The Fat Lady Sings

'England' Dan Seals Dead at 61

 

This song played in the background as I made love to a man I knew I would never see again.  We just weren’t ‘right’, if you know what I mean.  He wanted a wife, I wanted freedom.  So I knocked on his door, fell into his arms, we kissed - and this song came on the radio. There really wasn’t any need for words after that.   

 

Oh Danny, Danny my boy……I truly hope that warm wind is blowing much more than just stars around on this cold rainy night.  Rest in peace, my friend.  You were part of my youth……and I have to say - both you and it are dearly missed.

Adam Lambert Redux

Adam Lambert - Ring Of Fire from norma molina on Vimeo.

OK folks – so what do you think of THIS performance?  I’ll give you a bit of a heads up: you REALLY need to listen to this more than once.  Seriously.  It’s THAT different.  Johnny Cash’s version of this song is so ingrained in the general zeitgeist – hearing anything else can be a bit of a shock.  You have to get past that to truly watch and listen.

Now I’ll be frank – I really like it.  Though not a reality show fan (I tend towards the arts shows – Idol, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance) – I’ve been following this particular performers appearances.  His name is Adam Lambert – and he’s the freshest breath of air I’ve seen/heard in a long time.  But he’s polarizing.  His MySpace (or is it Facebook?) page hints that he’s bisexual – but most simply assume he’s gay (some really interesting photo’s surfaced of him attending the Burning Man Festival in Arizona).

Now - I don’t care who he sleeps with (though the fantasy possibilities are truly intriguing).  It’s his voice and balls to the wall performance style that’s really hooked me.  Adam’s what you call a countertenor – rare under any circumstances – almost unheard of in popular music.  Both Freddie Mercury and Steve Perry were countertenors – though they seldom used that part of their upper register – whereas that seems to be Adam’s comfort zone.  It’s not a falsetto like Michael Jackson uses.  This is his ‘head’ or primary voice (from what I can tell) – and he has a range that rivals Mariah Carey. 

Anywho – have a listen and tell me what you think.  Would you pay to hear/see him?  Does the whole Ziggy Stardust, Velvet Goldmine thing attract you – or does it belong back in 1975? 

 

Oh - and one other thing.  I am sick unto death of the homophobic maunderings endemic to this show.  Seacrest?  Shut the fuck up, already.  I’d tell Simon to shut up – but he’s too transfixed on his own sexuality to notice much else (those recent A-Rod pics could easily have been Simon playing at home with his mirror).  So back off, already.  Most of us out here have absolutely had it.  And insinuating Randy Travis carries his own homophobic leanings was just you being an asshole.  Don’t tell me you didn’t know there have been rumors about Travis for years.  Your nasty-ass remarks only brought them all up again.  So shut it, boyo.  Trade nasties with Simon on your own time.

Adam Lambert (Update)

Adam Lambert - Black or White from Pwnoy on Vimeo.

Just a little reminder of the great Freddie Mercury and ‘Queen’.  Comparisons are invidious, I know - but you tell me why this was acceptable (and funny) in 1984, and it's not now.  Things were better back then, I’m thinking.  I met him once, you know (Freddie Mercury).  At Narita Airport in Japan.  I was crying.  He came up and asked if I was OK.  No one else even bothered.  Freddie was sweet, kind and thoughtful.  I understand Sacha Baron Cohen wants to make a Mercury bio-pic.  I think Adam Lambert would be a better choice, actually.  I doubt Cohen has the vocal range for it.  He’d have to lip-sync, and that removes some of the passion in the performance.  Mercury was what’s called a countertenor (as is Steve Perry of 'Journey').  Only one voice in a million has that kind of range.  Adam’s a countertenor (though they’ve not highlighted that fact on the show) – a rare bird of brilliant plumage.  I wish him all the luck in the world.  He’s gonna need it. 

I don’t know how many of you watch American Idol.  I’m usually rather ambivalent actually; but sometimes someone really stands out and captures my attention.  Adam Lambert belongs up there with the handful of super talents Idol has produced over the years: Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson.  This guy could take over from Freddie Mercury in a heartbeat – sing the whole Queen discography without breaking a sweat - his range is just that fantabulous.  

Will he win?  Doubtful – and not because he sings old-fashioned, knock you on your ass, demon howl rock-n-roll (a no-no amongst the pop pap usually spun out in Simon Cowell's Idol universe).  Adam won’t win because the internet homophobes have decided to trash him.  Is he gay?  Don’t know.  And who gives a fuck in the first place?  The man sings like the very devil, he’s easy on the eyes – what more do you want?  A little reminder here: David Bowie made a career out of androgyny.  Come on – how many of you were hot as hell for Ziggy Stardust?  Never dated a guy who wore eyeliner?  Honey – you haven’t lived!  All that sneering sexuality – hotchacha!!  So what happened that changed all that?  When did diversity become a dirty word?  The same thing that allows the unfettered dissemination of all forms of nastiness these days – vociferous hate has become as American as baseball and apple pie.

Seriously.  Go look up Adam on YouTube sometime.  Fully ¾ of all commentary is negative referrals to his supposed homosexuality.  I mean – these guys don’t even care if it’s true.  They’re trashing him anyway.  Go read the blogs (or entertainment and gossip websites).  It’s all 'hate tha gay' – with some really over the top promises of violence.  Just when did that become OK?  Shit – it wasn’t this bad thirty years ago – in fact it was better.  You didn’t hear this kind of crap outside of a Klan meeting.  Have we really regressed that far? 

 

Anyway.....go treat yourself.  Catch American Idol over the next few weeks.  There’s no telling how long this guy will be on.  Maybe America will get over its incipient hate and embrace Adam’s god-given talent; but then you know what they say about wishes and horses.