Arts & Entertainment
The Talented Mr. Lambert
Listen in on our chat with American Idol finalist
and soon-to-be superstar Adam Lambert.
Gail Zimmerman
Arts & Entertainment Editor
I
Pho tos by Cr a ig
may have cut my musical teeth on the Beatles, but Adam
Lambert — an artist with an incredible three-octave range,
movie-star-handsome looks, creative fashion sense, mes-
merizing stage presence, and an amiable offstage personality, to
boot — is the guy I've gotta whole lot of love for these days. Like
many women of my generation, I can't get enough of him. And
I'm not alone.
"There are thousands of women of a certain age out there who
are just one Adam Lambert Google search away from crashing their
computers,"Newsweek's Joan Raymond wrote in a June blog titled
Why Cougars Crave Idol Runner-Up Adam Lambert. "The good
news is that people who know about these things think
that our little Lambert love-fest is downright
mentally healthy"
Raymond goes on to quote sex therapist
Laura Berman, director of the Berman Center
in Chicago, who says, "I think more women
would be happier if they channeled their
inner 14-year-old girls once in a while."
Lambert, Berman believes, somehow man-
ages to be "hardcore, crazy, humble, ador-
able, charismatic, sweet and mind-blowingly
talented," all in one package. "He's a study in
contrasts, and the gay thing doesn't matter,"
she says. "Anyone who can get women to
talk, giggle and get their mojo back is fine
by me."
So you can imagine my excitement
when I received an e-mail from the
"American Idols Live 2009" press people
saying that interviews were available to
promote the Idols' Aug. 26 appearance at the
Palace of Auburn Hills.
"Can I get an interview with Adam? He's the
only Jewish Idol in the bunch:' I write. "Sorry, but
his schedule is just too hectic?'
The consolation prize? "You can come to the press
hour before the concert if you like?' The catch? There's
a 50/50 chance Adam will be there. Only five of the
10 Idols do press before each concert, and there is no
way to say in advance who they'll be.
I decide to take my chances. I come to the Palace
on the day of the concert and hope for the best.
About six or seven other press outlets are repre-
sented, including some local TV and radio stations.
We are escorted into a dimly lit room.
A press officer from the AI machine comes in and
announces that the Idols will be coming out shortly
— not necessarily all at one time — and they
would include Adam (thank you, God!). Absolutely
no autographs or photos, she says.
She explains that the Idols will rotate around and that the journalists will
have to speak with whomever ends up at their table — although we might
not get a chance to speak with all of them.
"You'll get about 31/2 minutes with each Idol," she says. "You can ask
whatever you want, but I suggest you don't ask about Paula Abdul.
Everyone has been asking about her, and they don't know anything more
about it."
I go up to her and explain "the Jewish connection" and my desire to speak
with Adam. She can't make any promises.
The Idols trickle out (I don't see Adam). She brings one over to me and
introduces me as "Esther" from the Jewish News. I correct her on my name,
and she apologizes. The Idol quickly figures out he isn't
going to get much press from me.
I see a tall figure with asymmetrically cut black
hair — wearing jeans and a T-shirt — enter the
room. Adam is smiling. Without his stage makeup,
he looks younger than his 27 years. I concur with
what Adam's mom, Leila Lambert, said during
an interview on ABC's 20/20: "I always said he
was like sunshine. He just walks into a room
and he, he just glows?'
I'm talking with another Idol when I see
Adam approaching with the publicist. (She
must feel badly about calling me Esther.) I
wish the Idol well, and he moves on.
The publicist introduces me to Adam.
(Like Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, I'd
like to say, "Hello, Gorgeous." But I am
trying to maintain some sense of pro-
fessionalism.)
Adam sits down next to me at the
table and shakes my hand. We are face-to-
face, sitting about two feet apart. He imme-
diately makes an intense kind of eye contact,
which he maintains throughout the interview,
making me feel like I'm the only person in the
room.
I abandon my notes and, hoping my tape
recorder is working, decide to ask my prepared
questions from memory. I don't want to look
away; I am having an out-of-body experience.
Adam laughs often and totally engages in
the conversation. He is warm, polite, candid,
good-natured and quick-witted, with a great
sense of humor.
Best of all, he doesn't flinch when I
instinctively touch his arm. (Did I mention
he's gorgeous?).
Listen in on our conversation:
Mr. Lambert on page 51
Adam Lambert
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