What the hell happened last night at the American Music Awards? When did they become the new shock-you-silly awards show to replace the now-vanilla MTV Video Music Awards?
The new recipe for an awards show is this:
*Taylor Swift wins everything; no fewer than five statues.
*Lady Gaga performs in a weird getup after arriving in a weird getup.
*Someone does something shocking, either Lady Gaga or a surprise…like an “American Idol” channeling old Bowie/Madonna stuff.
*All hip-hop performers keep it clean and classy.
*Janet Jackson shows no skin. Ever. Again. America still hasn’t healed from the nipplegate backlash, although after Adam Lambert last night, we’ve moved on to Crotchgate.
Speaking of Crotchgate…
I understand Adam Lambert’s need to distance himself from the squeaky clean-ness of “American Idol.” But is that really a need? I also understand the need to do something to keep his name prominent in the headlines today–the day his album “For Your Entertainment” drops. There’s no such thing as bad press, after all. Even if you mash a male dancer’s face into your crotch, caress a female dancer’s crotch, and make out with your male keyboard player–all after playing the sadomasochist part with two dancers on leashes–you still get press. I get it; you’re playing both sides of the fence, trying to court both female and male fans with bisexuality and a cheesy but androgynous album cover.
But shouldn’t it be about the music?
I’m a fan of both Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga. After last night’s AMA performances from both, I am SMH today. Both artists can stand on talent alone. Both can sing, both have a flare for performing. I’m all for outrageous when it fits. But when it becomes about being outrageous for the sake of being outrageous, that’s when it gets lame. Contrived. Fake. Silly. Annoying.
Don’t play the tortured artist bit on stage. Gaga had gigs writing songs for others before she got her “Fame” and Lambert was doing pretty good for himself acting alongside Val Kilmer in the stage show of “The Ten Commandments.” While either one was hardly pulling in millions, both were working artists. I think that’s always the goal, right? Both could have still been serving meals during their first showbiz gigs for all I know. But hey, a gig’s a gig.
Just go on stage and perform. Just show me your talent and remind me why I’m a fan. Even a simple performance can be captivating. It doesn’t always have to be outlandish. I thought Jennifer Lopez’s performance of “Louboutins” was great. It was creative and she pulled it off, except for the fall… If I even think about Louboutins I fall down, so I totally understand.
You want simple? Captivating? Something that stands on the strength of the music alone? Try watching Lady Antebellum’s performance at the Country Music Awards. Has “Need You Now” not been the top single on iTunes (or near the top) every day since?
Or, from the AMAs last night, how about Whitney Houston singing “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” That was amazing! She was flawless.
Or Jay-Z and Alicia Keys who were just classy.
Look, I don’t need flames, crazy outfits, and controversy. What I do want is music. I’d love to have music with opulence. Flash is OK, but just keep it in good taste. We’re in a recession (duh). People want less bullsh!t during a recession. Flashiness and perky music isn’t popular during a recession. Remember the 1990s? It was a crap financial time that birthed Kurt Cobain and flannel shirts. Remember the late 1990s as things turned around? It was poppy, perky Britney Spears and N’Sync. Glam rock? New wave? That was during the glory of the 1980s. Artists should take a cue from the times we live in, maybe be inspired by…reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment