Adam Lambert: Why didn't he win?
Posts about Adam Lambert not winning "American Idol" because he's gay started going up within about an hour of the results being announced. As an "American Idol" blogger, I thought I'd weigh in.
You'll notice I haven't done any articles on here all season about Adam's sexuality. There were pictures of his supposed boyfriend, there was some trip to Outback steakhouse, etc etc. I saw all of those on my Google alert for "American Idol." But I didn't feel they warranted a post. I don't post about Kris Allen's wife or Alexis Grace's daughter and I don't feel that Adam's boyfriend or not-boyfriend should be posted about either.
To quote Randy: for me, it's about singing. Do I think it's about singing for most of the country? Yes, I do. Every time an Idol gets eliminated, his or her votes have to go somewhere. Danny Gokey went home last week and was extremely popular. His votes, by and large, I'm guessing went to Kris Allen.
Do I think that all of them went to Kris because Adam's gay? No. Do I think that all of them went to Kris because they think Kris was more talented than Adam? No. It's not that simple, but I would like to think that it mostly had to do with sound and Kris Allen and Danny Gokey are a lot more alike sound-wise than Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey. Musically, people that liked Danny are going to like Kris better than Adam.
Are there people out there who look at Adam's Liza Minelli hair and fingernail polish and get totally freaked out and homophobic? Of course there are.
But are there also people who just don't care for Adam's singing style? Of course there are. Even I didn't love him 100% of the time and I was an Adam fan.
My mom is a perfect example. She doesn't care that Adam may or may not be gay. She just prefers the Kris Allen sound. Kris has actually been her horse since the Top 36 started, so kudos to my mom for picking the right guy.
My dad is another example. As a 55 year-old white male from middle America, he's a perfect stereotype to be totally homophobic. But guess what? He thought the wrong guy won last night, but that Adam is going to be just fine without the actual title. He thinks Kris is good, but forgettable and bland and needs the title more to have success.
I sincerely hope that people don't tarnish Kris Allen's victory with "it's because Adam's gay!" nonsense. I read that 38,000,000 votes came from Arkansas last night. That might've had something to do with it too, guys. Adam's from a big city where people don't have the small-town pride like we do out here in the Midwest. If someone from my high school made the Top 36 on Idol, you can be damn sure I'd vote my little heart out for him or her. I probably know her or her sister or dad or cousin, you know? It's about hometown stuff.
So Kris Allen did a great job and his hometown (and state) rallied around him. Let's not diminish his talent by saying he only won because Adam might be gay. I think Kris is an excellent choice and I congratulate him on his win.
This was such a great post Andrea, and I totally agree with it...thank you for this post, and your wonderful recaps.
I have read too many comments not to believe that predujice against Adam (whether he is gay/his syle) affected the voting. Some really nasty comments out there. I had thought we had come farther but obviously have a ways to go.
Watching Adam sing next to Kris, it was a no brainer to me but America has proven to vote without a brain time after time...
The best blog in cyberworld about the results I've read. You get it! You really get it!
I will add two other possibilities to your list though. I think that some of the pro-gay/pro-Adam anti-Christian posters attacks on ppl served to prod the vote for Danny/Kris. If someone said they were Christian and loved Kris/Danny and not one disrespectful word against Adam they were attacked with hateful vulgar words. These pro-Adam "fans" only served to hurt Adam's fans. The other possibility is that those wanting a Danny win and wanting to turn the ***umed Danny/Adam finale into a Kris/Danny finale split their voting when they really would have voted only for Danny. I learned a long time ago that when it is down to 4 you best be voting for only the one you want to win and not try to save anyone else.
Just want to get this in also: I don't believe that Chris Daughtry supporters didn't vote ***uming he was a shoo-in. AI will not admit it was their phone problem. I paused my TV with the numbers in full display and called over and over those numbers displayed under Chris' image on screen and each time it answered: "Thank you for voting for Kathryn McPhee."
however you want to swing it, Adam was to Gay for middle America.
This has been the most intellectual post I've ever come across with since the Idol finale. Great job for staying within the middle of everyone's opinion. You are so true. Kris won because of talent and ingenuity and not because Adam was gay.
KUDOS! I couldn't have said it any better than that. I liked Adam, gay or not, I didn't care. I just liked Kris more. And I'm from San Diego. I agree, small hometown crowd wins every time. I too hope Kris can enjoy his win and not be bombarded with you only won because he's gay. Good Luck Kris, Adam will do just fine without being the Idol winner!
I could not believe that Adam Lambert did not win. American Idol contest is based on who has the best singing ability. And sexual preference should have no part of why a person won or why he did not. In my opinion, Adam Lambert is by far the best singer that American Idol has ever had. And even though he did not win the title last night he doesn't need to worry - he will become very famous as a rock star someday.
I think the people that would be most affected by Lamberts look is mot likely not a huge enough portion of the voting pop to make a difference. Young kids and teens, probably mainly girls, are huge part and they innudated with the gay character, fashion guru whatever (as sterotyped as these roles are) I just dont think that this population is shocked to see a male with stylzed hair and nailpolish. Thats a normal day at the mall for a lot of them or probably quite a few of the emo pop rock singers they already listen to. Moms, middle aged women, probably aren't too turned of by Lamberts persona but simply prefer Kris. Straight middle aged men...the one's most likely to be affected, I'm just doubting are following the season in droves. Plus, the country really is in a coffeehouse singer songwriter place right now. John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Norah Jones, Coldplay. Indie artists -- Deathcab, The Shins, Joshua Radin. Even hip hop is taking up a bit of the acoustic sound. As inoffensive and boring as some think it may be that's just the facts. Lamberts obvious talent and (maybe a little push from the producers) got him this far. Now he has to find a way to make his sound work in a market that clearly is impressed by talent but isnt totally where he seems to be musically. The closest thing I could think of to Lambert that is mainstream (consider I don't listen to that style of music anyways) is Mika and he is still more straight up pop. Twenty five years ago he would have easily been in his element!
Don't be naive - of course Adam lost in large part because he is gay. Prejudice & ****phobia exist and are obvious factors. He is clearly the most vocally talented finalist of the season, and arguably the most uniquely talented & original singer the show has ever had, plus he also seems to be a genuinely nice person. It all boils down to the voting demographics. As soon as Danny Gokey (also a *far* superior singer to Kris) was voted off, it was clear which way the voting demographic (those who care enough to pay & call in to vote) would vote Kris in. Does Kris "deserve" it? If this were truly a competition about vocal talent, no, he didn't deserve to have won. He won for his cute looks, shy manner, and (sorry) bland, inoffensive and safe singing style. It's to his credit as a decent human being that he too was in shock by his win - he too clearly believed Adam would and should have won.
you are so right not only did Kris win because of the reasons you have just listed and Adam lose because of Americans being
Prejudice & ****phobic but because the pastor of Kris's church was tweetering that American idol needed a christian to become the next idol and that was Kris , so please vote for him ...now isn't that just great ? i really would like to know how that would make Kris feel if and when he finds out that his pastor did that ? he (Kris) did say that he didn't want to be voted in on religion or anything like that but ya know what when it comes down to it that's what it is ..thanks all for listening , and yes Adam will go far I haven't a fear that he wont , and i will be right there to buy his cd's , without being his judge and jury like some Americans.