Chart Watch: Whataya Want From Me? Adam Lambert Tries Once More To Get A Hit

     Last November, 17 Tracks sarcastically wondered in sales of the debut album by American Idol's winner and runner-up marked a sort of cultural referendum on Obama.  Foreshadowing the success that the president would have passing one of his highest priority legislative items, the gay Californian Adam Lambert representing the "blue states" schooled the aww shucks Arkansas bred Kris Allen representing the "red states".  Lambert's For Your Entertainment sold 198,000 copies its first week compared to the 80,000 copies Allen sold of his self titled debut.

     Lambert seemed like the Clay Aiken to Allen's Ruben Studdard, a second place finisher who was destined to overshadow the winner.  It's no surprise that Lambert will be Idol's mentor next week, coaching contestants on their performance.  Sure, Allen got to come on and sing "Let It Be" earlier in the season, but he's not going to be asked to mentor anytime soon.

     Even though Lambert is outshining Allen in every possible area, the Hot 100 is not a place where he has done too well.  Allen's perfectly fine but completely inoffensive "Live Like We're Dying" reached the dizzy heights of No. 18 on the Hot 100 while his coronation single, "No Boundaries", peaked at No. 11.  For an Idol winner, those are some dismal numbers.  Although Lambert hasn't done any better, it looks like he might have an actual hit on his hands in the coming weeks.

     "Whataya Want From Me", penned by the heralded (and criminally over-appreciated) Max Martin and Pink, currently sits at No. 20.  That's one spot up from where it was last week.  Slowly but surely, Lambert is moving up. If he can jump three or more spots, he bests the peak Allen got with "Dying".


     I don't really understand why Lambert has done so poorly on the charts.  His version of "No Boundaries" mumbled to a high of No. 72 although several of his other performances landed higher on the chart (His highest ranking one was "Mad World" which peaked at No. 19 solely on digital downloads).  His next official single, "Time For Miracles" from the film 2012, did better than "No Boundaries", but it was nothing to write home about.  The single peaked at No. 50.

     "For Your Entertainment", the lead single from the album of the same name, seemed like it would finally get Lambert a hit.  Written by Claude Kelly and Dr. Luke (writer of songs like "Since U Been Gone", "I Kissed A Girl", "Right Round", "Tik Tok", and "Circus", you know, little indie tracks that don't get played on the radio very much), it was destined for the top ten.  Heaven knows if it were given to Britney Spears, it would be a No. 1, no questions asked (and it would have been world's better than "3", but I digress).  Instead, Lambert took the energetic jam to a miserable No. 61.

     "Whataya Want From Me" might actually do the trick though.  The 90's alt flavored track is growing slowly but surely at radio, and it's sure to get a boost after Lambert performs it on the biggest show in the country.  Maybe America was too scared to latch onto a danceable song by a gay man, but a Pink-lite track that is easy enough on the ears to sneak into a dentist's office playlist can get even the most angry homophobe in the mood to tap their foot.

1. "Rude Boy" - Rihanna (3 weeks at No. 1)
2. "Nothin' On You" - B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars
3. "Hey, Soul Sister" - Train
4. "Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
5. "Telephone" - Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce
6. "Break Your Heart" - Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris
7. "Imma Be" - The Black Eyed Peas
8. "Baby" - Justin Bieber
9. "Bedrock" - Young Money feat. Lloyd
10. "TiK ToK" - Ke$ha