Here it is, kids! After watching the entire thing, I’m mostly disappointed that nobody simulated oral sex.
In seriousness, though, this is going to be a rough and fascinating road. I’ve heard the whole album — I’ve been listening to it for a week, actually — and it’s brilliant. But this country’s never really had an openly gay pop star, and Adam is making calculated choices to push the door wide open; he’s being a flamboyant openly gay pop star, so that people can come in later and be milder openly gay pop stars and take considerably less heat for it. He’s going to make unpopular and perhaps even uncouth decisions, and he’s going to take unending amounts of shit for it, and it’s going to be a rocky road. Thus far — and it’s early still — he’s maneuvered through it with a lot of grace. But make no mistake about it — he’s made a conscious decision to put himself way, way out there as a target, so this country can exhaust its “righteous” ammo on him and, in the future, be more comfortable with a gay pop star who, perhaps, doesn’t thrust his backup dancer’s face against his penis on live national television. It takes a hell of a lot of guts to do that, to put yourself out there as that person and to take that heat day in and day out, but I have a feeling it will be worth it in the end. Thank you, Adam.
I love Adam Lambert. I love his album. I agree with everything you said BUT … this country has had openly gay popstars… Elton John anyone?
Elton john was from England. She means American openly gay pop stars. he’s the first, and my God, what guts he has. Rock on Adam!
Plus Elton was far along in his career before he fully came out as gay.
you’d have to have been a fucking retard to know a guy dressed in a donald duck suit on stage wasn’t gay. dork.
Beet- I’m not a huge fan of Adam but I must say he is growing on me so much. I just cried as I read your post because you are 100% right. He is really taking a stand on who he is and I respect him so much for it. If anything I hope this only makes his fan base stronger. Thanks Adam.
You sure give the guy a lot of credit
Best (and most sincere) post you’ve made in a while, Beet.
I bought the album on Monday and I absolutely love it. It’s outstanding. Adam Lambert is amazing in general – he is who he is whether people accept it or not. And in the end, they’ll just have to deal with it, because I have a feeling he’s not going away anytime soon. At least I hope not.
Oh please. He’s not “taking a stand” for gay rights or anything. He’s doing it for the shock value, to milk his 15 minutes of fame. I have no problem with guys kissing (scotty & kevin from B&S anyone?) but the simulated oral sex was just plain offensive and disgusting. I’m sure their are lots of gay men who thought the same thing.
Also, the song is ho hum- he has WAY better stuff on youtube. And the video- was that supposed to be shocking? Because it honestly looks like RIhanna’s Disturbia video had a baby with David Bowie.
I agree. How can using shock behaviour be furthering the cause for gay people? It seems to me it would do the opposite. I imagine a lot of people who aren’t particularly accepting of gay men and women won’t have had their minds changed by this. As for being openly and flamboyantly gay, he already is, and all power to him. I wasn’t disgusted by his performance. I find the amount of gratuitous violence on teev almost every night much more appalling. However it was just that – a performance.
Adam, the sacrificial lamb. What a bunch of bullshit. He is so desperate. Is being gay all about sex? I would think that being portrayed that way would be very offensive to the gay population.
Adam does what he does not as a “gay man” but as an individual entertainer. He’s not out there preaching gay rights, he’s out there talking about his rights as an individual performer. Maybe you should check out his interview with Access Hollywood from after the performance before YOU decide what his agenda is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlK94gvr1dU
OK. I watched the interview and you just made her point. He is not trying to open the door for gay entertainers like Beet suggested.
Why does anyone need to shove their sexuality in people’s faces? I still don’t understand the point of the Britney/Madonna kiss. Am I supposed to buy garbage music just because they swapped spit? All this nonsense is just to cover up the fact that the song SUCKS. I’m offended that Lambert things people like me will fall for his shtick.
Shut up, prude.
I can understand why the oral sex could have offended people BUT how can rappers rap about raping 17 women and that’s OK? To me, that is way more offensive than a simulated blow job. Double Standard. If Adam needs to be squeaky clean then EVERYONE needs to be squeaky clean.
I absolutely adore Adam Lambert. He is a brilliant vocalist. Those of us who follow him were not at all surprised of his performance. And, the announcer kept announcing all night “Wait for Adam Lambert’s eye popping performance”. That should have given parents that have strong beliefs that something was coming.
What makes you attribute such idealistic notions to his actions, Sasha? Did he actually *say* that this is his agenda, in an interview or something?
Cos seriously, this is such an optimistic leap… yeah, he’s not doing this for fame and money; he’s doing it for the good of humanity! lol…
whether his intentions are for the good of humanity or not, they WILL, without a doubt, affect America and it’s stance on homosexuality. She made a very good point though. Essentially he is, knowingly or not, standing in front of the gun of America’s criticism for every gay entertainer, so that future gay entertainers will not have to be so “out there” and be accepted by the American public. It’s not even so much about him being gay, but him challenging social morales and stereotypes regarding female and male roles in society. He made a very good remark regarding how it’s okay for female pop stars to gyrate and “kiss on up” other dancers but it’s not ok for males to do the same?? Madonna and Britney and Christina Aguilera’s performance years back was shocking but people loved it. People are more comfortable with women being sexual with one another. It’s so trendy to be a bisexual woman (if not a bit outdated at this point)
so it doesn’t matter whether you believe Lambert is contributing to the betterment of the GLBT community or if he’s going to negatively impact society; without a doubt, he is affecting it.
GO GLAMBERT!!!!!
love him, love his show.
of course he’s trying to get rich and famous! with his kind of talent, he should be. and whether it’s his motive or not, he is going to affect the conversation in this country about GLBT issues. and that’s just fine, too.
i personally just think he’s a gorgeous human being with an amazing voice, and i don’t care who he sleeps with.
You must have been rolling in the floor as you wrote this post, Beet! It just gets more ridiculous as it moves along, until I finally had visions of Adam wrapped in an American flag while he gets head. Too bad he’s a marginal singer that will fall off the charts faster than Eddie Murphys attempt to be the first gay pop star.
I for one love the fact that Adam is sort of a glittery, obnoxious F U to both the middle of the road (and the gay press who have called him on being “not gay enough”), no matter what his intentions are. I wish he was in better voice at the AMAs (he sounded like ass, unusual for him) but otherwise had no problems with the performance – to me it was an over the top spectacle in the vein of Madonna (who, people may forget, has taken a lot of shit over the years for “offensive” performances). I just wish he picked a better song for his first single – I have heard the album and FYE is one of the weakest songs IMO.
**coughs up a spleen** Are you serious with this bullshit? Adam himself has stated ad naseum that he has no interest in being a role model, fighting for gay rights, nada. He just wants to be an arteeest. Well, he better concern himself with that cuz what he presented was a hot ass mess. He isn’t opening doors or minds, he’s showing himself to be a self indulgent, petulant manchild. Can’t handle criticism NOT.AIMED.AT.GAY, but at crude, lewd, and fucking offkey. That was offensive.
Please, check out Cheyenne Jackson on Broadway, living his life openly and with class, and there are many examples of gay performers who have talent, are artists, who don’t gaffle from their ancestors in the artists and claim it as their own, who don’t stoop to the lowest level to sell (by the way, Adam should do great on sells…his album was 3.99 and .99 on Amazon yesterday…sheesh, padding numbers much??), and just do their job without feeling the need to reach for a binky and naptime.
He’s talented but he’s arrogant. Ego is one thing, arrogant is another. It would be better if he is just himself, crude and all, but own that shit. Say it’s what you want, but don’t scream discrimination when others don’t like it based on it being a fucking offkey, dry humping, frenetic mess. THEN you can say fuck off with authority.
He’s a walking “I know you are but what am I” cliche. Man the hell up.
Frankly, I wouldn’t let Adam Lambert suck my dick if he were the last gay pop star on earth. The guy’s singing makes my balls suck up against my body in fear and disgust.
ok well ignoring all the gay crusaders talk… am i the only one who thinks this song sounds a whole lot like sam sparro’s black and gold. maybe its just the beat, but the first time i heard for your entertainment i had to go listen to black and gold because i was sure it was a straight rip off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHuebHTD-lY
Music is the largest area of entertainment with “out” gay and bisexual stars.
Lance Bass and Clay Aiken just in recent memory.
I like Adam, but let’s not overstate things.
Madonna sneers at your mental distress for Adam. Um.. isn’t all and any publicity good to an artist?
“shock” value will never get me interested in someone’s product. I buy CD’s and watch movies based on their QUALITY. This isn’t quality, it’s tacky, lewd crap.
this speculation you are making seems just that, a very far reaching speculation/opinion.
since you did not link any quote by lambert saying this was his goal i think it goes more in line with what most of these overrated pop stars do= shock people into paying attention to them.
madonna, britney, aguilara, timberlake/janet jackson, lady gaga…i’m sure that list could go on and on.
so pullease stop attaching some Nobel Peace Prize sentiment to in already exhausted publicity/fame whore stunt.
by the way why do these envelopes have to be pushed at all??? by anyone i might add?
why is shocking people with your sexuality the equivalent of being accepted by society? and what does that have to do with causing tolerance?
i don’t need to see a gay man humping another guy to respect their right to marry or be together. i find it offensive instead.
i feel the same way about heteros shoving their sexual antics in my face as well.
if someone is talented their talent will speak far more for who they are and their sexual preference than some shocking sexual publicity stunt.
Hooray for this post. I am IN LOVE with Adam Lambert and his music right now. Too bad I’m not his sexual preference. ;) Although judging by that AMA performance I’m pretty sure he’d be up for anything. And that’s just fine. As long as he keeps making music like that. By the way, for all of you who don’t like “FYE” then PLEEEEAAAASE listen to “Strut.” It’s kind of the best song ever.
Is this a joke
wow, i just watched the video and was more shocked to see how somehow the song and the video manage to be overly cliche and horrible.
no worries i guess about breaking down walls with his great humanitarian talent and skill. he better shock us enough to keep us interested. yawn.
Well, if these comments are any indication, he’s certainly polarizing. I agree that he will be taking a lot of heat by going way “out there” with his sexuality, and that will make it easier for gay artists of all kinds who follow, and that in itself is brave and admirable.
BUT, as many on here point out, I don’t really think that is his motivation or his intention. He has stated he doesn’t want to be a gay role model. I think he’s just coming from a completely sexually-free frame of mind. In his head, the fact that he likes boys instead of girls is sort of beside the point; what he’s doing is just him expressing himself.
What I do hope, though, is that all those people lamenting his overly sexual performance at the AMA’s are not being critical just BECAUSE of the gayness. If you don’t like his in-your-face, crude-for-the-sake-of-being-crude performance, fine. But it truly is a double standard if you’re criticizing him because it’s all boy-on-boy instead of heterosexuality.
“Sexuality” is NOT art. Put out something to entertain me and shut up about whatever you are, I don’t care. Other people’s personal bedroom business doesn’t entertain me. YAWN. You don’t see the AI winner running around stage showing us his sex life now do you?
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