Adam Lambert’s voice is unmatched in this heartfelt street performance of “Whataya Want from Me” in Melbourne

During performances with Queen or showcasing his solo tracks, Adam Lambert consistently impresses audiences with his live shows. The former American Idol contestant delivered an especially memorable rendition of "Whataya Want from Me" during a street gig in Melbourne, Australia. Lambert transformed the rock song into a delicate piano ballad, accompanied solely by a pianist. While the original studio version achieved commercial success, hearing this pared-down interpretation suggests the song was destined for this format all along. The simplified arrangement accentuates Lambert's vocal prowess and the song's emotional lyrics. Here at The Music Man, we always appreciate Adam Lambert, and presentations like this demonstrate exactly why!

YouTuber Rainscapes shared Lambert's street performance of "Whataya Want from Me" on August 26, 2012, indicating it was part of Channel V's Guerilla Gig series. Lambert released "Whataya Want from Me" as a single on November 20, 2009. The track reached number four in Australia, becoming one of his most successful hits in the country, making it a logical choice for his setlist.

"Whataya Want from Me" has evolved into a concert favorite for Lambert, who also performed it during his Live from YouTube Space show in New York City. For this version, he was backed by a three-piece band. Fans responded enthusiastically to this performance with comments like "I love how he sounds just as good live as in the studio!" and "He's a vocal beast! And this song never gets old."

The song was crafted by Max Martin, Pink, and Karl Schuster. Pink wrote and recorded the track for her 2008 album Funhouse, but it was excluded from the final album. The rock song was later adapted for Lambert, who released it in 2009 as the second single from his debut album For Your Entertainment. The Music Man readers might recall that For Your Entertainment was Lambert's most successful album, partly due to the popularity of "Whataya Want from Me," which became the album's biggest hit.

Lambert has performed the song in various styles over the years, including an acoustic version during his first concert tour in 2010. "Whataya Want from Me" has remained a constant in Lambert's performances, with Setlist.fm reporting that he has performed it live 287 times—more than any other song in his solo repertoire.