Adam Lambert 24/7 News

"I like being an open book... I’m not playing the celebrity game of being PC and saying the right thing all the time."
- Adam Lambert, on being himself.

"Being at the centre of it is really overwhelming at times. I just try to keep it real and stay who I am."
- Adam Lambert, on staying ground in the celebrity world.

Mar 12, 2010. By Jordana Borensztajn.

Adam Lambert has an undisputable ‘wow’ factor. The 2009 America Idol runner up doesn’t just have fan bases in more than 15 different countries, he has cult followings – fans that track every tweet, show up in hordes at every media opportunity, and follow him from city to city.

Obviously, rising to fame through American Idol is an incredible starting point for an artist. Adam Lambert’s taken this great opportunity and made it golden. Massive stars like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Perez Hilton jumped on his bandwagon very early on through his Idol journey, he’s won the hearts of critics worldwide, and the paparazzi’s snapped him up, trailing the star everywhere he goes.

How has he created such a powerful phenomenon? A wild performance at the American Music Awards involving a raunchy pash with a male dancer on stage gave Lambert quite a controversial reputation – but he doesn’t view his behavior as risqué.

At the Nova studios in Melbourne this week, Lambert took a moment before explaining why he believes people have taken to him so quickly. “I feel comfortable in my own skin. I’m 28 years old, and I’ve gone through a lot in my 20s. I know who I am, what I like, have my opinions and know what they are. Plus I can sing a little,” he says, laughing.

"I’m just being myself and it’s tough in the public eye to not filter yourself – but I don’t like filtering. I like being an open book so therefore I seem controversial because I’m not playing the celebrity game of being PC and saying the right thing all the time and it’s gotten me into trouble.

“It’s a lot easier to just be real and I think that’s what’s given me that label and I accept it. I definitely don’t mind being called controversial. It’s cool.”

Lambert, who was recently Down Under for a promo tour plugging his debut solo delivery For Your Entertainment, has come a hell of a way in a short time. Unlike most Idol hopefuls, Lambert didn’t join because he was a fan of the show. He just saw an opportunity and gave it a shot.

“From the minute Idol started I couldn’t believe I kept making it to the next round. I just thought ‘I just want to make top 12 or 13 to go touring over the summer, because it was like a gig.’ And then once I made that break I thought ‘OK, I’ll probably get voted off around 7th.' But it just kept working out. I got to the finale and everything happened and now I’m promoting it around the world. It’s like a dream come true.”

Lambert has been riding a wild and chaotic rollercoaster of fame over the last 10 months. He says living in L.A for close to a decade and working in the entertainment industry conditioned him to the highs and lows of the business, providing him with important tools to tackle some of the challenges that have come his way.

“The change is weird. It took a little time to adjust to it. It’s not something anyone gives you a handbook for. I lived in L.A. for about 10 years and so I’ve been around it on the sidelines and that helped. I’m a little desensitized to the paparazzi machines and the way things work, but being at the centre of it is really overwhelming at times. I just try to keep it real and stay who I am and maintain my family relationships and my friendships. And I really rely on those people to keep it real with me. You just kind of roll with it.

“Having a good attitude helps. If I get too stressed out or take it too seriously, it makes it tough. If I learn how to laugh at it with a lighthearted approach, and just enjoy it, I realise I’m basically just playing dress up for a living. It ain’t so bad (smiles).”

Photo: Getty Images/ Getty Images Entertainment/ Gaye Gerard

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