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Post by pi on Sept 10, 2017 0:56:11 GMT -5
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happy
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Post by happy on Sept 10, 2017 1:12:26 GMT -5
Every Saturday in my local newspaper, there is a feature called Celebrity Homes. I've been checking recently to see if Adam's house gets mentioned. Today this article was in my paper with a slightly different headline "American Idol star ready to give it up." I thought the last paragraphs captured Adam's story quite well, though no mention of QAL. It is good publicity -- for someone who remembers him from AI, maybe they might check out his latest album. It also makes him sound succesful -- selling a $3,995 million dollar home for $1 million more than he paid. YAY! www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hp-hotprop-20170902-story.htmlJust read this and I get rather a different impression.....that they are implying that he has to sell for financial reasons. Enforced by the slightly different headline in your paper which continues the theme i.e. that he has come to terms with having to lose it! 'The show is over......' A 'former' AI star whose last album was two years ago. No mention of QAL means the writer probably doesn't know about it and the huge financial rewards it brings.....thinks Adam is 'resting' a lot. Maybe I'm just cranky because it's 4.50 a.m. and I can't sleep. But I'm sure Adam is more than financially able to keep this house if he wanted to. Can't wait to see what his next move is.....onward and upward, for sure. I think they were trying to catch the reader's attention with a more negative headline and that's what I felt at first as I read it. But I felt it got more positive as I read the article. And then, by the end, I thought "Well, it's publicity and Adam's name is in my local paper and maybe some people will check out his latest album and love it."
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petrajo
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Post by petrajo on Sept 10, 2017 1:19:25 GMT -5
Loved your thinking, sizzling63 . I don't think it was random from Adam to post photos of that shoot. He may be reflecting his career or simply just wanting to poke us a bit and see the responce. He stayed at ig for quite a while last night after posting it; replying to comments, liking them, editing his own text etc. It would be fun to know his thoughts. ☺️
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Post by Craazyforadam on Sept 10, 2017 1:24:17 GMT -5
I didn't find those pics particularly hot but I had no problem with the them - for me the Details magazine shoot was a form of artistic expression. What bothered me was the drama that followed ... the Out Magazine editor's "private" letter to Adam which openly criticized Adam for not being gay enough by posing with a "barbie". Soon after Adam released FYE as his first single, which may have had at least partially to do with Adam wanting to re-assert himself (in my opinion too much for a single immediately after Idol) and a controversial AMA performance that Adam is still haunted by, at least in his own country. Why does Adam post these pics on IG now? I'm sure it's not random. He may have been reflecting on the past few years and wanting to get some feedback. I'm sure he found it refreshing and exciting and fun when he posed with a female nude model back then, but I bet the drama that followed wasn't quite as amusing for him, sadly. He must remember the dark chapter and some of the consequences right after Idol, and even though he loves his life right now and is happy with where he is I can't help but think that he still asks himself now and then, "what if...". There was a discussion about Adam's recording career yesterday in comparison to some of his peers and the answer for me is clear: Adam is polarizing and not as easily digestible for mainstream audiences and even for some of his fans. It is the path he has chosen. sizzling, I think you said this very well. Adam came out of Idol fired up and ready to prove something. One thing he wanted to prove, IMO, was that he was NOT the same guy that he was on Idol. So many viewers who fell in love with that sweet, EDGY guy, didn't realize that he had been living a VERY open gay lifestyle for years. He was ready to show that part of himself, unapologetically, to the world, but the world at large was not quite ready. Unlike some other gay performers who keep their gay life entirely private, Adam chooses not to. I love this about him, but plenty of people evidently do not. A few writers said, after the AMAs, that Adam had not yet "earned" the right to do what he did on that show. If he had done it five years into his career, with a strong, solid, loyal fan base, maybe there wouldn't have been such an outcry and such an ultimate rejection. Who knows? Other gay artists chose to stay in the closet, at least officially, till long after they were highly successful. Elton John is just one example. As you so eloquently put it, he probably asks himself the "what if" question. Sam Smith is topping the charts again. He is openly gay, but rather benignly so in public. There are plenty of gay singers who aren't seen publicly in gay clubs or with drag queens, etc. Adam's bravery in doing all this comes at a price. You're so right when you say it makes him polarizing and not as easily digestible to the mainstream audiences. He might have the best new song in the world, but if the average listeners has even a mildly negative attitude toward him, they won't buy, listen to, or stream the song. He is long past the teen idol phase, but there are other singers in their thirties who have found that special sound, that persona, that appeals to an audience far beyond teens and tweens. Loyal fans will forgive their favorite artists for almost anything. Lots of singers are violent and rude to others, they break the law, they are dismissive of their fans, walk out on concerts, impose idiotic political or religious tirades into their concerts, and on and on. But their fans will continue to buy their music, attend their concerts, support them to the fullest. Maybe Adam has paid too big a price for being too open too early in his career. He showed us who he really is inside. That is far different from a singer who just has a gimmick. Lady Gaga's shtick, with the meat dress and the cocoon and the crazy visuals, is a very successful gimmick. But she's a pretty normal person offstage. She's kind and generous and devoted to her fans. Adam is pretty much the same person, on and off the stage. Left of center, often overtly sexual, edgy, naughty, smart, personable. He doesn't turn off one persona to become the other. It's a blessing and a curse. I wish I knew the magic potion that would get Adam a mega-hit song that tops the charts, more TV exposure, a decent role in a movie, a well-earned Grammy or other award, an acceptance by the mainstream that he is worthy of attention and support. There's nothing to be afraid of. He just rattles your sensibilities sometimes, and that can be a good thing. At least it has been for me. Girldrummer and also sizzling, I agree in assessment, but am less pessimistic overall. When somebody breaks through a glass ceiling, and Adam did in many ways, then what tends to happen is that the glass shards rain down on the one who does the breaking. Then others can follow with significantly more ease, and Sam Smith is such an example. He also has the benefit to be a Brit, whereas Adam has to fight his way in this homophobic radio and music business landscape here in the US first. I have long given up on comparing chart positions for Adam, because it is just not an even playing field. Having said that, Adam does have the ability to have influence. He has name recognition, is associated with a cause, has everywhere a good standing in the industry with insiders, and he is polarizing, which means people will naturally talk about him, if he says something important. So, it comes down to what does Adam want to say to the world. He has been diddling around with snapchat and instagram, etc., showing us parts of his life, but he knows just as much as we do, that this is all just seen by a small group of people. He is able to use the megaphone of either his voice or his tweets or any other occasion to really make some noise, if he chooses. But for that he needs to say something that causes a stir. And I assume that his revisiting those Detail pictures is him reflecting on exactly that. The bigger question at this point is, what is his message? Out and proud is meanwhile demonstrated by so many others too, that I don't think this alone will do it, even in a music video. See the videos that Superfruit is putting out. They are not shying away from gay topics one bit, and Pentatonix as a group comes from reality TV, has a very wide range of audience, reaching from fairly strictly Christian via their Texan roots and via Kevin's strong positions, to the rather liberal values presented more by Mitch and Scott, to again others who listen to them just for the harmonies or vocals and don't care about the people or opinions in the group itself. (google superfruit 90s heartthrob or superfruit sexy ladies, if you want to see examples). I don't think that this is what Adam likes, not only because they make more videos on a shoesting, rather than big productions, but also because Adam has never tweeted about their stuff or supported their album or videos, and I mean he normally is the first one out the gate to praise and promote others), so it may not be his thing, but that is besides the point. The point was, there are others doing out and proud in video and taking that mainstream. Adam is not alone anymore with that, in fact he has remained non-gender specific in his music videos and has just used other means, to make his statements. I have no idea what Adam wants his next message to be, but I can understand that before he does it, whatever it is, that he wants to know that the topic is one he stands behind and wants to engage long-term in. Not always in life, do we find ourselves in a place where we feel that this is all coming together and that we have something to say that will carry a story-line. I sensed some hesitation maybe from Adam (my interpretation - I may be off), but maybe he does not feel quite ready in his thoughts or in what he wants to say. We don't know that and I am just willing to wait without pressure. He is not competing in the teeny pop market. He needs to come up with a loud enough message to be heard rather than meet a certain deadline, imo. Adam can be relevant again, when he is ready. But that cannot be forced, he needs to feel it. And then there was today this quote: www.instagram.com/p/BYzS-RwF-ze/And that is mighty powerful. Being a public figure is not easy, I tell ya. The world is wonky these days, be it because of the increase of events like Irma and Harvey, or whether it is because of the overall situation in the US and the world overall, I think people are looking for something that inspires and lifts up or gives perspective, provides a message. When Adam is ready, I will be. Meanwhile, my thoughts are with those in and around Florida, wishing everyone that they stay safe next 24-48 hours caught in this awful hurricane season in the wrong place at the wrong time. And please check in with us, when you have power and service back or if we can in any way do something for you. Stay safe.
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Post by Craazyforadam on Sept 10, 2017 2:42:06 GMT -5
The Detail photoshoot was wonderfully done. I think that vast amounts of peeps just did not get it. Did not understand the playfulness and the mindfuck that was intended. Too many took it as Adam tries to play it straight, and OUT magazine was just demonstrating that.
I thought it was great, was totally post-gay as Adam would call it, until I realized that people were not getting it. Would they get it today? Depends how it is done, but if done like these still photos, then I still think people would not get it. Everyone seems so over-invested in that whole gay topic that every measure of normally gets lost along the way. It is after all just one part of a whole persona, not something that has to be regarded with such emphasis. But that seems just impossible these days. At least here in the US.
But I like that Adam is thinking about all of this. Maybe he tries to show the absurdity of it all. Maybe he wants to bring some humorous aspect back into the discussion. Dunno.
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Post by sizzling63 on Sept 10, 2017 2:50:40 GMT -5
Craazyforadam , girldrummer , and petrajo , I appreciate your thoughtful and insightful responses. girldrummer , I agree that Adam came out of Idol with something greater to prove than his voice, and he did. He has always been unapologetically himself, and I admire him for that. @craazy, regardless how Adam choses to present himself with his new music, I agree that it can't be rushed. May be he needs to make some adjustments.
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3ku1
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Post by 3ku1 on Sept 10, 2017 4:37:15 GMT -5
Sure Breaking the glass sealing so to speak. Comes with its own consequences. It automatically liberates others. But it can have an opposite effect which I think Adam felt coming off idol. He was such a hurricane. Some could only deal with him In drizzles. 9 years on. Are Mainstream America in 2017 more ready, or equipped for an out LGBT artist? I think so. And that's down to Adams impact. Of course not forgetting the LGBT artists of the past. Elton, George e.t.c. If Adam did that photoshoot now would it Be accepted differently? Possibly. As you know I'm a straight male. And when Adam back in 2009 did that photoshoot. I diddnt think oh Adams neutraliseing is sexuality. He's playing to the straight crowd. I was like that chicks hot lol. Oh he's fully liberated, he's post gay. Unfortunately I think like Adam has said. The music industry Is still in a could you say pre gay world. I think from observations Adam personally and creatively seems to be in his best place. So we may get his best work yet. Kinda like a FYE 2.0. Well he get a major hit? I certainly hope so. But of course this well come down to Timing, Right Music, Luck.
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Post by sizzling63 on Sept 10, 2017 15:58:07 GMT -5
Sure Breaking the glass sealing so to speak. Comes with its own consequences. It automatically liberates others. But it can have an opposite effect which I think Adam felt coming off idol. He was such a hurricane. Some could only deal with him In drizzles. 9 years on. Are Mainstream America in 2017 more ready, or equipped for an out LGBT artist? I think so. And that's down to Adams impact. Of course not forgetting the LGBT artists of the past. Elton, George e.t.c. If Adam did that photoshoot now would it Be accepted differently? Possibly. As you know I'm a straight male. And when Adam back in 2009 did that photoshoot. I diddnt think oh Adams neutraliseing is sexuality. He's playing to the straight crowd. I was like that chicks hot lol. Oh he's fully liberated, he's post gay. Unfortunately I think like Adam has said. The music industry Is still in a could you say pre gay world. I think from observations Adam personally and creatively seems to be in his best place. So we may get his best work yet. Kinda like a FYE 2.0. Well he get a major hit? I certainly hope so. But of course this well come down to Timing, Right Music, Luck. Always good to get feedback from a straight guy's perspective. As I said earlier, I personally didn't find the photo shoot particularly hot, but I imagined that others would. Isn't "Details" more geared toward a male crowd?
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