I saw the "censored scene" of Adam Lambert's performance at the American Music Awards without realizing it. I was in another room and I literally happened to peek-in at the exact "Big Moment," where he ground his crotch into a dancer's face. I wasn't really paying attention, so I don't know how long it went on, but what I saw wasn't really offensive, just silly. I don't know that I would personally have been offended by it, either way, so... whatever.
The controversy revolves around three, specific acts: the "simulated oral sex," Lambert open-mouth kissed his keyboardist, and he supposedly flipped-off the audience. ABC censored the "simulated oral sex" bit when it broadcast the show on the West Coast. Lambert called that "discrimination," based on the fact that no one censored Britney Spears and Madonna's kiss at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Barbara Walters agreed with him when they discussed the matter on The View the following day. He does have a point.
Lambert also compared himself and his performance to artists such as David Bowie and Alice Cooper, and he mentioned "the 70s," specifically. Except that, when those guys did it, they actually were breaking ground. Further, their point in doing it was the show; their androgyny and actions were meant to intrigue -- to raise questions, not make statements. There is nothing artistic about homosexuality -- it's just a sexual preference.
Lambert admitted his performance was meant to be shocking, and that he thinks that shock factor is part of the entertainment. No one else seems to buy it, and many admitted (and alleged) homosexuals have castigated his nonsense in the comments across the Web. Lambert wasn't breaking ground and acting-out sexually isn't necessarily artistically shocking.
I never thought Adam Lambert could sing; I always thought he was a hack "stageplay singer" - someone who sang "theater-style." I had the lead in several highschool musicals, but I can't really sing, and that's what I have always thought of Adam Lambert. He and the press are eagerly pushing this whole "openly gay" thing, yet most of the homosexual community who bothered to respond online have called his performance and marketing package damaging to the community and "openly gay" movement.
What Lambert is doing would have been HUGE in the 1970s, but it never would have made it to primetime TV. There's nothing laudable about that, that's just history. Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Prince, Madonna -- what those people did was break ground and shock through their art; what Adam Lambert does is just... gay.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
A rambling melange of pop-culture.
4 comments:
Lambert's scheduled appearance on Good Morning America was canceled on the basis of his AMA performance. Lambert said he "respected" GMA's decision, but he is "not a babysitter" and suggested kids should not be up late watching pop music awards programs. Again, no one's buying it...
Except CBS; Adam Lambert will appear on CBS' Early Morning Show tomorrow.
According to reports, Adam "Glambert" Lambert's performance on CBS' Early Morning Show was very "PG," compared to his AMA show. He continues to insist that the furor is due to his being a "gay male," which he says people haven't seen before.
Critics are still saying that comparisons to bigger-name talent (Janet Jackson, Madonna, et.al.) are one-sided, as those people "earned" the right to be shocking. They are also saying he may lose-out in the end, as people will remember his antics more than his voice - especially since even Glambert admits his AMA vocals were "uncharacteristically off-key." Still, his album is #4 in America, #1 in Finland, and in the top-five in several other countries. He's also appearing on David Letterman tonight (or sometime this week).
Like I said above, I watched most of last season's American Idol and I was never impressed by Glambert. He butchered at least one Rolling Stones' song that I recall off the top of my head, and I know he killed the living shit out of another one, I just can't recall the title. He has no high-pitch vocal range; he just screeches - go back through the archives and you can read where I said that during the show's run!
The moment the judges started talking about his "high note vocal range," he screeched every chance he got; the second one of them mentioned he had the "Twilight" look, he caked on the guyliner until he couldn't lift his eyelids:
The guy is a gimmick! He is just one gimmick after another!
But, again, he can carry a tune and I think he will make a good [Broadway] musical theater star - might even make it to musical movies, if he can act at all.
Disney-owned ABC has canceled two more scheduled "Glambert" appearances: Jimmy Kimmel Live and Dick Clark (Ryan Seacrest)'s New Year's Eve Live, Lambert Tweeted to fans.
Adam Lambert is confirmed for a performance on this Thursday's The View.
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