Adam Lambert: Talent vs. Popularity

No matter where you look, you will see headlines on magazine covers, online news stories, articles, and at least a gazillion forum posts that say Adam Lambert is destined to win this years American Idol contest. Are these assumptions based on talent or popularity? And in the end does it really matter?

You only have to see him perform one time to know he can sing. The difference between him and the other contestants is that he does not just sing, he performs. Lambert is an entertainer through and through and this draws us all in each week. He knows how to work the camera and play it up to the TV viewers as well as how to work the live audience.

He also shows his diversity. By choosing songs that he can rearrange in to something that fits in with his own unique style. The ability to choose the right song is key and Lambert seems to have mastered it from the beginning. One week you see a crazed rocker with wild hair and guyliner galore, the next week you find yourself captivated by this young talented crooner wearing a white suit that you would more than likely find in the wardrobe of every lounge lizard in Vegas. All these attributes prove that he has the talent to back up his top four position.

Undoubtedly, teen girls everyone swoon as soon as Lambert walks on the stage. So should this lead us to believe that he is still there only because of his popularity? I don't think so. Sanjaya Malakar had a huge teen following in season 6 that kept him around way longer than he should have been, but in the end he was voted off in 7th place. Obviously his popularity votes were not enough to keep the fact hidden that his talent level was below the other contestants.

Popularity does play a major role in American Idol, but so does talent. I know of sixty year old men who say Lambert will win, and you can easily assume that this has nothing to do with the way he looks. Without question, you have to be liked. But in order to make it this far, you also have to exhibit the talent to back it up.

Whether you like Adam Lambert or not, his talent is something that can not be ignored. He has both talent and popularity which I believe, gives him a small edge over his competition. The American Idol winner for season 8 has not been determined yet, but the odds are definitely in Lamberts favor.