Oh me oh my the brouhaha... the biggest pop culture event the past few days is Adam Lambert's performance on the American Music Awards, along with the shock and awe it produced (an observation - since when did almost 11 p.m. on the networks become family viewing? last I heard it was time for A-D-U-L-T-S). And then there's Good Morning America's chicken shit cancellation of his scheduled performance.
Whatever. CBS got the ratings benefit of a couple splendidly nuanced performances, as well as a remarkable candid interview.
Ann Powers says it best with her thoughtful commentary regarding rock 'n roll, popular music and the evolution of button-pushing performance on television and Lambert's place among them.
As for myself, well, it certainly seems that we’re a nation of prudes with a sexual double standard. The fact that we are blasé about and accept mind-numbing visuals regarding appalling violent images yet squirm at the sexual (except perhaps those which may very well be rooted in misogyny) speaks volumes.
Female performers have been playing that card for quite some time, so the logical conclusion to reach about this kertuffle is that it's Lambert's sexuality and not the performance that is fueling the outrage. Replace a female in the piece and honestly assess if any outrage that you have would be quite as intense
And the network had to know what he was up to, it's disingenuous on their part to feign otherwise. He may have thrown a curve ball with that kiss or a gesture or two, so what? The rest was choreographed down to the finest detail, there were pictures all over the internet in the days leading up to the show with those costumes, it was likely repeatedly rehearsed, and he was giving interviews the previous few days that spelled out the he direction he was going.
To entertain. And make us think... perhaps just a bit.
