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Post by maddie509 on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:13am
Re: Bruce Springsteen, he's not just a legacy act. He has released 6 albums of new music in the last 10 years. His latest, Wrecking Ball, debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart earlier this year. He has a very loyal fan base and is still going strong at the age of 60. Springsteen has the type of career that I wish for Adam: longevity, respect as both a performer and a songwriter, and a large loyal fan base. May Adam achieve the same level of success (fingers crossed!). I'm no expert at current music scene, nor radio biz, marketing strategy, etc. so I only lurked here most of time to catch up with Adam. But above post really resonated with some of my own thoughts about Adam. My husband is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen so I've got to watch quite a bit of his performances, although his music is not necessarily my style, I do enjoy his live shows. He never had a No.1 song (I think...) but still enjoyed a long, successful career. He did his own thing, still does at age of 60! I wish Adam could have the same success, not just some flavor of year! Longevity, respect, and a loyal fan base is what makes "the last man standing"! Okay, back to lurking now...:-)
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Post by iluvfun42 on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:14am
This isn't going to be a popular perspective... I see no reason for gay editors or journalists or anyone else to give Adam any more due than he would get or not get if he were not gay. Gay people don't automatically support or like an artist because they are also gay any more than I like or support an artist who happens to also have two x chromosomes. Likewise I like and dislike many male, gay, straight, black, white, curly haired, short, bald, tall people. Not because they are any of those things, but because of who they are and what they do. That's the point of equality - in the end equity is about being treated the same (and ok that is a land called utopia where pollyanna lives). Stepping down off my soapbox. I respect your opinion, but when you're a part of the cause and on the same team doesn't that deserve support? If someone is out there busting their ass for your rights as well as theirs, shouldn't you be helping just a bit? Just because? In the end, won't you benefit too? Even if they are male/female, gay/straight, ugly/pretty, black/white, isn't it kinda like having two glasses of water but one glass if full and one is only half full? Shouldn't you strive to get your glass full too by supporting them a little bit? Even if you don't completely agree with everything they are about, won't you at least bring their views to someone's attention? IMO equality means the "same for everyone." I think Adam is a trailblazer and is quietly and sweetly bringing his views to attention and I think he deserves the support of his own community for being the brave beautiful man he is and he is working so hard to get that support. I applaud him and his efforts. JMO
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Post by SusieFierce on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:18am
Sorry, but disagreeing with this ENTIRELY.
Of course, gay anthem is ONE component about what either of these songs is about, but not at all what they are only about – AT ALL. To relegate them as such is totally diminishing their artistry and their universality. I've never perceived "Raise Your Glass" or "Trespassing" to be gay anthems. Could they apply? Of course they could, because that is what art does. It touches upon the universality of an experience.
But I say how dare anyone claim that as the only experience and applicability of a song.
"Outlaws of Love" was expressly written as an intimate experience of what gay lovers go through, however, it is still universal. That is the entire theme of the song and in many ways, the album. If a song that is written to be expressly about the gay experience can be universal, HOW is it a song that was written to be universal now only about the gay experience?
I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous.
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tigerlily
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Love and Light
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Post by tigerlily on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:32am
Re: Bruce Springsteen, he's not just a legacy act. He has released 6 albums of new music in the last 10 years. His latest, Wrecking Ball, debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart earlier this year. He has a very loyal fan base and is still going strong at the age of 60. Springsteen has the type of career that I wish for Adam: longevity, respect as both a performer and a songwriter, and a large loyal fan base. May Adam achieve the same level of success (fingers crossed!). I'm no expert at current music scene, nor radio biz, marketing strategy, etc. so I only lurked here most of time to catch up with Adam. But above post really resonated with some of my own thoughts about Adam. My husband is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen so I've got to watch quite a bit of his performances, although his music is not necessarily my style, I do enjoy his live shows. He never had a No.1 song (I think...) but still enjoyed a long, successful career. He did his own thing, still does at age of 60! I wish Adam could have the same success, not just some flavor of year! Longevity, respect, and a loyal fan base is what makes "the last man standing"! Okay, back to lurking now...:-) Bruce Springsteen has had ELEVEN BB Top Ten Hits! The Boss wasn't hurting for radio play. lol He also won 21 Grammy Awards!
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Post by gelly14 on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:35am
Wow, I don't see Trespassing as a gay liberation theme. I mean, "yes" it can be and that may be the way Adam intended it. But I see it as anyone who is tyring to break into someplace they are not wanted: any minority, gay, women, blacks, over weight people, a male in Pop, a white male in pop, anything really! ABSOFUCKINLUTELY.
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Post by SusieFierce on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:35am
This isn't going to be a popular perspective... I see no reason for gay editors or journalists or anyone else to give Adam any more due than he would get or not get if he were not gay. Gay people don't automatically support or like an artist because they are also gay any more than I like or support an artist who happens to also have two x chromosomes. Likewise I like and dislike many male, gay, straight, black, white, curly haired, short, bald, tall people. Not because they are any of those things, but because of who they are and what they do. That's the point of equality - in the end equity is about being treated the same (and ok that is a land called utopia where pollyanna lives). Stepping down off my soapbox. What? You do realize the one of the primary purposes of gay media is to promote, empower and publicize gay people, right? That is kind of the mission statement for many of these titles. Do they have to blindly support all gay personalities? Of course not. However, any out gay public figure would automatically be potential coverage for their brand. It's kind of what they do. Adam is one of the most high-profile gay figures in the world today and are you seriously questioning their decision to cover him? LMAO!! And by the way, "cover" does not mean "endorse." As an editor, I have to tell you, if I was working at a gay publication (or ANY publication where I could get an interview with Adam), I'd be breaking every last limb doing handsprings to get him as a profile subject.
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Post by maddie509 on Apr 11, 2012 at 5:37am
I'm no expert at current music scene, nor radio biz, marketing strategy, etc. so I only lurked here most of time to catch up with Adam. But above post really resonated with some of my own thoughts about Adam. My husband is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen so I've got to watch quite a bit of his performances, although his music is not necessarily my style, I do enjoy his live shows. He never had a No.1 song (I think...) but still enjoyed a long, successful career. He did his own thing, still does at age of 60! I wish Adam could have the same success, not just some flavor of year! Longevity, respect, and a loyal fan base is what makes "the last man standing"! Okay, back to lurking now...:-) Bruce Springsteen has had ELEVEN BB Top Ten Hits! The Boss wasn't hurting for radio play. lol He also won 21 Grammy Awards! Exactly! that kind of career I wish for Adam!
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Post by bridgeymah on Apr 11, 2012 at 6:05am
This isn't going to be a popular perspective... I see no reason for gay editors or journalists or anyone else to give Adam any more due than he would get or not get if he were not gay. Gay people don't automatically support or like an artist because they are also gay any more than I like or support an artist who happens to also have two x chromosomes. Likewise I like and dislike many male, gay, straight, black, white, curly haired, short, bald, tall people. Not because they are any of those things, but because of who they are and what they do. That's the point of equality - in the end equity is about being treated the same (and ok that is a land called utopia where pollyanna lives). Stepping down off my soapbox. What? You do realize the one of the primary purposes of gay media is to promote, empower and publicize gay people, right? That is kind of the mission statement for many of these titles. Do they have to blindly support all gay personalities? Of course not. However, any out gay public figure would automatically be potential coverage for their brand. It's kind of what they do. Adam is one of the most high-profile gay figures in the world today and are you seriously questioning their decision to cover him? LMAO!! And by the way, "cover" does not mean "endorse." As an editor, I have to tell you, if I was working at a gay publication (or ANY publication where I could get an interview with Adam), I'd be breaking every last limb doing handsprings to get him as a profile subject. I'm wasn't saying Adam isn't worthy of being covered by anyone who wants to. Of course he is and he's doing great stuff. I just don't think it's fair to say that journalists who happen to be gay or publications who have a gay primary target audience SHOULD have to support Adam because he's also gay... The fact he is doing great things, has a great talent, is speaking out for the "weird kids" is all worthy stuff and would still be worthy even if he weren't gay - that's the reason to do the story. Of course YMMV (and probably will).
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Post by iluvfun42 on Apr 11, 2012 at 6:13am
What a beautiful day today has been. I appreciate all the wonderful opinions here today. RL is calling so I'll say good night! So until tomorrow.......................
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jamie
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Post by jamie on Apr 11, 2012 at 7:20am
I sometimes wonder if anyone beyond Adam's fan base in aware of the historical implications and the many hurdles and obstacles in the US for what Adam is trying to do.
When Sam Sparrow gave the introduction at the EQCA awards he mentioned that he and Adam talked about the double standard gay men in the music industry face and that they are all aware of it. But they can't really talk about it without further jeopardizing their career. They can allude to it but I'm thinking specifically about the fact that US radio has a long history of not playing out gay men. Sam had a huge hit everywhere else but the US.
I suppose I am wondering if anyone has ever written about this in a comprehensive way. Or do people just think it's not an issue anymore? I thought those remarks and Adams answer to the question if he'll have a video with a same sex love interest would be of interest to someone in the media.
In this regard Adams a big deal. He was the first out man to crack the top 10 but does that mean that glass ceiling is shattered? What are the unspoken rules beyond no same sex love interests and no same sex pronouns? Adam can't speak freely about this but I hope some day someone will recognize what he and other artists have faced in trying to get their songs on the radio going back to Bowie when he said he was bisexual and it hurt him in the US and Queen having their US airplay stopped after their video showed them in drag.
I'm just babbling into a dead thread but the talk about media writing about Adam got me wondering about the bigger story and if it has ever been told or investigated thoroughly.
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