Adam Lambert’s risky CD cover
The American Idol’s debut is shaping up to be a monster hit—but will its androgynous cover art alienate mainstream fans?
The Prince-esque cover for Adam Lambert's debut album is dividing fans.
(RCA Records)
Fans and critics are torn over the "glamtastic," "hideous," "cheesy" cover of Adam Lambert's debut album, For Your Entertainment (a pre-release sales smash on Amazon.com). The openly gay American Idol belter says the retro-'80s artwork is "deliberately campy," but some worry its androgynous rendering of Lambert might play badly with middle America. What was his record company thinking? (Listen to clips from Adam Lambert's new album.)
The cover is provocative, but so what? The awesomely cheesy photo—so reminiscent of 1980's Xanadu—might put off "closed-minded" mainstream fans "too embarrassed" to take the album up to the cash register, says Lindsey Parker at Yahoo! Music. But you know what? It's "their loss."
"Adam Lambert's Album Cover: Xanadu, Or A Xana-Don't?"
Androgynous? Try 'tacky': Admit it, says Stuart Heritage at Heckler Spray. "You thought it was a hoax." But it's not—and its inexplicable tackiness overshadows any risk of heterosexual jitters: "It looks like one of those awful transfer-print T-shirts that people who like wolves buy from tatty market stalls … it looks like a poster that someone you hate would buy."
"Adam Lambert wanted his album cover to look like that, honest"
This is a fearless move: The album art proves one thing—Lambert has a "giant set of cojones," says Rachel Sklar at Mediaite. Sure he could have "eased up on the eyeliner" chosen a "neutrally smiling shot [and] Clay Aiken’d out" like his banal Idol predecessors. I’m sure Lambert’s advisors begged him to tone it down. "Instead, he went hard in the other direction." And, for that, I salute him.
"Adam GLambert! New album cover gets more press than most actual albums"
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37 Comments
Posted by dakota, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:13 pm i love you adam but what is with the cd cover?
Posted by Cherie, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:47 pm It is cute. It takes a nice picture. Can it sing?
Posted by ianaleah, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:50 pm the universe/creator/subatomic physics is adrogynous, so get over it. It looks like a star being from space. I'd have preferred one of Adam looking like his sweet sexy self, but this art work is georgoeus and it is what it is, who really cares, it the outstanding music on the album we want anyway.how mindless, brainless do you think we are? Only those who are jealous and resentful of Adam's taletn and success will use the cover as an excuse to bash him. Ha! Dosen't fool anyone with a working brain.
Posted by Sharon Davidson, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:54 pm I love the CD cover. The colors are fantastic, and the eyes speak volumns. Adam, you did really good.Those who would be embarrassed to take this CD to the cashier, because of the cover, should be ashamed of themselves. Such narrow minded people. Answer this for me please, are you buying the CD because of the picture on the cover, or to listen to Adam's great voice? Do tell.
Posted by jackson, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7:55 pm freckin gayy
Posted by Marcie, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 8:04 pm My first reaction on seeing the cover was georgeous cover, immediately then changing to ohoh, this is usa not europe, lotsa closed minds.like it or not, who will buy violent games for their children but be scared of anything androgynous tho the person who said it would make a great Trapper Keeper Cover is rightWell, one the ithe biggest stars in Eupope is androgynous Tokio Hotel's Bill and the new rage in Australian is a glam rocker who has talen over the country. Maybe the hi teck but culturally sluggish mid west will catch up.
Posted by kimber, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 8:05 pm The CD cover is great....people need to lighten up.
Posted by Udjat, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 8:35 pm Love this Album cover. Get over it. Even Elvis wore makeup just google it. Love Adam's promise to entertain us. And he continues to do so.
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