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Post by seoulmate on Apr 26, 2012 19:30:07 GMT -5
Hmm....How about a slightly different perspective? [grins wryly] Back in the early days of Planet Fierce (PF), the site from where ATOP germinated and one of the very early Adam fandoms, we jokingly did an informal survey one day of what the members did for a living. The answers were pretty astonishing. PF was **way** overrepresented, statistically, with professional women in male-dominated fields: engineers, hard scientists, mathematicians, lawyers. It was weird. But it wasn't. Nearly everyone in those early PF days had been in the position of having to prove their worth above and beyond what their male colleagues did. The pressure to act a certain way, in order to conform to a 'male-standard' norm. The scorn if you did anything 'girly'. We EMPATHIZED with Adam. To know that you were technically better than your competitors...but watched them win over you anyways. To not be taken seriously for things completely irrelevant to your skill set. To realize that the slightest slip would be magnified at any available opportunity. We saw Adam struggle, and it resonated with our own struggles. We fought for him because it hurt that his amazing talent was often intentionally obscured for reasons totally non-related to his singing. That his articulateness was reduced to the most scandalous off-hand phrase. That for every 99% of impressive accomplishment, only the 1% of human foible was reported. We had been there, and so fought for him. Ergo, while to many it may seem odd that Adam has a female, often older fanbase...it shouldn't. IMO Adam's fanbase, and its protectiveness, is far less about Idol, than it about desperately wanting equal rights and opportunities for someone whose talent and work ethic warrants more acknowledgment that he's received. Adam's discrimination is because he is gay. For many of us fans, ours is due to a double x chromosome. But those who have experienced the unlevel 'straight man' playing field, Adam's battles strike deep within our phyches, and we want this beautiful gay man to win. [winks] Plus, he looks really hot in leather pants. ;D  |
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Post by wal on Apr 26, 2012 19:32:12 GMT -5
Diana @coralmermaid
I hear a drum!
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Post by seoulmate on Apr 26, 2012 19:32:20 GMT -5
I've been wanting to write something like this for quite awhile now. Adam "works" for me because of the "pretty good for a girl" BULLSHIT that has been handed down to me over the years. It's not that Adam is a good GAY singer, or a good IDOL singer, or a good _____ singer. He's a great singer, period.
Just like my accomplishments aren't "pretty good for a girl" they are fucking awesome period.Adam inspires me in many ways; the greatest way is his "carry on" attitude in face of a lot of crap. I'm thrilled with the song Trespassing as it encapsulates much of what I feel. I've said before, if I had to choose between only hearing Adam sing or only hearing him speak I would take hearing him speak. It's that part of Adam that makes me a fan. The singing is icing on a fantastic cake.  |
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Post by wal on Apr 26, 2012 19:33:30 GMT -5
Diana @coralmermaid
no soundcheck. It sounds like someone is just checking the instruments.
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Post by wal on Apr 26, 2012 19:37:30 GMT -5
Is there a live stream for the concert or just for Kimmel's show? If yes to first part, can somone pm me. Thanks. I haven't heard any for the live show. |
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Post by nonchallance on Apr 26, 2012 19:38:02 GMT -5
I must say that when I have that revelation I was hating myself a bit. And him. I didn't like the person he show me in my own mirror. We are so attached to our inner idea about ourselves that we don't want to change, to see that we are not right about something. It was hard. But now I can tell to Adam - trespass my boundaries as often as you want, I trust you. Now guys, I'm going to sleep  Have nice evening with Adam |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2012 19:38:19 GMT -5
Deep thoughts ... scroll if not interested ...
Hoppers post put me in mind of some thoughts I had at the end of the Glam Nation tour, and wrote up in a blog at ALFC called Why Adam's Success is Great for Women. I went back and dug it up. A few things still resonate today.
Condensed version:
1. Adam and his music help sensitize women to repression and dishonesty we didn't even know existed. I grew up after the struggles of women's liberation were already part of history. I've always had women professors and women bosses, worked under women executives, and had the opportunity to vote for women as mayors, senators, even president. Until I got on to Adam, I never really thought much about how repressive our culture still was in so many ways. Specifically, I never really thought about how meanness and violent imagery directed at women and gays is so commonplace as to be taken as normal and matter-of-fact.
And then there are the more minor forms of social control ... ridicule, disapproval, scorn. I hadn't thought much about how many things I was scared to do, just because of what other people might think about me.
2. Adam encourages women to believe they should have love and respect. Many men, both straight and gay, have expressed astonishment over the overwhelming desire that many heterosexual women (myself included!) feel for Adam....
Adam's celebration of the body bursts open long-entrenched societal values that say that men must be either composed and analytical, or macho and overbearing.
So what's the big deal? Women performers have celebrated the body for years. Or have they? Without getting into a critique of the diverse group of sexy female entertainers, ask yourself if watching them makes you feel good. Ask yourself which ones make you feel like dancing, no matter what your age or shape? Which ones make you want to take a risk? Which ones make you want to try something special that you've never done before?
...
3. Adam's success explodes the myth of victimhood. Many people, myself included, have raged against the homophobia that Adam has had to confront. It's a real thing, and many of us find it hard to keep silent. Why? Adam has a special direct appeal to women who feel kept down, and for too long. We too have been told that we didn't matter, that our concerns weren't important, our bodies and faces not pretty enough, our work not as valuable, our enthusiasms not as cool, our money not as green.
And there wasn't a damn thing we could do about it, either. We were victims, weren't we? Shorn of any free will. Mere pawns of an uncaring universe.... The sexual revolution of the '60s and '70s was exhausted, and all we could do was wonder if this was what equality looked like. Sex, drugs, and rock & roll had been replaced by double the work load, half the pay, anti-depressants, and a sexual culture bordering on pathology.
To be sure, violence and repression are still part of our world, but Adam has consistently rejected all invitiations to play the victim. He acknowledges the haters without letting them stop him. He consistently refuses to apologize for his own existence. He willingly pays the price for his own self-expression, recognizing that the price for living a false life is higher. He once said that "enough" people accepted him and understood what he was trying to do. The others didn't matter. They couldn't be allowed to matter. He has opportunities before him that no openly gay person in the history of entertainment has ever had within his grasp.
Adam's honesty and hard-won self-respect set us on a course away from victimhood and towards the idea that to be a whole person, you have to embrace your own true nature. His eroticism and sensuality are not incidental to his message; they are a constant reminder of his humanity and wholeness -- and our own.
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Post by satisfied on Apr 26, 2012 19:39:41 GMT -5
Some days on Atop (like today), I feel like I've been invited to the best cocktail party evah.
When I arrive, the first thing I notice are the luscious cakes being served. Then I see that there are fascinating guests from all over the world. Some are discussing music and fashion, others are sharing photos. One group is deep in discussion on complex issues and their passions run deep.
It's obvious there's a certain excitement building in the room, as the guest of honour has yet to arrive. Everyone agrees that his presence will eclipse all else and we will be in awe.
I really just wanted to say - thanks for the invitation, Atop!
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Post by wal on Apr 26, 2012 19:39:55 GMT -5
A n g e l i c a @angelraj
Line has been squished up
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ljsmack
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Post by ljsmack on Apr 26, 2012 19:41:00 GMT -5
Wal,thanks for loyally, faithfully bringing over tweets and news.
Hoppers, you have logically and beautifully stated what feels like "truth" to me.
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Have nice evening with Adam 
