Go Memphis Accounts

in response to C_Blank:

As someone who watched every episode of "American Idol" and thoroughly expected Adam to win, my review saddens even me to read.

But for his performance Sunday night, Adam's voice was all over the place. It's my opinion, and I'm sticking by it. I was in the 8th row for the first half of his set, and moved up to a suite to hear the second half.

There were times his voice sounded like someone playing a Theremin. Only during "Mad World" did he stop flaunting that much-beloved range of his to display the tender, controlled, dramatic side of his voice. Often, he careened around the melodies ("Whole Lotta Love," whole lotta screaming!), even when the lyrics didn't call for it. And no, he wasn't consistently pitch perfect either. Sorry, he wasn't. Great performer, yes. Great vocal performance, no.

Vocally and musically, Kris played a spectacular though conservative set. He was consistent. He was the apparent bandleader. He focused on the sound and arrangements more than the pomp and circumstance. Will I buy Kris Allen's album? We'll wait and see what this guy can do in the studio. I'm more interested in Adam's stuff, personally.

Also, I don't believe there's anything homophobic or condescending about comparing Adam's costume choice (a diamond-studded leather biker jacket with the tails of a concert pianist) to the dungeon-leather getups of Rob Halford and the rhinestoned flamboyance of the pianist Liberace, two performers with distinctive styles that appear to mesh in Adam's outfit.

However, both Halford and Liberace certainly used their costumes to enhance the sexual intrigue and ambiguity of their stage personas. I have no doubt, judging by the way Adam stroked the microphone stand between his legs and gestured to his crotch as he screamed "every inch of my love," that he intends for his apparel to raise eyebrows in a similarly sexualized way, just as David Bowie did in the era of Hunky Dory.

To take the argument a step further, I think that people who would NOT want to talk about his ambiguous sex appeal onstage do him a great disservice as an artist. Here is the first openly gay performer on an Idol tour singing to conservative southern families while wearing eye-liner and making phallic gestures with a microphone. The rest of the American Idol finalists are eunuchs by comparison. To me, Adam's bold sexual statement -- gay, straight, whatever -- deserves to be discussed and analyzed.

Cheers,
cb

in response to Marissa:

Why are people still whining about who won?? If your favorite Idol's future success in the music industry is all that matters to you, then let your actions speak to that! Whining and complaining about something you can't change (and something that happened over two months ago), only makes it seem as though you live and die over the outcome of a reality TV show. Let your actions match your words, and quit showing your bitterness over the outcome, and bashing a reviewer that says something even remotely negative about your favorite Idol... Is it really worth it?? What do you feel you are actually achieving by doing this?

in response to TigersFan2009:

I find it hilarious that on the same day we see an interview where Kris Allen says he wants to "push boundaries" a review calls him wholesome and appealing to the American Idol demographic. This furthers my point that Kris was never the underdog on American Idol, Adam Lambert was. American Idol cranks out the same kind of artist year after year. Wholesome, God-fearing, do-gooders. And then along comes this blatantly sexual, jewish gay guy and whatever is Fox's chaste little family program to do?!

Kris can play to the American Idol audience, that's fine. Just ask Taylor Hicks how that's working for him. Meanwhile Adam will continue to TRULY push boundaries and become the worldwide superstar we all know he's destined to be.

I LOVE that he makes people uncomfortable, that's how he knows he's doing something right!

in response to hannahgr:

oh boy, here we go again...

Adam is NOT self-indulgent. Depending on your taste, I suppose his style can be called OTT at times, but that isn't the same thing as self-indulgent. He's a fantastic performer and singer. Straight, bi, gay, whatever -- should not and DOES NOT matter. He's gotten great crowd resonses and reviews everywhere the tour has gone. And he deserves that, because he delivers every night.

Meanwhile, Kris is just as fantastic in his own more low-key style. He is an excellent musician who pours his whole self into his music. Some might find him bland, but maybe that's just because they prefer the more in your face performances. IMO, that's too bad, because they are missing out. He's also gotten great crowd reaction and strong reviews on this tour. It would be nice if everyone would stop comparing Adam's and Kris' sets -- they are polar opposites in terms of musical and performance style, so the comparisons are just silly -- sort of like comparing John Mayer to Freddy Mercury -- and I doubt anyone ever does that! So why do it with Adam and Kris?

Adam is likely sick and tired of his sexuality being brought into every review. I bet Kris is sick and tired of being labeled "wholesome" as well, because that's just as stupid a box to be stuck in. Besides that, I don't think Kris is nearly as "wholesome" as all that. He has a very dry, almost wicked sense of humor, that pops up in a lot of his interviews. People are WAY too overeager to label these guys -- but why? I don't get it.

I really wish the fans of either Kris or Adam would just STOP feeling it's necessary to bash the other person. Kris did NOT win simply because of Arkansas -- he has lots of fans all over the country -- and besides that, the show ended 2 months ago, Adam doesn't care who won, and both guys have moved on. They are very very good friends who are probably sick and tired that their so-called "fans" feel it necessary to hate on one of the other. The fans need to LET IT GO ALREADY!! Both Kris and Adam have a chance for long, successful careers -- is it so hard to wish both of them well?

HATERS TO THE LEFT, y'all.