Having spent time with Adam Lambert recently I’ve got to know him a little and knew from the get go that Trespassing would be VERY different to For Your Entertainment. And it is.
It’s pop music to the core. You need to dust off those Cuban heels, grab your disco pants and unleash on the dancefloor.
So I heard six songs today. Three are sure fire radio and chart hits – easily. And this is aside from the lead single Better Than I Know Myself.
That track is a ‘soft launch’ to an album like this.
On his debut album Adam would probably freely admit it was a little rushed. As with every person that comes out of a show like Idol, it was a case of strike while the iron is hot.
Trespassing is actually a completely different beast. Firstly, his vocals are amazing. Secondly, Adam co-writes most of the tracks – making it deeply personal. And thirdly he’s worked with some of the best producers in the business.
This album was born to fly.
It’s also something I can imagine in full being more of a ‘piece of work’ rather than just a male pop vocalist album. The scope to push boundaries with the tracks I’ve heard is huge.
It also feels like an album that will take him from being a name ‘from Idol’ in Europe to a serious player. A household name.
I can see the majority of these tracks being on radio (Capital will cream their pants over it) – and I’m told there’s more surprises in store.
There’s one track that is yet to be complete that “will blow your mind”.
What I’ve heard has given me a buzz. Most tracks gave me an excited tingle down my spine – and that doesn’t happen much when I’m thrown 50 odd singles and albums each week….believe me!
So before I start a track by track run down let me say this. I believe in this album and Adam. He’s delivered something quite special here.

Better Than I Know Myself – Lukasz ‘Dr Luke’ Gottwald, Circuit, Ammo, Claude Kelly

The first track off the new album. BTIKM is an interesting choice for the lead. It’s perfect pop and his vocals are on fire. Releasing this track first shows just how confident the label is on this album.

Outlaws of Love – Rune Westerberg, Adam Lambert, BC Jean

This is ‘the ballad’ of the album. As a whole I’m told Trespassing is going to have a light and dark feel as a whole. Lots of high energy dance songs on one side and then a dark side that feature the more personal stuff.
This track is all about Adam coming out, getting to know himself and dealing with prejudice he’s encountered for being gay. “Say we’ll rot in hell, I don’t think we will.”
It’s written beautifully and is empowering and you really connect with the fact this song is deeply personal. It feels like an Aguilera ballad (minus the dodgy diva fakeness).
He should be extremely proud of this one – and it will become a firm anthem for the fans…..

Cookoo – Ollie G, Adam Lambert and Bonnie McKee

This song is friggin’ HUGE. It’s dance pop through and through and people will be gagging to remix it. A floorfiller, massive radio hit for Europe and even has a Britney style breakdown for the dance moves to be flexed. It was instantly a winner and a definite single.

Trespassing – Pharrell Williams, Adam Lambert

Who knew that Pharrell and Adam would make such an insanely good match! Not an obvious pairing but it feels so slick. It brings the FUNK and has a Gwen Stefani Hollerback Girl clap to it. You could imagine the video the second the claps began.
It also has a touch of early Queen to it in the shape and form of the thundering bassline running throughout.

Shady (Feat. Nile Rogers and Sam Sparro) – Lester Mendez, Nile Rogers. Written by Adam Lambert and Sam Sparro

Shady is the track Justin Timberlake should be launching if/when he realises that he was once a Prince of Pop. It’s a little more pop r+b I guess and yes, it is shady. There’s a Scissor Sisters style funk feel to it that runs throughout and the guest vocals work beyond perfectly. I was excited about this one and it doesn’t disappoint.

Broken English – Lester Mendez, Adam Lambert, Sam Sparro

Easily his strongest vocal on the sampler I’ve heard. It’s subtle and controlled and reminded me of a Darren Hayes style track but with an injection of adrenalin to make it actually worthwhile listening too without wanting to top yourself when it’s overplayed.

OVERALL: I’m gagging to have Trespassing on my iPod. I’m also thrilled that he’s produced this. It’s a new Adam but most importantly it’s a better Adam. He’s raised his game, found what works and is onto a winner.

P.S. EXCUSE THE OLD PICTURE….we are both ridiculously better looking these days……

Tom Hardy is without a shadow of a doubt THE actor to watch in 2012. He’s already setting the showbiz world alight with his portrayal of Bane in Batman: The Dark Knight Rises – and the flick isn’t even out until July.
Notoriously quirky, but always gracious with it, the star spoke out at this week’s Iron Lady after show party to talk Batman, his upcoming role playing Al Capone and why he’s desperate to own an ALLOTMENT.
“Batman is such an amazing franchise that I honesty feel so overwhelmingly privileged to be a part of it as not many people get the opportunity,” he said over a cocktail with his fiancee Charlotte Riley. “It’s such an amazing cast to work alongside and they are all so talented. I loved being able to play a baddie and, coming from East Sheen in south west London, that doesn’t come easily to me and I actually had to work on not being very nice. I’m genuinely a really nice guy.
“I’m not even thinking about how it’s going to blow up for me after Batman as at the end of the day you’re always going to be the same person who comes back down again and ends up broke. I’m just going to enjoy it and I’m still going to be buying a pint of milk by myself at the corner shop.”
And it’s a case of Oscars schmoscars when it comes to Tom – all he wants is an allotment near his house to grow his own veg. “I still live in East Sheen and would never consider moving,” he said. “My aim is definitely to get an allotment. I haven’t got to that stage yet and I have a long way to go. And they are very selective about who they give one too so even when I get to Michael Caine levels in acting I may not be able to have one.
I was so happy to finally have a ‘TW’ postcode when I got my place as I always got excited when I heard police radioing in that postcode and there was me probably sat in the back of their car. And don’t forget it’s where Trevor MacDonald is from. That’s enough reason to stay.”
Tom – star of Bronson and Inception to name but a few – will play the Depression-era Chicago crime tsar Al Capone as his next huge project, once he has completed work on a series of movies including the lead role in the new Mad Max, which begins shooting in Namibia this April with Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult.
Tom enthused: “I’m going to be learning Italian for the film. But I’m actually going to have two masks. The first is to become Italian and then I’m going to have to do an Italian talking English. I’ve got 18 months beforehand but I’m not sure how long it’s going to take for me to learn. But the studio are going to be paying for it! I don’t think it’s going to be too difficult as it’s just what you do for the role.
“Saying that after watching Meryl Streep play Margaret Thatcher I’m now sh**ting myself at my attempt at a biopic as she blew it out the water. How am I meant to live up to that? She truly lived and breathed that role. That was definitely American 1, UK 0.”
Tom is one of the good guys. World, get ready…..he’s about to take over.

Hardy as Bane (below)

Would the Spice Girls reform for Absolutely Fabulous The Movie? Joanna Lumley – who plays the fabulously hardcore Patsy Stone – told me: “Jennifer is talking about doing a movie which is wonderful news so we shall wait and see. It was lovely to have Emma in the Christmas special and it would be great to have all of The Spice Girls in the movie. “Jennifer is a great magnet as she tends to phone up people and they all just say ‘any time’. I love it that she has to announce the film to make sure that she does it! It definitely won’t be this year but it might be next year. We will talk a lot about it but we haven’t yet as we are both very busy. The reaction to the Ab Fab specials was extraordinary. It’s very lovely to know there is still such a demand for it and we were thrilled but I don’t know what the future of it is. It’s sort of up to Jennifer and the BBC. Those who are the players in it like me just wait to hear what the decision is!”
And I am so pleased to hear that Joanna will be packing her suitcase once more to travel the globe and make a new travel documentary.
“I will be travelling this year but I don’t know when or where it will be yet as I’ve got a husband who has got to remember who I am and I have to remember what he looks like! I love it so much and I’m so thrilled about people coming with me as it were. Whenever I do them I feel that I have the viewers with me as my wonderful companions. It also gives me a chance to see how people in the world live who aren’t just rich or travelling people. I find it fascinating when I meet people who live off absolutely nothing and that’s more interesting to me.”

Joanna Lumley has launched the Compassion in World Farming’s 2012 push against long distance live animal transport in Trafalgar Square. Visit www.stopliveexports.com

TV star Jodie Kidd’s life has been turned upside since becoming a mother for the first time four months ago.
Her iPad contains an album of photos of gorgeous baby Indio – her son with Argentine polo player boyfriend Andrea Vianini – and she gushes about how amazing her life is.
She’s also flabbergasted at how big her boobs have become, “They were never like this,” she says squishing them and looking down in disbelief.
It’s fair to say Jodie, 33, is a million miles away from the heroine chic model that burst onto the international fashion scene at the tender age of 16.
Back then Jodie was a worldwide phenomenon and graced the covers of pretty much every fashion magazine in the world – even British Vogue. At 6ft 2ins and weighing just 105lbs at her lowest, Jodie was part of the scary waif brigade.
But these days she can’t even believe she was ever alongside Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford and Linda Evangelista on catwalks around the globe.
“I was a model, was I?” she laughs. “The only thing I’d want to model now is my eyebrows. I’ve got big udders, I’m lactating and I’ve got a huge whopping arse. I never had boobs but now they’re so big and I have my baby belly still.
“I looked online the other day because a friend wanted to see a Strictly dance I did. And up popped a Gucci 1995 fall season show and I clicked on it. It took me back. I was like, “F***, is that really me.” “Everything about ‘Jodie the model’ is so far away from where I am right now. The weight, the look. Everything.
“I’m the least likely person to be in that designer world too. I had such an amazing career and did everything I ever wanted to do. I had Cindy and Linda and these supermodels alongside me and I was plonked in the middle looking a little lost.”
Following her catwalk years the star began a career in television – presenting various shows on satellite channels.
Then in 2008 her life changed forever when she agreed to appear as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing.
Prior to this her parents had split in May 2006, and her own first marriage to entrepreneur Aidan Butler collapsed in March 2007.

It was time for a fresh start.

“Strictly Come Dancing was pretty much the last thing I’d ever have thought I would have done,” she says reflecting. “I certainly would never do it again and I’d definitely never do another reality show.
“It was purely an opportunity to learn to dance. The year I was on everybody was an amazing freak blessed with skills and I was some old giraffe at the back. I was a disaster waiting to happen.
“It was terrifying. I remember they were like, “We’ve got a model we can make the outfits cut-out here and short as hell” and I was like, “Ummmm, no thank you.” It was a continual battle. My arse was hanging out for the whole time.
“But rhythm is definitely not in my genes. By the time I’d sent a signal to my foot from six feet away in my head I was out of time. I was doomed from the start.”
These days Jodie’s relishing being a doting mum. She lives with Andrea in Uruguay throughout the English winter and they move back to her Sussex pad for the English summer.
She says she still is carrying her baby weight and has no plans to diet or over exercise to shift it. She explains: “I’m still breast feeding. Indio’s with me all the time and I’m basically permanently starving.
“I’m not even thinking about what I look like or what diet I should be following. I couldn’t care less about my stomach and my arse. Indio is all I care about and that’s the way it should be.
“I’m not worried about what people think. It’s all about my baby. It was never going to be a six-week weight loss girl. All those celebs losing their baby weight in six weeks and parading around is totally hellish to me. It’s false and a load of crap. I’m a mum and I want to breast feed as long as I can.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m being fairly good with food – but I’m not stuffing my face. I’m eating carbs and protein and lots of goodness. Good proper meals. I’m not bothered – that’s what we have to do as mothers.”
Jodie, who was in London to launch this year’s Swimathon Weekend with Duncan Goodhew in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care, also has no plans to walk down the aisle for a second time just yet. Instead she’s enjoying the good life…
“No wedding thank you,” she says. “I did it, paid the consequences and we don’t want to ruin anything. We’re so happy just being us. To us we are just doing what we do. I thank my lucky stars everyday. I’ve landed on my feet.
“Andrea’s brilliantly bonkers. If we’re not fishing then we’re swimming. He’ll go off into the mountains with a gun, shoot a hare, come back, skin it and make a hare pie. I never know what’s going to happen next and it’s a wonderful existence. We live in a house with everything eco-friendly. Solar energy throughout, a river next door, lakes for fishing out the window.
“I have a kitchen garden and grow all my own veg. Support all my local shops and farmers. That’s so important. I have a cow next door on a farm actually and get my beef there.”
She doesn’t muck about when it comes to sport either. A keen horse rider and polo player, she’s recently taken up a new hobby – carriage driving.Jodie explains: “My grandmother was world champion at driving pairs and it’s almost like Ben Hur but in real life. It’s something new and it’s bloody dangerous. But I have so much fun doing it. It’s a logistical nightmare and I’m surprised I haven’t decapitated myself on a fricking tree.
“If people tell me something’s scary then I do it. My grandma was obsessed with it and I always wanted to learn so I’m glad I have.”
Her next project – once baby duties have calmed down – will see her filming a women’s exploration TV show for the Discovery Channel.
“It won’t be too Bear Grylls,” she laughs. “I’m not going to eat shit and be creeped by scorpions. But it’ll be quite an adventure.”
Just like her life always has been…..

Swimathon Weekend takes place 27-29 April in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care – for more information log onto www.swimathon.org.

Lisa Snowdon and Dave Berry – her new partner in crime on the 95.8 Capital FM breakfast show – are settling into 2012 with ease.
I swung by the studios in Leicester Square this week to chat to the pair and they have big plans for the year now they’re together on the station.
Lisa told me: “It just feels easy with Dave and I can’t wait. It’s like a breath of fresh air and everything is going to be well. We’ll be out on locations lots too so watch out for that.”
Dave replaces Johnny Vaughan on the station after his shock resignation late last year. Dave added: “Johnny obviously left some very big shoes to fill. But I couldn’t be happier waking up to Lisa every morning and talking to the Capital.
“The mornings are not going to be hard getting up. I know I have a responsibility to millions of listeners and that’s enough to get you out of bed.” Indeed.
The station continues to grow and this new partnership will be one to watch for sure.

P.S. BLUE STEEL…….

Gerard Butler tells me his recent surfing accident filming new movie Of Men of Mavericks has made him reconsider his future roles.
The hunky star was briefly hospitalised in December after being knocked over by a large wave while shooting a surfing scene in the Northern California ocean. Gerry told me at the Coriolanus premiere this week: “I have found myself in positions many times that I shouldn’t be in and I think with this one a set of waves came out of nowhere and I was in a very dangerous position and I paid the price for it.
“I was underwater for a long time and I remember thinking, ‘This is crazy there is a whole film crew above the water who can’t help me or get to me.’ I don’t mind taking bumps and bruises but then you think, ‘hang on a minute this is my life!’
“The main point is though that I would still like to be around in a few years and if that is going to happen, I think I should be a little more careful and find a nice balance between the fun and excitement when I am choosing my roles.” Sounds wise!

Jim Broadbent is on tenterhooks waiting to find out whether he’ll be back as the role of Colin Jones in the new Bridget Jones 3 film. Speaking at The Iron Lady premiere he said: “I’m waiting for the call. I wouldn’t want anyone else playing Bridget’s father that’s for sure.”

Celebs are forming an orderly line to have bespoke suits made by stylish new tailors October House. Co-owned by Dave Berry the small company is already dressing some of the stylish men in the business. Miles Kane, Plan B, top model David Gandy and, er, ME are all fans! check out www.october-house.co.uk now if you’re looking for old-school tailoring with new age fabrics and design.

TV ice queen Natasha Kaplinksy confirmed that she ruled herself out of the running to take over from Christine Bleakley on the Daybreak couch despite being hot favourite.
Speaking at the premiere for Cirque du Soleil’s Totem she said: “I’ve ruled myself out of Daybreak as I’ve done my fair share of early morning TV. It’s hard enough for anyone to get up at that time but also I’ve got two small children so that’s why I ruled myself out.”

James Corden (above with me) had a bit of trouble getting into the Adelphi Theatre ahead of his evening performance of One Men, Two Guvnors this week. My spy spotted him trying to get through the doors but they were locked. They tell me: “He turned round and muttered ‘FFS can’t even get into my own show’ and then left the theatre looking very annoyed.” Ha!

Dry January is ahoy people. No booze this month. So what is there to do aside from showbiz parties? Obviously head to the gym (duh) but there’s also the telly. The first series of Sky’s stunning Boardwalk Empire starring Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald is out tomorrow. Give it a whirl!

Winter sunshine means winter swimming outfits. And for men there’s a new craze – MYO swim shorts that a specially woven in Italy. Both Jamie Redknapp and Mark Wright have been spotted taking a dip in the swimwear that feature funky prints. I’ll need a pair for the LA sunshine at the Oscars in February! Check out www.myoswimwear.com.

Congratulations to The Wanted on being handpicked to perform in America on The Ellen Show.
I’m told the fantastic chatshow giant Ellen DeGeneres handpicked the boys – who’ve had hits here with All Time Low and Lightning – to sing on their show this week. Apparently Ellen is so enthusiastic about the fivesome that she was personally involved in their booking. A source reveals: “The lads management company received word that Ellen wanted to get behind them and within hours they were booked to perform. She loves pop music and wants to help them crack the States. She’s very influential out in the US and helped kick start Justin Bieber’s career. So everybody is very excited about this.” Good for them – they perform on the show on Monday.