Saturday 17 December 2011

Better Than I Know Myself - Stream with Lyrics


YESSSSS!!! I'm thrilled I didn't have to wait very long for the full song after deciding to skip on the snippets. It leaked earlier today but now I've finally listened to it for the first time from the official site. Here it is for your listening pleasure:



First impressions are it's got much more of an urban sound than what I was expecting. One of the things that stands out is the beat. I think the uniformity and simplicity of the beats from FYE let it down a little so I'm incredibly happy to hear something quite different. I wanted something more complex and this syncopated beat hits the mark. Brilliant. I recognise the rhythm but the names of songs on which it has been used escape me so if you could enlighten me I'd be grateful.

It's not your bog-standard catchy pop tune, being light on instrumental melody and with no instrumental hook. Instead it has a synthesiser drone in the background (which resembles the reverent sound of a church organ in the intro and also has a hint of Sleepwalker) that hardly competes with Adam's voice, allowing it to take centre stage. And that voice is marvelous. No vocal trickery or acrobatics but there's plenty of that graininess that I love and can't get enough of, especially on 'sometimes'. It's only the high notes in the chorus that I feel have lost a little in the production but I'm already excited about the prospect of being able to hear it belted out live in an attack of goosebumps.

Here are the lyrics:
Cold as ice
And more bitter than a December
Winter night
That's how I treated you
And I know that I
I sometimes tend to lose my temper
And I cross the line
Yeah that's the truth

I know it gets hard sometimes
But I could never
Leave your side
No matter what I say

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

All along
I tried to pretend it didn't matter
If I was alone
But deep down I know
If you were gone
For even a day I wouldn't know
Which way to turn
Cause I'm lost without you

I know it gets hard sometimes
But I could never
Leave your side
No matter what I say

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

I get kind of dark
Let it go too far
I can be obnoxious at times
But try and see my heart
Cause I need you now
So don't let me down
You're the only thing in this world
I would die without

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself

'Cause if I wanted to go I would have gone by now
But I really need you near me to
Keep my mind off the edge
If I wanted to leave I would have left by now
But you're, you're the only one that knows me
Better than I know myself
I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the lyrics because I see nothing particularly original or inspiring. I also prefer them to be implicit and not written in the first person addressing someone directly when it comes to relationships. But that probably says more about me than the songwriting. Anyway, lyrics tend not to be as important to me as the sound.

For me, the song is all about the groove and the atmosphere it generates. It's a self-reflective one for the headphones, a slow grindy one for the dancefloor, or a tender fucky one for the bedroom. It's quite a big step away from FYE and as a first single, it's a pleasantly surprising choice and one that has me very excited for what else is to come on Trespassing. I'm hooked already.

Friday 16 December 2011

Better Than I Know Myself - Preview


After months of waiting and tapping our fingers, we've finally got something to feast on! Adam first revealed the name of the single nearly a month ago. 'Better Than I Know Myself' leaves a bit of room for ambiguity. Could it mean that someone else understands me more than I do myself? Or does it mean that I'm better at something I than I realise? Anyway, Adam tweeted out the links to first the single cover, then a preview of his new single. It makes a welcome change that for once, the roll-out wasn't through an unauthorised leak but delivered personally from Adam, breaking Twitter in the process. I'm sure his inner control freak was involved, with his social media nous getting the official press release to arrive via Facebook.

Here's the preview snippet for you to listen to:



I'm afraid though that I'm in the minority and have been using all my willpower to resist the temptation to listen to it and avoid reading about it. Thankfully I don't have too long to wait as it comes out on 20th December, otherwise I would've wolfed it down. I remember listening to the snippets from FYE and realised how different I felt after listening to the full songs. I decided then that this time I'd listen to the whole thing with open mind and virgin ears, without any preconceived ideas. A new song only has one chance to make a first impression so I want to ensure I get the right one via a full undiluted experience.

Here's the single artwork, done by Lee Cherry:


While not as controversial as the FYE album cover nor as much of a talking point as the acoustic EP cover, I think the stark grainy image has a hard, raw feel. No glitter, no camp, with minimal make-up and desaturated colours, this is a definite step away from the FYE era. With the aged brown edges, I can't help feeling it looks like it was run through one of those preset Instagram filters that are a bit too popular these days. If I were to be hyper-critical, I'd say I'm not keen on the typefaces. There's something quite dark-humour-psycho-horror-flick about the style of his name, and the title looks a touch too rounded and light for my taste. I'm more than thrilled though that he didn't have that weird wide forehead shaved sides hairdo! The thick high hair gets the thumbs up from me.

The photo itself is one in which Lee Cherry once again captures Adam's beauty from the view of an observer, in a natural, non-confrontational way. He doesn't appear to be consciously posing but in contemplation, focusing his attention elsewhere. The imagery doesn't come as a surprise as I think it was something he'd been working towards. We'd seen glimpses of it from Moscow and various photos since then. I guess you could call it safe, but I'd say it embodies his desire not to appear too try-hard, just quietly content and confident that the music will be making all the bold statements.

Monday 14 November 2011

Majors and Minors


This is something we'd been looking forward to for months and after a few delays, we finally got it. We already know that Adam makes a good mentor with his stints on AI and Project Runway but this one is a little bit different, being with a group of children who are preparing to put on a performance of WWFM:



I'm not one for going goo-goo over kids but it warmed the cockles of my heart to see all the flailing and squeeing so commonplace in this fandom, in miniature. They seemed quite precocious and perceptive, hitting the nail on the head when it came to describing Adam's poise and presence. Dressed as a casual rock star, he was very attentive towards them, giving much of that furrowed brow expression of intense concentration while imparting his wisdom through useful and supportive advice. I think his advice brought to the fore the fact that like any instrument, there are many intricacies to master when it comes to singing, such as using emphasis in phrasing and intonation to create an emotional connection to the audience, and how confidence and using your body can up your performance level. Adam makes it all seem so instinctive and easy. When he sings WWFM, he makes his voice sound so sweet that he's sure to always get whatever he wants with it, however major (or minor).

Here's something I made specially for the occasion:

Sunday 6 November 2011

Crowning the EMAs


Thoughts are a jumble, tuning in was a hectic scramble but got there just in time for this, the not-very-well-kept secret of Adam and global icons Queen crowning off the EMAs with a medley of "The Show Must Go On", "Under Pressure", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions":



MAGNIFICENT.

Power.

Panache.

What a voice.

What a frontman.

No one else could.

Global Icon.

I got my wish.

There may be some more thoughts tomorrow after repeated viewings.

Also, weird red carpet wide forehead hair with fugly clunky blue shoes that remind me of '80s wallabies. But I don't give a fuck when has a voice like that and performs like that.
Did I mention that he's a fucking megastar?

Tuesday 1 November 2011

A Voodoo Halloween


It's a bit late but I couldn't leave you on Adam's favourite holiday without a seasonal little treat: my edit of Voodoo from New Orleans, the place I consider to be the spiritual home of Glam Nation. I have to admit I cheated a little with this one and used Glam Nation Live to bulk up the sound a bit as we didn't get any good quality audio. Luckily for me, this is possible as Voodoo uses a backing track and doesn't vary as much as the other songs. Enjoy!



The opening chords of Voodoo often come entwined with a spinetingling moment as the dramatic silhouette of Adam against a full moon heralds the beginning of an excitedly anticipated set. This one is my favourite from Glam Nation for going that extra mile through the costume additions. Not only does he have the voodoo staff but the creepy troupe hide mysteriously behind their elaborate masks. Much attention to detail is paid through the snaky Brooke, creeping Sasha, marionette Taylor and undead Terrance choreography. The way that witch doctor Adam uses his voice at times is quite ghostly, seducing you into a trance at your pleasure and peril.

For more seasonal treats, visit the quotes and gallery of Adam's Halloween costumes through the years and Adam's Party City set, sung as a vampire with fangs in and all. And if you fancy a cute spooky T-shirt inspired by his Glam Nation Voodoo visuals, click the pic.

One other thing I want to write about is my belated flail which is fitting to mention at this time of year:


When Adam's tweet appeared in my feed during a twitter party, I had to do a double, triple, quadruple take to make sure it really was a reply to my tweet. I still find that I have to look at it occasionally to believe it happened. That tweet was just wonderful because he gave me much more than a simple answer. He fucking winked at me! He also complimented my choice of avatar (I guess it's also a compliment to himself) which is Adam in my favourite costume of his that I've cropped to focus on his commanding stare. I love that he looks so alien in it, like a Glamazonian ice queen. I really want to see him go all-out with his beautiful Halloween creations again. I guess it's not really surprising that he's a friendly drunk, all the more reason why he's someone I'd want to go out on the lash with and see what zany shenanigans would ensue. Sometimes I think he divulged a little more about that Halloween than initially suggested. With that random capitalisation, I do think that perhaps he didn't just have a good one, but an Ebeneezer Goode one, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I'm thrilled that my avatar reminds him of crazy fun times. If I'm not too late, have yourselves a crazy fun Halloween!

DOWNLOAD Voodoo mp3 - 3.52MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Voodoo iPod compatible mp4 - 16.32MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Voodoo HD mp4 - 75.52MB Alternative download link

Thursday 27 October 2011

Proud


It's been quite a while since my last post as I've been busy with real life but the recent EQCA and PFLAG awards Adam has received along with the Advocate article have inspired me to get creative again. With a new era upon us, the old graphics feel dated so I wanted to make something new to reflect the less glam, less frivolous vibe I get for the upcoming album while still retaining a little humour.

Proud Adam Lambert Rainbow Pride Flag T-shirt design
I've been thinking about how Adam has unintentionally ended up gradually adopting a role in sociopolitical activism. At the start of the journey, it seemed to me that he just wanted to have fun and play dress-up while making music. It might sound somewhat superficial but that period was driven by excitement for the new and eagerness to carve out an identity. The album reflected this energy and optimism. Along came the Out interview and the controversial letter of criticism from its editor Aaron Hicklin accusing Adam of de-gaying himself by turning down the cover and doing a hetero Details photoshoot. Adam has since revealed that the AMA performance was in part an angry response to that criticism. It had been a rocky ride for our formerly reluctant poster-boy.

While it's unfair to expect every gay person in the spotlight to automatically take on the responsibility of leading the charge when all they want to do is go about their business like anyone else, Adam has come to the conclusion that it does play a part in his business, and now that he's in a position to make a difference, he's trying to use it in the fight for equality. Though the way Hicklin attacked Adam and his management in that letter was out of order, he effectively laid down a challenge which Adam has quietly stepped up to, with positive repercussions still making their mark. In an unpleasant and roundabout way, Hicklin got the result he wanted, to the benefit of many.

Adam Lambert Rainbow Revolution Pride Flag T-shirt design
I felt that Adam's performance of ACIGC in LA signalled a shift in his degree of involvement with politics and we've seen this via the Trevor Project through the "It Gets Better" campaign and the Aftermath Remix. Although he still seems uncomfortable getting up on his soap-box to speak up about issues, I think he's in his element when expressing it through music — not on a political level where he isn't yet at ease but on a personal, emotional level as a consequence of those policies — in Outlaws of Love.

There are four designs here, which I created to reflect the role Adam has adopted. I wanted my illustration to parody a political propaganda poster with him as a stoic revolutionary, regal and exuding power. I went for a slightly ironic and humorous take (depending on how you see him), depicting him as the Gay Messiah / poster boy that some people have demanded of him. Who knows, history could well remove the irony.

The first design is of Adam against the backdrop of the rainbow flag with a simple word: "Proud". It could mean many things; Adam being out and proud and gay enough, thankyouverymuch; his support and contribution towards LGBT rights; pride in him for being publicly out and leading by example; pride for his working hard towards a dream inspiring millions along the way; pride for just being uncompromisingly himself. There was also something in the Advocate article about people being reluctant to admit to liking him as he sees himself as uncool:
“I pick up this kind of energy among young people that it might not be the coolest thing to say you like Adam Lambert’s music. People don’t think that I’m cool.”
Well the design is also a response to that. It's a way of showing that you are an out and proud Glambert, proud to be uncool (and therefore post-cool?) if that's what liking him makes you.

Adam Lambert Rainbow Flag Revolution T-shirt designAdam Lambert Red Revolution Pride Flag T-shirt design

I've used a lyric from Strut as the slogan for the other designs, retaining the informal spelling to keep it light-hearted. The second one has a subtle rainbow flag in Adam's hair for those of you who aren't fond of wearing too much colour, and the last two are variations; one with a vertical flag, the other without any rainbows. It could well be that Adam will grow into a revolutionary figure for equal rights but for now, the revolution is closer to home. How many of us have changed, feel braver, stronger, happier within ourselves? In how many of us has Adam effected a personal revolution? I hope these are designs you'd be proud to wear in support of Adam, whether for counter-protests or as a constant reminder from him that the power for change is in each and every one of us.

Visit the store:


Friday 23 September 2011

Adam Lambert on Project Runway


We first heard about Adam's appearance on Project Runway as a judge quite some time ago and this week we'd been teased by photos trickling out from the set. We all know about Adam's love for fashion and how he always makes a huge visual impact with his carefully considered fashion choices, often making headlines for all the right reasons. This and his ability to articulately provide constructive feedback makes him an ideal fit. Here's my playlist containing the full show (Adam's part starts at the 37 minute mark), extended critiques and finally, the contestants' opinions about Adam as a judge.



The task for the week is to put together a look for an unsigned scruffy-looking hirsute band called the Sheepdogs, whose appearance is worlds apart from Adam's dapper image and his sharp glamorous form-fitting ensembles. Adam is a musician who also lives and breathes fashion. We wouldn't have been as hooked as we were during his AI run had he not tailored his styling to suit each and every performance. How many of us wondered what he would be wearing and compulsively tuned in to see his outfits every week? How many of us studied what he was wearing at the start of the show to try to guess what kind of performance he would put in? How many of us fell into his Ring of Fire after staring at that zip? I'm sure you can still remember every single one of those outfits. If anyone knows how to use fashion to enhance a performance and captivate an audience, it's Adam. Unfortunately though, the Sheepdogs don't get a miraculous Adam makeover, which would've made for unmissable TV, but stay close to their style.

A few things of note from the videos: Adam's little gasp of delight as Heidi Klum introduces him as a "fashion forward musician"; the sunshine laughter he brings onto the set; introducing the angle of the musicians' movement and how the clothing can enhance it; respectfully not trying too hard to steal the spotlight through finding inventive ways of dissing the clothes; his expression revealing his wholehearted approval of making men's clothes sexy.

Overall, Adam gave useful feedback and did a fantastic job without being bitchy, which the contestants' comments support. Wonder how long we'll have to wait for his own collection... I can't wait!

Thursday 25 August 2011

Outlaws of Love Improved Version


My attempt at retiring from video editing didn't last long. The lure of fresh new material from the debut of Outlaws of Love was just too tempting to resist. My aims for this video were simply to make something beautiful and to reflect the breathy ethereal quality of Adam's voice accompanied by the delicate instrumentals. And to lessen the wincing from screams so we can comfortably watch it all the way through. Here you go:



The gentle guitar introduction leads to the opening note that reminds me so much of CLYG. It seems that there are many screamers in the audience who can't handle the excitement to the vexation of everyone else trying to shush them. When I hear Adam sing, everything else falls away. I guess this is what he meant by bringing the focus back to the voice and I adore it. It's the closest I've heard to an a capella, and his soothing, mellifluous voice is painfully, achingly, agonisingly beautiful. The pretty melody is fairly simple, the range not too challenging, no vocal acrobatics, it's all about the emotions evoked by that voice in a song written for that voice. Even without understanding the lyrics, we can feel it's a haunting lament about an enduring sadness, energy and hope slowly draining away, which is so heartbreaking to listen to. It's sung so smoothly and flawlessly with breathtaking trills effortlessly eased into that floating voice, topped off by a heart-stopping crescendo with grit providing the necessary light and shade. I must admit I have a bit of a fixation with the rich hoarseness of that final "hell". Stunning.

I suspect that the arrangement for this is much sparser than what the studio version will be, but I hope the vocals will still be central with nothing detracting from it. I like the idea of having an acoustic rather than an electronic production, perhaps with just a piano or even harp as accompaniment. Whichever way, I'm looking forward to seeing how Adam changes it up. Perhaps one thing I'd tweak is the bridge. It reminds me of Broken Open but I think the transition into it could flow a little better. I'm rather excited by video possibilities for this song, which feels quite cinematic. Ronnie and Clyde outlaws on a road trip. Wearing Burning Man costumes.

The lyrics are uncomplicated and sincere with a strong clear message, making it a potential anthem for LGBT rights. I think it would have been ideal for performing on the recent awards shows Adam has attended. We are all human, feel the same range of emotions but some of us are demonised simply because we lie outside society's rules over how we ought to love.
Oh, nowhere left to go
Are we getting closer, closer?
"No," all they know is "No!"
Nights are getting colder, colder

Hey, tears all fall the same
We all feel the rain
We can't change

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in hell, well I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, outlaws of love

Scars make us who we are
Hearts and homes are broken open
Far, we could go so far
With our minds wide open, open

Hey, tears all fall the same
We all feel the rain
We can't change

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in hell, well I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, outlaws of love

Aaah...

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in hell, well I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, outlaws of love

Outlaws of love
Outlaws of love
Outlaws of love
Outlaws of love
Note to Screamflailberters: For the benefit of all concerned, STFU when adam sings please. Shit your pants, die, explode, whatever, AFTER he has indicated he has finished the song. Thankyouverymuch. I spent fucking ages trying to clean up after your mess and there isn't just just some fucking program I run this through to magically get rid of every unwanted noise. It involves manually pinpointing the set of frequencies of every single fucking noise for zapping. This means having to listen to every single fucking one of your painful wince-inducing sounds over and over, making sure Adam's voice doesn't become too distorted and the removal isn't too jarring. It's no wonder I want to retire after each edit, especially when cleaning the sound takes longer than the video. It drives me insane. Rant over.

Here are the downloads, and thanks to TALCvids and fiercealien for letting me get my hands on their raw audio, includes an uncompressed wav for you quality whores out there. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD Outlaws of Love mp3 - 9.33MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Outlaws of Love wav - 45.75MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Outlaws of Love iPod compatible mp4 - 27.34MB Alternative download link
DOWNLOAD Outlaws of Love HD mp4 - 108.26MB Alternative download link

Sunday 14 August 2011

EQCA Equality California Awards


I have a very busy few days so no time for comments, but here is my playlist for Adam at the awards. Included is the red carpet arrival, questions, an impromptu duet of Mad World with Kathy Griffin and his acceptance package with speech. I'm glad the LGBT community are finally giving him (as opposed to some straight "bi" popstrel) official recognition for being a visible role model. Well deserved Adam!

Monday 8 August 2011

AdamBehindTheMusic


I was unable to stay up to watch a live stream Adam Lambert on VH1's Behind the Music but here are all the videos and bonus clips with some brief comments:



As we'd already seen from the teaser trailers, we knew there was going to be a lot of coverage about Adam's sexuality but I still didn't expect it to feature so heavily that it would be more like "Behind the Gay" with so little about the music. Having said that, his sexuality has played a major part in shaping him as a performer and as a role model, the show giving out lots of positive messages about coming out.

Apart from watching Adam looking very fresh-faced and speaking softly in his trademark articulate manner, the parts of the show I found myself most drawn to were those from his pre-Idol days. Not only because it's before I started following his every move, but for the insights and new footage of him singing and speaking as a youth. Hands up those of you who, like me, ended up playing some kind of mental photo-Bingo? How did you do? I think I had about 95% of the photos that were shown. The new ones were a splendid bonus for hardcore fans who struggled to learn anything new. As expected, there's the revisiting of old controversies and we got to hear a little more about how he felt as his "Oops" moment unfolded. There was a little bit about music and certain songs but I got the feeling it was edited so only the songs relevant to the way the show was spun - "Coming out = liberation and empowerment" - got a look in. It was satisfying to have it re-iterated that Glam Nation was a huge worldwide success.

I did enjoy watching the programme, especially the bonus clips. If I were a casual viewer, I'd think it paints Adam as a talented, intelligent and fascinating person with an interesting history (that we'd all like to know more about, with videos please!) but has ultimately worked hard to deservedly get to where he is. I'd think that the way he has dealt with his struggles without compromising himself or his integrity is admirable and I'd want to find out more about him, maybe even Google him from which I know with hindsight there'd be no return.

Saturday 30 July 2011

Outlaws of Love rains down in Adam Storm Quebec


It had felt like forever since the Moscow concert and during that time, we'd been tapping our fingers in impatience, screaming for even a scrap, a shred, a nano-speck, of anything new. AND WE GOT IT YESTERDAY!!! There was a party atmosphere last night, something I'd missed, with everyone united in excitement and joy at the prospect of a concert. There was a report of an unidentified song during the soundcheck, squeals of excitement then a few bottom lips as the rumour was shot. I luckily managed to follow most of the concert on the stream, including the most important bit. Did I mention that we got to hear a NEW FUCKING SONG?!! I'll get to that part soon but first things first, my playlist of video picks:



This '80s hoodlum Adam is from the roots of his hair-to-toe in black, wearing a vest, a leather gilet, fingerless leather gloves, loose combats and wedge boots. With a big fluffy tail that adds emphasis to every arse wiggle. Which happens quite a lot. I did wonder at the beginning whether he went all Zodiac on us and decided to put on a corset, leaving the top bare. Either way, a considerable amount of skin on show in Adam terms. This look reminds me of The Warriors, given the Thriller shoulderpad treatment and is definitely a big step away from glam.

The set commences with FYE and there seems to be a bit of a false start where Adam misses his cue, joining in a little late. It's not the most precise in terms of pitch but he puts on a great show, hips on fire. It's followed by DTRH which I find a little odd without the trippy aspect and elaborate costumes. I notice that Monte looks like he might be trying for a ZZ Top in the facial hair stakes.

Strut is given a short introduction "No matter what those fuckers say about you, you just gotta keep struttin'!". A little nervous after the last time it was performed, I'm relieved that this one is lively, sassy and full of attitude. TCB makes an entrance in the set and sounds like a fast one with plenty of hilarious dancing throughout. He playfully sits on the edge of the stage at one point, yanking his legs up and down to the music.

"And then I dusted it up with my tail. (Giggle)" Don't you just love Adam for never taking himself too seriously? In a classic arse-wiggling moment, he mocks himself and his fashion choices as he jokes about his tail and how all the blogs will be writing that he wore a duster, which isn't in fashion. This leads up to Aftermath, the arrangement of which is very similar to the one performed on AI with a plucky staccato intro from Monte. It has a lovely crescendo and a sweet, lingering final note. Sleepwalker is next up and is quite a visual spectacle with the lighting and background stars. I guess it's a little reminiscent of the old Broken Open background visuals but not as soft. Cam is noticeably missing on keys but nonetheless, this is the best Sleepwalker for vocals so far. THE BEST. After Monte's solo, get ready for goosebumps galore. That voice, those runs, INFUCKINGCREDIBLE.

The absence of keys is also quite noticeable during IIHY, which sees Adam doing more freestyling on the mic than ever before. He gets what appears to be a jock strap thrown onto the stage as he prepares for Music Again. There's a minor lyric fail and I think he cheats a little in the beginning by getting the audience sing the falsetto parts. We get some ad lib about about a moth/fairy/twink thing before the band intro. When we get to "Tommy Ratcliffe", he talks about fan fic, "Shame on you! That's dirty! That fan fiction is highly inappropriate! I'm offended!" while making sure we know it's mock outrage. I realise we haven't heard MW in ages and I like that this version is a mellower, slower version.

DRUM ROLL...

NEW SONG!!! As soon as Adam tells us he's got a little treat from the next album, everyone loses their collective shit. Everyone in the crowd heard via the stream, everyone on twitter following the feeds, everyone in the videos, every single fucking person. Adam finds it difficult even to get a word in through the Screamflailberting that he knows is happening all around the world. Through the stream, I thought he said he didn't want to see it on YouTube in that same fanfic-reprimanding manner, but it turns out he said he knows he's going to see it there. He goes to explain that the song is about acceptance with the intriguing description about running from the law.

A gentle guitar introduction leads us to the the opening note that reminds me so much of CLYG. With rapt attention we try to listen to and process as much of it as possible. Some handle it by screaming their lungs out to the vexation of others trying to shush them. When we hear him sing, everything else falls away. This is what he means by bringing the focus back to the voice and I adore it. It's the closest to an a cappella I've heard him do and his breathy, soothing, mellifluous voice is painfully, achingly, agonisingly beautiful. The pretty melody is fairly simple, the range not too challenging, no vocal acrobatics, it's all about the emotions evoked by that voice in a song written for that voice. Even without understanding the lyrics, we can feel it's a haunting lament about an enduring sadness, energy and hope slowly draining away. It's so heartbreaking to listen to, we have no choice but to comfort-gorge on the sweetness imparted by that voice. It's like honey, strawberries, gateau, praline, ice cream, chocolate, profiteroles... so addictive I'd end up a champion gurner with no teeth. It's sung so smoothly with breathtaking trills effortlessly eased into that floating voice, topped off by a heart-stopping crescendo with grit providing the necessary light and shade. Stunning. Now breathe.

Here are the lyrics as far as I can make out:

Oh, nowhere left to go
Are we getting closer, closer?
"No," all they know is "No!"
Nights are getting colder, colder

Hey, tears all fall the same
We all feel the rain
We can't change

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in hell, well I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, outlaws of love

Scars make us who we are
Hearts and homes are broken open
Far, we could go so far
With our minds wide open, open

Hey, tears all fall the same
We all feel the rain
We can't change

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in hell, well I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, outlaws of love

Aaah...

Everywhere we go we're looking for the sun
Nowhere to grow old we're always on the run
They say we'll rot in hell, well I don't think we will
They've branded us enough, outlaws of love

Outlaws of love
Outlaws of love
Outlaws of love
Outlaws of love
The lyrics are uncomplicated and sincere with a strong clear message, making it seem increasingly likely Adam's starting to settle into a more political role for LGBT rights. We are all human, feel the same range of emotions but some of us are demonised simply because we lie outside society's rules over how we ought to love. I'm quite excited by the video possibilities for this song, which already feels quite cinematic. Ronnie and Clyde outlaws on a road trip. With strange costumes.

OK, let's get to the rest of the concert. It all went a bit blurry after the excitement over the new song so the interlude is well-timed to allow us a bit of recovery time. It's funkier than I remember from before, especially towards the end. I hope it's an indication of things to come on the next album. The following song is SFW and just to make sure everyone's still alive and with us, Adam gets the crowd to sing back to him, each bar getting increasingly higher. He must be taking the piss if he thinks we can reach all those notes. Fever is a mischievous one where Adam starts talking to Tommy's arm tattoo. It's filled with lots of riffing, dancing and suggestive mic action.

Monte teases us with the opening riffs from Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water, leading us to believe it's going to be a new cover. It actually leads us to WLL when the skies open in the Adam Storm. This version is much like the one from Moscow with an eerie, trippy instrumental break. To the thrill of the fans and perhaps to distract them from the downpour, Adam's top comes off, leaving him in just a vest, showing even more skin as Monte ends up shredding on his back on the floor. In a brilliant voice, Adam sings that the rain gods are telling us the show's over but we won't go. The band appears a little slow to kick in after the "Baby" moment, maybe a little stunned. A rock WWFM follows with Adam singing "Need a second to DRY". I think his voice runs away from him a little at times. The encore is Purple Haze, again with customised weather lyrics finding their way in.

WOW. What a concert. He said he was going to give us a little treat. He lied. He gave us a fucking storm with the forecast telling us this is just the start. Well I think we all enjoyed getting completely drenched after such a long drought.

Friday 15 July 2011

WWFMoscow


Here's my latest edit for the Moscow concert. As with Whole Lotta Love, I wanted to build on the bleak minimalist feel of the set-up, making a grainy and almost monochromatic video. I think "Whataya Want From Me?" is the song during concerts where the connection between Adam and fans is at its strongest. There's a mutual outpouring of love and gratitude so I wanted to make a feature out of it. Not only is it his most well-known song, but it's one that became real — we were all there when it came to the fore after the AMA fall-out and felt it resonate with the hurt as events unfolded. With this passion in mind and the striking sea of hearts held aloft during this performance, red is a colour that features strongly in this. Enjoy!



After a potty-mouthed start, Adam addresses the crowd with enthusiasm before getting into an electric WWFM. Editing gives me a detailed look at his movements on stage and there are a few that I would like to pick out. First of all here's a gif  from the introduction. Just fucking look at that face! Naughty, knows it, pleading innocent. There is no face that better epitomises the phrase "Butter wouldn't melt" and I challenge anyone to say no to that. As he goes into the first chorus, he strikes a bit of a rude boy confrontational pose, later doing a boyband-ballad-obligatory air grab. There are times when I think the sex is going to burst out of him or he's about to go in for the instinctive grab for the crotch but his hand settles just to the side.

I think this song often gets overlooked in terms of concert videos because we've heard it so many times and it doesn't vary by much. That's what sets this one apart. This sublime performance overtakes LA's WWFM as my absolute favourite for vocals due to the improvisation he puts in going into the instrumental break and especially, ESPECIALLY the riff right at the end which I could just listen to over and over. I love the power, the ringing on that high and the flow of the sequence of notes giving it that magnificent knockout finish. Perfection.

DOWNLOAD Whataya Want From Me? (with intro) mp3 - 9.61MB
DOWNLOAD Whataya Want From Me? (without intro) mp3 - 8.41MB
DOWNLOAD Whataya Want From Me? iPod compatible mp4 - 27.98MB
DOWNLOAD Whataya Want From Me? HD mp4 - 151.78MB

Sunday 19 June 2011

Maxidrom Love


Here's my latest video edit for you of Moscow's Whole Lotta Love. The first concert since the Glam Nation era, there is a strong contrasting shift in the visual presentation. There are still residual traces of glam in the glittery trousers but the look is austere. Adorned with plenty of chains in a plain black T-shirt against the backdrop of industrial-looking rigging, Adam is suitably dressed for a rock festival in an airfield and I love it. In this video, I wanted to build on the visuals by giving it a bleak minimalist feel. I sometimes wish Adam would appreciate more the beauty of pale skin instead of piling on the bronzer. In the close-ups, you can see his face is tear-streaked and this is due to vodka spillage from over-enthusiastically knocking it back earlier on in the set.



This 'woman' WLL has a different feel to most of the previous versions, edging towards those from the AI tour but a little less full-on and with a trippy instrumental break. There's plenty of attitude in this, with disdainful snarls and gurning jaw as Adam rocks out with his commanding presence. It's a less sexual performance than those from GN, though you'll still find thrusts, grabs and tongue action in there. I'm guessing he's erring on the side of caution in playing to a rock crowd who aren't all hardcore fans... yet. The break is ghostly and is inhabited by sinister sounds as he punctuates it with feral howls and moans. They sound like primal mating calls, both frightening and irresistibly luring and I can't help but watch his expressions. Vocally he nails it throughout, at one point wailing and sounding so much like a guitar I have to double-check. His voice is so powerful and resonant, with the big notes here among my favourite ever, especially that 'Lo-ooooooooove' which rings with so much clarity and the bit of added vibrato is just perfect. He finishes with a jump and a whoop at the end. That's exactly how I feel after watching him too.

DOWNLOAD Whole Lotta Love mp3 - 6.74MB
DOWNLOAD Whole Lotta Love iPod compatible mp4 - 39.37MB
DOWNLOAD Whole Lotta Love HD mp4 - 176.17MB

Thursday 2 June 2011

Uncuff Me


There's a lot of symbolism that can be attached to keys and as a result, here's the last of my Adam tattoo-inspired T-Shirt designs. Where the previous design of the heart lock was meant to represent the emotional side of the Adam Lambert Effect, the handcuffs aren't just something a bit kinky but represent the physical side. How many of us have cast aside our shackles of convention and felt free to try something we'd never dreamed of because of Adam? How many of us have travelled, embraced random strangers, found that extra bit of bravery and enriched our lives with new experiences? How many of us have unleashed our creativity and have gone on to make something, to learn new skills, to share something and in turn, unlock something in others? I think you get the picture. If any of you get an offer from Adam to stick his key in while wearing these designs, I will die happy. Click the pic!


Adam Lambert key tattoo


Again, I wanted to retain some consistency in terms of style by using elements from the tattoo. The handcuffs have a harder feel to my previous efforts, in keeping with "Less rhinestones, more leather" for the upcoming era. The print I've chosen uses shiny metallic material.

Visit US Store:Visit UK/EU store:
Adam Lambert One Nation Under Glam (ONUG) T-shirts and accessories US shop
Adam Lambert One Nation Under Glam (ONUG) T-shirts & accessories UK shop

Sunday 29 May 2011

Moscow Maxidrama


After nearly 6 months of waiting for an Адам Ламберт concert and having initially dismissed this as just a rumour, it finally arrived. We were all ready to live this concert vicariously through the Russian fan tweets, hoping that someone might stream video.

And so the drama started. The set was running a little late then photos and song titles trickled through only to find out that this was just a sound check. What the fuck? I thought it was weird but my overriding feeling was of jealousy that they got so many performances. So we wondered when the actual concert would start. The rumour got shot down by Adam straight after his "sound check" performance. Biggest collective fucking facepalm ever. Here are my video picks for you to enjoy:



Peering over the sea of red hearts, this look of Adam's tailored for a daytime rock festival gig for a 50k crowd on a huge stage is a lot more casual and less try-hard than the Glam Nation costumes. With a distressed leather jacket and aviators, I couldn't help but think of Top Gun. It's definitely more rock than glam though there is some subtle sparkle from the tight trousers. From the videos, we can see some magical mysterious wispy things floating in the air that I imagine are the exactly the type of objects that would appear in the presence of unicorns. Would someone care to explain to me what they are and shatter this illusion of mine?

MA opens the set and I notice there's a bit of flesh-flashing when he raises his arms. There's a teasy Tommy moment and it would've been ironic if he'd kept his sunglasses on for the song that specifically asks us to look into his eyes. I'm glad they came off. There are no dancers for DTRH but Adam does an incredible job with his slithery tentacle arms. There is some fantastic ad-libbing and notably excellent vocals, possibly due to forgetting that he shouldn't be going into RoF. The jacket comes off for a rock version of WWFM and he is left in just a vest. There are plenty of different and beautiful runs that he adds towards the second half, making this exceptional, and his voice is bright and powerful. There's no kissing for Fever but the crowd does get plenty of strippery moves when Adam moves onto the steps. There's a run that I love at the end of the second verse that had previously been exclusive to my concert in London and yes, I'm feeling a bit possessive over it but love hearing it again. Holy motherfucking shit, those Sleepwalker vocals! Nuff said. TCB is another fine one and the crowd goes wild as Adam goes to ruffle Tommy's hair. The IIHY chorus sounds quite different to the other live versions, very rock and not so electronic and I assume this is due to the absence of Cam on keys. Strut is a strange one and it's been a long time since I last saw it without the props and dancers. There seem to be major sound problems like in Berlin as Adam misses his cue at the start and sounds rather off-key. He doesn't do a lot of singing at the start, leaving much to the backing track but he recovers well to finish. We have a scorching electric 'woman' WLL and it's refreshing to see lots of males in audience. During SFW he misses a few notes but it's still a stomping, fist-pumping affair. Oh how I've missed these concerts, drama and all!

Friday 27 May 2011

Unlock Me


Since there hasn't been a lot to write about or performances to review during this quiet time, I've been working on a couple more T-Shirt designs. These two are based on Adam's recent key tattoo and the type of lock that I think it would open, inviting him to place his key in and unlock it (I see your dirty minds at work). I tried to keep it in the same style by using elements from the tattoo. The lock is heart-shaped to complement the curves of the skull and to represent the effect Adam that has had on us. I believe he has unlocked something in us all, not necessarily our hearts but the ability to feel passionate and alive again. Click on the image to see all the T-Shirts using that design:

Unlock Me: lock to go with Adam Lambert's key tattoo T-Shirt designAdam Lambert key tattooUnlock Me 3D: lock to go with Adam Lambert's key tattoo T-Shirt design

I created the single colour design so it can be printed using special glitter material. Unfortunately it doesn't display accurately in the shop illustrations but you can see an example of how the material looks here. If you like it, look out for 'Glitter' in the titles. The 3D-look design isn't available in the glitter material but I have used shiny metallic gold or silver. If you don't see the exact colour combo you'd like, please let me know and I'll set it up for you. Hope you enjoy them!

Visit US Store:Visit UK/EU store:
Adam Lambert One Nation Under Glam (ONUG) T-shirts and accessories US shop
Adam Lambert One Nation Under Glam (ONUG) T-shirts & accessories UK shop

Friday 22 April 2011

Bertwear T-Shirts & Accessories (Formerly One Nation Under Glam)


Updated 02/06/12 - 'Werk' T-shirt designs added
Updated 27/05/12 - 'Trespassing Beat' and 'Queenbert' designs added
Updated 05/05/12 - 'Pop My Lock', 'Uncuff' and 'Proud' designs added
Updated 21/04/11 - 'Superhero' designs added
Updated 18/11/10 - 'Rabbit Hole' design added
Updated 06/11/10 - 'Paparazzi' and 'Rock God' designs added
Updated 25/10/10 - New design added

Adam Lambert Propaganda fist One Nation Under Glam T-shirt designIt was way back when I did the Glam Nation posters that bluedogs (thanks!) suggested the idea of putting the designs onto a T-shirt. This is where it all started, and while I was away on my break doing outdoorsy activities and far from all things Glam Nation, my mind was still ticking away, nurturing ideas. A little tired of organising playlists on my return, I decided to turn them into something real. I've dabbled in all sorts of new things thanks to Adam, constantly learning new skills and growing so I thought I'd give this a go.

The official merchandise may be pretty to look at, but I don't find the clothing very wearable so my aim was to do something that is. I wanted to create designs that are instantly recognisable by fans as having a connection with Adam while retaining a subtlety that doesn't require them being plastered with his name and face. All the images here are made from scratch so as not to breach any copyrights. It's been a steep learning curve, and at times very frustrating figuring out how to do vector graphics for the first time. Here are my first ever T-shirt designs, I hope you like them.

Adam Lambert Tonguedive glory note T-shirt design
The first design took forever and is based on the image of Adam's fist which I think is really powerful, but I think it needed to represent something that Adam believes in, so I added the text as a call for unity, especially after Adam's latest twitter rant. I decided to go for a retro propaganda style. Not very glittery, but we are a varied lot and it's almost a street style that works on T-shirts for either gender, hence wearability.

The second is a parody of the Rolling Stones logo. I seem to remember Adam wearing a stripy T-shirt with the logo on at some point, and the birth of this fandom for many will always be associated with the Rolling Stones cover, 'Satisfaction'. This was the performance in which we first saw that famously long tongue snake out during those glory notes.

Adam Lambert Voodoo staff skull T-shirt design
The third is simply a design inspired by Glam Nation. It was meant to be the top of a Voodoo staff like a mini Adam but in the end, I decided not to include the rest of the stick. I don't think the feel of the Glam Nation Voodoo is very dark, more kooky and for some reason, I find kooky things like Tim Burton's work quite cute so that's what I went for.

I have more designs to come in various styles so I'll post them when they're done. If you'd like to have them on a T-shirt or acessories, I've set up a shop for you at http://lambosessed.spreadshirt.com so please take a look. If you can't see the design or colours on the exact item you want, feel free to request from this list of clothing. They even have dog T-shirts! I'll place a link in the sidebar for easy access in future. I'm new to this so I'd appreciate any feedback you have. Let me know if you decide to buy anything, I'll be curious as to how they turn out. Thank you!

Adam Lambert belting silhouette T-shirt designThis is my latest T-shirt design and it's an illustration of Adam's silhouette mid-belt. I've always thought that the pose he strikes while he sings is a powerfully iconic one. When he goes for those huge notes, he turns his head to the side, usually to his right, and as the note becomes bigger and more powerful, he tilts his head back, palms the air with his heft hand and moves the mic further away from his mouth and his tongue reaches out. Anyway, I just wanted to capture this in a single image. I've designed it so that it works in a single colour so you can get really sparkly glitter prints on the T-shirts.

Adam Lambert Paparazzi Hat Take My Picture Bitch T-shirt designHere's my latest design, which is a little on the snarky side. It's an illustration of Adam in his 'tacky lifeguard hat' giving the finger with a smile. The hat is infamous, still accessorising many fans' twitter avatars as a show of support and was a cause for much hilarity and piss-taking. He wore it while relaxing on a beach only to be hounded by the paps and ended up in a minor scuffle.

The quote used is from a separate occasion during SFW at the Washington DC concert where he wanted security to get out of the way to allow fans to take pictures. I think it fits quite well with the illustration even though his wishes during either event couldn't be more different. When he's performing, he wants to be photographed and wants us to get as much out of him as possible. But when he's on his own personal time, it's a different story. The design is meant to show support for Adam when he's doing battle against both paps and overly-demanding entitled fans. I wonder if Neil would see the funny side if someone were to wear it to a VIP greet...

Adam Lambert Rock God back bend floorbert T-shirt designHere's one more design and it's an illustration of Adam in one of my favourite poses, epitomising his electric performances which leave us buzzing for long afterwards. I call it a rock god pose. We've seen this back-bending pose during Glam Nation, most notably at Hampton. It's when he's at the height of his performance, completely immersed, wild, uninhibited, and at his most powerful. It happens when we've gone way past listening and watching him perform and we feel it. We feel the energy emanating from him via the rushing, the tingling, and the goosebumps. Every time I watch it, I'm in awe over his superhuman ability to hold and control his amazing high note perfectly as he leans all the way back. And also at how far he can lean back!

Adam Lambert Rabbit Hole T-shirt designMy latest design is inspired by my favourite song on the album and it also has a certain significance for me because going 'Down the Rabbit Hole' were the exact words I used in my review of the AI performance that tipped me over the edge all that time ago. I decided on an illustration that was cute but slightly trippy so it features a rabbit in Adam's Willy Wonka/ringmaster hat with a knowing expression and a half-smile, pointing with an ear and beckoning you to follow it down the rabbit hole. I gave it a mini voodoo staff, which you'll recognise as one of my other designs, to make it clear who's in charge. I initially wanted to make the design much more psychedelic with a warped burrow and tripping spirals for eyes, but I'm restricted by the printing methods. I settled with a slightly kaleidoscopic entrance to the dark unknown rabbit hole and star-shaped pupils in the eyes. Hope you like it!

Adam Lambert anime superhero Sleepwalker artworkEver since hearing that first preview snippet of Sleepwalker, I have always associated it with a powerful visual cinematic element. The staging from Glam Nation is consistent with that and I think he built upon what we saw for the top two performance of MW. For Sleepwalker, he cuts a solitary world-weary figure, wearing an outfit that's part Matrix, part Final Fantasy or anime. The lonely tortured fantasy comic book superhero. That is what I wanted to capture with this design — Adam represented as a character who is regrettably too familiar with sacrifice but stays strong and resiliently optimistic in the face of adversity, continuing to fight. The results aren't quite as stylised or dynamic as I would have liked but I couldn't carry on tweaking forever!

I usually do these T-shirt designs with a maximum three colours so they can use the most durable printing method, giving the most vibrant colours. But it was impossible to create the effect I wanted so as a result, these 'Superhero' designs use a different printing method which give it a slightly vintage feel. Unfortunately it isn't quite as durable, so please take care when washing!

Adam Lambert anime superhero Japan artwork
I have used this same 'Superhero' illustration on a charity Japan design that I would like to dedicate to my Japanese friends. $5 (£3) from each shirt sold featuring this red design will go to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami appeal. Alternatively, you can donate directly to the UK Red Cross or US Red Cross sites. I decided to make this version because that's where the inspiration behind the style originated. I feel that my description of the character could also represent the qualities shown by the Japanese people in light of recent events. With the blossoms and warmer colours I hoped it would have an uplifting and positive feel.

The two new lock designs below are based on Adam's recent key tattoo and the type of lock that I think it would open, inviting him to place his key in and unlock it (I see your dirty minds at work). I tried to keep it in the same style by using elements from the tattoo. The lock is heart-shaped to complement the curves of the skull and to represent the effect Adam that has had on us. I believe he has unlocked something in us all, not necessarily our hearts but the ability to feel passionate and alive again. Click on the image to see all the T-Shirts using that design:

Unlock Me: lock to go with Adam Lambert's key tattoo T-Shirt designAdam Lambert key tattooUnlock Me 3D: lock to go with Adam Lambert's key tattoo T-Shirt design

I created the single colour design so it can be printed using special glitter material. Unfortunately it doesn't display accurately in the shop illustrations but you can see an example of how the material looks here. If you like it, look out for 'Glitter' in the titles. The 3D-look design isn't available in the glitter material but I have used shiny metallic gold or silver. If you don't see the exact colour combo you'd like, please let me know and I'll set it up for you.

There's a lot of symbolism that can be attached to keys. Where the previous design of the heart lock was meant to represent the emotional side of the Adam Lambert Effect, the handcuffs aren't just something a bit kinky but represent the physical side. How many of us have cast aside our shackles of convention and felt free to try something we'd never dreamed of because of Adam? How many of us have travelled, embraced random strangers, found that extra bit of bravery and enriched our lives with new experiences? How many of us have unleashed our creativity and have gone on to make something, to learn new skills, to share something and in turn, unlock something in others? I think you get the picture. If any of you get an offer from Adam to stick his key in while wearing these designs, I will die happy. Click the pic! The print I've chosen for the T-shirts uses shiny metallic material.

Proud Adam Lambert Rainbow Pride Flag T-shirt design
The next set of designs are based around Adam's growing role in sociopolitical activism. After realising he's in a position to make a difference, he's trying to use it in the fight for equality. We've seen this via the Trevor Project through the "It Gets Better" campaign and the Aftermath Remix. Although he still seems uncomfortable getting up on his soap-box to speak up about issues, I think he's in his element when expressing it through music — not on a political level where he isn't yet at ease but on a personal, emotional level as a consequence of those policies — in Outlaws of Love. For the full article, please visit the original post.

Adam Lambert Rainbow Revolution Pride Flag T-shirt design
There are four designs here, which I created to reflect the role Adam has adopted. I wanted my illustration to parody a political propaganda poster with him as a stoic revolutionary, regal and exuding power. I went for a slightly ironic and humorous take (depending on how you see him), depicting him as the Gay Messiah / poster boy that some people have demanded of him. Who knows, history could well remove the irony.

The first design is of Adam against the backdrop of the rainbow flag with a simple word: "Proud". It could mean many things; Adam being out and proud and gay enough, thankyouverymuch; his support and contribution towards LGBT rights; pride in him for being publicly out and leading by example; pride for his working hard towards a dream inspiring millions along the way; pride for just being uncompromisingly himself. There was also something in the Advocate article about people being reluctant to admit to liking him as he sees himself as uncool:
“I pick up this kind of energy among young people that it might not be the coolest thing to say you like Adam Lambert’s music. People don’t think that I’m cool.”
Well the design is also a response to that. It's a way of showing that you are an out and proud Glambert, proud to be uncool (and therefore post-cool?) if that's what liking him makes you.

Adam Lambert Rainbow Flag Revolution T-shirt designAdam Lambert Red Revolution Pride Flag T-shirt design

I've used a lyric from Strut as the slogan for the other designs, retaining the informal spelling to keep it light-hearted. The second one has a subtle rainbow flag in Adam's hair for those of you who aren't fond of wearing too much colour, and the last two are variations; one with a vertical flag, the other without any rainbows. It could well be that Adam will grow into a revolutionary figure for equal rights but for now, the revolution is closer to home. How many of us have changed, feel braver, stronger, happier within ourselves? In how many of us has Adam effected a personal revolution? I hope these are designs you'd be proud to wear in support of Adam, whether for counter-protests or as a constant reminder from him that the power for change is in each and every one of us.

This design is 'Trespassing Beat'. It uses the Trespassing tape that's become synonymous with this era as a base. I've included silhouettes of Adam clapping, so along with the time axis (t for Trespassing as well) at the bottom, it's like a diagram to show the clapping rhythm of Trespassing. The size of the spaces between the claps is directly proportional to the amount of time between them. The pedants amongst you may point out that the first clap isn't actually a clap but more of a stamp. I decided to include it not just for aesthetic purposes but I think I'd personally want to clap on the big beat at the start of the bar. I hope you find it to be a fun, wearable and possibly geeky design for this era.

The second design Queenbert 2012 is a commemorative one for the special concerts Adam has lined up with Queen. I went for a classic design using a modified typeface similar to that of their logo. I designed the crown to incorporate elements linked with both Adam and Queen, wanting to keep it elegant and queen-like. When you look at it I hope it just says Queenbert to you. I included two infinity signs from Adam's tattoo to symbolise not only the energy exchange between performer and audience that Adam has talked about, but the beauty of the full-circle moments that made these events come together. Adam's first song with which he got introduced to the world on AI was a Bohemian Rhapsody. His final performance on AI was with Queen. The first full circle. Then we had the EMAs and now this with the full circles going round again. I included diamond shapes as a reference to Freddie Mercury's infamous harlequin outfit, five points in the crown to represent the members of Queen and Adam, and the letters A and Q. Finally, I thought I should include the year, seeing as these are special concerts that may become the stuff of legend in years to come. The designs come in either silver or gold glitter, or silver and gold metallic print. Hope you find it a classy one you'd be happy to wear.

Here are a couple more designs for you on the theme of "Werk", a word found in the lyrics and a word to describe the response to the album's funk side:

The first one here is "Werk Bitch!". I thought about using the Trespassing stripes but decided against it because I have feeling we're going to be sick of it before long. To keep with the Trespassing visual theme, I used a danger sign as a base with a "High Voltage" warning symbol because I relate it to Adam's electrifying performances, plus I like the way it looks. It also points downwards, like it's an order for you to get down and shake your booty. Those with dirty minds can find another meaning as it points crotchwards. I modified a loose heavy typeface to give it an informal look that has movement and attitude, and you have the option to choose neon colours as well as the standard yellow.

There's another "Werk" design for those who aren't comfortable with wearing the word "bitch". It's just "Werk" against a "High Voltage" symbol background. I decided to dispense with the exclamation mark here because I think the full stop gives lends a cool, laid back angle as a definitive statement. The print is available in neon colours as well as the standard yellow and shiny metallic gold.


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Thursday 21 April 2011

Two Years


Can you believe it? This blog is now celebrating its second year which I think makes it one of the elder statesmen of Adam fan sites! Thank you all for being a part of this! Please also take a peek at my post from this time last year for a summary of everything up to then and my story of The Point of No Return.

It wouldn't be a celebration without presents now, would it? So without further ado here is my latest gift to you all, my edit of Sleepwalker from the penultimate Glam Nation concert at LA's Music Box. I had to sweat that extra bit harder, pulling out all the stops to make something worthwhile, especially since now I'll have to prise you away from the DVD.



Sleepwalker to me is about sadness, it's that pain that hollows you out and renders you numb to everything except that intense feeling of loss. It's what makes you feel that detachment from reality, a floating onlooker onto your own life. Nothing is quite real or comprehensible or possible or tangible in the way that had previously been so familiar and natural. The whole universe and everything in it has shifted and you don't want to be trapped this strange and frightening new reality but instead hope to wake up from it. That is what Sleepwalking in this song means is to me.

If I'm in despair, I'd be too weak to channel any anger and if I felt anger, it would be directed, which would keep reality in focus enough to be fully awake. This makes me curious about Adam's angry interpretation which I find it hard to reconcile with my own. He draws upon something to give us that emotion through clenched teeth, making “always there to haunt me” my favourite part of this intense performance.

I was a little more liberal than usual with the effects in this edit, primarily intending to make it into a haunting dreamscape where things aren't quite as they should be. I wanted the result to be beautiful and something you'd want to watch more than once. It's the edit which has the highest work-to-length ratio so I hope it was worth it!

Ever since hearing that first preview snippet of Sleepwalker, I have always associated it with a powerful visual cinematic element. The staging from Glam Nation is consistent with that and I think he built upon what we saw for the top two performance of MW. For Sleepwalker, he cuts a solitary world-weary figure, wearing an outfit that's part Matrix, part Final Fantasy or anime. The lonely tortured fantasy comic book superhero. That is what I wanted to capture with my attempt at artwork — Adam represented as a character who is regrettably too familiar with sacrifice but stays strong and resiliently optimistic in the face of adversity, continuing to fight. The results aren't quite as stylised or dynamic as I would have liked but I've already spent much longer than I'd care to admit on it as I'm not an artist and am new to this kind of illustration so it's another first for me.

Adam Lambert Superhero Anime Sleepwalker artwork for T-shirt

I have made two pieces using my illustration of Adam, both available as T-shirt designs (links to T-shirts at bottom of page). One is the original dark moody version with a backdrop of turbulent clouds, the other is a charity Japan version that I would like to dedicate to my Japanese friends. $5 (£3) from each shirt featuring this red design will go to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Tsunami appeal. Alternatively, you can donate directly to the UK Red Cross or US Red Cross sites. I decided to make this version because that's where the inspiration behind the style originated. I feel that my description of the character could also represent the qualities shown by the Japanese people in light of recent events. With the blossoms and warmer colours, I hoped it would have an uplifting and positive feel. Click to view the bigger versions. I'm afraid I've had to add a watermark as my other artwork has ended up on various pieces of tat on eBay.

Adam Lambert Superhero Anime Japan artwork for T-shirt

UPDATE: Thank you all for your support through the purchases. As promised, I have donated £3 for each item sold bearing the design towards the Japan Tsunami Appeal and will continue to do so until it ends. After that, the donations will go to the Red Cross's most pressing appeal.



This past year we have seen Adam being received by enthusiastic audiences all around the world on TV and radio promoting his album. This is where I got to see him perform live for the first time. Then came the fantastic news that he was to headline for his first ever solo tour, initially starting off as around 50 dates in the US but extending into a worldwide sell-out tour of well over 100 concerts. We were truly entertained as we followed Adam and the Glam Troupe on a virtual tour around the world, self-imposing jet-lag by getting up at or staying up until ridiculous hours. We invested in better equipment and got more tech-savvy, video quality became sharp and clear, and fandom got organised so wherever we were, we too could experience concerts in real-time with real friends through the virtual world. We were thrilled as Adam got up close and personal with Tommy and then with some lucky fans. We looked forward to all the surprises and performances of new songs, waiting with bated breath so see what the encore would bring. Some clutched pearls as he got more risqué with an on-stage spliff, others were begging for him to get even wilder.

With your help, I won one half of a pair of crystal gloves, the other half of which is in Adam's possession. I tried to get a campaign going to reunite the gloves but unfortuntely this didn't happen when I went to my second Adam concert. The year has has its fair share of controversy with AI snub-gate, pap-confronting fugly hat-gate, teen mom-gate and Gaga-gate. Almost everything he tweeted ended up trending. There was some gentle wrist-slapping whenever his followers got a bit out of hand and we enjoyed some classic rumour control tweets and twitter rants. Adam seemed to gradually gain confidence to step up to the challenge of discussing political issues, but still wanted to champion them in his own way.

We partied along with Adam to IIHY and its music video and were overjoyed at news of an acoustic EP. After such a long wait, we were relieved to finally be able to get our hands on a live CD/DVD from Glam Nation, sales of which have exceeded expectations. We got a remix of Aftermath supporting the Trevor Project, one of a number of charities supported by Adam. Well over half a million dollars has been raised for DonorsChoose.org and $320,000 for his Charity Water birthday campaign. We celebrated TV specials, news of Adam's Grammy nomination and his appearance at their social media summit.

The summary wouldn't be complete without a commentary on Adam's chameleonic looks, where shaving a side of his head hit the headlines. There was the long hair with and without goatee and let's not forget the fashion choices, the memorable ones being the Glammer trousers, glittery zebra and lace-up trousers amongst others. The year ended neatly with a return to AI as Adam works on the second album and we are left speculating over the intriguing collaborations and eager to to hear anything new.

Another year on and the Adam Lambert Effect is still very much thriving as he continues to inspire us in many ways. The contents of this post sum up where it's taken me, which is to be creative, strive for perfection and to give something back. Thank you all for being a part of this, and thank you Adam.

Adam Lambert Superhero Anime artwork Sleepwalker T-shirtAdam Lambert Superhero Anime artwork Japan T-shirt

DOWNLOAD Sleepwalker mp3 - 10.03MB
DOWNLOAD Sleepwalker iPod compatible mp4 - 29.96MB
DOWNLOAD Sleepwalker HD mp4 - 116.83MB