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Adam Lambert asks and answers ‘Whataya Want From Me’ on ‘The Early Show’

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Adam Lambert didn’t think he needed to redeem himself today on CBS’ ‘The Early Show.’ But he may have done just that and a little bit more.

At the same time he was reminding his ‘American Idol’ fans what they loved about him in the first place, Lambert probably managed to instill some regret over at ABC headquarters over Tuesday’s decision to disinvite him to perform on ‘Good Morning America’ after his controversial, highly sexual appearance at the American Music Awards on Sunday night.

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This morning, Lambert was relaxed and articulate as he answered questionsabout his decisions on Sunday night to improvise kissing a man on stage and simulating oral sex with another. Later, he took questions from fans who attended his live performance and capped the morning with two strong vocal performances of his new songs, ‘Whataya Want From Me’ and ‘Music Again.’

In his interview, Lambert admitted that performing in front of many of his favorite pop artists ‘got the best of me’ and that the controversial parts of his Sunday night performance were not rehearsed. Having a background in theater, he said, doesn’t automatically make him think of the audience at home when he is on stage, he said.

‘Honestly, it didn’t even cross my mind — children,’ he said. ‘It was almost 11 o’clock. I was there in the audience full of mostly adults. Sometimes I forget, oh, there’s a camera on. I come from the theater and I’m programmed to look at who’s in the live audience, and that’s kind of where I come from, and so I was looking out into the crowd and saw some of my favorite pop stars and thought I want to let loose. It just kind of got the best of me. I had a really great time. Unfortunately, there are people that are really upset, but there are also people that enjoyed it. So, like ‘Idol,’ I guess I have a tendency to divide people. Apples and oranges. You either like it or you don’t.’

Later he added: ‘It got the best of me. I’m obviously learning. This is my first performance post-’Idol’ on television. The song lyrically is sexual, and I was just performing the lyrics of my song. I think in the future I will probably make a little bit more of an effort to stay consistent with what I do during rehearsal to what I do during the show. That’s something I’m learning now, and that way if anyone has a problem with what I’m doing, it can be explored during rehearsal.’

But Lambert also pointed out that he was not the only artist who included racy behavior in his performance, and he believes the fact that he is a gay male is behind the negative reactions to his performance.

‘Just to play devil’s advocate with you: Lady Gaga smashing whiskey bottles. Janet Jackson grabbed a male dancer’s crotch, Eminem talked about how Slim Shady had 17 rapes under his belt,’ Lambert said. ‘There was a lot of very adult material on the AMA’s this year, and I know I wasn’t the only one. I am not using that as an excuse, and I didn’t take any offense with those performer’s choices. I’m just saying I think it’s up to a parent to watch the television. It was almost 11 o’clock at night. If they’re concerned with certain material, maybe TiVo it and preview it before your small child is watching it.’

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Lambert said he hoped fans and viewers would keep in mind that his Sunday night rendition of ‘For Your Entertainment’ accounts for only one performance and his album is broader than that. (Eight fans were given the opportunity to ask Lambert questions before he performed, and none of them covered anything that happened on Sunday night).

‘This is one song,’ he said. ‘It’s one production number. This song on the album is one of the few songs that really explores risque, dangerous, edgy kind of sexuality. There are other songs on the album that are completely different. So, for me, I hope people don’t put me into a box and say, ‘Oh, he’s nasty. And he’s going to be that way all the time.’ ‘

Then he took to the stage at CBS and proved just that.


— Maria Elena Fernandez

Video: CBS


Related:

Lambert + rock=marriage made in heavenReview of ‘For Your Entertainment’ Lambert calls the controversy a huge double standard

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