Adam Lambert Gets Last Laugh with Chart Comeback
Rohin Guha
November 13, 2009
Yes, I'm taking all kinds of liberties with the term "comeback," but typically after iTunes botches things up for a pop singer as it did with Adam Lambert, resulting in this kind of chaos, it takes something of a Herculean feat to set things right. And Lambert's legion of fans didn't disappoint, ultimately pushing his album to Boylean heights on not only on iTunes, but also Amazon, over a week before the album's release. Which is ultimately for the best, because most of us were really beginning to doubt the mojo of American Idol. Especially after the far-reaching grabs of attention of other AI alums.
Alums like Katharine McPhee, who’s had to bleach her hair in an Ashlee Simpson-esque bid to get people to pay attention to her. You might as well leak a sex tape because both cry “desperation” at similar volumes.
But back to the matter of Lambert’s Last Laugh. With a week and change to go before its actual release, For Your Entertainment is perched optimistically at the edge of the Top 10 on iTunes’ singles chart (however, it’s top of the pops) and at a more promising #8 on Amazon. Previously, there were enough troubles on the administrative side of things and the single was stalled in the lower half of the Top 100.
And maybe there still are, as the lead single of the same name sits at #61 on iTunes. Which appears inconsistent with level of hype surrounding the album. Although it’s definitely within reason given the radio’s lack of support for the tune. A lack which will just get worse as radio self-destructs with the emergence of Beyogaga. But at that point, this should be making headlines. Also, sidebar: Who listens to the radio, anyway?
Comments (30)
Posted by DANA MARTIN on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 08.14 pm
GREAT ARTICLE ON ADAM ! LOVE HIM !!
Posted by anonymous on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 08.55 pm
Love the headline, so happy you posted the update after the last article. I have already pre-ordered and can hardly wait for the 23rd to get here! Sad to admit, I do listen to the radio, wish they would start picking up the spins. FYE is addictive.
Posted by anonymous on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 09.20 pm
You are so right about who listens to the radio. I put on Zoo100 or one of the Kiss stations and they play the same songs over and over and over again. I can’t even begin to tell you how sick I am of hearing Miley Cyrus and Owl City. Enough already. I’ve called my local stations and requested Adam’s single but they seem to love to ignore their listeners and continue to play the same songs over and over again.
Administrative mess ups by iTunes is a massive understatement. What’s odd is they continuosly do it on Adam’s music and only Adam’s music. It’s become a running joke among his fans. But it is a testiment to how much his fans love him in that it was still driven to number one despite iTunes determined effort to get things wrong.
Posted by mediawatch on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 09.23 pm
The FYE single reached around 26 on all genre when the album hit Number 1 on the pop chart. Unfortunately finding the damn thing was nearly impossible for so long you needed an itunes geiger counter.It literally disappeared off and on for a week from the entire site. The album was also number 1 on Amazon for a long time. Since the actual Idol “winner” is first in line, Lambert’s promo will start next week.This week he picked up several spins. Two tracks were available for dl today to customers who bought the album and I’m seeing huge huge huge when you combine these with the longer snippets that leaked. There is nothing like him on radio or even not on radio today. The tracks on this album leave your jaw dropped and head confused as to what kind of creative brain actually had this vision.
Posted by Sally on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 09.25 pm
I just hope at some point Adam gets the promotion Kris has gotten. I understand Kris needs it and Adam promotes himself by being out and about but that’s no excuse for letting him lag in sales when he would be killing the charts with half the effort that’s been given to Kris.
Posted by TedW on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 09.43 pm
Rohin, you said it all right..I have been requesting FYE to be played on my local top 40 radio station for over a week now...zilch..and Itunes was a mess too. I stopped listening to the radio station, and now the proud owner of everything he has out..thanks for the article.
Posted by anonymous on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 09.48 pm
The media has followed Katharine McPhee since the day Idol ended. Where have you been? Under a rock?!
Posted by anonymous on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 10.46 pm
Yeah, this release, so hyped, has been really really oddly handled and botched it seems, on Amazon and Itunes too, where you had a hard time finding his songs and album at all. Adam is too talented for that to really keep him down but its odd and while FYE the single is not a grammy winner, its a good song, a very good dance tune, hot and sexy and better than a lot of what’s out there right now and none of the radio stations are playing it. It should be a great fit for a lot of stations out there but while we hear Lady Gaga every two minutes, they are not playing any of Adam’s songs. Its very dissapointing but at least his album sales are strong, I can’t wait for the 23rd!!
Posted by anonymous on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 10.46 pm
As they say “You hit the nail on the spot” yes I would love to hear more Adam on the radio but who cares thats why cd’s were invented, You tube etc...overall great article.
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Posted by Janis on Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 07.16 pm
Yes I was wondering if Itune had some axe to grind and that is insane because this guy has the best pipes around!!! No matter - Adam’s fans are buying and his fan base is growing and Adam is just phenomenal!! The radio stations need to get on board - but like you say, most people download and avoid radio due to commercials and foolish choices such as not playing Adam. Adam Rocks!!!