Robbed!
I'm not a viewer of the TV talent show American Idol, but from what I do know, that Adam guy got robbed.He'll join the ranks of Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry as American Idol "losers" who have outshown (by far) the respective winners in the years they competed.
Ten or fifteen years from now, we'll still be talking about Adam Lambert as an artist and a star, while Kris Whatever-His-Name-Is will join Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, and Taylor Hicks as mere cultural footnotes or a Trivial Pursuit question: "Who was the guy who beat megastar Adam Lambert on American Idol only to release some lame over-produced pop album that went nowhere ... just like his career?"
I have no stake in the outcome and, as I said, don't even watch American Idol. But I recognize unique talent and artistry when I see it. Mark my words, Adam may just go on to be the biggest star of all the American Idol alumni.
Ring of Fire by Adam Lambert
Labels: Culture, Music, Television
posted by Pro Ecclesia 8:42 AM
18 comments
18 Comments:
That screeching harpy? Seriously? -- Jay, the Man in Black would be rolling over in his grave if he heard that pathetic rendition of 'Ring of Fire'. =)
I'm not so sure ... I mean, the man covered Nine-Inch Nails near the end of his life.
But, honestly, Sarah and I are big fans of the late Jeff Buckley's music, and Adam reminds us a lot of him.
He screams too much.
Jay,
About halfway through the season I would've agreed with you but every week it was the same screeching notes. No matter what song it was he worked his screech in kind of like Mariah Carey and to me it just got old and I couldn't imagine ever listening to an entire CD of this guy.
And Kris played guitar and piano and while his voice is fine, his interpretations of songs varied in style.
I do agree that Adam will likely have a huge career ahead of him.
I'm writing this while at the same time I'm embarrassed that two grown men are arguing over American Idol;)
Not really a fan of American Idol, but on my downtime I'm forced to watch it with my roommate and I thought Kris was slightly better than Adam. But that's not the point.
What I do understand is that Kris won by a HUGE margin.
If that's worth anything.
What it's worth is that it confirms for me just what AWFUL taste most Americans have when it comes to music.
;-)
Of course, that comes as no surprise when one considers the tripe that gets radio play on "pop" stations and the absolute dreck that comes out of Trashville.
Jay,
I couldn't agree with you more.
My taste in music is in direct proportion in my ability to sing, ie, horrible.
;-)
Seriously though, I'm a bad singer, but I still sing during Mass, but not to loud to be noticed.
whether or not Adam is your cup of tea--there is one thing that is objectively certain: he demonstrated the greatest interpretative range and power. IE he transformed the covers he made into original art.
And Cash's final efforts on his American series demonstrated his desire to be interpreted through contemporary modes so I agree with you Jay. Whether he would have liked it or not I don't really know but I am certain he'd have been/is pleased.
I agree, Blog Nerd. Adam exhibited an originality and cutting edginess that has not been equaled by any other performer in all of American Idol's 8 seasons (at least from what I, as a non-watcher, have observed), while at the same time managing not to be so obscure and avante garde as to be unentertaining.
Just passing through and, evidently, our taste in television shows far surpasses (in awfulness) our taste in music.
I am outta here.
Anon,
Some of us don't have cable so we limit ourselves to rabbit ears television. But with that, yes I agree, I don't much like American Idol, but when it's my roommates tv night, I have no choice!
I understand your dilemma, Tito, but for crying out loud the law of As a Man Watcheth does apply here--we've got to JUST SAY NO!!
Follow up the show with some Dante or something to ward off the blow.
(This time, I'm outta here for good).
Anon,
What I say in jest doesn't necessarily reflect reality.
Remember there are distinctions. With that said, before you go, don't forget to take that log with you.
"I'm outta here for good"
Hey Anonymous,
Don't let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out. I blog for MY benefit, not yours.
I am glad Adam lost on account of he is one of them homosexualist preeverts who dresses and makes up his face like a girl.
We can never have any of them as pop stars cuz then they will be giving a good image to immoral sex and committing it with teenage boys when they are out on tour. Also if Adam became a big star, he will then be celebrity guest-judging on beauty pageants (and we all know how THAT ends up, don't we?)
In short, that homo deserved to lose and I am appalled that he has fans at a (supposedly) manly Catholic site like this one.
CourageMan,
While I have little doubt that some AI viewers were motivated by an anti-gay sentiments in casting their vote for the other guy, I don't believe such notions guided the majority of the voters who cast votes against Adam.
The public hasn't seem to have had a problem with such flamboyantly gay performers as Freddy Mercury and Elton John, so I have a difficult time with the notion that such animus came into play here.
I think the most likely explanation is that our stupid pop culture mentality has dumbed people down to the point where they just don't "get" performers like Adam.
I'm just messin' with you, bud.
Thought me accusing you of liking pansy-homo music would be funny. And saying that there could never be an effeminate male pop star would be even funnier (you even named two of the choices I would have if asked "name three effeminate male pop stars." But what happened to 70s David Bowie ... c'mon)
now /snark ...
That said, I do think that Adam's ... ahem ... sexual persona did hurt him. Not in the "eek ... a homo"-sense, but in the sense that the biggest audience for "American Idol" is teenage girls. Adam is too effeminate to play to their sense of what is attractive (aesthetically more than specifically sexually; the eyeliner is a killer).
In other words, an Idol-worthy star can be gay and the girls will still squeal over him -- IF he acts and looks masculine. Look at the boy bands of the early part of the decade, e.g. And yes, I do doubt Elton John or David Bowie would have won "American Idol," much less someone as openly flambuoyant as Boy George or the ambiguous 80s British acts like Depeche Mode or the Cure. The girls then went more for Duran Duran.
I. CANNOT. EFFING. BELIEVE. I. AM. DISCUSSING. AMERICAN IDOL. WITH. A. STRAIGHT. FACE.
Just shoot me now.
LOL! Yeah, me, too.
;-)
I give Sarah a REAL hard time for watching such crap, and here I've spent the better part of a week responding to last week's outcome, which, again, I DIDN'T EVEN WATCH.
Pathetic.
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