You’d think someone as wired into mainstream music as me would actually watch more American Idol but I can’t stand the show. Early in my career in music I gave up judging talent shows because I had to sit there with a fake grin on my face while I winced through some pretty horrific performances. That pain carried into the first American Idol season and turned me off for good.

Well, almost. Nine seasons later I am still utterly disinterested except…there was this kid named Adam Lambert.

The winner of the year, Kris Allen, strikes me as the straight love child of Elton John and James Taylor. He’s an amazing talent, a trained musician with a wonderful, resonant, soulful voice. But he doesn’t strike me as a star. That’s Adam’s territory, with his edgy new look and amazing vocal range, and his ability to be gay/bi/whatever and stand on that stage and rock my world. I didn’t quite get the KISS outfit, either, but when he tackled Freddie Mercury with Queen as his band (ohmygod I love Queen, have I mentioned that?) it gave me goosebumps. Goosebumps! Lyric set 2…Adam nailed it. Nailed it in a way that would’ve made Freddie smile and nod.

You could see it in Brian May’s grin. Yeah, the kid’s got (freakin’ spooky) Freddieness goin’ on.

If you missed it at all, here it is in all its glory. And the rumor of him fronting Queen? It’s one of those rumors I really hope turns into truth. That boy would do me proud on Bohemian Rhapsody.

…whom I can’t seem to reach to ask permission, so Mustafo, if you find the place, I’m teefing this excerpt – and I adore you for keeping it online all this time!

How I Got The Nickname “Cupcake” from Erik:

Sagan smirks.
Mustafo says, “but it was a great time”
Mustafo grins.
Sagan says, “I’ve always been a practial joker.”
Sagan smirks.
Mustafo chuckles.
Mustafo says, “tis what they said”
Sagan says, “I remember coming into Town Square West, and dropping a cupcake…and then going invisible…”
Mustafo nods.
Sagan says, “Just so I could drag it past Eivar, who was an empath on a chronic diet, in Town Square Central.”
Mustafo laughs out loud!
Mustafo asks, “got Eivar all worked up that day?”
Sagan says, “Many days. I had her chasing the cupcake around the Square several times.”
Mustafo chuckles.
Sagan asks, “You know the steel springs you find in chests after you disarm a trap?”
Mustafo says, “aye, all to well”
Sagan says, “I use to tell youngins, when they asked what the springs were for, that they belonged to Strom.”
Mustafo says, “hate where this is heading”
Mustafo grins.
Sagan says, “That they fell off of his rocking chair during an invasion, and the monsters took them. That he would reward them if they brought them back to him.”
Mustafo laughs out loud!
Mustafo flail his arms about.
Sagan says, “Strom use to fog to me at random times and stun me for up to fifteen minutes at a time.”
Mustafo pounds his head on the table and tries to hold his sides together
Sagan says, “Star Diopsides were what Pan needed to enchant armor.”
Mustafo asks, “ya needed those to enchant?”
Mustafo says, “oh”
Mustafo slaps himself on the forehead! Doh!
Sagan smirks.
Sagan says, “I guess it still works.”
Mustafo asks, “can you says gullible?”
Mustafo flail your arms about.
Sagan smirks.

It’ll go into the Erik archive but for now just wanted to share what I found. The full text of the interview including a lot of our old buddies from GS3 is at this location. A fun read!