"Whataya Want from Me" is a song by American recording artist andAmerican Idoleighth season runner-upAdam Lambert from his debut studio album,For Your Entertainment. It was released as the second single from the album. The song peaked at number ten[1] on theBillboard Hot 100, becoming his highest charting single. The song was well received by music critics and charted within the top 10 of the charts in thirteen countries.
The song was included on the set list of Lambert's first concert tour, the 2010Glam Nation Tour where he performed an acoustic rendition of it during the "ballad" section of the show. The song is also featured as one of the numbers in the 2019jukebox musical& Juliet.
"Whataya Want from Me" was initially co-written byPink (pictured) for her fifth albumFunhouse.
The track was originally recorded and co-written byPink for the albumFunhouse but did not make the final cut.[4] On November 18, 2009, Lambert announced via his official website that his second single from his debut album would be "Whataya Want from Me". The song was the second single announced before the CD was officially available to the public.[5] The song became available as a legal download in the United States on November 20, 2009, when the album was officially released.
In 2010, Pink's recording appeared exclusively on the German and Australian releases of her first greatest hits compilation album,Greatest Hits... So Far!!!.
"Whataya Want from Me" has received generally favorable reviews. Jonathan Keefe fromSlant Magazine praised the song and called it "phenomenally well-crafted pop single(s) that give Lambert the opportunity to shine".[6] In theHouston Chronicle, Joey Guerra wrote that the song "...[is] probably the disc's most straightforward cut, with a bit of a Backstreet Boys vibe. Not bad".[7]Huffington Post noted that this song deploys "some tired pop cliches" in the chorus but continued praising "one of the album's more poignant emotional statements, anticipating the heavy burden of expectations the singer is likely to carry while expressing vulnerable appreciation for the acceptance he has received."[8] AllMusic called this song "terrific pop tune" and "P!nk's pained [song]".[9] Entertainment Weekly was also positive by calling it "hooky, heartfelt lament".[10] Detroit News wrote "Credit Team Lambert for pairing him with a host of top-notch, like-minded collaborators" including Pink.[11] LA Times praised that singing is "pleading and soulful."[12] On the other hand,Greg Kot of theChicago Tribune disliked the song and wrote "Lambert throws his hands up in the whiny 'Whataya Want from Me', a trifle from the team of Pink and Britney Spears svengali Martin."[13][14] This song took 22nd place on "Top 100 'American Idol' Hits of All Time" by Billboard.[15]
"Whataya Want from Me" debuted at number 72 on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 on the week of January 2, 2010.[16][17] Following his appearance as a mentor onAmerican Idol (season 9), the song reached number ten, becoming Lambert's second Top 20 single (the first being his cover of "Mad World", which peaked at number nineteen) and first Top 10 single on theBillboard Hot 100. As of January 2014, the single had sold approximately 2,006,000 copies within the US.[18]
The song is the only Adam Lambert song to appear in the Billboard Year-end, ranking at number forty-five in 2010.
To promote the album's release, several songs from the album were performed live onAOL Sessions – including "Whataya Want from Me".[19] Following Lambert'sAmerican Music Awards of 2009 performance of "For Your Entertainment", Lambert was dropped from a few upcoming performances and shows, includingGood Morning America andJimmy Kimmel Live! Lambert started a very long string of interviews and performances to address the controversy and promote his new single.
"Whataya Want from Me" made its live debut on CBS'sThe Early Show on November 25, 2009. He performed two songs, and did a live interview discussing his performance at the American Music Awards that caused much controversy. In addition to "Whataya Want from Me", he performed "Music Again". His appearance on the morning show drew fans from all over the world to come watch him live.[20]
After much controversy with ABC canceling several of Lambert's performances (and due to accusations ofhomophobia on the behalf of the network), the network finally decided to let Lambert interview and perform onThe View. As a precaution, they pre-taped the interview and performance, to prevent any mishaps or improvisation with Lambert's performance, and to avoid a repeat of his AMA performance. He performed on December 10, 2009. The night before he was onBarbara Walters 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009, also on ABC.[22]
Lambert returned to hisFox roots with a live performance of his new single on the season finale ofSo You Think You Can Dance on December 16, 2009. He performed on the show with other performers includingJennifer Lopez, andMary J. Blige. MTV called his performance "show-stopping".[24]
Lambert performed onThe Jay Leno Show on December 21, 2009.[23] Adam also cleared up some rumors that were spread around over the past month.
Lambert performed and interviewed onThe Oprah Winfrey Show on January 20, 2010.[25] It was his first performance of 2010, during which he discussed the controversy surrounding his AMA performance, his life since his rapid rise to fame, and his brief meeting with Madonna.[26]
Lambert performed it on the Australian morning programSunrise. The interview can be viewed on the show's website.[27] The single has peaked within the top ten in Australia.
In March 2010, Lambert performed onVH1's "Unplugged", where he sang a stripped-down performance of this and other songs off his album.[28]
In April 2010, Lambert performed the song onAmerican Idol, having acted as mentor to the Season 9 contestants during the "Elvis Theme Week".[29]
During April and May 2010, Lambert promoted the single internationally, performing on Finland's X Factor,[30][31] in Sweden,[32][33] in the Netherlands,[34] in Germany,[35][36] in the UK on the GMTV morning show,[37] and in Switzerland.[38]
The music video for "Whataya Want from Me" was directed byDiane Martel and shot on December 20, 2009.[39] It premiered on January 15, 2010, onVH1. The video features Lambert becoming frustrated with his partner, which the audience cannot see (Some of the times, the camera/screen is being the eyes of his partner). There are also performance clips throughout the video of Lambert performing with his band. One scene features Lambert making his way through a crowd of paparazzi and fans into a car. At the beginning of the song, Lambert switches the TV off, and then begins singing "slow it down, whataya want from me," leading one interpretation to be that what he was watching was actually the AMAs.
Lambert himself explains in several interviews that this song is something that everyone can relate to: going through the stresses of a changing personal environment and its effects on a relationship.[citation needed] It is also a reflection of both his own personal life as a rock star as well as his relationship with his audience and fans. He can be seen having an argument throughout the video with the camera, presumably representing his significant other. In one scene, he walks away saying he has had it and his significant other packs their bags and leaves a frustrated Lambert alone and miserable. At the end of the video, he is shown very happily greeting the camera after waking up, hinting at a reconciliation. He also goes to explain in an interview with Pop Couture that the feel was intended to be more "accessible," unlike his "For Your Entertainment" video. This resulted in softer textures and less architectural styling, with the use of cotton and sweaters and the like.
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
