Adam Lambert’s TRESPASSING debuted at #1 on Billboard.
And it debuted at #1 in spite of the fact that there was virtually no radio play for the two singles that had been released, “Better Than I Know Myself” (BTIKM) and “Never Close Our Eyes” (NCOE).
BTIKM was released months before the album dropped on May 15th. Although I was critical of the choice, I understood why it was picked as it was an introduction to the album which reflects two sides of Adam. The genius video he created showed extreme versions of Adam’s light and dark sides, in rooms separated by a glass wall. At the end of the video Dark Adam breaks the glass and saves Light Adam and Adam is seen walking outside past some yellow and black caution tape mimicking the album cover.
Despite all the requesting, TV appearances and radio station promotional visits, BTIKM was barely played on the radio and was considered less than stellar.
NCOE was released around the same time the album dropped. Although I was even more critical of the choice than the first single, I hoped and trusted that the radio execs, Adam and RCA knew what they were doing. Adam appeared on American Idol and several other TV shows and did a mini tour headlining radio station concerts. I was able to attend two of these shows and you can read my recaps and see some videos by clicking on the links below.
ME IN MY “LAMBEE” SHIRT
ME AND MY “FREAK FLAG”
Although it’s still too early to say if NCOE will be a top 40 hit, I haven’t heard it once on Pittsburgh radio and I am not hearing from other Glamberts that it is being played in their cities.
WTF?
Although neither of these singles supports the mission statement of the album, they were chosen because they (don’t read this if you are squeamish) have a radio-friendly sound and fit into today’s mainstream Top 40 radio which I like to compare to the children’s board game CANDYLAND. It’s pink cotton candy, bubble gum and crap. It requires barely any thinking.
Peggy Dembicer made this from beads! Take a closer look.
WTF?
The mission statement of TRESPASSING is to walk bravely where you aren’t welcome, to step out of the box, to unashamedly be who you are. I read the many reviews of the album, and those authors have looked beyond the literal lyrics, using words like “sophisticated” and they get very articulate trying to describe the music Adam created and the sound of his voice. Here is a sampling of some reviews if you want to click on the links.
EXAMINER
UNDER THE GUN
THE VILLAGE VOICE
HIT FIX
SOFTPEDIA
BILLBOARD
POPDUST
PLAYBACK This is my favorite since this is a person who was NOT an Adam Lambert fan and fell in love. Resistance is futile. LOL
Notice that Adam is not compared to Ke$ha, Justin Beiber, LMFAO, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga or even Bruno Mars who wrote NCOE. Adam is compared to Queen, Michael Jackson, Prince, Elton John and David Bowie, none of whom are EVER played on today’s Top 40 radio. But they are played on the radio on oldies, classic rock and stations that claim to play anything.
This leads me to believe that perhaps
Adam Lambert is too good for Top 40 radio.
Adam’s music is more like the game of Chess.
- There are dark pieces and light pieces and a variety of shapes and meanings.
- It’s complicated.
- It’s intelligent and even… strategic.
- It makes you think.
- It cannot be fully enjoyed in five minutes.
Even the dance party songs are about subjects that are too deep and mature for the Top 40 radio demographic. I have to hope that your average 15 year old has never experienced being in a club where a “girl” has had too much to drink and is trying to arrange a three way or has faced being told they will rot in hell because of who they love.
I am on record as saying that Adam Lambert will change the way we listen to and purchase music.
The old formula is that a song is released to radio.
Radio plays the song every hour.
People hear it.
People ‘think’ they like it.
People buy the single or the album.
Adam’s formula is that Glamberts buy multiple copies of TRESPASSING.
Glamberts listen to TRESPASSING on repeat instead of listening to the radio.
Glamberts call radio stations and beg them to play the singles.
Radio rarely plays the singles.
TRESPASSING debuts at #1.
LOL
Adam is in England right now rehearsing with Queen for six shows this summer. This iconic group has chosen Adam to front their band, and I don’t think it’s because he sounds as good as Bruno Mars. From my psychic outlook, I see Adam rehearsing with Queen and something organic rises from the burning embers. They will begin jamming and improvising and a new song will be born. This song is so good that Queen will decide to release it and then dare radio to play it. And I go back to what I have been saying for months, that Freddie Mercury has something to do with it.
ROCK ON! ADAM LAMBERT
ROCK ON! QUEEN
ROCK ON! QUEENBERT
58 comments
1 ping
Sharon says:
June 9, 2012 at 5:20 PM (UTC 0)
I don’t think Adam is too good for Top 40. I just think he is a better “fit” for HAC singing Pop/rock. WWFM was a big hit because it is that type of song and I feel it is what people expect from Adam. Runnin, Take Back, Underrneath, Broken English have that rockish sound and I think would do well on HAC and be accepted by more people and radio.
Lauriellen says:
June 9, 2012 at 5:41 PM (UTC 0)
@Sharon- Adam has this big odd shaped peg that just doesn’t fit into the little round hole that is today’s Top 40. He does fit better into the AC or HAC format as they do play some of the more sophisticated pop artists as well as older stuff from the legends that Adam seems to get compared to.
This blog was posted on Adamofficial by Noskerdycat and some of the discussion there is about Adam “needing” and “wanting” Top 40 radio. As far as “needing”, I don’t see why. There are many successful artists who aren’t on Top 40. As far as “wanting”, I want lots of things and I recall Adam in the Zodiac Show wanting a flaming headdress. What we want we can’t always have. I’m not convinced that with the way radio operates today that his fans can actually deliver him this wish.
Lauriellen says:
June 8, 2012 at 9:24 PM (UTC 0)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMUGXoRoHA&feature=youtu.be
When I saw this with Elton John, Queen and Adam Lambert all being promoted together with equal billing, it was crystal clear to me that indeed Adam Lambert is too good for today’s Top 40 radio.
He belongs on those stations that play Elton John, Queen, Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson…
Lauriellen says:
June 5, 2012 at 7:50 PM (UTC 0)
By the way, if anyone is interested, I am selling “FREAK FLAGS” that you can decorate to your liking. Here is the page on this blog site.
http://lol-psychic.com/freak-flags/
Abby says:
June 5, 2012 at 2:22 PM (UTC 0)
I don’t know where you guys come off thinking the songs are that great. They’re not. Sorry, but I love Adam, too. It’s just that this album is not as good as FYE. If NCOE was really good, Bruno wouldn’t have given it away – and radio would be playing it. They don’t care if he’s gay or not. They played WWFM. I know, I heard it several times a day.
ViceVersa says:
June 5, 2012 at 3:22 PM (UTC 0)
Well, there are us, and there are the very vast majority of professional music critics who have prised the album a great deal. Perhaps the songs are not *great*, but there seems to be some consensus that they are *at least very good*.
Taste is personal, and that’s OK, but this time you are definitely in the minority.
VV says:
June 5, 2012 at 3:23 PM (UTC 0)
oops, “praised”, not “prosed”
VV says:
June 5, 2012 at 3:25 PM (UTC 0)
oops oops: “not “prosed” and not “prised” either
Abby says:
June 5, 2012 at 11:37 PM (UTC 0)
Yeah, I know. I can’t get over how much the critics seem to like it. I just don’t. I’m sorry.
ViceVersa says:
June 6, 2012 at 1:15 AM (UTC 0)
Well, now I feel for you … waiting over 2 years and not liking it
Is there no song that works for you?
Abby says:
June 6, 2012 at 1:29 AM (UTC 0)
I like “Naked Love”. And “Runnin” is ok.
bigBENberts says:
June 5, 2012 at 4:25 PM (UTC 0)
FYI – song writers / lyricists don’t ‘GIVE’ their songs away. They license their music / lyrics for a variety of uses including other artists to perform, movie / tv, commercial, etc. etc. It is business for profit.
Abby says:
June 5, 2012 at 11:52 PM (UTC 0)
Stil…BEN, I don’t think he would have” LICENSED” it away if he thought it was truly hit worthy. I think if Pink knew WWFM was going to be the hit it was, she wouldn’t have licensed it to Adam. These people know consistent success is fragile in the pop music world. They need every hit they can get.
rachel says:
June 6, 2012 at 2:14 AM (UTC 0)
No, Pink’s song didn’t fit her album. And it was written when she was estranged from her husband and it didn’t fit any longer. If you got back together with your husband and had written a song about the person you dated in between, would you want it on your new album? No.
Bruno’s song didn’t fit his album either.
Songwriters don’t know what will hit. They try, but they don’t hoard only hit songs for themselves. Also, if they can get someone else a hit when they are between eras, it’s good for them too.
Katy Perry wrote ‘I Do Not Hook Up’ and Kelly Clarkson recorded it years later. Also Long Shot.
Sherry says:
August 6, 2012 at 5:06 PM (UTC 0)
If you were a true fan of Adam you would support all his music. I have lived a long time and listened to music of different genres and think by now I have a pretty good idea what is good and what is not. Trespassing is by far the most enjoyable album I’ve every heard and purchased. Adam has developed a new sound by combining different genres or sounds into one which is evident in TSP, Kickin In, Cuckoo and Shady. Pop That Lock is similar to the sound of his 1st album but still fits perfectly on TSP. Trespassing is going sell but it might take another year to go Platinum. The album needs more exposure and so does Adam. Slowly other countries are finding Adam and are buying the album I read tweets every day from new fans in all countries including Islamic countries that are very excited about Adam’s new music. So if you don’t like his new music then keep it to yourself as your negativity can only hurt Adam.
Tess says:
June 5, 2012 at 7:47 AM (UTC 0)
Serious question for the respondents here agreeing with the original post, and for the original poster. Do you actually want more people at Adam concerts? Do you want young people? Young people a very few of of whom might side-eye you a bit if you are in costume, young people who have very different musical tastes than you, young people who might see themselves as mainstream, rather than outsiders, at least in their musical taste? I know I know, it’s nice when Adam sells more and is on TV more for bragging rights… but at what cost?
Because if you don’t, if you are comfortable with the status quo, if in fact, you wouldn’t mind if concerts were smaller in fact, if they were all hard-core fans, none of those pesky radio crowds who don’t know the words of songs or respond immediately, then you are doing it perfectly.
After all, it’s really not about what Adam has said he wants and worked very hard to achieve and the genre he has chosen and the artists he admires and the relentless time and energy he has put into cultivating good relationship with radio is it? It’s all about YOU.
rachel says:
June 5, 2012 at 12:58 PM (UTC 0)
THIS. EXACTLY.
Lauriellen says:
June 5, 2012 at 7:25 PM (UTC 0)
I had all day to think about this and IT IS ALL ABOUT ME!
I have a certain amount of time and money to spend on “entertainment.” I liked this Adam dude on American Idol and I have found great pleasure in following him and buying almost anything he makes available. If it has helped his success and his career, that’s a bonus. If anything I have done has hurt his success or his career, too bad.
I’m not responsible for Adam’s success or failure. It is up to Adam and his management to decide if they think he would be better served by keeping old ladies in silly outfits from coming to concerts or having any access to him or even being able to purchase his music. Does anyone see this slippery slope? The very mission statement of TRESPASSING is to be who you are and bravely “Walk that walk like you don’t give a fukc.” And damnit I’m gonna walk that walk in a silly outfit and hat, waving my TRESPASSING inspired Freak Flag and not caring if anyone is embarrassed by it.
Adam has inspired me. No one wears more ridiculous outfits than he does and he has taught me to see beauty in everyone. The Glamily members that I have met on Adamofficial and at the concerts have become very good friends.
And regarding silly outfits, I live in Pittsburgh and have gone to sporting events where grown men paint their faces and bodies and wear all these black and gold clothes. The spike their hair and spray paint it. A woman I work with has the Steelers logo tattooed on her calf. I wonder if the Steelers think this hurts their success?
Tess says:
June 5, 2012 at 8:32 PM (UTC 0)
I see that I wasn’t very clear. When I mentioned “a very few of of whom might side-eye you a bit if you are in costume,” I actually wasn’t talking about how those very few young people might feel about the costumes, I was asking how you felt about being in a crowd that might contain those young people who love pop music.
I don’t care if people dress up, regardless of age. I’m older, I definitely fly my freak flag when I want to, I’ve sewn costumes and protested in them. Respondents fixating on the outfit thing are missing the larger point. Consistently putting down pop radio, other pop artists, broadcasting far and wide that Adam is too good for pop, that pop listeners are simple minded and have bad taste, that homophobia is the cause of Adam’s (completely normal) gradual airplay gains and then telling this to DJs and spreading it around media comments sections is directly counter to what (it seems to me) Adam would want or need to achieve his goals.
I was rewatching a top 12 idol interview with him the other day. (I became a fan after idol, never watched the show so missed a lot of old stuff), in which he said that his dream was to be a popstar.
Here’s an essay I came across by a fan on “the power of pop” which probably says what I’m trying to say a lot more eloquently:
http://www.adamtopia.com/index.cgi?board=daily&action=display&thread=905&page=1
And by the way the songs on Trespassing have been compared to work by pop artists like Maroon 5 and Britney in some reviews (not that I necessarily agree with the exact analogies, but they have). And Michael Jackson, Prince, Elton John and sometimes David Bowie are played on Hot AC radio stations, which contain a mix of current and past hits and are the second largest radio format in audience impressions that Adam gets airplay on. In fact you can listen to Kesha, and Adam, and Elton John, and Duran Duran, and Bon Jovi, and Katy Perry, and REM all in one hour.
rachel says:
June 6, 2012 at 2:02 AM (UTC 0)
You just don’t get it. Or I guess you do and refuse to care.
Sporting teams aren’t dependent on the same types of demographics.
No one says don’t support Adam, don’t buy his albums. Just don’t be embarrassing in front of radio. Don’t be an asshat to radio. His own concerts are even different than radio concerts.
But you can’t put down US radio and then bitch he doesn’t get played.
Sad to see this happening to Adam. In the US anyway. From the first round of radio visits it was obvious. Glad you see it’s all about you. And after this album, there probably won’t be any concerts to go to anyway.
If I were RCA, I’d concentrate on International. Have a Kylie or Robbie career if he can.
Or, what Tess said.
bigBENberts says:
June 6, 2012 at 7:03 PM (UTC 0)
“Don’t be embarrassing in front of radio”
That is a funny statement….
I’m inclined to think that YOU Rachel need your own blog – so you can set the world ‘straight’ about what is or is not embarrassing, is or is not COOL, who should or should not attend concerts, when ‘age DOES matter, and that to be a fan of a music artist comes with the responsibility of fitting in and shutting up, or disappear – Hun – I guess you missed the lyric in Trespassing:
Life’s my light and liberty
And I shine when I wanna shine.
Make their faces crack
There’s no turnin back.
Jacki says:
June 5, 2012 at 3:52 AM (UTC 0)
I have to agree with Bud. It’s not so much being “too good”, altho mediocrity does rule as far as radio, but the owners of radio will not promote him because he is gay. Their fear or closed mindedness is a mystery to me (cuz, let’s face it, money is money!), but their obvious unwillingness to play Adam from the get go, is not. I sometimes feel they are actively hoping he will fail. I can’t help but think had B. Spears recorded FYE, it would have been a major hit. If Mars had sung NCOE, it would be at the top of the charts & staying there. If MJ were still around, Kickin In would be a major hit. Shall I go on???LOL! Oh heck, if Beiber had recorded Trespassing it would probably even chart! But, the final reason for these hits….they would have been playing on Top 40 radio! I only hope that Adam has some really great endurance & drive so by the time things change, he’ll be around still recording! By the way, Runnin is awesome & I can’t think of anyone who could even come close to the sound of this!
Lauriellen says:
June 5, 2012 at 8:49 AM (UTC 0)
If the problem were Adam’s gayness, WWFM would not be a Platinum hit. I still hear it on the radio.
Like all media, radio actually likes controversy. Perhaps they see this as a game. Consider this, Glamberts hit their web sites and call in requests, show up in large numbers to their concerts and promos, then patiently listen and listen and listen for their request to be played. BINGO! Radio just got all that they needed from the Glamberts because radio doesn’t make money once fans buy TRESPASSING and play it instead of listening to the radio.
Rachel says:
June 5, 2012 at 3:12 AM (UTC 0)
Ok, here’s a perfect case. A completely lovely review with hardly anything bad to say.
But some people just have to pile on and nit pick in comments. And it happens ALL THE TIME mostly by the same people. Adam doesn’t need constant defending. Not to radio, not to reviewers, not in comments. Sometimes too much adoration can hurt.
http://www.metroweekly.com/arts_entertainment/music.php?ak=7421
Sue says:
June 5, 2012 at 12:32 AM (UTC 0)
One of my friends, a casual fan of Adam’s, asked me why she never hears Adam on the radio. “His music is SOOOO good! Why don’t the radio stations play him??”
It’s hard to explain to someone who is not as (obsessively) involved as we are. Many good points have been made in this article – and in comments. I disagree with the “don’t wear bee colors to radio shows” comments. We DO have money! And we are very supportive fans who might support radio’s advertisers (or not!).
Personally, I think radio sucks (oops! Politically incorrect!) and can barely stand the crap they play. Adele is awesome, but I don’t need to hear her three times in an hour. It would be a miracle if Adam and others like him could break through the steel vaulted curtain hung by the radio execs.
I attended multiple radio shows in New England and was pleased to see so many young fans- 12 to 30 age. At two, they were in the majority. Such a positive feeling also. We need to continue to request and be positive. I remain forever hopeful.
ViceVersa says:
June 4, 2012 at 6:52 PM (UTC 0)
Hello LE,
First, let me tell you that I wore that giant hat in public the other day. Fabulous and I love it. It behaves like a sail when there is wind though, so it can only be worn in extremely calm weather conditions.
Your article: nice read, and funny, and there may be some shade of truth.
The radio situation is frustrating. But perhaps it is true that they do not have enough requests. He simply does not have enough fans, even though he had a #1 album. I realize that it is a chicken and egg thing, but it is what it is. Radios have sponsors, so they play what the demographic they want to target wants. One good thing is that they did play WWFM a lot, so perhaps they will play NCOE too; it appears to be getting more momentum than BTIKM. All I can do is request regularly and politely, so that’s what I’ll keep doing. That’s the only way I know to get him on top 40 radio, where HE wants to be.
Regarding radio 40 listeners, I have to say that I am a little annoyed at reading that Adam is too good for them (here and on AO, from several fans). Really, we are that much more fabulous than the average person? I think not. I also think it is harmful to say such things: if you decide a priori that there is a good camp and a bad camp, then you will never succeed in bringing people over to the good side. If top 40 radios play Adam, I am sure listeners will like him (bar the homophobic kind; these are lost for good); they did like WWFM after all.
_Lilzy (@_Lilzy) says:
June 4, 2012 at 5:49 PM (UTC 0)
You described it very succinctly, Ms. Lauriellen
And the sad part is even Adam said he fells so ‘sales-man” like going from radio to radio to promote the album (he did like meeting the fans though) but the bottom line is, Radio is controlled by couple of conglomerates with middle-aged white men at the helm.
Back to US Radio – Glamberts, how many MORE copies of Trespassing do I need to buy? Just let me know… I want to show Big Radio a very well manicured middle finger, you know.
As far as something rising from the ashes and a new, organic Queen song is born – I have been hoping and visualizing this for a looooong time now! I firmly believe that Brian, Roger and Adam will make magic together and that Freddie is sitting on his heavenly couch, laughing his head off and sending astral power with subliminal music to their brains! My MasterCard is fully out and I am waiting for THAT collaboration to hit the internet, even if ‘but this was a private jam and wasn’t supposed to leak and it was something of a concept… BUT now that YOU all like it…”
LOL, I am queenberting already
RedRoseQueen1 says:
June 4, 2012 at 2:46 PM (UTC 0)
I totally agree with this article and its assessment of Top 40 Pop radio. Name ONE male pop star that even comes close to singing as great as Adam Effing Lambert. You can’t, because there aren’t any.
<3 <3 <3
Radio DOES manipulate pop pablum for the masses.Most young kids today are guided by peer pressure and the Top 40. A few smart ones think outside the box and are on board with Adam because they recognize true TALENT. Now if only DJs and PDs were as smart as THOSE kids!
Either way, I am a fan for LIFE! He has a small but growing and very LOYAL fan base. And he is making waves Internationally!
So he’ll be just fine in the long run.
noskerdycat says:
June 4, 2012 at 12:31 PM (UTC 0)
Very nice @LE – great article!
.
but might I add that radio is a manipulation machine….
and currently trying to hold on to that power
and when the power is threatened or begins to slip they rely on smoke and mirrors to make you think they are powerful.
When the listener becomes the REAL customer and THE LISTENER gets to have a true say in what is played – there will be a break in the trend of RADIO dishing out only what radio want folks to believe are hits( what radio has promised to ‘make’ a hit)
Listener driven radio will erode the current system and allow the music to reach the audience it was meant for.
Rachel says:
June 4, 2012 at 11:08 AM (UTC 0)
If you don’t see how blogs like this harm Adam more than help, you truly don’t get it. YAY let’s bash radio, who Adam desperately needs! Let’s look completely clueless to how labels work and how singles get chosen.
Adam wants to be on Top 40 radio. Showing up in caution tape looking like a fool only perpetuates the meme that his fans don’t listen to Top 40 and are out of touch with today’s music. Why would radio want to play him? It’s not the demographic they want to court.
Some of his ‘fans’ are truly out for themselves and don’t have Adam’s best interest at heart. See the forest for the trees, take down this post.
Playing with Queen is a huge honor. But it’s ridiculous to think it will get him a hit.
You know the saying, with fans like these, who needs enemies.
bigBENberts says:
June 4, 2012 at 12:17 PM (UTC 0)
OMG Rachel – YOU have missed the whole point – WHY would you want to …..perpetuate a world where radio is out for payola an ass licks. … are you in favor of folding AdLam up into a nice neat piece of paper that fits those azz cracks?
This man was meant to change the face and landscape of music – not be beaten down to an edgeless nub. HE is WAY too good for radio – and they know it….if RADIO lets him be a hit once…. then they will have to play his music in the future..and they are trying to avoid that ass chappin if they can.
Rachel says:
June 4, 2012 at 11:38 PM (UTC 0)
No, I think you’ve missed the point. HE WANTS RADIO. HE NEEDS RADIO. HE’S NOT TOO GOOD FOR RADIO. And most importantly, HE CAN’T CHANGE RADIO.
Moreover, he needs casual fans. Radio brings those fans to concerts .If he’s ever going to have a bigger tour than small theaters, he needs radio. If he is going to sing on award shows, he needs radio.
So go ahead and keep harming him, he’ll be out of a record deal and in a small theater so you can wear all the caution tape you want and sit up nice and close.
It’s arrogant to think he’s better than radio. I guarantee he doesn’t think it. And he doesn’t need fans sinking his radio ship while it’s barely afloat.
Notice where he doesn’t have fan issues? Non-US. Where they listen to pop radio. They know how to act.
I’d love a song from Brian and Roger, but given most Top 40 PDs weren’t even around for Queen music, I guarantee they won’t care either.
bigBENberts says:
June 5, 2012 at 12:43 AM (UTC 0)
Rachel you are a piece of werk – and your rabid protests on this thread are inconsistent at best. One minute you preach that the caution tape wearing fans have the ‘power’ to destroy his career and in the next breath you talk about how powerless Adam is over radio and that he needs fans to only be and act a certain way – - – have you forgotten the talent of this man? Sounds to me like YOU are the arrogant one because you proclaim to wisely know all about what is correct – yet its clear you know nothing and…. quite simply….
BB YOU IS a NUT CASE!
rachel says:
June 5, 2012 at 1:40 AM (UTC 0)
Fans have the power to not be idiots when talking to radio. How many interviews have we heard have fans called and said something like ‘OMG he’s just like Elvis!’ So not what he needs. Just don’t be an idiot is all I want.
Adam is the one powerless with radio. His talent has nothing to do with it at this point. He delivered a great album. He’s done his sales pitch. It’s now up to the label.
Mary says:
June 5, 2012 at 7:16 AM (UTC 0)
Read closely, she didn’t say anything about fans in caution tape destroying his career, she said they perpetuate a meme (google is your friend if you don’t know what that is), that isn’t helpful to Adam.
Seriously, Rachel is completely right about the bashing of radio and top 40 music in this blog and fandom in general. The reason why it distresses fans (like me) who like Top 40 music and follow radio closely is that it doesn’t stay in blogs, it leaks out into fans interactions with DJs through tweets and phone calls, and into the comments sections of articles that are read by casual and potential Adam fans.
Guess what, pop music buyers and listeners like Trespassing, a lot! They also like artists like Bieber, Nick Minaj, and artist’s Adam has praised like Riri and Katy Perry and Bruno. When they read comments and posts like this on articles about Adam, it’s putting down the music they love, and telling them their taste sucks.
Really makes you want to go to an Adam show and hang out with fans who feel this way about you doesn’t it? Really makes you want to get involved in the fandom. Not to mention how harmful it can be with DJs.
Try putting Adam’s needs first and being a realist.
bigBENberts says:
June 5, 2012 at 1:38 PM (UTC 0)
Rachel, I GET IT NOW!….
YOU worship radio,
YOU hate old people who dress up in funny hats and bumble bee costumes,
YOU believe any fan who doesn’t ‘see’ it your way is harming Adam,
and
YOU WILL NEVER change the world.
I’m just wondering … when you reach the age where others are dictating that you should NOT TRESPASS into their world…. because you DON’T FITand are not wanted and are ‘harming’ them… will you be a good little – do gooder… and go away nicely?
Dee says:
June 4, 2012 at 3:43 PM (UTC 0)
Rachel, I agree. The kind of people who show up in caution tape, bee outfits and “Trespassing colors” to radio concerts are an embarrassment and not the kind of demographic that radio is looking for.
Adam needs radio to become the kind of pop artist he wants to be and radio needs hip, young fans who actually LIKE pop radio, not the grannies who just want to be first row at an Adam concert to stare at his crotch.
This insane type of entitled feeling of ownership, perhaps a remnant of that Idoltard mentality, the same shit that the Claymates did – oh, gawd, the horror! – is destructive and completely toxic to a young pop artist like Adam.
These type of selfish fans, like the ppl replying to this blog saying that this “psychic” woman is right have no concept of the 21st century pop music landscape that Adam is a part of and wants to thrive in.
Think of Adam and his image and take this stupid blog down. Don’t put filth like this out in the universe! If you really want to help Adam succeed at least keep your delusion to yourselves or discuss your out of touch fantasies like this on password protected forums where nobody can see them. Or you.
anesthesia29 says:
June 4, 2012 at 3:57 PM (UTC 0)
Actually, Dee your words are paralleling other groups that label and hate people who dare to like, love or listen to who ever they please. Your ‘phobias’ are showing, and not in a pleasant way.
Boxing Adam into a genre or thinking he should only appeal to a narrow demographic, and his fans should also fit a particular mould is what I would call a manipulative and toxic plan. The mere fact you cannot refrain from attacking free expression without calling it filth is indicative of your own lack of respect for what Adam himself stands for.
This is from a ‘young’ fan ( Adam’s age) who wore yellow, black, and painted my nails in Trespassing colors for the DC concert -
ViceVersa says:
June 4, 2012 at 6:14 PM (UTC 0)
I find that post like yours create serious harm.
) on AI. Gaga’s fans always costume themselves outrageously for her concerts; and she is current isn’t she?
Perhaps you have some good points, but your hatred for some of the fans is unbearable. These fans you hate so are those who buy multiple copies of Adam’s CD, and who have kept him afloat so far. And he knows that. What have your done?
Regarding costuming, it is not my thing either. But Adam and his band wore black and yellow (or was it green
rachel says:
June 4, 2012 at 11:53 PM (UTC 0)
I went to Gaga’s concert. Yes, her fans dressed in fun costumes. And they were teens and early 20s. And her concert held 17k people in my town. So even if a few older fans dressed up, it wasn’t prominent.
Adam is young, pop radio is young. Of course he needs to keep all his fans, but don’t you remember what it was like to be a teenager? When I went to a Duran Duran concert in my teens, nothing would have been more un-cool to me than my mom dressing up in Nick Rhodes attire. And that’s what it looks like to radio stations. Un-cool.
Is it ageist? Well probably. BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT US. IT’S ABOUT ADAM. And if we want him to succeed, we shouldn’t do things that harm him.
That means supporting by politely requesting. Not battling radio as if we are better than him. Actually listening to radio (which I do) and not make fools of ourselves. It’s not that difficult.
noskerdycat says:
June 5, 2012 at 1:07 AM (UTC 0)
Well put a halt on Christmas! my dear Rachel cuz that old man playing Santa Claus is one big fool – how embarrasing!! OMG
And lawd help the lunatics of all ages in New Orleans when they celebrate Mardi Gras and dress up in the likes of ….. well sometimes the unspeakable…. And be damned to all those fans over the age of what….29 who get bat shit crazy over their sports team….Honey – put that shot glass down and ask for another round! Loosen up my dear
rachel says:
June 5, 2012 at 1:44 AM (UTC 0)
What does Mardi Gras have to do with Top 40 radio? or Sports?
Vice says:
June 5, 2012 at 2:04 AM (UTC 0)
Honestly, I think radio doesn’t care at all about the crazy costumed, sometimes older, fans. I think it is some of the younger fans who care. And maybe that’s normal; and I may have had the same reaction when I was a teenager.
But isn’t it nice to see older people living the life? At what age should one, YOU, abandon the life?
We just have to work harder at converting young fans, and then the old ones will just blend in
noskerdycat says:
June 5, 2012 at 2:05 AM (UTC 0)
oh, I’m sorry Rachel… I overestimated your ability to comprehend metaphor, parallels, and the subtext within comments.
Lauriellen says:
June 4, 2012 at 6:52 PM (UTC 0)
@Rachel- You have the freedom to like or hate my blog and I have the freedom to write it. I often write things that are disturbing for some people to hear, much like Adam’s lyrics. One of the responses on Twitter said that the reason Adam isn’t played on radio is that he does have a message and it’s not one that some people want to hear.
You said that Adam desperately needs radio. The whole point of this blog was to say that TRESPASSING debuted at #1 in spite of it not getting heard on radio. There are lots of ways to make money in the music industry and right now Adam is trying to figure out the best way for him. None of us can make radio love Adam.
Rachel says:
June 4, 2012 at 11:46 PM (UTC 0)
And without radio, the album won’t sell for long. It’s a fact. It’ll only sell to existing fans and then it’ll be done.
It’s true none of us can make radio love Adam. But we certainly can make radio dislike him. And nothing radio and advertisers dislike more than the wrong demographic telling them they are too stupid for their jobs.
Mary says:
June 5, 2012 at 7:29 AM (UTC 0)
gurl, you are telling it like it is, especially your last line, but I don’t think they want to hear it.
Personally I think the costume thing is a bit of a red herring, yes it turns off some younger fans, yes, it can and does get mocked but for me you can show up dressed as a bumblebee complete with feelers and clown shoes as long as you enthusiastically embrace your radio station and celebrate it’s current playlist while berting about other pop artists in addition to Adam.
And honestly I think that’s what some of the respondents here are getting their back up about rather than hearing your very, very important point. They wanna wear their funny hats dammit! I say let them, just wear a Gaga or Bruno tshirt with it
ViceVersa says:
June 5, 2012 at 4:29 PM (UTC 0)
Dear Mary, I hope you are not referring to Lauriellen’s “funny” hat in the photo above!! I got that hat from her at the end of the concert, to increase my large hat collection. I wear it in real life, un-costumed, and I look fab
noskerdycat says:
June 6, 2012 at 6:47 PM (UTC 0)
I would only consider wearing that ‘funny’ black hat……if my life depended on it.
Obviously – I can’t pull off fab chic – but I can enjoy watching others who do it well.
funbunn40 says:
June 4, 2012 at 10:44 AM (UTC 0)
I agree, Lauriellen that Adam is too good for radio that plays mind numbing fluff, whereas Adam’s Trespassing has something worthwhile to say. Underneath will rip your heart out and is my absolute favorite. He;s vocally at the top of his game and the passion and emotion he delivers sets the bar so high, no one matches it. Outlaws of Love is another that conveys the sadness and frustration that LBGTs live with on a daily basis. The upbeat tracks also tell a story and is too sophisticated for the station managers or directors. The Djs seem to have a great rapport and respect for Adam. The recent interviews so upbeat and positive. Nothing in Charlotte is being played, just Country and Hip Hop and I don’t care to listen to either one. Trespassing is on continuous replay for me. Radio has become obsolete.
Micki says:
June 4, 2012 at 7:48 AM (UTC 0)
You totally nailed it with this. Perfect! Sadly, I can confirm to at least some degree what bud said … He IS fighting against a LOT of homophobia either directly or indirectly (by which I mean people deciding what the radio can play may not be homophobic but are afraid that if they play Adam the homophobes will boycott their stations &/or sponsors, and drive down business for them.) Radio in the 70′s was, as I understand it, 90% music & 10% politics. Today it is completely flipped from that. very little is about good music of whatever genre, it’s all politics & what they think is best for the almighty dollar. The stn I listen to plays a little of Adam, but fairly infrequently, & its like 9 plays of WWFM for every 1 of IIHY, & 10 of that for every FYE, all off the previous album. Getting them to play anything off TRESPASSING is like pulling hens teeth. I finally heard BTIKM, but have yet to hear NCOE. The stn I used to listen to was more like what the released singles seem like, but I was outright told by one of the djs, who said he personally is a glambert, that their stn mgr ‘has concerns’ about playing Adam, and will not play anything untill it gets into the top 20 on the countdown, & even then only reluctantly. And I’m in Canada, not the USA. We like to think we’re not so controlled by fear/hate as the US seems to be, but truthfully its no different. I think it’s just a little less open up here.
MidnightWhispers says:
June 4, 2012 at 7:27 AM (UTC 0)
LaurieEllen, everyone who knows me knows that I have a gift for gabbing about Adam, Adam, Adam and more Adam but there’s no way that I could top what you wrote in this one cuz whoa babe, you nailed it! Adam has always been unique in his own beautiful sparkly way right from the beginning! And teeee heeee you made me laugh when you said that Adam is too good for Top 40 radio and I totally agree with you cuz in the USA until people who are still living in the Dark Ages decide to get offa their narrow-minded ways and learn to accept everyone; no radio stations will play Adam Lambert. He’s too special and actually deserves much better treatment that what he’s been given by radio and certainly TV stations in the US. I’m gonna jump offa my soap box cuz you said everything perfectly and I don’t need to add to it! Thank you for a beautiful and perfectly-worded and very much appreciated comments. I so agree with my Glambert Sissie Feetchick’s comments also! xoxoxo
Sharon says:
June 4, 2012 at 6:16 AM (UTC 0)
You nailed it, Lauriellen, and the sad reality is, I think bud did also.
Luv your pics!
Vicky aka VickStiX says:
June 4, 2012 at 6:07 AM (UTC 0)
This is SOOOOOO PERFECT! Adam IS just too damn good for radio PERIOD! Lauriellen you say so eloquently and perfect, just what ALL us glamberts have known for three years now. BRAVO for being someone who ‘gets it’ and has nailed it on the money, with this analysis.
bud says:
June 4, 2012 at 5:37 AM (UTC 0)
Fortunately we are talking about the US not the whole world
Being too good isn’t the issue being too gay is.
American top 40 program directors must really be imbeciles.
Lauriellen,nice pics……..I even like your freak flag!
Bren says:
June 4, 2012 at 5:10 AM (UTC 0)
BAM!
Right in the kisser!
You nailed it, and said what I’ve been thinking for a few weeks, now.
Thank you for your insight and your conclusion. I can harrrrdly wait to hear what these magic musicians, Queen and Adam, create together! “/”
feetchick says:
June 4, 2012 at 3:26 AM (UTC 0)
i think you nailed it miss Lauriellen. does it make me happy, this radio shunning even tho he (and i agree) is WAYYYYYYYY like beyond milky way lol above the usual radio fodder, it disgusts me beyond belief. but i feel you have read my mind with this one and put out the most clever analysis ever. thank you for your wit, grace and overall just getting it, as most of us Glamily will no doubt agree. xox
Lee says:
June 4, 2012 at 1:25 AM (UTC 0)
I’ve asked myself the very same question. He can’t get past the crap that people are used to listening to. Cursing loudly here.
Grammy Nomination for Adam Lambert - » says:
December 6, 2012 at 3:56 AM (UTC 0)
[...] Someone has to do it since we can’t count on radio. I’ve been saying it since my blog “Candyland vs. Chess: Is Adam Lambert too good for Top 40 Radio?” on June 3, 2012 and it now doesn’t sound like I’m out in left [...]