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Hey Mr Blank, good on you for expanding on your original review. Far better reading, as it was more a review of what you heard than what you saw(and isn't that what a music review should be about?).
The "who really won Idol" question is as irrelevant and time wasting as the "gay" debate is. I'm glad you talked about Allen and Lambert's performances on the night, as well as speculating on what they might achieve with their albums.
I wasn't there, but I do know that even on an "off" night Lambert can sing his face off. His set is vocally demanding (far more so than any of the other singers), and is also demanding in terms of showmanship. Whole Lotta Love is what it is - a hot sexy rock romp, and cannot be performed otherwise. Starlight is vocally challenging as it depends so much on control of textural dynamics. Mad World is no easy delivery either if you listen closely. The Bowie Medley, in the context of being just that - musical snapshots of Bowie magic, depends on mastery of performance theatrics and crowd interaction. What makes Lambert so unique both on stage and in his studio performances is his refusal to be genre packaged. That's a very liminal place to occupy in the music industry, let alone on a concert stage. I think he's a brave as well as hugely talented performer, whose aim is to entertain - to give audiences a "piece of me" (to quote Lambert).
It sounds to me as though he managed to do that for the Memphis crowd. Perfect vocals? I don't know, I wasn't there. But the crowd response indicates that he certainly strove to meet his own high expectations to authentically and wholeheartedly entertain.
Like you, I look forward to his album.
Isla
I wonder how long Kris Allen will have to put up with these soft slurs on his talent - such as referring to him as "wholesome" and "earnest"(yet again) in this review. Give the guy a break! You make him sound like a singing apple pie. It all comes of comparing him to Adam Lambert.
Making comparisons - rather than doing some serious homework on the music background and direction of these two artists - gives this reviewer an excuse for being lazy and uninformed. Diva versus farm boy, "Gay" (note the Liberace reference)versus the "straight" American Idol demographic. I think both Allen and Lambert deserved a little more respect than that.
And how disrespectful to the Memphis audience, who apparently have so little music appreciation they will shout the house down for mere showmanship!
