Single Review: Adam Lambert – ‘Welcome to the Show’ (Feat. Laleh)
2 min read
Not even a year after his previous studio album The Original High, Adam Lambert is already back with new material. It doesn’t exactly signifying the end of the promotion for the album, meaning it exists as its own unique entity; a common occurrence in modern music, and one that works well in particular for Welcome to the Show. With its particular message and sound, it doesn’t really need back-up to reach its full potential.
Stylistically the song sits in a strange limbo between an acoustic track and a grandiose pop ballad. There’s a heavy focus on piano for most of its verses, but the choruses gain their impact with small electronic loops and booming percussion. There’s a shimmering quality to the track, set mostly by the piano but helped by Lambert’s own voice and the assistance of guest vocalist Laleh, who mesh perfectly together to add a strong finishing dimension to the track. The song does run the risk of feeling disjointed, moving between piano, electronic and percussive sections without any real flow, but it works in context and the vocal performances do most of the hard work to make up for it.
Its separate identity from The Original High actually comes off as a bit of a blessing; the song truly shines by not having anything to really compare it to, and all of its positive qualities stand out far more than they would have at the tail end of a promotional cycle as the final single. Even though it’s a random gift of sorts to the fans, Welcome to the Show stands out as one of Lambert’s strongest recent tracks.
Interesting review thanks – I like the discussion of the vocals and how they seal the deal. ANd yes a very unusual track. I dont like it as much as some of his other tracks but it’s unique and interesting and he and Laleh do a fantastic job with the vocals. Regardless of comparisons it stands on it’s own merits as a sophisticated and worthy tune. I do wonder tho, why would you think whatever the next single from the album is would be it’s “final” single?? Surely that’s open to a variety of factors and theoretically any number of singles can be released from an album over time. IMHO (and the opinion of others I’ve read) there’s at least 2 or 3 more potential singles in that albums track list.