The Voice highlighted its final eight contestants last night.

But instead of focusing on the performances, Twitter was alive this morning with buzz over one of Adam Levine’s critiques.

As seen below, in praising Nakia for his cover of “Whataya Want From Me,” the Maroon 5 singer took a few seemingly random jabs at Adam Lambert.

Nakia – Whataya Want From Me (The Voice)

“I’m not familiar with that song, but you just forced me to like it,” Levine said. “I’m pretty sure, although I’ve never heard that song before, that you probably sang it better than the person that sang it originally.”

Was Levine simply giving Nakia props? Perhaps. But his repeated references to being unfamiliar with the original song and artist have raised the ire of Lambert lovers.

In response, the former American Idol finalist took the high road (mostly) on Twitter:

“I think Adam might know who I am after this next album. Get ready for me Levine. Hahah… But for the record, Im def a Maroon 5 fan. Fans: there is NO reason to be angry. Thanks for being protective but it’s all good. ”

Levine isn’t the only judge on The Voice in hot water over a recent comment. Cee Lo Green took to Twitter himself yesterday to clarify a remark many considered to be anti-gay.

Back to Levine, though: Do you think he meant to diss Lambert?

The singer-dancer-actor was close to signing a deal to join Fox TV‘s hit singing contest, a person familiar with the negotiations said late Thursday. The person, who was not authorized to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Fox declined comment. Phone and e-mail messages for Lopez’s representatives were not immediately returned.

The “American Idol” opening for Lopez comes with comedian-talk show host Ellen DeGeneres’ departure from the show.

Degeneres announced Thursday she was leaving after one year as judge.

“A couple months ago, I let Fox and the `American Idol’ producers know that this didn’t feel like the right fit for me,” DeGeneres said in a statement. The comedian-talk show host said she realized that while she “loved discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge people and sometimes hurt their feelings.”

In May, Simon Cowell exited after nine seasons to start a new talent show for Fox.

Those under consideration for his spot, according to reports, are a varied group that includes Steven Tyler and Harry Connick Jr.

Lopez’ films include “Selena,” “The Wedding Planner” and most recently “The Back-Up Plan.” She has appeared as a mentor on “American Idol.”

She was part of the “Fly Girl” house dancers on the comedy show “In Living Color” in 1990 before becoming a backup dancer for Janet Jackson.

Lopez’s first album, “On the 6,” came out in 1999, launching a career in pop, Latin, hip-hop and R&B. “Love?” is the latest CD from the Grammy-winner, who has twins with husband Marc Anthony.

Two new judges could help “American Idol” reinvent itself for its January return, when it will try to stem a ratings slide and bring in younger viewers. The show’s audience has been gradually aging, and advertisers prefer to pitch to young adults.

Judge Kara DioGuardi, who was added to the panel two years ago, is not under contract for next year and Fox has not announced whether she’ll return. Original judge Randy Jackson is the fourth panel member.

With audition episodes featuring the judges set to begin filming in September, the pressure is on to announce the panel. On Monday, Fox will have a chance to do that when it presents its 2010-11 programs to a meeting of the Television Critics Association.

When DeGeneres joined the show as a replacement for Paula Abdul, proclaiming herself a fan of “American Idol” and a pop aficionado, observers noted she didn’t bring music industry expertise to her role. Some complained she proved more of a cheerleader than an incisive critic in the mold of Cowell.

She had a reported five-year contract.

“American Idol” was the nation’s favorite program last season, the seventh time it’s held that position. But it showed rare vulnerability, beaten in the weekly ratings several times by ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

A total of 24.2 million viewers watched the ninth season’s final duel between Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox, compared to the nearly 29 million viewers who saw Kris Allen claim victory over Adam Lambert last year.

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AP Television Writer Lynn Elber contributed to this report.

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Fox is a unit of News Corp.

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Online:

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I had already been in full Glam mode for a couple of years. My everyday look included my high-heeled knee-high Granny-Takes-A-Trip patchwork boots complete with silver stars and crescent moons, (a fancier version of Joe Cocker’s boots in “Woodstock” with 64 different colors of leather patches on mine… just like the deluxe Crayola box… yes, I counted!), skin-tight satin or velvet pants, little old ladies’ sweaters covered in sequins, a green and red Saturn dyed in my hair, top and bottom eyeliner every day; a straight Adam Lambert about 10 years before his parents even met. In this extremely conservative environment (about 80% of the people working in the Interchurch Center were very religious transplanted Southerners and Midwesterners) I stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb with a nail painted bright red… and yes, all ten of mine were!



One morning, another guy I’d never seen before got in the elevator with me. He was wearing bright apple-green boots with 2-inch heels and carrying a Fender guitar case. I was wearing my patchwork boots with 3-inch heels and carrying a Gibson guitar case. We looked at each other. We looked at each other’s guitar cases. We looked at each other’s feet. Within a week, Tally Taliaferrow, the man in the green boots, was the lead singer in my band, The Planets (hence the Saturn dyed in my hair), Roger/Robert to my Pete/Zoso. The fact that Tally was black put us a good 5 or 6 years (too far) ahead of Prince and Lenny Kravitz in the Black Guys Can Rock category.



One gorgeous early evening in mid-spring of 1975, Tally and I were heading straight from work to rehearsal way the hell downtown on Duane St., about an 1/8 of a mile north of the fabled Twin Towers. Our rehearsal space was in the back end of the basement of a rundown old building (now with lofts that probably go for about $3 million, of course) that was infested with Scientologists. These were some sad weird-ass people.

 For instance, one weekend afternoon, while we were blasting away, this semi-hidden door on the far wall that we’d never noticed suddenly slid open and out stepped a skinny naked man complete with wispy beard and long flowing locks. He also happened to be covered from head to toe in white flour (!). Jesus, the Zombie Ghost. He walked straight through our room and out the other door and never even glanced at us. Over the course of about 6 months, he did this several times, always naked, always completely covered in flour. Once, we stopped playing and attempted to talk to him. He wouldn’t answer. Another guy who lived upstairs was way too friendly and constantly and manically swore to us that he was on his way to becoming a multi-millionaire selling leather belts on the street. 



Then one fateful night, as we were leaving, we were confronted with a spectacle that could’ve been lifted out of a movie by Stanley Kubrick about Charles Manson. Standing on the building’s loading platform directly outside the main door, were two young women, both dressed in clothes literally made out of burlap sacks, both with shaved heads, both with 3 or 4 tiny newborn kittens crawling and clinging on each of them, both standing in front of a burning trash can shooting 3-foot flames, both chanting gibberish. Needless to say, after that, the minute we found another place to make our noise, we were outta there. 



Of minor interest to pedantic New York Rock historians… The Planets were the very firstest band to ever rent space in 351 West 30th St., our next loft after our brief-but-surreal sojourn with Cruise and Travolta’s people. When we moved into the 12th floor on 30th St., the building was still filled with garment businesses and furriers. For the last 30 plus years that building has been known as The Music Building throughout the city and music industry. My favorite moment in that room was the night there was a knock on the door while we were taking a break and smoking a joint. I opened the door and two cops standing there. They walked in, sniffed the air, and said, “Well, you have the drugs, where are the girls?” They’d come to tell us to turn it down. “Eight fuckin’ noise complaints, guys. Eight! Put up some goddamn blankets ‘n’ shit. Actually, yizz sound pretty good. Have a good night.” Cool cops!



Anyway, back to the gorgeous mid-spring evening in 1975… Heading to rehearsal, Tal and I were walking to the downtown IRT 1 train and we were crossing W. 116th St., directly opposite the main entrance of Columbia University. For some reason, I turned and looked into the big green Chrysler station wagon that was sitting at the red light on 116th, waiting to turn downtown on Broadway.

I noticed that the guy driving had long hair and a big bushy beard. 


I noticed that the guy riding shotgun had long hair and a big bushy beard.


I noticed that between them sat a small Asian woman with long hair. 


I looked away.

Then, my wee-small brain said, “Uh, Binky, I hate to bother you as you’re halfway across the street while the light is changing to red, but… uh… that Asian woman… that’s fucking YOKO ONO! And, that would mean, that most likely, one of those two bearded chaps she’s with is your favorite fucking Beatle. You might want to look back into that big green Chrysler station wagon to confirm this semi-subliminal visual analysis on my part, you dipshit!”

 I turned back, took another look, and…

“HOLY FUCK, Tally! That’s John Lennon in that station wagon we just crossed in front of!!!”



The light had changed and the station wagon had just turned downtown onto Broadway. Tal and I took off at top speed, guitar cases and all, chasing the station wagon down the block. Just as we we caught up to it, as it now sat at the red light on Broadway, John looked out the passenger window, and in the space of two seconds, with his eyes and a quick hand gesture, said, “Guys, I see you. I see your guitar cases. I see that you’re cool. But, you’re about to start a fookin’ riot if you persist in chasing me fookin’ car down Broadway. So, I’m acknowledging you, I’m waving to you, but, I really would appreciate it if you resumed being cool musicians and not make a spectacle of yourselves and consequently me ’cause I really really hate this shit, know what I mean, lads?”



We stopped dead in our tracks and with our eyes, said back, “Oh, jeeez, John, you’re right! Really sorry, man.”

 Just then, the light turned green in the big green Chrysler’s favor, and as it pulled away and headed downtown, John gave us a solemn nod of thanks.

Adam Lambert and his Glam Nation tour touched down in Wichita, Kansas last week.

Accompanied by opening act and fellow American Idol finalist Allison Iraheta, the singer rocked out to all his big hits, leading the crowd in renditions of “Whataya Want From Me”  and “Fever,” among other singles.

This tour visits Idaho tonight and Washington tomorrow. You can also catch Lambert on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on July 26.

But enough informational output. We know what readers want to see: Adam in action! We’ve published a bevy of performance videos from Kansas below. Sit back, watch and enjoy…

Adam Lambert and his Glam Nation tour touched down in Wichita, Kansas last week.

Accompanied by opening act and fellow American Idol finalist Allison Iraheta, the singer rocked out to all his big hits, leading the crowd in renditions of “Whataya Want From Me”  and “Fever,” among other singles.

This tour visits Idaho tonight and Washington tomorrow. You can also catch Lambert on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on July 26.

But enough informational output. We know what readers want to see: Adam in action! We’ve published a bevy of performance videos from Kansas below. Sit back, watch and enjoy…

Welcome to The Hollywood Gossip. Below, our staffers have compiled some of the many photos we ran this past week. Click to enlarge some of them below, then follow jump for dozens of additional images from our full gallery of our celebrity pics …

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For our entertainment, Warwick Saint has released a number new/old Adam Lambert pictures.

The photographer – who snapped the controversial, glamorous cover photo used by this artist for his debut album – considered multiple images for this featured shot.

Eventually, he and Adam settled on this pic, which Lambert admitted was purposely over-the-top and campy. We love it. But it’s interesting to browse through the alternatives.

Do so now and sound off: Did Adam make the right choice?

Credit: Taylor Hill/Wireimage.com

Like Adam Lambert, Ke$ha may not be loved by everyone out there, but even her harshest critics must admit:

This singer aims to entertain.

She also brings her own style to every music video, including the latest for the single “Take It Off.” We’ve previewed it below, via a few still images from the unreleased video. What do you think?

Take a listen below to “Take It Off.” Sounds like classic Ke$ha to us: zero vocal talent, but an addictive beat.

Do artists like Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert, and Scissor Sisters push sexuality too far? [Poll]

PLAY: Scissor Sisters, “Night Work”

Before Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert, the Scissor Sisters were strutting their flamboyant asses in after-hours New York dance clubs. Most of the world joined the Sisters’ glam-baked party upon their 2004 debut, but America didn’t bite. On their third release, the Scissor Sisters go back to their early club days in the hopes of stepping into mainstream U.S. success. “Night Work” is filled with big, freak anthems and such in-your-face lyrics as “I think I need a rubber tonight.” Let’s see Adam Lambert get away with that on the next “Idol” reunion. The Scissor Sisters are in no mood to play it safe. It may keep them off the morning shows, but it makes for some of the best party music you’ll hear this year.

WATCH the music video for Scissor Sisters’ single “Fire with Fire.”

SKIP: The-Dream, “Love King”

While Nas, Eminem, and Jay-Z are determined to see rap grow up by broadening its subject matter beyond bling and bitches, Atlanta rapper The-Dream is perfectly happy to keep the genre in the gutter. The man behind Beyonce’s smash “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It”) needs a strong woman to keep his baser instincts from running wild. The production is undeniably infectious (if a bit over-reliant on T-Pain-like Auto-Tune; can we please have a moratorium on Auto-Tune?), but the lyrics will leave you thinking you’ve caught an infection. Rap cannot live on bootys alone.

WATCH the music video for The-Dream’s single “Love King.”

PLAY: Indigo Girls, “Staring Down the Brilliant Dream”

Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have toured hundreds of thousands of miles since their 1985 stage debut. Their frequent flier miles and legions of followers have made them the Grateful Dead of folkies. And like the Dead, there are also miles of live tape out there. Indigo Girls have allowed fans to record shows for years and have released three official live recordings. “Staring Down the Brilliant Dream” culls performances recorded between 2006 and 2009, and while its track list differs significantly from their ’95 double live album, “1200 Curfews,” the spirit is the same. “Staring Down the Brilliant Dream” is a keepsake for fans, make no mistake. Still, it’s vibrant enough to perhaps pick up a few new fans along the way. Plus, it’s cheaper than concert prices these days.

WATCH the Indigo Girls classic “Closer to Fine.”

PLAY: Alejandro Escovedo, “Street Songs of Love”

Alejandro Escovedo has been a quiet architect of the Americana music scene since the 1980s. He has performed with and been an inspiration to Ryan Adams, the Jayhawks, Son Volt, and Steve Earle, yet his own albums have failed to reach beyond the faithful. Maybe 2010 is the year the world finally meets Alejandro Escovedo. Armed with Bruce Springsteen’s manager and David Bowie’s longtime producer, Tony Visconte, Escovedo has crafted an album of tense, taut love songs. This is love on the edge — it feels out-of-control and verges on obsession. And it’s a high-water mark for a man who’s made ten near-perfect albums. But you can pretend it’s a sterling debut from your new favorite artist.

WATCH Alejandro Escovedo perform “Anchor.”

PLAY: Jimmy Webb, “Just Across the River”

Criminally, Jimmy Webb is far from a household name. Still, his songs — covered by Glen Campbell, Elvis Presley, R.E.M., and any other singer you can name — are burned into the brains of most music lovers. “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “MacArthur Park,” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” are a few of the award winners that have landed him in nearly every Hall of Fame imaginable. On “Just Across the River,” Webb busts out the old songbook and gets friends Willie Nelson, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, and Lucinda Williams to take the lead. Some of these songs are bordering on half-a-century old, and the world is weighed down with countless covers of most of them. Still, these versions are different. Hearing Webb’s voice alongside some of his greatest interpreters is a surprisingly moving and fresh experience. Webb says that “Just Across the River” is about “loyalty, remembrance, and love.” ‘Nuff said. It’s in all of these songs and performances.

WATCH Jimmy Webb discuss the making of “Just Across the River.”