1.6.15 Queen + Adam Lambert Rehearsals start

Just that it is not true. Don't get me wrong. I do understand that it takes hard work to turn a natural talent into a master. But denying that talent and aptitude is at the essence of any outstanding achievement is also wrong. And I don't think that you are trying to say that, but I do think this ad is saying that. It makes those that work hard and don't achieve look like they are lazy. They are not. They were just not cut out to be stars.

The truth is, that a combination of raw talent, hard work, and that unbending spirit and will to succeed, make somebody soar sky high. And the last ingredient is some good fortune or destiny, but the last part is the smallest, and it is often overestimated, especially in comparison to the other three. But it is not all in somebody's hands to control the outcome.

I understand that you are on a mission to explain that Adam has to work hard to make his vocal excellence happen. But, I think it would be disingenuous to assume that anybody could sing like Adam, if they worked hard. They can't.

Or our TV institutions or other make believe factories seem to constantly tell idol wannabees, or kids in school, or artists, or whoever else, that they are all stars, they just need to work hard and believe in themselves. Especially, if you turn it around and say, if you don't become a star, then you just did not work hard enough. I think it would be better to tell the world that few are called to be stars, and most of us have to settle for a much more mundane existence. And most of us can actually lead very happy lives that way.

Btw, when Brian answered on Xfactor, that you just have to believe, he was put on the spot and that was not to place to tell these kids, otherwise. I get that, so he said the first thing that came to his mind, I suppose. But I don't think that just believing works. Setting ambitious, but realistic expectations, works, at least based on my experience.

And I also don't know what any of this has to do with insurance, lol.

Agree with you, had similar thoughts. I always believed that this was one of the hardest adjustments for Adam in his new pop/rock star career. He came from a musical theater background, where the culture was to bond and feel like family. And he maybe assumed to find a new family in the pop world, and instead, people seemed to treat each other more as competition.

That his attitude is different from most shows in Adam's often discussed praise for other artists. It is rarely acknowledged and even more rarely reciprocated. Adam has also spoken a few times about feeling still unaccepted. Maybe it is rather that the atmosphere just is so much colder in the pop world.

Why that is, beats me. Musical theater people constantly have to compete with each other, for every job, actually. And they are often quite desperate to get the part, far more desperate than a pop star worth millions should be to climb one spot higher on the charts. But instead, shared misery in the chorus line seems to make for a nicer climate than the lonely luxury of the penthouse suites.
Go figure.

I thought the article had the pop star pinned down really well. I am not sure, I understood the juxtaposition with the rock star quite as much. I believe that both rock and pop stars are essentially narcissistic and need to be to to some extent. To me, the rock star is somebody who is constantly caught between being just a member of the band, with the band being the star entity and on the other hand being the standout star him-or herself. It certainly creates for interesting dynamics in every successful band with usually one or two natural stars.

The pop star does not have this conflict. They are the star around which all the planets have to circle. They will grow or combust on their own. Maybe, it is the pressure of that singular responsibility that drives pop stars into this strange isolation. I don't know.

I actually think you and I agree. We may just put the emphasis on different parts of the recipe. 

Adam has an unusual anatomy which makes it physically possible for him to create the kind of resonance he creates. Many professional, trained classical singers do not achieve that full a resonance. His vocal cords are also shaped to produce a high tenor. He could practice 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and not be able to hit notes at the bottom of a bass signers register. 

That, to me, is not talent. That is physiology. Yes, he was born with it. I guess you could say it was "god given." Pretty much the rest of the voice is the result of hard work, tho. 

Even the ideal physiology and many years of hard work with a great coach does not necessarily result in great success as an artist, an athlete, or a business mogul. There is also being in the right place at the right time, cultivating the right people, creating the right networks, choosing the right direction or career to pursue, good timing, and some just plain old luck. 

Saying someone has a god-given talent, or was just "born with it" implies that if you don't have that certain special something, you may as well not try. Studies have shown that that is not true. "Talent" can be taught. "Talent" can be learned. Saying someone is just a "natural" can also imply that their ability came without any effort on their part. Nothing they can take any responsibility for having or not having. We know that is not true either.

On the other hand, you are right. Saying that success is the result of hard work, determination and dedication doesn't tell the whole story. If a guy is 5'3", no amount of work and practice is going to result in him having a career in professional basketball. If a guy is 6'4", he is never going to be a jockey, no matter that he has dreamed of it and worked toward it for the first 16 years of his life, before he got that growth spurt. I think this is where coaches, teachers and even loved ones need to be honest with children and adults. If the person is incapable of being successful in the artistic endeavor or  profession they aspire to, they need to be told that. Before they try so hard for so long, spend all that time and money only to fail time and again. 

The other "myth" that bugs me is that all it takes is a positive attitude, positive thinking, visualization, and self affirmation. Brian's "Believe." Adam has also attributed his success at times to that positive projection, rather than a combination of physiology, blood, sweat, and tears. 

The bottom line is, that kind of artistry, that kind of excellence is the result of a rare combination of traits, happenstances and personal commitment and hard work. That's why there are so few "geniuses."