If you've watched American Idol this season, you know contestant Adam Lambert is just a bit gay. That's assuming your gaydar is at all functional. Well L.A Times columnist Ann Powers is urging Lambert to "open the closet door" in a new article.
Powers writes, "So far, Lambert has been as matter-of-fact about his orientation as
possible without actually uttering the word 'gay' on camera… Hidden
sexualities on 'Idol' always must be viewed in light of the general
discomfort about sex that dominates the show. It's fairly ridiculous
that a program designed to create the next major pop star barely lets
its participants show leg or sing racy lyrics, especially when the
charts are dominated by songs like Flo Rida's 'Right Round' and Lil
Wayne's 'Lollipop' — both fairly blatant celebrations of promiscuity
and oral sex."
The article explores sexuality on Idol at greater length and is definitely worth a read.
You can read it here, and watch a performance by Lambert above.
– Andy
For pictures of Lambert in drag and kissing his boyfriend, follow the JUMP:
nobody will follow in elton john’s footsteps! american idol producers say rawr! D:
The LA Times misses the mark by assuming that every idol hopeful should follow in the footsteps of a Flo Rida or Lil Wayne, and therefore song selections should reflect today’s current trends so they can be in tune with their audience. Yes, let them sing songs about drugs and sex to the American Idol audience since everyone knows how well debauchery sells to the eight year-olds sitting with their parents.
Believe it or not, there are still people in this country that refuse to subject themselves to music with foul language and offensive subject matters for the sake of an “artist” trying to make a quick buck.
One can hardly equate the demographics of American Idol’s viewers to that of urban hip-hop listeners. The article was rubbish, with the typical liberal skewering; while Manhunt continues to wash their hands clean of all culpability by siphoning and paraphrasing articles with bits of their own speculative thoughts. Such chicken sh*t integrity.
i’m not sure what the exact implication is but i think that many pop music listeners count themselves among “urban hip-hop listeners” as well. in fact artists like T-pain and Lil Wayne have crossed over from hip hop, into pop. Their record sales and airplay would not be what it is otherwise.
and have you listened to some pop music lyrics lately? they may have fewer expletives but they are just as lewd and suggestive.
So you would condone songs that are suggestive and lewd as appropriate material for American Idol? Would AI risk losing its main demographic of family viewers by allowing a contestant to perform Lil Kim’s “How Many Licks”? Good luck passing the Standards and Practices hurdle.
Just got one thing to add here… Britney Spears “If You Seek Amy”