All it took was one too-racy-for-ABC performance on the American Music Awards, and suddenly Adam Lambert was being cast as every parent’s worst nightmare. Though some viewed Adam as a “deviant influence” at the time, it appears that parents (and schoolteachers) still welcome him as a role model. The Idol alum visited the Belvedere middle school in Los Angeles to donate supplies to its music program, and stayed to accompany the students in a recorder-led version of his hit “Whataya Want From Me.” It was adorable. Watch it below.
Surprisingly, Adam has more difficulties with the song than the kids! “I don’t know what key I’m starting in!” he exclaims, before finally getting in tune. For those keeping score, this wasn’t the first time in the last week he’s had to wrestle with the beginning of this song. But even when he’s off, he’s still charming.
Adam teamed up with Donorschoose.org, and with the help of his fans, he was able to donate $300,000 to the middle school’s music program. The school was able to afford guitars, strings, batteries for keyboards and other supplies to keep their arts programs running. “We’ve raised an insane amount of money,” Adam told the LA Times. “Music classes, drama classes, art classes … these are the programs I really wanted to focus on because, as a kid, I was fortunate enough to have great funding in my district. That’s not always the case for people, so this is really important and great.”
Adam’s only mistake: perhaps he should have changed the lyric “I didn’t give a damn” since he was singing in front of a bunch of pre-teens. But that’s more tame than simulating oral sex, correct?
Sometimes people need to look a little further into someone's character before they pass judgement. Adam is so much more than a 4 min. performance on an awards show. He could have kept accepting the many gifts that fans were buying for him on the Idol tour this summer, but suggested redirecting the money to this charity. It was a genius idea that helped many students, teachers and schools. He has also raised money for Haiti. He is a very gifted singer, and a really nice, honest young man. This was pure joy to watch.
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This article makes it sound like this school got the entire $300,000. That amount actually funded many projects all across the country, most for just a few hundred or a few thousand dollars. As “cr” said, this was a genius Idea and Adam has had a positive impact on thousands of children due to his generosity and the love of his fans.
When I was in school back in the 90s, kids began swearing like sailors on shore leave in about 6th grade. I'm pretty sure Lambert didn't cause these kids any harm with the “didn't give a damn” lyric.
Yes, Adam fans have donated almost $300,000 to DonorsChoose.org but that is to fund hundreds of project that reach 235,012 students in hundreds of schools — all across the United States. Pleased that you wrote an article about this important charity but it would be great if you corrected this article.
There is no chance that the word “damn” is at all shocking or novel to these 12 to 15 year olds. And the expression “I don't give a damn” is not even banned on broadcast TV or Radio at any time of the day. In fact, the “Authorized” King James Bible uses the word “damn” quite frequently. It is a perfectly fine word used in this context.
For heavens sake Becky you are so pathetic, have you ever walked passed a bunch of kids in the mall or anywhere, maybe you don't have any yet. Adams done a wonderful thing, why do you have to dissect and try to find something negative. Adam is a unique young man with so many qualities, how many performers would have gone in a classroom and sang with the students besides making a personal visit, and isn't it time we put the AMA's behind us.
What I think is further worth mentioning is that sports programs in school systems are very heavily funded in this country oftentimes, and although even sports programs have endured many cuts over recent years, it is the arts programs which are often cut first and more severly…Lambert has used his particular talents, as many sports celebrities do, to bring attention and dollars to something that he finds value in – I think it's marvelous. And to additionally acknowledge the fortunate circumstances of his own school district, while not forgetting that this is increasingly a rarity, is lovely and well informed I think. I think Lambert is someone to watch, so I “follow” his career, but I realize that I can not possibly expect the average person to spend their precious free time viewing and reading about Lambert, his appearances and interviews, but sometimes I wish I could wave a magic wand and have people do so, because Lambert really shows himself to be a kind, considerate, intelligent and well meaning young man. He's young and having fun, of course, a little OTB and wild child, but he really seems to be a thoughtful and savvy young man as well, wish people could get past this sound bite society we live in and come to learn that Lambert is quite an authentic and likeable person, as well as stunning talent. I'm in my late 20's and have no kids, but someday would be happy to hold Lambert up as an example to my children as to how to be a well rounded person. I see so many incidents of school bullying in the news lately – maybe, just maybe, Lambert's sort of “make love not war” mentality is just what we need a little more of right now.
I didn't get the impression that Adam was struggling with the key – rather that he was attempting to adjust the kids' playing, which he did beautifully. He neither overpowered their playing nor condescended to them. Thanks for the video – what a truly nice man he seems to be.
ADAM HAS A GENEROUS HEART & A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT. HE IS A ROLE MODEL & A POSITIVE ONE.
Ok the “band” was sort of all over the place, and the song sounds very different from what Adam is used to singing, but looks like fun was had by all. I am a parent and hardly see Adam Lambert as a nightmare. Could we please move forward?