by Adam Lambert: A Look at His Collaborations
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Adam Lambert is an American singer, songwriter, and stage performer best known as the runner-up from the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. Since rising to fame on the popular singing competition show, Lambert has gone on to have a successful music career spanning over a decade. While he has released several solo albums showcasing his own material and artistry, Lambert has also collaborated with other established artists on different projects. This article will provide an overview of three notable collaborations Adam Lambert has been involved in throughout his career so far.
Queen + Adam Lambert
Perhaps Lambert’s highest profile collaboration has been with the legendary rock band Queen since 2011. After fronting Queen in the American Idol finale performance of “We Are the Champions” in 2009, Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen were so impressed that they began touring with Lambert under the moniker “Queen + Adam Lambert.” Their partnership has seen them perform sold-out arena shows around the world.
In 2012, Queen + Adam Lambert released their first live album titled “Queen + Adam Lambert Live Around the World.” The album was a commercial success, reaching the top ten of album charts in over twenty countries. It showed Lambert’s vocal abilities could more than hold their own alongside Queen’s epic catalog of hits from “Bohemian Rhapsody” to “We Will Rock You.” Fan and critical reception to Lambert’s vocal performance with Queen was overwhelmingly positive, cementing him as a more than worthy successor to the late Freddie Mercury.
Queen + Adam Lambert have since toured extensively, playing shows across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Their live performances are considered a must-see for both die-hard Queen fans and those interested in experiencing the band’s music brought to life by three highly talented musicians in Lambert, May, and Taylor. Over the years, their live sets have expanded to include deeper cuts from Queen’s discography in addition to the usual fan favorites.
In 2014, Queen + Adam Lambert released their second live album “Forever” which also did very well commercially. They have proven to be one of the highest-grossing touring acts in the world. In 2019, Queen + Adam Lambert released their first studio recording together titled “Live Around the World.” It contained both live and studio versions of Queen hits with Lambert on vocals. The collaboration has endured very positively for both parties involved. Lambert gets to perform with rock legends while May and Taylor continue Queen’s legacy with a frontman who does the material justice. Their partnership highlights how successful collaborations can be when all parties involved respect each other’s talents.
Tove Lo – “Rumors”
In 2016, Lambert collaborated with Swedish singer Tove Lo on the track “Rumors” from his third studio album “The Original High.” Tove Lo is known for her emotionally raw and sexually frank lyrics, and “Rumors” saw her penning lyrics about relationship rumors and gossip alongside Lambert.
The song has an infectious pop beat but tackles heavier subject matter of dealing with hurtful rumors about one’s personal life spreading online or amongst friends. Lambert’s powerful vocals are on full display alongside Lo’s sultry co-lead. Music critics praised the pairing of Lambert and Lo for the track, saying their vocal styles blended together seamlessly while elevating the song’s message.
The “Rumors” music video depicted Lambert and Lo attending a high school reunion where past relationship drama and gossip resurfaces. It was stylized to look like a 1980s John Hughes film and played with cliques, cliques, and stereotypes commonly seen in teen movies. Fans enjoyed seeing Lambert flex his acting chops in the role. “Rumors” was considered one of the album’s highlights and showed Lambert collaborating outside of the rock genre with a fellow pop powerhouse. Working with Tove Lo allowed Lambert to reach new audiences while trusting her songwriting abilities on a personal track. Their successful one-off collaboration hints that more cross-genre pairings could be fruitful for Lambert’s artistry.
Nile Rodgers – “Ghost Town”
Another major collaboration on “The Original High” was Lambert working with legendary hitmaker and Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers on the track “Ghost Town.” Rodgers has produced, written and performed on countless hits over the past few decades for artists like David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran, Lady Gaga and more. Bringing him into the studio elevated the production value and credibility of Lambert’s album.
“Ghost Town” has a infectious, funk-driven melody and is one of the most danceable tracks Lambert has released to date. Lyrically it discusses feeling lonely and isolated even when surrounded by people. Rodgers’ guitar work and production shine throughout the track alongside Lambert’s emotive vocals. Music critics praised the pairing of Rodgers and Lambert for creating one of the strongest songs on the album thanks to their individual talents melding well.
In interviews, Lambert expressed how honored he was to work with someone of Rodgers’ stature and caliber in the music industry. Rodgers returned the compliment, saying Lambert was one of the best vocalists he’s ever collaborated with. Their mutual respect was clear. Like the Tove Lo collaboration, working with Rodgers helped Lambert push into new sonic territory and reach older audiences who appreciate Rodgers’ legacy in pop and funk music. It showed Lambert’s versatility and range as an artist willing to work with genre greats.
Additional Collaborations
While the collaborations with Queen, Tove Lo, and Nile Rodgers received the most attention and acclaim, Adam Lambert has also worked with several other artists in lower profile pairings:
– In 2010, Lambert dueted with pop singer Cher on her hit “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” for the Burlesque soundtrack.
– He appeared as a guest vocalist on electro-pop artist Chromeo’s 2011 single “Too Close.”
– In 2013, Lambert collaborated with indie pop duo Neon Hitch for their single “Crazy Kids.”
– He sang backup vocals on rock band Muse’s 2015 track “Dead Inside” from their album Drones.
– Lambert performed “Imagine” alongside pop star Kesha at the 2017 LA Pride festival.
While these collaborations didn’t result in full songs together, they showed Lambert’s willingness to work with artists across genres from Cher to Muse. They helped broaden his audience and keep his name active in the industry between solo album cycles.
Artistry Growth Through Collaboration
Overall, Adam Lambert’s collaborations with Queen, Tove Lo, Nile Rodgers and others have allowed his artistry to grow in new directions while reaching more listeners. Working with established legends like Queen and Rodgers gave Lambert’s career instant credibility in the rock and R&B spaces. Meanwhile, teaming up with pop hitmakers like Tove Lo and Neon Hitch introduced Lambert to wider mainstream audiences. Each collaborative experience provided Lambert with opportunities to learn from seasoned creatives and expand his musical skillset.
Whether performing arena shows with Queen, co-writing with Tove Lo, or working in the studio with Nile Rodgers, Lambert has proven himself a highly collaborative artist willing to take creative risks outside of his comfort zone. His partnerships have consistently been met with positive reviews thanks to his ability to seamlessly blend styles. While his solo work remains the main vehicle for Lambert’s own vision, his collaborations play a key role in continuously growing and evolving his artistry for new chapters. Fans are left wanting more every time he joins forces with other talented musicians. Lambert’s story shows how fruitful collaboration can be for any artist willing to step outside of themselves.
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