skylar
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Post by skylar on Oct 17, 2011 22:54:12 GMT -5
My take on Adam's comment about the facade he has created: I believe, based on some statements he has made in interviews, that Adam is consciously and intentionally positive. It may be his nature, but, he maximizes it, and we almost never read or hear him saying anything negative, or even framing an experience in a negative way. Even when he talks about how hard it was to break into the music business, or how stymied he was trying to make it in musical theater, he puts a positive spin on it. He touches on it with a light tone, and moves on. He says it was tough, but he doesn't go on and talk about his feelings about it being tough. He doesn't expound about the cockroaches in his apartment, or the times he didn't have money for food, or the number of auditions he went to, only to be turned down, the number of doors he had slammed in his face. He says, "I was kinda bored" but doesn't say "pissed, frustrated, depressed, fed up." What happens behind the scenes as far as difficulties or conflicts remains behind the scenes. He doesn't air it in public. I think, perhaps, that is the facade that he is alluding to. He has perfected it well thru a life of practice, and it serves him very well. Think how many people meet him and comment on how nice he is, and what a joy he is. He may view it as a facade, knowing what he is feeling and not expressing at times. But, after a lifetime of living that positive philosophy, it has probably become instinctive. I don't think we are going to see a 180 shift in his basic personality. People are who they consciously choose to be over time. But, they may feel that, since they feel negative emotions they don't express, they are creating a facade, rather than choosing to approach the world a certain way. When he talks about being more "real" in this next album, I think he is talking about letting the dark side, the negative side, the negative emotions show thru. As to Steven Gray's lamentation that Adam is selling out by taking the crowd pleasing route of looking "normal", I don't think he has anything to worry about. Adam has always loved "edgy" and hippie and counter-culture. He surrounds himself with like-minded, artistic people. He is too committed to being his true self to erase all that to appear like the nice guy next door. But, the flip side to that is Adam is ALSO the nice guy next door. The guy in shorts and flip-flops with the 100 watt smile who will do anything for a friend, or even a stranger. the guy who grew up saying, Yes, ma'am, No, sir, please, and thank you. The guy who expresses appreciation for what he has and for the work and actions of others around him. It is one of the reasons we all find him so compelling. He is both the light and the dark, the normal and the avant garde, the deeply sexy yet silly dork. Steve, if you don't get that, you don't get the essence of Adam. Yes, I agree with all you have said. I don't think what I said was in any way negating or opposing any of this. If any gay male fans are here I would love to get their POV on the following. If I dig a little deeper, I guess my question is, can we understand why Steve might feel that way? I think there are some in the gay community that are hyper aware of the way Adam is presented in the media, hyper-sensitive to it, and especially sensitive when it looks like his media image is leaning in the straighter direction. I think they may, whether unconsciously or consciously, want to know that his self esteem, self acceptance, and pride in his sexuality is true and real and/or that he won't sell it (and they feel, them) out for wider, more mainstream acceptance. He already is a hero and role model whether he likes it, or wants it, or not and I think there are many in the gay community who really, really want to believe in him, trust him, watch and learn from his freedom to fully be himself. And if they feel that he wants to present as straighter and is hiding part of himself in order to gain more mainstream acceptance then they somehow feel sold out. I think that some, not all, in the Gay community want to feel assured that Adam really does not feel ashamed of being gay, that he's telling the truth when he says he's proud. (Ironically of course as we've discussed before there are also those that want adam to present himself more conservatively ) Somehow they feel rejected when he chooses the straighter image, the more traditionally manly image like pumping the gas, the image with the woman. I think it is important that we, Adam's straight female fans, understand some of that hypersensitivity on the side of some in the gay community. It might close the gap a little. They are used to be rejected in the media. They have had famous gays who hid being gay, which is of course any gay person's utter perogative, but it is probably easy to feel slightly rejected when a famous gay person chooses to present themselves in the straighter direction for greater acceptance or sales. Aaaanyway. How are them Mets? On the other hand may this is not why Steve Grey reacted as he did at all. Maybe he just wants Wild Adam for Wild Adam and this has absolutely nothing to do with Adam (and Steve) being gay. Quite possible. OK so I think I said the same thing about 4 times in that  Just need to add that I do not feel this at all. I see Adam as proud and honest while at the same time wanting to reach the larger audience. I understand that he probably wants to continue widening his fan base and perhaps make it easy for even more of the mainstream audience to latch on to his music in addition to his present die hard base. but I do also understand why some might be hypersensitive. |
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Post by stardust on Oct 17, 2011 22:55:01 GMT -5
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Post by stardust on Oct 17, 2011 23:01:35 GMT -5
That'd be two albums though right? Or perhaps a 3 CD set.  I am expecting 18 tracks on the deluxe disc but there do seem to be a lot of songs. And an EP six months later!!!! |
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Post by Q3 on Oct 17, 2011 23:03:07 GMT -5
Looks like a messy business divorce. I hope it goes to court. It would be interesting to read the filings. |
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evergreen
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Post by evergreen on Oct 17, 2011 23:03:29 GMT -5
Thank you, Cassie, for your post. Regarding Adam, you said "What happens behind the scenes as far as difficulties or conflicts remains behind the scenes. He doesn't air it in public." The anguish we now know he felt after the AMAs was hidden. His accepting, positive nature, which we have experienced so often, and admire as being 'above the fray', may well be the 'facade' he refers to in 'The Advocate' article. Oh, I do believe, sincerely, that Adam is by nature a cheerful, loving, forgiving human being. But art, innovation, invention and creation demand texture, emotion, sometimes fury, and sore temptation to scatter boundaries. Adam smoulders like a bonfire of emotion, waiting to ignite. On July 29, Adam cheerfully 'dusted' his stool. Then, out of the blue, he shattered the facade. I was stunned. Breathless, as if I had been punched unaware, on the grass at Ste. Agathe. "Outlaws of Love". Melted by the revelation. By the searing, stark knowledge that hearts and homes are broken; that character is built on scars; that Adam is told he will rot in hell - - because of who he was born to be, and how his exquisite DNA was born to love. In spite of many years with gay friends and family, frankly, I never heard such words of pain. A conversation about 'lack of acceptance' was far different from 'they say we'll rot in hell'. That night, Adam revealed the seed, crushed and open; heartbroken and bitter and true, for us to taste. We're getting Adam, oh yes. "Outlaws of Love" is the first bleeding glimpse. - I wish Adam could read all your posts! I think he could write another whole album with your words as inspiration. We love to hear Adam say words - I love to read yours. Thank you. |
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Post by midwifespal on Oct 17, 2011 23:07:19 GMT -5
Q3!!  Thank you so much for this!:  You rule! Cassie, I liked your post a whole lot, too, especially the stuff at the end about Adam being a great mix of outre and normal. But I think there's a little more to the "facade" than just positivity, which I tend to think of as a pretty "real" part of Adam--the silly dusting of the stool is just as real as the sadness in the following song. I think, in part, this "facade" business is also about Adam's tremendous skills as a marketer--I think he knowingly simplifies and crafts his image in certain ways, because he knows that starker outlines sell well in mainstream pop culture. As he said about the missed subtleties of the campy FYE cover, "You kind of have to hit people over the head with things, especially in pop music." I don't think this is even something he necessarily regrets--I think he's a realist about it and thinks carefully about how to use it to his advantage. I also think the facade is related to how he thinks being a "rock star" is like playing dress-up--it's a role that he inhabits with gusto. And I think he quite likes the cover that that role can give him at times. Skylar, I totally hear ya, and I had some of those thoughts too when reading that blog. I've had my moments, at the beginning when it was all "I guess people loved WWFM so more of that..." when I thought: stay weird for us, Adam! But then every time he opens his mouth my worries melt away. Because he really does "keep it real" in interviews like this, and sounds so much like a thoughtful individual that I find it impossible to think of him as a product. I think Gray's reaction shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what Adam is doing in that interview--by hanging on to those nuances of his position he's doing something much more powerful and ballsy and out there than wearing a crazy cod-piece and belting away. Also, look at the dude, look at his ridic hair and those crazy-ass pants and that silly tongue sticking out! LOL i really don't think Gray has to worry! ETA: I just want to add, for Skyler, as a lover of the FYE cover (which I found hilarious) I never feel like he's apologizing for it. It always comes across for me as genuine frustration that people didn't get it, and a heartfelt defense of the idea. |
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Post by virg1877 on Oct 17, 2011 23:13:33 GMT -5
Dont think this was posted already  |
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skylar
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Post by skylar on Oct 17, 2011 23:13:36 GMT -5
Q3!! Thank you so much for this!: You rule! Cassie, I liked your post a whole lot, too, especially the stuff at the end about Adam being a great mix of outre and normal. But I think there's a little more to the "facade" than just positivity. I think, in part, this is also about Adam's tremendous skills as a marketer--I think he knowingly simplifies and crafts his image in certain ways, because he knows that starker outlines sell well in mainstream pop culture. As he said about the missed subtleties of the campy FYE cover, "You kind of have to hit people over the head with things, especially in pop music." I don't think this is even something he necessarily regrets--I think he's a realist about it and thinks carefully about how to use it to his advantage. I also think the facade is related to how he thinks being a "rock star" is like playing dress-up--it's a role that he inhabits with gusto. And I think he quite likes the cover that that role can give him at times. Skylar, I totally hear ya, and I had some of those thoughts too when reading that blog. I've had my moments, at the beginning when it was all "I guess people loved WWFM so more of that..." when I thought: stay weird for us, Adam! But then every time he opens his mouth my worries melt away. Because he really does "keep it real" in interviews like this, and sounds so much like a thoughtful individual that I find it impossible to think of him as a product. I think Gray's reaction shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what Adam is doing in that interview--by hanging on to those nuances of his position he's doing something much more powerful and ballsy and out there than wearing a crazy cod-piece and belting away. Also, look at the dude, look at his ridic hair and those crazy-ass pants and that silly tongue sticking out! LOL i really don't think Gray has to worry! ETA: I just want to add, for Skyler, as a lover of the FYE cover (which I found hilarious) I never feel like he's apologizing for it. It always comes across for me as genuine frustration that people didn't get it, and a heartfelt defense of the idea. Yes!!  Thank you for all this. And I love your last paragraph. It makes me feel reassured. : ) |
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Post by momtomany on Oct 17, 2011 23:42:07 GMT -5
Aw, evergreen. Thank you. Can't find the smilies!! Otherwise there'd be lots of *SWAK*s!!
I'm just a sap. Practical is not in my knitting basket.
I think that for all Adam might be imagining, for all the efforts he's making, for all the tears (and I'm sure there have been tears) and ecstasy of creating, he cannot be anything but true to his fantastic, Peter Pan visions. Joy will always triumph in this man. How can it not, when he dreams of flying?
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kagmel
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Post by kagmel on Oct 18, 2011 0:24:11 GMT -5
 Memorising Wolf! ;D |
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