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Adam Lambert: "Diplomacy is not really my forte"

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1楼2011-01-08 21:30回复
    The American pop phenomenon Adam Lambert was passing through Paris a few days ago. He reserved some of his precious time for an interview with CitéGAY. Exclusive portraits by Franck Glenisson!
    I'm on my way to a new interview in a first-class Parisian hotel close to the Champs Elysées. The first snowflakes have appeared and I almost fall on the ice when I realize that I'm a little late. On the way, I tell myself that it's a little strange to have been waiting more than a year for the promotion of this new artist in France, since I had expected that he would be coming here much earlier. In a few minutes, I find myself upstairs, jammed with several other reporters in the small private entrance hall of the room where interviews are being held. After waiting for several minutes, someone signals that it's my turn. Adam Lambert the singer (and actor) is seated, smiling, on a big couch facing a large bed on which several magazines are fanned out (I recognize certain gay magazines). When he stands up to shake my hand, I'm impressed by his height. This guy with smoky eyes must be almost two metres tall! Known for his straight talk, his provocative ways, but also for his unusually powerful voice and his amazing showmanship, Adam Lambert has been launched by American Idol, the US version of "Nouvelle Star", but didn't win the show. It didn't stop him from rapidly becoming the phenomenon that everyone is talking about, acclaimed by people such as Brian May from Queen. The artist is finally here to talk about his album "For Your Entertainment", already released a year ago in the United States, and a new album, acoustic this time, which has been launched on December 13.
    


    2楼2011-01-08 21:36
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      Tof: Hello Adam, thank you for having me for this interview. Tell me why your album is only being released in France now, when it's been delighting the ears of Americans for a year?
      Adam Lambert: You should ask the question to Sony... I really have no idea! It wasn't my decision you know... [Laughs]
      Tof: Was this album entirely written by you or did the "American Idol" producers propose it to you? How was it created?
      Adam Lambert: Actually, the people who produce "American Idol" also own a management company. When the show is over, they take the two finalists under their wing... They also partner with a major. In my case, it was RCA. So then, me met with the label's creative team and we asked ourselves what we wanted to do. This is when I told them what style I was particularly interested in. I had my own ideas, and they also proposed their ideas. That's how we created the first demos for the songs that were already written. I also had the opportunity to work and write with producers. In the end, the project included five songs written by me and the rest by others. Of course, I had to choose everything that would be included on the album! You know, I think that there's a misconception about "American Idol". It seems that people think that when you participate in this kind of show, you automatically become a puppet. I must say that this is not at all my situation! I have very strong ideas, and a strong will to materialize them, and I'm lucky to work with a management team and a label who are listening. As a result, this is really me, and I'm always the one making final decisions!
      Tof: OK... And what were your criteria for choosing the producers?
      Adam Lambert: The label made me propositions: "Would you like to work with this or that person...?" and I would often reply "oh, yes yes yes...", but I also had the opportunity to let them know with whom I really wanted to work. I went straight to the point and I talked about Lady Gaga, Lynda Perry, Dr. Luke, Sam Sparrow and of course P!ink! Max Martin, Rob Cavallo and Greg Wells were proposed by the label...
      Tof: When did you start to write and where do you find your influences?
      Adam Lambert: Hmmm, I must have been 15 years old... I had a band at the time! It was the first time I ever composed, and I learned a lot then because, to tell you the truth, it wasn't good at all! [Laughs] If you want to talk about my influences, well I love classic rock but I also really like pop music. Automatically, all this music has really passed on to me. The album talks about intimate things, of what I'm afraid to be but also what I want to become... Of embodying something for others and encouraging people to let go. I also say that we have to be in complete control of our body, our work, our style, who we are, and be proud of it. On my album, you will also find songs that talk about the need for trying your luck and being honest with yourself, with the world. I also have a text about "Psychedelic Mind ****" [Laughs]. Yes, yes, I'm serious! [Laughs] It talks about someone who's the victim of a voodoo spell, because someone else has given him a breath of life, something beautiful, this little something special that you can only get when you have hope... These are the things that I write about! [Laughs]
      Tof: With this album, you announced that Glam Rock was back. Then, given your taste for makeup, the media quickly nicknamed you "Glambert". Where does this taste for glam come from?
      Adam Lambert: Yes!!! I've always loved makeup. I think it's a great way to differentiate yourself from the others and to impose your own look...
      Tof: Do you think that it's more of a way to hide, to isolate yourself behind a shell, or on the contrary to better show yourself as you really are?
      Adam Lambert: I think it started several years ago when I first discovered makeup. At that time, I felt it more as a way to hide. Now, I really think that it's a form of expression: You see, now that I'm a little older and that I feel better in my own skin, I find that it's the opposite of a shell. All the fashion, the makeup, the hairstyle, the jewellery, all of it is an expession of my personality!
      Tof: But you could still perform on stage without all these devices?
      Adam Lambert: Yes, of course... All of this goes with my style, which I love, but it doesn't prevent me from being more low-key sometimes. You know, when I was on "American Idol", the musical theme would change from week to week, until the famous "Motown" week! At that time, I covered "Track of my tears" by Smokey Robinson, just sitting on a stool with an acoustic guitar... I did that without any makeup, in all simplicity. You see, it's not a matter of dual personality! It's just that I want to decorate my eyes... For me, it's exactly the same thing as wearing a ring or a necklace when going out at night...
      


      3楼2011-01-08 21:37
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        Tof: Did you see the movie "Velvet Goldmine" by Todd Haynes (released in 1998; editor's note)?
        Adam Lambert: Yesss, it's one of my favorite movies! I love it!
        Tof: In this movie, there's a character who says "Rock and Roll is a prostitute"...
        Adam Lambert: ... it should be tarted up! [he completes the citation from the movie] Yes, yes! It is a prostitute! [Laughs] Everything is about the show, showing yourself, being seen by as many people as possible, being heard... and enjoying it! Of course, it's just an expression, if you see what I mean...
        Tof: You yourself have a very provocative spirit... When you kiss boys at the first opportunity for example... Is it something natural or is it almost a political action?
        Adam Lambert: Well at the very start, when I kissed a musician on stage, it really came very spontaneously, just a compelling urge I had at that specific moment. Then, when I saw all the reactions that it had provoked, I started doing it again systematically, as a statement, at each concert. I told myself "OK, I have to continue". It became a sort of extra special effect, which I find very Rock and Roll, and it mostly states that I don't accept the fact that it was a mistake. On the contrary, I had to demonstrate that I was proud of it and that I didn't have to apologize. You know, I'm a bit headstrong, and also quite dominant... There's a part of me that doesn't want to make everybody happy and always say "please". Diplomacy is not really my forte.
        Tof: Yes, I imagine that this is also what's happening when you smoke pot on stage like you did recently in Amsterdam? [Laughs]
        Adam Lambert: [exulting] There might be a bit of that, yes, but again, it's self-affirmation! [Laughs] I don't know... In my opinion, being subversive is part of the pleasure of being a pop artist... If you don't make people think, or if you don't make them talk, then something will be missing for sure... It's part of the job! Rock and Roll has always been a more risky and dangerous ground because of that... The secret is that you can't please everybody, you can't always be easy to categorize, and of course you have to shock once in a while!
        


        4楼2011-01-08 21:38
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