12.10.16 Adam on X Factor

Does anyone know what Adam said to Saara in Finnish at the end?

I just love this -- I can feel the warmth and affection and good will and I just sit here smiling as I watch it.  I love the look at 1:17 when Adam glances up at the audience -- he radiates!  And I know Cassie talks about how you rarely hear him breathe, but he does take a big breath at 1:44 before a long phrase.  I can just imagine those lungs filling up, preparing for that wonderful note he hits on "born" and then that sustained "all".   Wonderful!

Saara is so gobmsacked! incredible performance with adorable chemistry! WOW! 

I agree with you. I am not running off from Adam, no worries. Adam has more variety in his vocals, more dimensions as others have already said, and he is also very clever about using all these skills. Even in this duet he threw some very smart wrinkles in there that showed what a skilled singer he is. He used a few lines (..I got to go, I leave you all behind....) to show off the resonance he is able to produce, and he used the 'born at all' line to create an unusual deviation from the melody and it created interest, but he did not do this at the expense of Saara, he gave her the moment that she deserved. He let her shine.

Here is the thing, in the end Adam has a completely unique and unusual voice. Saara is a great singer, but her voice is a typical mezzo soprano voice like many other great female voices out there. Now that does not mean that she cannot have a great career as a singer, it is just not that she is something completely unique. Adam is. And that is the good news and the bad.

It is the bad news in that so many people cannot see the quality and special skills in Adam's vocals, but rather spend the whole performance pondering about how a man can sing that high, and whether that is normal, and how come his voice does sound kind of male, even though it is so high, gay, gay, yay, yay, and so on, and they miss just enjoying it, and all the clever elements that he has thrown in, or the message he has tried to convey. And on radio that effect is even more pronounced, because the visuals are missing, which usually help Adam capture his audience.

The good news is that those that have discovered him, are usually sold hook, line and sinker and others, once they see him again and again, eventually start recognizing the artist and start coming on board. That is one reason why Adam is still growing his fanbase 8 years after his idol time, when others are long forgotten. Some people need to hear him multiple times to get on board. Not everyone is sold at 'Mama'....

If he ever hits a new ballad or other hit out of the park like we are all hoping for him, then watch the millions follow. It has already become easier for him. He is established now, that question is already in his past. But many for example in the UK have only barely heard of him, maybe seen him once or twice on their tele. That is why it was such a gift that this opportunity arose. He needs to have multiple points of exposure to secure a bigger fanbase for himself. That was true in idol as well, I remember that Adam was divisive and had everyone's attention from day one, but that many only came on board once they had seen him many times and in different kinds of performances.

This was a great opportunity for Adam and he made the most of it.
Now whether it will really help Saara win I don't know. In my mind, her first song was not a great choice, the guy had a better first song. Not that she did not sing it well, it was just not as memorable or strong a song, imo. And the other duet had the grander staging, and people who did not care so much for Adam may have been impressed with both Nicole as well as the backdrop.
It should be a tight race, I would think and I am crossing my fingers that she wins.