This is Cher’s most recent comment about this performance: Believe earned a new life four years ago, when Adam Lambert radically remade it as a devastating ballad at the ceremony where Cher was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor. “That’s one of the greatest vocal performances of any song by anybody,” she said of Lambert’s take, which has earned over 32m RU-vid views. “To recreate it so completely with such a beautiful voice, I just thought, ‘Dude, I’m glad you weren’t around when I was doing this!’”(Forbes)
I’ve loved Adam since he was on Idol and last year I got to see him perform live as front man for legendary Queen. It was epic!! This reimagined version of Cher’s pop classic made me actually listen to the lyrics properly and gave the song a completely new meaning for me.
He did a combined version at the capital ball festival. Started how he normally does it (this version ) then changed it up a bit to fit in the muffin man skit
"The Kennedy Center Honors are annual honors given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five honorees in the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C." Adam slayed this performance.
Adam takes his ear monitors in and out often during his performances. I just saw him yesterday and last Sunday performing as the front man for the band Queen. He's been with them since 2011 besides having his own successful solo career. He's great on video but so much better live! Check out some of the performances from Queen's current US tour. Incredible! He actually has sung this song with the Cher version this past summer when he performed during his Europe tours and of course added The Muffin Man in it as well since it went crazy viral from his performance on the Jimmy Fallon singing game show That's My Jam. It was every!
They were honoring Cher. She’s the one crying her eyes out due to his gorgeous rendition. ❤ The Transformer guy was also a big star in “ Hamilton” on Broadway. ( Daveed Diggs?)
The Kennedy Center Honors has some phenomenal performances…two that come to mind are Heart performing “Stairway to Heaven” honoring Led Zeppelin, and Aretha Franklin performing “Natural Woman” for (not sure about the honoree, but I think it was King, who wrote the song?) Carole King.
I love Adam’s voice, too, especially after seeing him live with Queen a few weeks ago. If you’re looking for more Kennedy Center Honors performances, you can’t miss Aretha Franklin singing “You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman” in 2015. Phenomenal.