The Moon Garden Lounge

~FOR MY MOONSISTERS AND BROTHERS~



WE'LL GO NO MORE A-ROVING
by: George Gordon (Lord) Byron (1788-1824)

O, we'll go no more a-roving
So late into the night,
Though the heart be still as loving,
And the moon be still as bright.

For the sword outwears its sheath,
And the soul wears out the breast,
And the heart must pause to breathe,
And love itself have a rest.

Though the night was made for loving,
And the day returns too soon,
Yet we'll go no more a-roving
By the light of the moon.

But we will, Mr Byron, we will...

Nick Laroche skates to Adam Lambert's I Just Love You



Adam Lambert Can't Fight the Moonlight

Back from reading mellie's essay.

mellie, I believe that RCA has made mistakes every step of the way in marketing Adam. That is what I meant a few days when I said they wanted a widget salesman. They look for interchangeable units of music. They sell it as a product, not as art or balm to the soul. If that happens, it's just an accident, not anything the record company does.

I almost cried the other day when Adam himself was talking about some song on Trespassing, "It's your treadmill music!" he said brightly.

I felt that a little piece of Adam's soul died at that moment. Thanks RCA.

You and I have talked about Adam in terms of the civil rights movement. I knew Nat King Cole was the pioneer artist for pop music for blacks, so I went and Googled around to see what I could learn about him and how he and his contemporaries were treated by radio.

Well, a quote from a radio executive said it all: "No n------loving shit goes out over this network." Most were not so blatant, just cowardly. When blacks appeared on integrated radio programs, some stations refused to carry those shows. When networks did try to introduce black shows starring artists like Cole and Mahailia Jackson, resistance from advertisers and some stations created so much controversy that the shows were cancelled.

Interestingly, this was in spite of the fact that the artists were popular with whites and blacks alike. Most people were not racist jerks and just wanted to hear good music. There was a huge audience, a huge appetite for the music. But that didn't matter. This was deja vu for me reading about this.

Entertainers who protested their poor treatment and called for courage and defiance were punished, and their careers suffered. Blacks were excluded from management positions in the radio industry as well, though they did work as DJs.

Interestingly, in the meantime, comic portrayals of blacks thrived -- Amos and Andy being the most famous example.

I think this is part of Adam's problem -- not just that he is gay, but that he is defiant. He is not a clownish and non-sexual gay. He is a funny, witty, intelligent, and sexy gay who has their number. And boy do people hate it when you have their number.

I also think gay men need to step up. If they are in the industry, they need to come out, and make a stand, even though they will be called whiners and worse. If they are aspiring in the industry, they need to get behind great, real music, not just be tools for The Man.

I was interested to read that the black artists had to overcome their lack of acceptance with live shows. They basically put together revues with lots of artists on the same bill, and traveled the country. This is how artists like Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and others became known.

I would love to see Adam put together a traveling musical revue with himself as the headliner. A "Zodiac" type show with great, creative musical and dance artists. Fans of one artist would come to the show and get to see them all. They could all sell records and merch and help each other.

Also, TV seems more accepting than radio. I am resistant to the idea of Adam judging a reality TV because I find them so degrading, so I am not sure about that. I would rather see him hosting his "Zodiac" type show over cable and performing his heart out and showcasing other alternative and creative artists, and maybe talking with visual artists, fashion designers, authors, other creative people. Wouldn't that be amazing?

That and building up an international audience seem like the best bets for Adam right now ... my 2 cents. Loved your essay and thank you for making me think and learn something! We Shall Overcome.

hahaha...I knew it....while I was typing and fantasizing away...y'all were doing the same thing....

Yay!!!! sugaree!!!!

Several people have asked that I try to write something describing what the Moon Garden Lounge is and what is is for. The "vibe" ... let me know what you guys think. If it sounds OK, or with any modifications needed, maybe Jamie could then add it to the original post as a "welcome mat."

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The Moon Garden Lounge is dedicated to the discussion of ALL things Adam, broadly defined, from the serious to the fun-loving. Nothing is sacred, including the idea that nothing is sacred. There are no limits on the ideas that can be expressed or the questions that can be asked here. Here is the place for talking about the whole tapestry of Adam, his journey, and your own.

All the normal Adamtopia rules apply here. Please respect the fact that freedom of thought and development of ideas require peace, tolerance, space, equality, and compassion. You are in the same room here with your fellow human beings. This is a place for respect, for wit, for intelligence, for having a good time. Talk to each other like we're all having a drink at the same table.

Everyone is welcome and you don't have to be an egghead -- just order your adult beverage of choice -- coffee, tea, or something stronger -- and join right in.

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What do you guys think?