We can’t be the only ones who noticed the similarities between Season 10 American Idol metal enthusiast James Durbin and Season 8′s outrageous contestant-turned-even-more-outrageous pop star Adam Lambert. (And not just because we think they sort of look alike.) Both uniquely-styled singers could nail everything from rock songs to emotional ballads; both favored risky song choices that most other contestants would be too scared to attempt; and both James and Adam could deliver a high-pitched wail your ears couldn’t believe. So why does it appear that these two fellas are now in the middle of a feud?
Adam Lambert recently spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about all of the top finalists in the competition — mostly expressing his love of now eliminated contestant Haley Reinhart — but also mentioned he was “kind of over” James:
“I think he’s got talent and passion 100 percent, but I feel like he’s trying way too hard,” Adam opines. “Also, his niche is so limited with the metal. When he did that “Heavy Metal” song [by Sammy Hagar], James was note-perfect. He was on pitch, which is usually kind of an issue, and I think he sounded really good, but it felt like a copycat. I didn’t feel like I was seeing an original artist yet. And I’m not saying he doesn’t have that in him, but it hasn’t been showing.”
MTV naturally wanted to get James’ take on Adam’s comments when they sat down with him for a post-exit interview. When Jim Cantiello suggests that Adam’s negative comments about James’ performances may have aided his elimination, James responds, “I was nothing more than nice to that guy. You know, he decided to take it to a different level. So, whatever.”
He continues: “I don’t know what the comparison is all about. He sings pop and electronica, and I sing rock and roll.”
Do you think Adam’s criticism of James affected his being voted off the show? And should we expect a response from Glambert sometime soon, or has this feud already fizzled? Regardless, we think Mr. Durbin is going to be just fine without winning Idol, especially with all of Santa Cruz being desperately in love with him.
It is more than just Santa Cruz that loves this guy. Adam comes off as jealous and threatened. He is justifiably afraid that James will eclipse him, because James WILL eclipse him.
Wait Adam sings Rock & Roll too (& better)
James better develop a thicker skin if he’s going to make it. After receiving overly positive responses from the AI judges for some pretty bad performances, he apparently didn’t know how to take Adam’s constructive criticism.
Adam does not sing Rock & Roll, Adam sing Pop/Glam/Electro/Rock. I know I am a fan and even went ot his concert.
Adam is great at what he does and James is great at what he does singing Metal/Hardore Rock.
Adam would sound like a fake singing Metal and Adam even said so himself NO Metal for him.
James Durbin should have never gotten to 4th place. He was a blubbering, crying mess. Not one performance was on pitch the whole season. I had to change the channel when he was on.
There was nothing ‘constructive’ about Adam’s criticism. It was jealous and petty, and did not paint Adam in a flattering light.
I guess I’m kinda over Adam.
Actually, Adam did an amazing cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” for an encore in New Zealand.
really? adam is already in that position to judge his peers now?
I can’t believe some of you on this post read Adam’s comments and came to the conclusion he was jealous and mean???????? All I saw was an honest opinion. IMO that’s all it was! Where do we come off assuming we know why someone said something? Can’t we just appreciate the talent both these young men bring to the table? Perhaps as fans we need to get a thicker skin and stop being so overly protective of our favorites. They are grown men!!! Let them handle it. This is so overblown!!!!!!!
Really? Links?
I thought he was going to cry again in that video. I’m used to him crying all the time on camera.
Why do you keep this comparison going. There is no comparison. Adam is in a class of his own and can sing any genre with vocals that are just beyond belief. View videos of both and really listen and hear what greatness is when you listen to Adam. Adam is so supportive of other artists and appreciates creativeness and making a song your own. James showed no creativeness and as far as him being metal and doing things that have never been done before, Please. He sang what 1 metal song the whole time he was on. He murdered A Change Is Going To Come and was off pitch each and every performance. You talk about Adam’s honest critique, but never mention the cockiness of Durbin prior to Idol when he touted how great he was and how he could sing higher notes than Adam ever could. Sweet guy. When this whole comparison started I listened and hoped Durbin would live up to AI’s hype, but each and every week he was just a disappointment. Good to mediocre. I hope he has a great Metal Rock career, but I am sorry Durbin fans, he has no vocal control and cannot get through a song with out being off key. He is just not an exciting performer to watch or listen to!!!
WTF is this all about!. I’m not even a Lambert fan and still have to admit he’s head and shoulders above Durbin when it comes to talent. How Durbin got so far I’ll never know, he has an annoying personality, with delusion or par with Danny Gokey. He didn’t manage to stay on pitch for at least one full performance, and had breathing problems which made him sound like he was having an asthma attack after every long note! All this and the useless judges kissed his behind all season. I give kudos to Lambert for saying what many of the people watching were saying all season. If Durbin can’t take this type of critique without throwing his dummy out of the pram, he’s in for a shock in the real world outside of the idol bubble.
Anyone who thought Adam’s karaoke Enter Sandman was ‘metal’ is hopelessly delusional. As a metal fan, I laughed all the way though Adam’s take. It was more marshmallow than metal.
Well said dude, James Durbin’s ego is far greater than his talent, he’s in for a massive reality check soon.
Ugh. Adam is coming off as totally mean-spirited and immature here. The two of them are not even alike at all (thank God!). James is a class act who hasn’t said one bad word about anyone, including Adam, even when the media tries to get him to. In my opinion, he is by far the best contestant ever on American Idol, and I will be first in line to buy his CDs.
I totally agree that this is being way overblown by the press. I personally don’t even see the comparisons between the two of them and never did. But I will tell you why it looks to some people like Adam is being jealous and mean. You don’t see Carrie Underwood saying publicly that she is over Lauren Alaina or that Lauren sounds like she’s copying someone. Or Josh Turner saying that about Scotty. Or Adele saying that about Haley. Those performers are class acts that are not threatened at all by new, up and coming performers. For Adam to say anything negative about James at all when James is just starting out just made Adam look like a complete jerk. Adam seems to forget that it was just two short years ago that he too was on a reality TV singing compeition, hoping for votes. What a jerk.
Oh please. There is no comparison between these two guys. James is real and what we saw on AI of James was real. Adam is good but he was so fake and still is.
James is comfortable with himself and honorable and has REAL LIFE responsibilities and James HAS A REAL Life.
Adam is not comfortable with himself and has to keep trying to dress up – fix up, trying to find himself. Adam’s life is … well I don’t know anything about his life but I don’t think he has the responsibilities that James already has.
Plus James has disabilities but you don’t even notice them because he is so awesome. (and I never use the word awesome) and I mean as a person. I just love him as a person.
When everyone was being so mean to Stefano on Idol when Pia was voted off… James was like a big brother to Stefano… it was like James was the only one who realized how hurtful all that cr*p was to Stefano. I really respect James.
I’ve been voting for Scotty and was pulling for James and Scotty.
No one has the right to compare James to Adam or say James is following in his footsteps….. if ANYTHING – Adam copied Matt Kester from season 5. If you look in the idol magazine you will see Matt Kester had Adam’s Idol look, long before Adam did!
I am soooooo over Adam. (okay I do still listen to his Mad World performance on occasion)
This coming from the most unoriginal biggest copycat that has music out there… LOL what a hater!
People who say such things most of the time have no music background or music taste. So, congrats! You are one of those.
Durbin is in the spotlight right now and people position themselves to get a piece of it, Lambert’s case in my opinion. Media clashes the two and their fans together to get a story and will probably continue doing it for a while. Without a question, there is some background story there – both are bright young idols that sang rock songs on the show, and the story developed when Lambert started making judgmental statements about Durbin’s performances in public. It is fairly clear that season 8 idol didn’t like being compared to season 10 idol and decided to play a role in shooting the rising star down. You don’t have to think too hard about why. There is a classic set of reasons that play in situations like that – jealousy, competitiveness, self-perceived image of uniqueness (nobody below Queen or Zep can be compared to Lambert), industry niche, etc. I liked Lambert’s Zep on the show, but, in my opinion, Durbin is the first true rocker the show has had (Daughtry comes to mind too). Durbin has huge passion and high level emotions, one of the best rock voices in the industry history (unique bright and clear sound quality, better range than Lambert), sings with his heart and aggressively goes straight after the hearts and souls of the audience, turns everything he touches into songs with a distinct rocky edge and sings the whole range of rock. He came to AI with a mission to bring metal back and he leaves it with a mission to revive a fading art of vocals/solo guitar rock duet and return metal to Grammy’s. His karaoke Zep from years ago on youtube is of a quality AI has not produced yet, in my opinion. Don’t know about you, but I believe Durbin is embarking on a most ambitious, difficult and noble missions that there is in modern music. Chinese saying: ‘Greatness of a man is measured by how many people envy him’. I am gladly joining Lambert in being green jealous of Durbin’s rare combination of confidence, talent, heart and soul – all as huge as they could only be. Good luck to our new hope for the future of rock music!
Lambert addressed this on his twitter tonight – see https://twitter.com/#!/adamlambert
He says, I quote: “in regards to Idol I’ve said way too much. Media turns non-personal, honest opinions into “feuds”.…like mom taught: “if u don’t have anything nice to say- don’t say it all” sorry if I hurt any feelings- not my intent.”
Adam Lambert speaks the truth. His assessment was accurate. As the saying goes: “the truth hurts.” It’s difficult to hear when all you’ve heard from the AI judges was empty and unsubstantiated praise, for the most part.
James better get prepared for the real life…and that is you get a lot of negative opinions your way! What Adam said about James was not even comparable to what Adam got from the judges. James is still a baby when it comes to real singing and real comments. Anybody can say what they think and that goes for Adam too. James is just starting and he is getting a big head now. James voice is way way below Adam’s…sorry for that!
James Durbin has an annoying personality that I don’t like. Let him sing rock if he wants to. Let him sing anything if he wants to…but his voice can never compare to Adam! And people, people…please, you are joining in something that writers are trying to create…this supposed feud between the two. How can there be a feud when Adam doesn’t care a ___ about James Durbin!
Adam is worried because James does new things he doesn’t. Adam is like a “promo-gay” singer, James is just worried for music.
Is jealousy and concern in Adam’s words.
Marina anyone can say they’ve got a great range, but hitting all the notes on pitch and being able to control and support the notes helps, James Durbin can’t do this and Adam Lambert can it makes a bit difference.
Adam should be more worried about putting out some decent music himself before throwing stones at anyone else. The stuff he has put out since American Idol sucks!
This needs to be updated. Adam said on Twitter that he never meant to offend anyone; he was just giving an honest opinion about performances; nothing personal. Far more hating going on here in the comments! Way to blow something totally out of proportion. Both performers will find their own way to success.
What a hoot!
Durbin hasn’t released his first album yet, and hasn’t had his first concert tour yet, but he’s already an arrogant diva.
Adam is not threatened by James… and SHOULD NOT BE threatened by him because Adam is way better singer and performer than james is… no one can top what Adam did in american idol 3years ago…
uhm…NO James and Adam are a little alike, but Adam is not jealous of James. why would he be? he has more fame and fortune and fans. Adam’s all about originality, and obviously he didn’t see that in James.
You said it all better than I ever could. Perfectly done.