@Airvault: You must be too young to remember Merv Griffen because HE was the gayest thing on TV ever.
As far as I can tell, Mr. Lambert never volunteered himself to be the Rainbow Rosa Parks. He's just a little twinkie who grew up watching Madonna and Christina rubbing themselves against any available surface and couldn't wait for his turn. David Bowie did something very similar to Mick Ronson's guitar in the 70s for god's sake. The first time I saw it I was 10 and I've survived (although I did develop a connoisseurs appreciation for a well done simulated blowjob).
Considering all the fuss, Adam should have just freed willy and received a REAL blowjob for his trouble.
@topsy: That's what this feels like: a debate between young and old. A lot of the younger gays out there are showing no signs of being offended/ashamed of what he did and are in fact happy to see someone doing something - finally.
Of course it was a calculated move on his part. I don't think he thought he was going to break down any walls with those gestures. But now he's facing the sort of backlash that comes with expressing your (homo)sexuality in such an overt way. And he will have to start considering himself as some sort of a figure who's representing something bigger than his shitty performances.
I don't want to turn him into one, but he is now a central figure in the American homosexual movement whether he planned on it or not. So far he's faced the "Is he gay enough?" debate and now he's facing the question of "How gay is too gay?"
No one recognizes it yet, but he's the first of his kind.
Yes, the country is soooooo full of homophobic prudes that a whopping .0005% of the country called to complain about it. We're being overrun by homophobic prudes!
The guy simulated getting a blowjob on stage and got some complaints...a number that ABC called "moderate." Let's not make the guy out to be some brave martyr for homosexuality who is being attacked because he decided to wave a rainbow flag on stage. It was a trashy move that would have gotten some calls (from angry parents and feminists) even if it was a chick pretending to blow him.
There are other stories to tout as evidence of society's lack of acceptance of homosexuality that would go a lot farther in proving the point than this.
Great Post Brian (btw, why was that poster so awful to you in a post of yours last night? One that I actually liked but was sorta afraid to mention that as this guy kinda scared me!)
I'd actually like to hear what Aaron what's his ass (editor of Out) has to say now. It's all very fancy fine to sit in your little gay office at a gay magazine and preach to the younger generation about how to be gay.
The reality? Kinda complex. Like losing a gig on Good Morning America the month your first album comes out!
Come on Aaron, still feel so righteous about everything gay in the wonderful united states of Amerikkka?
@manchops: I think Aaron is kind of a pompous dick face living in a guilded tower of his own making, but really? While I agree that the reality of being a gay pop star in America is complex, this should be exceptionally simple to understand: he went in to Out magazine, a gay culture magazine, saying gay culture, and explicitly the politics of gay life, play a minimal part in his role as an entertainer, and that he was therefor only tenuously connected to the gay civil rights movement. And then he went on stage and utilized his sexuality to attempt to shock an audience, an audience unreceptive to gay culture and the rights of gay homosexuals, just to move records. Aaron has nothing to do with Adam's schizophrenia regarding his pop culture personality; he made the choice in Out to say what he said, and to push back after the fact in the manner he did, and he made the choice to nearly knock out a dude's teeth to kiss him on television.
This guy is a joke! He is using gay sex as a marketing tool while eschewing gay civil rights. He is taking one part of our life to make money, while dismissing another part, also so that he can make money. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL, and while he deserves the attention of the pop press and the music communities that support this kind of music, the gay community deserves better, especially on the precipice of such an obvious sink or swim moment in American history.
What offends me about Adam is how intellectually-shallow he is about his self. I see the idea that he is a post-gay youth who sees no reason to be a part of the political process of this country as gays struggle to keep their lifestyles from being legislated, that his youth prohibits him from understanding the intensity of this moment in history and how important gay rights are to us as a group of people, a group of people he doesn't feel a part of. But as someone the exact same age as Adam Lambert, and also well outside the traditional "gay pride" sect of gay culture, I am disgusted by him and his antics. From the Out article, and from his and his management's handling of the situation, as well as taking from earlier comments he made during the summer, he has made it clear he wants no part of the gay civil rights struggle, that his success is in no way connected to his sexuality and that being some sort of gender-bending queer has no real impact on the lives of other homosexuals in this country. Which is well and fine and all, except that he turns around and does a performance on national television where he simulates getting his dick blown on ABC, in front of a largely middle-class audience on a Sunday night. What does this do for gay perople? And why does he, as a "gay" person parading as a bisexual person, think this doesn't effect us or that we have no business in him?
He is quite literally the first homosexual pop culture icon for an entire generation of young people, who will take their cues from him. In this way, he is a lot like Britney Spears, even outside their shared crap synthesized musical numbness, because a lot of people are placing a lot of value on what he is doing when he himself is not. And I suppose I can understand that in a way, but still, it infuriates me. After his performance I talked to my grandmother, a sixty year old woman who is extremely liberal and sympathetic to the gay cause, and she was horrified. "This is how a lot of homophobic people in this country view gay men, and now he's given them the ammunition they need to continue to profer their hateful and shameless oppression of them." And again, it's not his fault that people are homophobic, or that middle America is full of moralists who want to legislate the lives of others, but when that son of a bitch gets on a stage and fakes a gay sex act, while at the same time dismissing the gay rights movement as something he is outside of- what the hell? Who is this person, and what does he represent? And as best as I can tell, he represents nothing. He has no musical center, no political center, not even a center to his sexuality. He is a capitalist creature, wanting only to sell records and have people buy them, to titilate by co-opting the personal sexual lives of people in this country who are struggling to attain something, something he doesn't care about attaining.
Is he damaging to gay people? No more than Britney Spears was damaging to straight women, which was significant but not something that was their death march. But who does he think he is? If he wants to say his sexuality has no part in who he is as a creative person, then what he did Sunday night should exist. And if he does want his sexuality to be a part of his focus as an entertainer, then I'll be goddamned if he's going to dismiss the struggle for equal rights going on in this country in lieu of being some vapid, heavily made up pop culture figure who isn't even secure enough in his homosexuality to explicitly say he is gay, leaving open that door that he might, just might, make out with a girl one day and that that, somehow, makes all the difference.
The best thing gay people can do is allow him to whither on the national stage, and wait for the day when an actual homosexual breaks through without shame or without consumerist plotting and ploys, and let that person take the gay star spotlight. But as it stands Lady Gaga, while not explicitly gay, is still the better gay rights musican role model hybrid, someone who has the depth to understand the necessity of the movement and its place in the world. That this thing is on stage writhing around trying to shock my grandmother, when in reality she wants to see equality as well as anyone else, is fucking ridiculous. Be gone, you vapid lurch.
Ha, at Jobriath, he actually crossed my mind when I saw this performance--that's not good.
Adam's a talented guy and he was better than that on stage free-for-all. The only thing missing was a cop pretending to break it up only to stop and start to break dance. All of that "entertainment" seemed to affect Lambert's performance, he was way out of tune.
@Elektra: You hit the nail on the head. He's no Madonna, Britney or Lady Gaga. Sell some records, go #1 on the charts and sell out some stadiums, then wonder wonder if "gay" has anything to do with it.
At this point he's just an extra on Glee. His music has no popular appeal. At least not to my ears.
@Elektra: oh yeah. it's cool if straight men get turned on by it (seeing lesbians do it) but not if they don't--gay men, though of course the truth is that they actually do get turned on and have to HATE HATE HATE to deal with it. I know I know, homophobia 101. But true.
Can't comment on how gay the performance was, (how is this judged really?) but I will say that there's no way the whirling dervish of kink that was that performance, coupled with him showing his esophagus as he screeched monosyllabically into the mic, and then proceeded to paw and (kick?) lady-parts, and predictably kiss a boy, wasn't for you, "He's not gay enough" critics. If you just left him alone, as many of us suggested, he probably would have come up with something, not avoiding his sexuality, but not exploding it from some angry, "I'll show you who's gay! Girl snatch-kick, cock suck me, hard, kiss the fuck outta that guy, punch that chick in the tit, screech my tonsils out onto the floor!" big 'ole throbbing mess of overkill place.
Give GMA a break. They did not want to throw on an act who might simulate oral sex with a gimp while performing live in front of a bunch of tweens and their parents, and broadcasted to millions of people across the country.
And what, you are convinced he would not perform the same or similar routine.
Also, GMA should hang their hat on Lambert not simulating oral sex with a leather clad gimp based on Lambert's hesitance to repeat a previous performance.
Like pop-stars are known for varying their live performances from day to day.
If GMA was not convinced, and why would they be, then they made the right decision.
@resipsaloquacious: Perfectly understandable, given howMadonna wears bondage gear to drop her kids at school, and Justin Timberlake waltzes around wholefoods causing areola-exposing wardrobe malfunctions
You were completely wrong about his Fancy Politics. He would have been valuable as a pop culture infiltrator, and now he's an unwanted niche act. Adam's management and Gawker apparently haven't left the coasts in a little while.
11/24/09
If GMA is so scared of gays rubbing their gay parts on each other - fuck em. Leave 'em behind.
11/24/09
As far as I can tell, Mr. Lambert never volunteered himself to be the Rainbow Rosa Parks. He's just a little twinkie who grew up watching Madonna and Christina rubbing themselves against any available surface and couldn't wait for his turn. David Bowie did something very similar to Mick Ronson's guitar in the 70s for god's sake. The first time I saw it I was 10 and I've survived (although I did develop a connoisseurs appreciation for a well done simulated blowjob).
Considering all the fuss, Adam should have just freed willy and received a REAL blowjob for his trouble.
11/24/09
I remember the 70s, and all I have to say is, "Topsy, I'll take Paul Lynde in the center square for the win."
11/24/09
Of course it was a calculated move on his part. I don't think he thought he was going to break down any walls with those gestures. But now he's facing the sort of backlash that comes with expressing your (homo)sexuality in such an overt way. And he will have to start considering himself as some sort of a figure who's representing something bigger than his shitty performances.
I don't want to turn him into one, but he is now a central figure in the American homosexual movement whether he planned on it or not. So far he's faced the "Is he gay enough?" debate and now he's facing the question of "How gay is too gay?"
No one recognizes it yet, but he's the first of his kind.
11/24/09
The guy simulated getting a blowjob on stage and got some complaints...a number that ABC called "moderate." Let's not make the guy out to be some brave martyr for homosexuality who is being attacked because he decided to wave a rainbow flag on stage. It was a trashy move that would have gotten some calls (from angry parents and feminists) even if it was a chick pretending to blow him.
There are other stories to tout as evidence of society's lack of acceptance of homosexuality that would go a lot farther in proving the point than this.
11/24/09
I'd actually like to hear what Aaron what's his ass (editor of Out) has to say now. It's all very fancy fine to sit in your little gay office at a gay magazine and preach to the younger generation about how to be gay.
The reality? Kinda complex. Like losing a gig on Good Morning America the month your first album comes out!
Come on Aaron, still feel so righteous about everything gay in the wonderful united states of Amerikkka?
11/24/09
This guy is a joke! He is using gay sex as a marketing tool while eschewing gay civil rights. He is taking one part of our life to make money, while dismissing another part, also so that he can make money. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL, and while he deserves the attention of the pop press and the music communities that support this kind of music, the gay community deserves better, especially on the precipice of such an obvious sink or swim moment in American history.
11/24/09
He is quite literally the first homosexual pop culture icon for an entire generation of young people, who will take their cues from him. In this way, he is a lot like Britney Spears, even outside their shared crap synthesized musical numbness, because a lot of people are placing a lot of value on what he is doing when he himself is not. And I suppose I can understand that in a way, but still, it infuriates me. After his performance I talked to my grandmother, a sixty year old woman who is extremely liberal and sympathetic to the gay cause, and she was horrified. "This is how a lot of homophobic people in this country view gay men, and now he's given them the ammunition they need to continue to profer their hateful and shameless oppression of them." And again, it's not his fault that people are homophobic, or that middle America is full of moralists who want to legislate the lives of others, but when that son of a bitch gets on a stage and fakes a gay sex act, while at the same time dismissing the gay rights movement as something he is outside of- what the hell? Who is this person, and what does he represent? And as best as I can tell, he represents nothing. He has no musical center, no political center, not even a center to his sexuality. He is a capitalist creature, wanting only to sell records and have people buy them, to titilate by co-opting the personal sexual lives of people in this country who are struggling to attain something, something he doesn't care about attaining.
Is he damaging to gay people? No more than Britney Spears was damaging to straight women, which was significant but not something that was their death march. But who does he think he is? If he wants to say his sexuality has no part in who he is as a creative person, then what he did Sunday night should exist. And if he does want his sexuality to be a part of his focus as an entertainer, then I'll be goddamned if he's going to dismiss the struggle for equal rights going on in this country in lieu of being some vapid, heavily made up pop culture figure who isn't even secure enough in his homosexuality to explicitly say he is gay, leaving open that door that he might, just might, make out with a girl one day and that that, somehow, makes all the difference.
The best thing gay people can do is allow him to whither on the national stage, and wait for the day when an actual homosexual breaks through without shame or without consumerist plotting and ploys, and let that person take the gay star spotlight. But as it stands Lady Gaga, while not explicitly gay, is still the better gay rights musican role model hybrid, someone who has the depth to understand the necessity of the movement and its place in the world. That this thing is on stage writhing around trying to shock my grandmother, when in reality she wants to see equality as well as anyone else, is fucking ridiculous. Be gone, you vapid lurch.
11/24/09
11/24/09
11/24/09
Adam's a talented guy and he was better than that on stage free-for-all. The only thing missing was a cop pretending to break it up only to stop and start to break dance. All of that "entertainment" seemed to affect Lambert's performance, he was way out of tune.
11/24/09
OK, I get it. Business as usual.
11/24/09
At this point he's just an extra on Glee. His music has no popular appeal. At least not to my ears.
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11/24/09
This is understandable.
11/24/09
I think his music is terrible, but he can't be that dumb. Why would he repeat himself, anyway? GMA could have simply asked him.
11/24/09
And what, you are convinced he would not perform the same or similar routine.
Also, GMA should hang their hat on Lambert not simulating oral sex with a leather clad gimp based on Lambert's hesitance to repeat a previous performance.
Like pop-stars are known for varying their live performances from day to day.
If GMA was not convinced, and why would they be, then they made the right decision.
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#tips
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