Adam Lambert – America’s Breath of Fresh Air?

6/13/09

I just finished reading the Rolling Stone article and want to share my thoughts before moving forward.

The American public is desperate for change. Things are falling apart all around us, around the globe, too. We’re hitting rock bottom and ready to embrace that which has always been deemed unmentionable, unacceptable – different. Ignorance, to some extent, has fallen by the wayside due to our desperation. We’ve voted in our first bi-racial President. Adam voted for the first time ever and cast his vote for change when he pulled the Obama lever, as many did that day. I am one of them. Obama seems like a breath of fresh air. He’s open and honest. He airs his dirty laundry before the media has time to smear him. When they do find something to bite into Obama is quick to own his behavior, or set the record straight. He’s a straight shooter. No nonsense. It’s all out there – take it or leave it. America took it. We were ready.

Adam Lambert is just another guy living in America, along with the rest of us, struggling to make ends meet at whatever work we can find – hopefully it’s work we find fulfilling. He’s a dreamer (like we all are, or were at one time). Adam has also struggled with his identity and how to handle being different than the majority. He’s not only different in his sexual preferences he’s also different at his core.

So many people today are fake. Cosmetic plastic surgery is so common it’s made some *natural* people feel *they* are the minority. Fake boobs, face lifts, lipo, collagen – admitting these *enhancements* is no longer taboo, but trendy. People use credit cards and take out loans to pay for this work. It’s truly unbelievable how unhappy people are with themselves. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little this or a little that but the American people are so obsessed with visual perfection and keeping up with the Jones’, the Smith’s, and even just surpassing those with less than they have just to feel better than the next person.

It’s the reason our economy crashed. Greed. Having to have the biggest house, with the Hummer and Range Rover in the driveway (at the middle class, Lambo for the higher class), label clothing on all the kids, pool, over-scheduled kids in way too many extracurricular activities costing a shitload of money, and vacations. Private schools for some. Birthday parties are no longer held at home with candy cups, ice cream, cake, and games. Now parties consist of laser tag, Chuck-E-Cheese, ponies, huge blow-up play toys, gymnastics – anything huge and extravagant. Nothing personal. Sweet-sixteen parties are now mini-weddings! Thousands of dollars are being spent on events consisting of elegant gowns, limo’s, catering halls, and picture packages. Just to turn from fifteen to sixteen. This is one way to teach your child the value of a dollar and how to cherish the simple things life offers. Way to go, Mom and Dad!

The parents themselves can’t afford any of this. Nope. It’s all financed. And in accordance with the laws of finance – our market has crashed. All because we all wanted to be – perfect, and better than, and live lives beyond our means instead of valuing and treasuring the simple things. We even have *starter* homes! And *starter* marriages! What the fuck??! We’re a completely uncommited, disloyal society. We’ve become a simplistic, materialistic, and offensive society. A finger-pointing society. An unemployed society. A poor society. A bailed-out society (for the big boys, anyway. The rest of us can suck our own asses and hope for the best, I guess). We’re bitter, broke, and emotionally exhausted. We don’t know which way to turn anymore. Our dreams are dashed and we don’t feel a reason to develop new one’s.

We’ve become desperate.

Desperate for something different.

Here comes Season 8 of American Idol and here comes Adam Lambert – a breath of fresh air! The boy’s got an amazing voice. He’s articulate, smart, kind, considerate, professional, and a little edgy. He’s exciting. Alternative. Cute. Normal. Flamboyant. Extravagant. Classy. Genuine. He owns his actions. Adam is open and honest, pushes buttons, challenges stereotypes, and stands up for all that is different. He’s real, unassuming, and unapologetic. He’s relatable. His confidence supersedes insecurity. He gets on that stage and it just feels so liberating! He’s a mix of flower-child seventies, rebellious metal eighties, independent nineties, and current 2009. He encompasses generations and we all pull together in awe of this dream angel on the t.v. screen. He’s got hopes. He’s got dreams. He’s been down and out living paycheck to paycheck, calling mom and dad to bail him out when he has no money for rent or gas or to keep his cell phone from being shut off again – he’s us. Yet, he’s found a way. An unbending way. We find it unavoidably appealing!

But just how appealing? Just how desperate are we?

Desperate enough to accept and not judge? Nope – that didn’t happen. Adam didn’t win American Idol – many say his being gay played a role. Adam’s *preferences* were on the tips of everyone’s tongue for months. He didn’t mention it directly, not because he was ashamed or scared, but because he didn’t want it to overshadow the reason he was on your mind in the first place – his singing. Unfortunately, the desperate American public just couldn’t focus where they belonged. America has come a long way in it’s views but we’re not completely full circle, either. We still have hang-ups. We ambushed the poor guy about one topic – and one topic only. Was the media starting the frenzy, or was the media feeding off the publics desire to know? I think both fed off each other. However, the media always grabs something and doesn’t let it go. It throws a subject in our faces over and over and over again. Too often people fall prey to media frenzies.

So the guy offers up his life on a silver platter for all to learn about. Does he think it’s anybody’s business? No. But he also doesn’t live his life in a bubble and he shouldn’t have to now, either. My thoughts are he granted the Rolling Stone issue for two reasons: (1) to satisfy everyone’s curiosity and be the one to speak and clarify with his own words through a respected magazine (not a tabloid) and (2) it’s a Rolling Stone cover!!!!! Perhaps now he will be able to live freely, fulfilling his dreams.

What will the American public say about the content divulged in this Rolling Stone piece? Do I correctly foresee a rash backlash from our overly judgmental society? I hope not. Adam poured his heart out on those pages and speaks openly. He’s had impressive experiences in his twenties – a time of great self-discovery for a confused and anxious young man. Adam is an open book and says, for clarity and shock value, that he’s done all sorts of drugs, spent time in sex clubs, likes dicks – and rhinestones, but hates pictures (but not posing for them). He curses. Is flippant and in-your-face. He says he’d rather smoke a bowl than do a line of blow. He’s still on the road to self-discovery. While he won’t label himelf bi-sexual he does say he is bi-curious. Perhaps having so many females fawning all over him has peaked his interest and perhaps he may investigate that at some point. I say he should keep having fun down whatever roads he wants to take.

Personally, I like a good bad-boy. That’s what Adam is. At the core, he’s a good person. He’s maintaining control. I don’t care if he goes to clubs, drinks, has sex with guys or girls (or guys and girls, or threesomes, or foursomes – I don’t really care is the point). I don’t care if he smokes a bowl every day. He seems to know when he’s reached his personal limit and stops. If he didn’t he’d be a raving drug addicted loser in life. Yet, he’s becoming a superstar. Hopefully he maintains control because this industry makes all alcohol, drugs, and other alternative activities readily available. Have strength, Adam. Indulge – certainly where you are happy – but always maintain control.

I love that Adam’s not the goody two-shoes everyone thought he was. I love his appeal. His bravery. His systematic fuck you attitude.  Hopefully, even after this article, others still do, too. Hopefully, the change everyone seems ready for runs deeper than just watching a t.v. show, getting excited for a bit, and then turning a blind eye when something generally unappealing is uncovered. A true testament to who you are as a person is to love unconditionally and not be judgmental. If you liked Adam’s voice before you learned all of this stuff then you should still enjoy and support him now. He hasn’t changed since the day you heard him sing a quip of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” He’s still the same person you went crazy for.

Now that all of this is out I hope when the media starts asking stupid questions again that Adam simply replies, “I’ve already answered that” and refocuses them on the music. It’s going to take his redirection to make that happen because the media will harp on the most exploitative subject possible.

Before I go, I also want to address those who speak out negatively about those who do want to know all about Adam. People keep saying we shouldn’t want to know this and we shouldn’t want to know that – that it’s all about the music. If the only thing important to know about a person we are drawn to is how good they are at what they do then we shouldn’t care about Michael Phelps treading bong water instead of pool water, Michael Jackson maybe molesting children, and O.J. Simpson’s murder charge and civil loss because afterall Phelps is a great swimmer, Jackson an awesome performer, and Simpson was a great ball player and orange juice spokesman. We wouldn’t care about N.Y’s resigned governor Elliot Spitzer’s call girl infidelities, football quarterback Michael Vick’s dog fighting conviction, Bill Clintons political sex scandal, or Sarah Palin’s 17-year-old unmarried daughter Bristol’s pregnancy. But as a society we do. Get my point? It does matter. As a *star* Adam is now more than just a person on the street – like you and me. He’s a commodity. He’s a package. Maybe one day he’ll be a brand. Some people don’t want that – maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. At this point, I don’t know. I do know that my first introduction to him was his look, his singing, and his personality – for brief moments. As I saw him week after week I got to know him a little better. I was welcoming him into my home two nights a week, and everyday on the Internet when I watched his video’s and interviews. My daughter watched, too. I started a blog because I love his freshness, I love to write, and I like the idea of having a positive focus. I want to know more about him than just hear his songs. This is a package deal I’m buying into. Just like when I met, dated, and married my husband. I want to know all about him so I can make an informed decision about the person I’m accepting into my life. I could just listen to his music and then carry on – like I do with The Eagles, Justin Timberlake, and many movie actors, as well. I don’t embrace them, though. Adam has a special something that makes people want to know him, be around him, enjoy him. I’m not a stalker. I don’t even care if I ever meet him – he has his life, and I have mine (although, I’d love to sit down with him for an interview of my own! Hear that, Adam?? Call me! lol). But he represents an ideal I find attractive and inspiring and for that reason I want to know more about him – as much as he’s willing to share and as he shares it. People want to feel a connection. And we do. This is a testament to how great of a performer Adam really is – He sold us. He made connections with the audiences and we bought it. Lucky for him because that ability is what’s going to make him a superstar. You don’t have to agree with me — but you’re reading my blog for some reason. I assume it’s because you, too, felt that connection – that inspiration from a young man achieving his dreams.

For now, after the Rolling Stone issue, I think he’s shared more than enough. The 20/20 airing gave him the follow-up opportunity to not only say in print but also have his voice heard on air. There should be no more questions. He should offer no more answers. I’m not sure if divulging all of this information so early in his career is a good thing or a bad thing. Time will tell. By doing so people may have become overloaded with unprocessed information and simply crash. It also offers Adam, though, the opportunity to now move forward openly and freely, without speculation, and form a solid, committed fan base.

Are we ready for Adam Lambert?

I know I am! I always have been.

Are you?

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~ Words and thoughts by Laura R. – AdamLambertSite
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UPDATE: 6/15/09 I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone for their positive feedback about the feelings I portrayed in my article. I appreciate all the kind words and support and am glad you all are enjoying it so much! I am especially touched by this being called an “article” and me a “writer,” and “author.” So special to hear for the first time …. thanks again!
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