Adam Lambert Opens Up About Success, Grammy Nomination
American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert says he “earned his success” after the announcement of his Grammy nomination
Adam Lambert may have been the runner-up in Season Eight of American Idol, but he certainly came in first place in the AI race for Grammy nominations with his Top 10 single “Whataya Want From Me” being nominated for Best Male Pop Performance. The song, featured on his debut album For Your Entertainment, was produced by hitmaker Max Martin and co-written by Martin, Shellback and pop singer P!nk. The song was originally intended for P!nk, but Lambert made the song a hit.
Lambert spoke with the Hollywood Reporter about the song’s process and his feelings surrounding his surreal Grammy nod:
“I recorded ‘Whataya Want From Me’ on a day off from the Idols Live Arena tour and I was pretty wiped out due to the show schedule. I knew the song would be a key track on my album and it was my first time working with the incredible Max Martin and Shellback, so I was a bit apprehensive. The vocal ad libs at the end were the most challenging as they are quite high and it had been a long day. When I heard the first mix, I felt really confident the song would have success thanks to the flawless production.”
As for his opinion on the legitimacy of his nod, since some critics believe the timing is all wrong since he was a product of a reality-TV show, he had this to say:
“I believe ‘American Idol’ is a dream platform for any artist. It did not however, teach me how to sing or perform. I made music for years prior to the show but knew that most major labels wouldn’t be interested in me as a mainstream pop artist unless I could develop a legitimate fan base and prove that I had talent. ‘Idol’ gave me these opportunities. But I feel I earned my current success by preparing and executing a variety of strong performances every week on the show and being comfortable being different.”
And he adds:
“In addition to the writers and producers of the track, I hope that at this point, after all the hard work I’ve done over the past year, the nomination will give me credibility as a true vocalist in the industry and perhaps help fade some of the stigma that comes from rising to fame on a competition show.”
Now that the two-year old album For Your Entertainment hangs on the lower levels of the Billboard 200 (last reported at #174 in Nov. 20 issue), Lambert has just released an acoustic EP album, Adam Lambert Acoustic Live!, has just since been released to online retail and at www.adamofficial.com.
FURTHER READING >>
Adam Lambert On His Grammy Nomination: ‘I Earned My Success’ [Billboard.com]Adam Lambert Reveals ‘Acoustic’ EP Cover, Release Date [Billboard.com]
