Adam Lambert: 'Les Miserables' 'Suffered Massively' From 'Actors Pretending to Be Singers'

Posted on Dec 31st 2012 11:30AM by Contessa Gayles

Adam Lambert Les Miserables Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Everybody's a critic ... including Adam Lambert, who was less than impressed with the vocal performance of the cast of Tom Hooper's new movie musical, "Les Miserables." The "American Idol" star-turned-chart-topping pop act slammed the film's live-singing efforts in a series of opinionated posts to his Twitter page.

"Les Mis: Visually impressive w great Emotional performances. But the score suffered massively with great actors PRETENDING to be singer [sic]," Glambert wrote. "It's an opera. Hollywoods [sic] movie musicals treat the singing as the last priority. (Dreamgirls was good)," Adam said, pointing out the triumph of Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson and their fellow cast members' vocal performances in the 2006 film "Dreamgirls," in contrast with the "Les Mis" cast.

Singing for the film adaptation of "Les Miserables" was not per-recorded and lip-synched as common practice for musical movies, but rather sung live by the cast onset.

"Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Enjolras [played by Aaron Tveit] were the exceptions for me. Helena B Carter [as Madame Thénardier] and Sasha B Cohen [as Thénardier] were great too. Eponine's voice was cool too... " the singer tweeted, picking the stars of the film who he deemed exempt from his criticisms.

"And I do think it was cool they were singing live- but with that cast, they should have studio recorded and sweetened the vocals."

"I felt like I should ignore the vocals and focus on the emotional subtext- but the singing was so distracting at times it pulled me out," Lambert insisted. "The industry will say 'these actors were so brave to attempt singing this score live,' but why not cast actors who could actually sound good? Sorry for being so harsh but it's so True!"

Despite his rant, Lambert encouraged his followers to check out the flick, which has already been nominated for four Golden Globes. "One more clarification: DO go see it for Anne Hathaways [sic] performance. It's was breathtaking ... OPINIONS!!! We all got em! Keep Calm and Discuss! :)"

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Filed under: Hot Off the Press

Around The Web:

Adam Lambert Slams 'Les Miserables' - The Hollywood Reporter

Adam Lambert: 'Les Miserables Suffers Due To Bad ... - WENN.com

Adam Lambert Slams 'Les Miserables' Cast's 'Pretend Singers ...

Adam Lambert Slams "Les Miserables" Stars Singing | Gossip Cop

Adam Lambert's 'Les Mis' Review: 'Hollywood Treats Singing As The ...

Adam Lambert Criticizes 'Les Miserables' Score, Slams the Cast's ...

Adam Lambert: 'Les Miserables suffers due to bad singing ...

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cindy3420

"Homophobic" means you are afraid of becoming one. It doesn't make you homophobic just because you don't like their life choices. (and it is a choice).

February 23 2013 at 8:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

cindy3420

How in the world would Adam Lambert know good music. He just yells and acts arrogant.

February 23 2013 at 8:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

void

adam lambert is a gay man pretending to be a singer he should know.

February 19 2013 at 8:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mpovall

look whats talking a no talent assh88e

February 19 2013 at 12:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Palmer Rubin

This is just my opinion, but you can only make those sort of comments if you can actually sing.
Adam Lambert can't sing.
Most people are hating on him because he's gay, I'm hating on him because he can't sing. Two words to anyone who disagrees with me: Auto-Tune.

January 29 2013 at 6:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

katydid777

That's what makes it so good, the vocals aren't pitch perfect, they are the real deal and the emotion is right there with it. I thought they were all excellent, except for Russell Crowe - no energy and not a very trained voice at all. His solo in the middle of the movie was blah.

January 07 2013 at 11:43 PM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

mary_nancy

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January 04 2013 at 1:58 PM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down Reply

Charity

ADAM LAMBERT: So you're saying that movie musicals only work if singers are the actors, but not if actors become the singers? Or that someone can only have ONE talent? I'd totally side with you if you yourself won a Tony like Hugh or an Oscar like Russell or even a nationwide karaoke contest like Kris Allen.

You said, "...but with that cast, they should have studio recorded and sweetened the vocals." No, dude. Les Mis isn't GLEE.

January 04 2013 at 1:38 PM Report abuse Permalink +6 rate up rate down Reply

Alba

Some comments in this site are sickening, full of homophobic words and calling Adam Lambert derogatory names. The mods should kick in, just saying.

About Les Mis, I saw the movie and I agree with Adam. There were moments when the bad vocals pulled both my boyfriend and I from the emotional state of mind the music is supposed to take you. There were times when we even made a face at each other, like: "OMG, that was so bad."

And when it comes to Adam, some people here have no idea of who he is or that he has a HUGE background in musical theater. His very promising career of over 15 years in musical theater makes him qualified to talk about this. It's his area of expertise.

Just listen to his renditions of Come To Me Bend To Me in the operetta Brigadoon (watch?v=DJYyqzUr6jU --> This is a master class on singing. The phrase in 3:25 is breathtaking; 22 seconds without wavering in pitch or tone. Flawless voice, flawless technique, flawless control).

Or to his rendition of My Conviction in Hair (watch?v=6v1IsOQhEH4 --> This is the best version of My Conviction I've ever heard. And as if it wasn't high enough for a guy, he brings it up even more. Incredibly amazing).

He's entitled to his opinion. If you disagree with him, fine; but don't disrespect him. He knows what he's talking about, unlike many of you.

January 04 2013 at 7:07 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down Reply

Sally

It's very apparent many of the negative comments are based on Adam's sexual orientation. It's interesting that just today "The New Yorker" really slams the film. I've many other critiques that were not totally fond of the film but The New Yorker takes it to a whole new level.

January 03 2013 at 11:28 PM Report abuse Permalink +4 rate up rate down Reply