Adam Lambert Goes Wild Cherry, Shows American Idol How to "Play that Funky Music"

Last week, Adam Lambert delivered possibly one of the best performances in American Idol history, crooning Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears" so well that he gave the 26-year-old theatre actor a standing ovation - and was joined by the rest of those in the American Idol audience. This week, Adam Lambert got everyone out of their seats again with an original twist of the Wild Cherry's 1976 mega-hit "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." Wherever the guys from Wild Cherry are, you have to know they were standing and cheering after that performance.

Because you've got to love that your music has become an American standard.

Steve Jobs no doubt was clapping right along as well, since the songs from American Idol's Top Downloads Week were pulled from iTunes charts.

Adam Lambert said in the taped intro that he wanted to take his music in the opposite direction of where he was last week. True to his word, he went from sleek, groomed, and vulnerable for "Tracks of My Tears" to macho, swaggering, dance machine for the Wild Cherry number.

And it was simply brilliant.

Adam Lambert is by far the best vocalist American Idol has produced since Chris Daughtry, bar none. And that list would include David Cook (last year's winner), David Archuleta (Season 7 runner-up), Jordin Sparks (Season 6 winner), Katharine McPhee (Season 5 runner-up) and a few others. They have produced some talented artists, but none with the control, showmanship, and vocal range displayed by Adam Lambert. The man is simply amazing.

The American Idol judges thought so as well. After Adam Lambert strutted to center stage and leaned back for his final 30-second scream, the panel passed judgment. And since it was far better than anything performed in the previous minutes of the show, acclaim was in the air.

Paula Abdul was up and dancing throughout the upbeat number (and joined by most in the audience). She got a little grandiose with her praise, but, then, she's been like that for years. She said, "True genius does not meet expectations; true genius shatters expectations." Then she listed several music icons, like Mick Jagger, and added Adam Lambert's name to the list.

Even Simon Cowell, who has called some of Lambert's material "indulgent," could not find fault these last two weeks. For "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)," Simon said that Adam was "very brave" and "original." He said that Adam looked as if he were having a good time.

Randy Jackson said that he thought when he heard that Adam was doing the Wild Cherry number, that it "could be a little corny" but that Adam had "worked it out."

Kara DioGuardi was effusive, stating that she could not "wait to get to the show to see what you're going to do next."

Adam Lambert was all smiles. And who wouldn't be? But he took the time to acknowledge Ricky Minor and the American Idol house band for their help with arranging the song.

Lambert's version of "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)" did the Steubenville, Ohio band proud. Wild Cherry's 1976 one-hit wonder recording has become a mainstay of country music bar bands, cover bands, college bands, karaoke bars, and MP3 lists over the years since it hit #1 on Billboard's pop and R&B charts. Lambert's rendition gave a new generation a fresh look at a timelessly fun song and electrified an otherwise dull performance night. It also set the mark for what the other contestants are going to have to either match or beat to compete.

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Source:

"American Idol," Fox TelevisionBillboard.com