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Post by Craazyforadam on Dec 26, 2016 14:24:58 GMT -5
I had a thought related to the running discussion of safe-gay vs. sexy-gay acceptance. I think that gender also has a lot to do with what is acceptable. For example, FYE (the song) was originally written for Britney Spears. If she had released it, the S&M theme would have been just another Britney song. No big deal. Adam releasing it pushed some boundaries a bit to far. If you replace Adam in the infamous AMA performance with Britney, and Tommy with a woman, the reaction would have been a lot less dramatic. Or think about Rhianna's "S&M" (2010) which was a #1 hit in the US and UK -- for weeks. I could post a long list of songs that were hits for women, that probably would not be accepted if released by men. Similarly, many "empowerment" songs released by women are hits but probably would not be hits if released by men. Based on the numbers, it is still harder to be successful in music if you are a women vs. a man, but in Western cultures, we will accept women being overtly sexual but men not so much. Well, it is kind of interesting, because being an Adam fan since almost 8 years and having heard his statements about restrictions for men for many years, it was interesting to hear Madonna making the opposite observation, starting around 1:00 of the recent video (speech at BB awards 2016). www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Xgbh2E0NMSo trying to reconcile these two observations from different artists of different gender, the one thing I noticed is that both have challenged society in its gender specific norms. Women are allowed to be objectified. If they show S&M themes where they are the one who is caged or is submissive they don't really challenge society, they rather feed the stereotype or the sexual wish-list of men. But Madonna did not play into that submissive role, she was sexually overt in a probing and challenging way, a lioness. That was not allowed for women, that was only allowed for men. Adam also challenged stereotypes, he challenged the stereotype that a lead male had to be macho and straight. He rather proudly displayed both his feminine side, as well as the fact that he was gay. And the AMA performance was the quintessence of that statement, no matter how messy it was in parts. Nobody criticized Adam for dragging men around on leashes, that was in accordance with perceived role models, so it was not the S&M part that was where society and media started freaking out, it was when he bent the rules of what was allowed and not allowed for men and turned the performance 'gay'. All of a sudden, this was bad for the little children who were watching TV at 11 pm... Both Madonna and Adam had to be brave and strong to go against cultural stereotypes and they both do to this day. But it is not the gender alone that is their limitation, but rather the thorn in the flesh that they are to what society is defining as normal and acceptable for that gender.
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Post by lurleene on Dec 26, 2016 14:55:32 GMT -5
My view of Adam is that he is a very sexy performer but not because of his sexuality. I see him as a sexy showman and personality in the rock star mode. He is just sexy. But thankfully he does not use his sexy to put himself in legal jeopardy. It reminds me of how my very Christian grandmother would swoon over her sexy Elvis. I also look at Sam as "safe" but only the same way I look at Ed Sheeran, Mendes and Charlie Puth. That seems to be his personality and style and not by design. He would look silly trying to do Adam's sexy and smooth dance moves or rocking out. I think his acceptance and the acceptance of Frank Ocean was because of the way they came on the scene. Yes they made their sexuality public and the press covered it but it did not become more important than their talent and accomplishments. They controlled the narrative. Sam said in an interview he was gay but that should not be the only focus. Frank hardly said anything. But the press followed their lead and their fans did as well. When Adam burst on the scene it was all about his sexuality and his talent was almost secondary. Gay, gay, gay all the time from fans, the press and the community. In fact, that is how I found out about him. Wolf on CNN was interviewing an overweight, effeminate gay man about Adam. The guy said he did not know Adam but was speaking for and about him. He said yes America was about to pick a gay man as the next American Idol. He was taunting and laughing. My first thought was geez, I hope this Adam can sing. This guy will not win him any votes by painting him as some stereotypical gay man that the comedians will have a field day laughing at and making fun of 24/7. Then I tuned in to Idol and saw this handsome man sitting of a stool and singing Tracks of My Tears. He sounded like an angel and looked like an young sexy Elvis. And when Simon spoke to him and said he was going to be a star or something, this young man flashed a smile that had me absolutely hooked, lol. But then it made me confused and angry. Why was that gay man and Wolf on CNN treating this amazing and talented man as some kind of a joke? I later found out that the man was an Adam hater who did not want him to win and made hateful comments about him all the time. Adam was like a target and a symbol and the expectations placed on him were never placed on Sam and Frank, so yes acceptance for them was easier. But I really think things have changed for Adam and his talent is moving up front. When he performed on CMT, the country press was going on and on about how he a Leona stole the show. I did not see one word about his sexuality. He is an incredible role model for the young ones coming along and everyone knows he is gay. But they know his success is also a success for the community and there is no need to constantly show them how gay he is as some demanded of him early in his career, imo.
RIP George Michael!
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Post by adamrocks on Dec 26, 2016 15:16:00 GMT -5
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Post by adamrocks on Dec 26, 2016 15:26:10 GMT -5
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Post by thelambertluvva on Dec 26, 2016 15:39:53 GMT -5
Not sure if this had already been posted but I saw the movie Keanu on the plane to the UK and one of the lead characters played a huge George Michael fan. I googled "George Michael Keanu" and this article came up www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/05/06/george_michael_s_music_in_keanu_the_singer_was_a_black_radio_superstar_in.html , but it was the last paragraph that was rather shocking: As for George Michael himself, now 52, he signed off on all the uses of his music in Keanu and—having determined that Key and Peele’s script did not make him the butt of a joke—is reportedly delighted by the movie’s lionizing of his past. Michael’s longtime manager reports plans to remarket Michael’s music sometime in 2016. I doubt it’ll return Michael to the top of the pops, but a boy can dream. In this year of profound sadness for music fans—with the charts repeatedly dominated by artists who had to die to remind us of their genius—how nice to see a fondly remembered fiftysomething musician returning to the pop conversation while still around to enjoy the comeback. Even if he is upstaged by a kitten.
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Post by cheriemelissa on Dec 26, 2016 15:50:43 GMT -5
I think if Adam were ever to do a tribute to George on an a musical program, I would love him to sing One More Try. To me this is pure George Michael, whatever that means and of course a beautiful song!
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Post by cheriemelissa on Dec 26, 2016 15:56:12 GMT -5
Not sure if this had already been posted but I saw the movie Keanu on the plane to the UK and one of the lead characters played a huge George Michael fan. I googled "George Michael Keanu" and this article came up www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/05/06/george_michael_s_music_in_keanu_the_singer_was_a_black_radio_superstar_in.html , but it was the last paragraph that was rather shocking: As for George Michael himself, now 52, he signed off on all the uses of his music in Keanu and—having determined that Key and Peele’s script did not make him the butt of a joke—is reportedly delighted by the movie’s lionizing of his past. Michael’s longtime manager reports plans to remarket Michael’s music sometime in 2016. I doubt it’ll return Michael to the top of the pops, but a boy can dream. In this year of profound sadness for music fans—with the charts repeatedly dominated by artists who had to die to remind us of their genius—how nice to see a fondly remembered fiftysomething musician returning to the pop conversation while still around to enjoy the comeback. Even if he is upstaged by a kitten. YES YES and YES to that last paragraph. It's true in all of life that people just move on and forget the greatness that preceded them. Don't know why that happens but we all know music is forever!
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Post by cheriemelissa on Dec 26, 2016 16:04:42 GMT -5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iboh68QMcRUThis is an "odd, exquisite video at the Palais Garnier, Paris". Produced by Phil Ramone and is mostly slow soul/jazz sung by George Michael with orchestra. This is great!!!!!!!!!! Loved it!
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Post by enchanted on Dec 26, 2016 17:01:29 GMT -5
Jim David @comicjimdavid 2h2 hours ago .@adamlambert, the torch is now passed to you. You have big shoes to fill. You can do it. #ripgeorgemichael George was really a gorgeous man at that time!
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Post by svca on Dec 26, 2016 17:30:43 GMT -5
So let's see...Adam is possibly the reincarnation of Elvis, must fill Freddie Mercury's AND George Michael's shoes...anybody else?
Hope he has time to be Adam Lambert lol...that's some heavy responsibility heaped on those shoulders.
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