By Joy Fang

AH, ADAM Lambert. Let me count the ways that people love you.

There was the queue that began at Bugis Junction last Friday as early as 11pm for your 4pm autograph session last Saturday. There were the fans that turned up for you last Thursday morning at Changi Airport, where you were whisked away through a VIP exit.

There were the 1,500 fans who screamed your name during your acoustic set at the Pantages Hollywood Theater at Universal Studios Singapore for your first performance here last Friday.

Yes, the 28-year-old American Idol Season 8 runner-up inspired mayhem and frenzy among fans here.

But here is something fans might not know: The man - here to promote the deluxe edition of his debut album, For Your Entertainment, released last November - was once insecure.

Lambert revealed - at an interview with the Singapore press at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore a few hours before his showcase - that, 10 years ago, he wasn't comfortable in his own skin and was not much of a risk-taker.

"Now, I feel that I'm kinda the opposite," he said.

Last year, he gave a racy performance at the American Music Awards, in which he kissed a male keyboardist on the lips.

"It was meant to be laughed at, it's just singing and entertaining," he said.

No such controversial antics were in sight at his showcase.

He stuck to showing off his vocals in a six-song set that had him performing tunes like Fever and Mad World - with just a guitar and drums for accompaniment. His rendition of the single, Whataya Want From Me, was nothing short of haunting.

THEY WANT HIM: Five lucky fans of Adam Lambert got to hug him onstage at Bugis Junction last Saturday. Others queued overnight to get his autograph.

Singapore also made an impression on Lambert in more ways than one. The self-confessed lover of spicy food ate chili crab on his first night here at East Coast, he said during the interview.

"It was so good," Lambert enthused.

He also enjoyed drinking home-grown Tiger Beer, he added.

Perhaps that's part of why Lambert, who left for Japan last Saturday at 11pm, said he hopes to return to Singapore with his full band for a full-length concert.

We'll be waiting, Adam.

Season 9 of American Idol airs on StarWorld (StarHub Ch 18) every Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm, and on Channel 5 every Wednesday and Thursday at 10.30pm. Check TV schedules online for more details.

joyfang@sph.com.sg

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