Adam Lambert: Born To Be Idol?
April 15 2009, Published 10:46 a.m. ET
Adam Lambert has a tough act to follow: himself.
The 27-year-old Los Angeles native, who received a rare standing ovation last week from judge Simon Cowell for his rendition of Mad World, didn't seem to impress Cowell with his over-the-top interpretation of Steppenwolf's Born to Be Wild.
"I don't think that performance will be as popular as your one last week," Cowell told him. "Last week's was more original, more current."
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Cowell hinted that selecting the song from 1969 film Easy Rider might have left a bad taste with some of the viewers.
"It was a little bit like watching the Rocky Horror musical at parts," Cowell said.
Cowell's mixed sentiments of the Tuesday performance from Lambert, who is heavily favored to capture this season's American Idol crown, were not shared by colleague Paula Abdul.
"The reason you have shaken up this whole competition," judge Paula Abdul told him, "is that you dare to dance in the path of greatness."