good at her expense, but only succeeded in making himself look low.
What he said sure didn't earn him any new fans, in fact it turned some off.
Believe it or not, there are a lot of people that are fans of both of them, and they don't take kindly to ridicule of either one.

[ianaleah]

Adam has shown us that even though he has gotten hits from all sides all year, he is not mean spirited and dosen't bash at all, not at all. If anyone dosen't know that by now, it's useless to talk. I support the guy totally and I will only believe what he twitters and what I hear him say with my own two ears in interviews. I have heard interviews, heard what he has said and then read in a blog two days later-a couple words here and there changed- and an entire new meaning-and this has happened so often that I lost count. Sometiems the bloggers who write columns simply interpret what he said in such a simple stupid way, it is plain maddening. And if I say, 'great, just great'- unless you hear me, if you read it-it says something entirely different. Oh well, Adam is kind, personable, That is that but Think what you want.

[lily]

i do not believe adam can say something like this. i am sure he was misquoted although i totally agree with him about susan boyle's album.

[roirogers]

Well, I followed Adam throughout his career, and even looked the other way when he literaly trashed his coming out party. But I have to say, I own both of their albums. I feel Susan B is consistant in her style. He is all over the place. And, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed Wild Horses. It was so gentle, sweet and a wonderful rendition.

Adam, you should have stayed as humble as you were on AI. Your conceitedness is not very welcoming, and right up there with your stupid coming out performance that you tried to shove down our throats but backfired on you. You blew it man, big time. Get over it. I loved you thru AI, and even sat stage side in Atlantic City. But after AC where I learned you cannot really sing, you have a lot of nerve trashing a singer who is better than you.

She doesn't have to channel anything. She is the real deal. Get over it dude. You just ain't all that anymore. You truly blew it and what's done is done. Boo hoo for you.

[John Harris]

Look at this craziness and rigid thinking. I happen to like Lambert. I happen to like both the Stones and Boyle's "Wild Horses".. What's wrong in liking various interpretations of a song. It's the imagery, imagination that every interpretation creates within the listener. Opinionation nation. Love them all.

[Maryann]

Adam tweeted about having been misquoted this morning. Personally, I don't think he even used those words. He's usually pretty smart about how he words things. He's never been harsh in interviews before, to the best of my memory. Either way, it's good to hear somebody say that him not liking the album doesn't make him evil. Thanks for this.

[tracy]

What Adam Lambert says in interviews, often get reinterpreted in the printed blogs the following weed- and, like the 'telephone' game-it's a whole different story. I don't know if he does or does not like S Boyles CD, but he is entitled to his opinion. The interesting thing is, who cares, she outsold everyone-every one else- singers with long careers fell behind her in sales-and I don't like her CD,my opinion, and I'm entiteld, so is Lambert and if you like her CD, you're entitled. We are allowed to have our opinions and preferences.

[deb]

First of all, Thank you for this article! I really don't care what the "context" was. Adam is entitled to his opinion, and he's completely fine with any opinions people have about him. Adam will continue to rise above all the hate because he's a genuinely nice guy and he knows who he is. GO ADAM!!

[Beata]

so many comments here... i am going to slap one more.
I am in favour of Adam. At least he is original, powerful voice, honest, poised, polite... Susan on the other hand... She is just a poor women exploited by music industry for the money... I was going to buy her album originally, but I listen to it first on amazon... I am glad i saved myself money... she sounds the same on each and every track she sings... no originality whatsoever... I believe that a lot of people that bought her album just because she was great 1st time she sang... she wasn't consistent afterwords... and Wild Horses... I SO AGREE with ADAM.... when she sings "Wild Hoooorssseeees" It gives me this freaking nugging pain in my stomach that I want to puke...
Adam will entertain us for decades.... Susan Boyle --who? after this CD

[cal]

Adam Lambert and Elaine Paige know they can't get any News headlines without Susan Boyle bashing!

Say whatever you want! then say "I was mis-quoted" cool game.

Adam fans? Susan Boyle CD #1 Worldwide Adam Lambert? not even close.