Adam Lambert @ the AMAs

[Cherry Dynamite]

Alright, so I noticed two mentions of it in another thread of mine, Disturbing, much?, so I've made a thread to discuss a certain man:

Adam Lambert and his fun, provocative performance at the AMAs on November 22, 2009.

In addition to dragging a female dancer around by the ankles, pushing a male dancer's head into his crotch and simulating oral sex, walking a pair of male hoofers around like dogs on a leash, and furiously thrusting his hips at every opportunity, Lambert took a moment mid-song to fervently make out with (an allegedly straight) male keyboard player. After the jaw-dropping performance, Lambert told CNN that the forceful smooch was "in the moment" and was not a planned part of his routine.

Appearing to preemptively strike back at anyone who took issue with the S&M-heavy imagery of the night-closing routine for its risqué nature, Lambert said those who object are engaging in "a form of discrimination and a double standard," considering that for decades, "women performers have been pushing the envelope."

Lambert repeated that double-standard line of reasoning with Rolling Stone backstage after the show, telling the mag, "Female performers have been doing this for years — pushing the envelope about sexuality — and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out. We're in 2009 — it's time to take risks, be a little more brave, time to open people's eyes and if it offends them, then maybe I'm not for them. My goal was not to piss people off, it was to promote freedom of expression and artistic freedom." - Source, Lambert says the kiss was 'in the moment'

America is, apparently, freaking out because of the double standard that Adam challenged. But the real question is - did Adam go too far over the top while trying to make his point? Was the performance completely tackles and vulgar and is more damaging than good? From what I've read, quite a few of the older men in the gay community seem to think so.

Or is America completely overreacting? Adam has a point. Women in the music industry have gotten more and more provocative and yet they're not really censored, some are even commended for it. So, if Adam was girl, would America have been fine with the performance? In my opinion? Probably. From my understanding the big hoopla is because Adam is a man, and being gay on top of it has just made him more of a target for such a 'shocking' show.

Really, I commend Adam for his attitude and I could give a shit if his performance was extreme. Kudos to him for deciding to say "Fuck it" to America and do what he wants to do. Raise hell, Adam Lambert, raise hell. Oh wait! You already have. I tip my hat to you, my dear sir. And let me say you've made me a fan and I'll be downloading your CD asap.

So discus it, debate it, I know you want to. Should Adam have gone about challenging the double standard differently? Do you commend him for it, loathe him? There are so many opinions and points anyone can make on this. I'm looking forward to a good discussion.

Note: Considering this thread is about an event that transpired and not the music of the artist himself, I'm posting it here in the Community Discussion. If any mods think it should be moved to Music, go right ahead.

[*~Ita-chan~*]

I'm going to look more into this later.

But just watching this video didn't offend me one bit. I mean maybe it was a little graphic with a dancers head on his crotch, and and moving his hips around for television? But then again, female singers and performers are pretty much the same (well to me anyways).

Example: Britney, Madonna, and Christina im sure u guys remember that. I think it was "I'm a Virgin" performance?

I think they did make a big deal out of that too, right? But of course people will probably make this a bigger issue out of this....since its boy and boy than girl and girl. =x

I seriously give props to the guy though. XD
That performance was awsome.
I really think he did this to get attention more than expressing freedom.


AND WELL HE GOT IT.

[LadyAoi]

Yeah..just watching the video...LOL! He got guts!
with guys on a leash ,mmijaoo
for me..it was scarier to see Janet's breast

[Cherry Dynamite]

I think they did make a big deal out of that too, right? But of course people will probably make this a bigger issue out of this....since its boy and boy than girl and girl. =x

Oh most definitely. I provoked my mother into a discussion about it because she's like, the epitome of the bipolar American public. At first she said she didn't care, but after I continued to pester her and give her my point of view (which is 'not caring' but supporting it), she tripped out a bit and stated this and I quote:

"It's different. Women don't mind other women kissing and men find it hot, but no one wants to see two men kissing unless it's another gay man. It's disgusting. He's stupid."

And end quote.

I was just talking about it with another friend of mine and she made a really good point. In terms of the girls being very sexual and kissing other girls? It's mainstream and I think we've forgotten that; I know it didn't enter my mind until my friend mentioned it. Women pulling stunts like that has been going on much longer than boys publicly kissing and doing what Lambert did. America freaked out at first too with the girls, but they've become used to it and, of course, there'd the double standard that my Mom above made painfully clear.

Lambert is, in a way, trying to push America out of it's comfort zone. They're not comfortable with what he did, because it was new and extremely, and sadly, the double standard with the fact that he's a gay man is going to heavily effect what happens. The double standard, sadly, will never be rid of, or become more reasonable, and no matter how many times Lambert, or any pop-culture man goes around kissing other boys, the public is going to take much, much longer to get used to it then it did with girl love.

If Adam had just kissed girls and shit? I'd bet you a lot of money that the media and public would have reacted completely different about it.

I seriously give props to the guy though. XD
That performance was awsome.
I really think he did this to get attention more than expressing freedom.

AND WELL HE GOT IT.

I'd like to think he's expressing himself since, from what I've seen, he's a bit of an ass, but it's probably going to come and bite him in the ass. Either this stunt is going to skyrocket his career? Or it's going to ruin him.

I really can't wait to see if he becomes a big hit or if he's gonna fall right off the map after this.

[Bardie]

OMG I've heard of this
I really don't care if it made him look like a wh0re, it was hawt <33333333 ^^
Adam's awesome that way

[LadyAoi]

I agree with you all..but conclusion is that man can't kiss other man because only girls are allowed, kissing is girly thing, just like all think friseur(when is male then is gay) or cook(cooking) ist only womans job , there is some kind of selection....womans are sexy men not (yes for women)
something like that

[Cherry Dynamite]

Here's another story from Wonderwall on it.

>>Click here<<

People are still hating it.

"They're outraged," said Timothy Winters, president of the Parents Television Council. "They just can't believe the nature of the content, the explicit nature, and how much graphic content there was."

Winter said it seemed artists who appear on music awards shows are constantly competing to push the envelope.

"These programs are wholly unsuitable for children now and it's pathetic, given the amount of economic support that children and teenagers bring to the industry today," he said.

But! It looks like he's getting some fans for it too.

The performance was a hot topic online, too. Entertainment Weekly writer Ken Tucker praised Lambert for being "an event unto himself."

"As a TV viewer, I thought Lambert's performance was a gas, a delight, a blast of brash vulgarity in the midst of merely ordinary vulgarity," Tucker wrote.

A Boston Globe television critic called the performance "pretty harmless.

"It's all posing and mugging and selling, not real honest provocation," Matthew Gilbert wrote on a Globe blog.

Isn't that so true?

And some more, I'm really just quoting the whole article. LOL

ambert said later, "I had fun, my dancers had fun, the audience that was in the Nokia (Theatre) had fun. Anybody else who was watching it and enjoying it, thank you for being entertained."

In an interview a few days before the performance, Lambert had talked about trying to make a statement with it.

"There are a lot of double standards as far as that goes," the singer told the AP. "We've seen female pop and rock performers do that for the last 10 years.

They've been very provocative, owning their power and sexuality. You just don't see men doing it very often. And I'm hoping to break down that double standard with this number."

[MysteryGreenTea]

I have watched his performance over and over so many times and I still don't think it was a big deal.
I really can't help but think if it were a female performer no one would be talking about this at all.
I think there are things out there much worse than what he did. ^^"
Either Americans are really up tight and full of the bigoty double standard issues. Or maybe I've become desensitized. (And if thats the case, I blame it on the many women I've seen dancing around practically naked on tv, doing raunchy things for all these years I've been alive. xp)

I even saw a poll with the majority saying that Adams guy on guy kiss was too hot for tv.
I wonder if the results would have been the same if it were a girl on girl kiss, or a guy on girl kiss. (Pssh, it's totally fine for a guy and girl to makeout on every channel I switch to.) I really doubt the results would come out the same... =/ It's really a shame people can be so close minded.

I even heard my aunt saying how gross it all was. And me and my cousin were just kind of laughing because it's ridiculous. My cousin is a 26 year old straight male and I showed him the performance and he was like people are upset over that? Seriously?

He didn't think it was a big deal at all either.

I think Adam Lambert should just say STFU, ignore all the backlash, and keep doing his thing. I really think it's refreshing having him as a performer. We need change and acceptance. I wish him all the luck and success. I would love it so much to have my tv filled with diversity one day.

You know and even sometimes, I mistake couples in commercials, thinking it's two guys. And I get excited--but then the cold reality hits me that there's no way that would happen. Then I feel bummed--(And then I feel the stronger need to buy glasses. xD hehe!)

[seren]

un, so what you can get a lot of the same thing from watching dir en grey, it's called visual kei band and um... yeah okay so i like it *sheepish grin* what ? it's hootttt!! *blinks in wide eyed innocence* only trying to say: yes! plz come to america (good technique) will now go and look up this 'adam lambert's' performances^^
:garra2:

[seren]

ugh did that wrong also would like to add, hey the two guys from taladega nights: ricky bobby's story are suposeable straight and their kiss one one of those statue prizie things and they did a repeat performance on stage... the only time i have ever watched those grammie things, to bad it was more of a funny thing then a g d that was hella hot thing^^