Fever (Adam Lambert song)

"Fever" is a song written by singer Lady Gaga along with Rob Fusari and Jeff Bhasker. Although Gaga had written the song some time earlier and had not completed a version she was satisfied with, she felt it suited Lambert's style.^[1] When she was approached to contribute a track to Lambert's debut album For Your Entertainment, she offered "Fever" for him to record.^[1] Recording of the song took place on October 18, 2009.^[2] Lambert confirmed their collaboration on Twitter: "Yes it's true: I spent yesterday in the studio with the insanely talented and creative Lady Gaga recording a song that she wrote! I love her."^[2]

The Toronto Star noted that "his larger-than-life pipes do shine" on this "out-and-proud club stomper."^[3] HuffPost wrote that this is one of songs that "full-display" of album that "operates from a disco/glam aesthetic of escapism and liberation via dance, dress-up, and desire" and added that it "fully accomplish what the singer had in mind for the album: songs that make you want to let loose, dance, work out, have fun."^[4] Slant Magazine noted that "Fever" wasn't very original and wrote that "true to GaGa's utter lack of subtlety, is a song about a hard-on" but the song was praised "phenomenally well-crafted pop single that gives Lambert the opportunity to shine."^[5] AllMusic highlighted the song and praised it by calling it terrific disco and pop song and added "GaGa wisely goes so far as to keep the object of his affection male."^[6] The A.V. Club noted that the song "fits" and described it as "Lady Gaga’s ode to wanton debauchery".^[7]

The Boston Globe opined the song "makes a convincing case for Lambert as a long-lost Scissor Sister with its eruptive synths."^[8] Entertainment Weekly similarly praised song "future-disco glitter bomb (...) sounds like it was extracted directly from the Scissor Sisters' sonic DNA."^[9] The Detroit News called the song "daring" and "unapologetic sexual" and added that its opening lines "is bound to raise an eyebrow or two from "Idol's" more conservative fan base.^[10] Los Angeles Times called the song "much better" than some songs on album and described it as "straight-ahead, guilt-free cry of love."^[11] The New York Times called "Fever" notable exception and added that "recent success [of Lady Gaga] proves that there’s at least some tolerance for quasi-intelligent identity manipulation in the pop sphere, wiggle room that Mr. Lambert barely takes advantage of."^[12]

"Fever" was released in September and November 2010, respectively, to New Zealand and Singapore. The song's early radio release in New Zealand was to help promote the Glam Nation Tour which was extended to Australia during the final quarter of 2010.^[13] It eventually peaked at number 19 on the New Zealand Singles Chart.^[14]

Lady Gaga (as Stefani Germanotta) performed "Fever" in The Cutting Room in 2006, two years before releasing her debut album.^[15] Lambert included it in the setlist for his Glam Nation Tour (2010)^[16] and The Original High Tour (2016).^[17]

Credits taken from For Your Entertainment album liner notes.^[18]