nolechica

So boredom has created fandom drama again. The latest evolution is Adam having a boyfriend, which ought to all "yay cute pictures" and not "if you don't love Sauli, you're not a fan," which is what's happening. As such, I'm wondering why people are really fans. I realize that after two years, a TV show, an album, a tour, and one memorable awards show performance, the reasons vary drastically. Also, it's not just how fan encountered Adam, it's what he represents as an out pop star. This creates a very mixed and sometimes volatile fandom with a peace-loving hippie at it's core.

While American Idol is how Adam was launched into national consciousness, and mine, I realize it wasn't that way for many. Some discovered him the night of his audition, and followed the rest of the season, some were hooked later by a random sighting, Ring of Fire or Mad World mostly. Thank you Top 8 show running over and Simon's standing ovation. Even favorite songs vary wildly. Three songs followed from Idol to his Glam Nation set, but Whole Lotta Love seems to be a favorite among hardcore fans while Mad World is bigger among casual fans. Also, Idol fans vary in how they've reacted to Adam and Idol post-show. Some wanted the restrained singer to continue to be the arch of his career, while some wanted him to give us whatever he wanted no matter how over the top. This has led to many clashes as some fans worry about every over the top move, while others delight in them.

This divide was marked sharply by the American Music Awards performance that got sexual and controversial (more the faux blow job than the kiss from viewers I asked). While many fans wondered about the ramifications, some still worry about crazy stunts even after Adam's sales were fine even after bannings from TV and press during tour. He gained fans after the AMAs as many respected that he would go all out despite the consequences, especially those that tuned out after Idol and hadn't seen the tour. Some were offended and backed away, but I think over all he came out ahead. However, the performance did impact his fans as his debut single was dropped from radio and that's been a continuous fight, with Whataya Want From Me and If I Had You. Fans have over requested or not requested locally, and annoyed deejays, while trying to force airplay. Also For Your Entertainment has only been performed a hand full of times in the US since then. However, having heard the international arrangement, not sure if that's so much as fan reaction as it's a damn hard song to sing, even using a remix rather the regular track.

The Glam Nation Tour was when many casual fans resurfaced. Until then, the media saw his fans as only female, but plenty of men saw the show. These fans bought the album and saw the show, but don't follow every picture and article. Shows sold out and nearly thirty extra US shows were added, a few at 5000+ venues. However, many were so impressed with the live show that glowing reviews resulted, with many reviews written by male music critics. The show was plenty of fun for everyone, with kisses, vocals, staging, and costumes being applauded. Favorite songs varied, while many loved Fever, Sleepwalker and encores (particularly Whole Lotta Love), others preferred the acoustic set. Also, many of the best shows were on the international leg of the tour, where Adam seemed more relaxed and fans more anything goes. Glam Nation is even being sold as a CD/DVD with plenty of promotion, even though sales seem to be mostly hardcore fans as of now rather than casual listeners.

The casual fans did recommend or purchase the CD after their concert though. This shows that while the Glamberts get plenty of press, there are many people who won't change the radio and even listen to the CD. Also, sales do increase after TV performances, such as the Idol performances that many hardcore fans complain about. However, reading Idol discussions on nights Adam performs, Idol fans are still impressed, even though they get the more conservative songs. The increase in sales of Acoustic Live! rather than For Your Entertainment this year showed that many people like Adam's softer side much to the chagrin of fans who want on-stage antics and showy vocals.

Aside from casual fans, there were those that found Adam through less conventional means. With the growing popularity of YouTube, knowledge of Adam spread to countries he didn't visit on his international promo tour, which was very successful as the US was still reeling from the AMAs . Videos from pre-Idol, Idol, and both summers of touring have been made available. The initial gateway seemed to be the version of Mad World that was aired late on Idol and got posted several places. However, covers were posted this summer as they were revealed as well. In a less traditional vein, I had one friend find Adam through Idol recaps on Television Without Pity. She read the recaps and needed to hear the voice. Several others saw television interviews or articles with videos.

Just how people became fans and what music they prefer makes this a very diverse fanbase. When you add in looks, vocals, boyfriends, band members you get several other dimensions that will have to be in part two of my thoughts.

Ok, I'd been trying to ignore Chris Brown resurfacing on the music scene after two years, an assault on and split from Rihanna. I tried, and then he shattered a window and tore up a dressing room at Good Morning America when asked about his ex. This was after questions were approved for the interview and he supposedly completed anger-management classes. He had performed one song, but the blow up happened before he was to perform for a live online feed. Anyway, flash forward and he's been invited back to GMA and is still being allowed to perform on Dancing With The Stars. What??? I'll admit to still questioning ABC's judgment over the 2009 AMAs Adam Lambert performance, but now I'm not alone. He was cancelled from GMA after that performance, incidentally replaced by Chris Brown, and yet Brown get to violently destroy ABC property and get invited back? I don't get it. I have my suspicions about Robin Roberts' feelings about Adam that date to a pre-AMAs appearance and watching her squirm. She's so uncomfortable with sex it's funny (wasn't a kiss, just a comment about tour).

Unlike many of my friends, I get that the AMAs decision was about more than just a kiss and was live on TV, but still. I also get that violence is tolerated on the whole more than sex, though I generally don't care as long as it's legal. I know CNN Showbiz Tonight and The New York Post weighed in (the latter makes me think Hell froze) saying Brown should be punished and CNN said he should be banned from DWTS. I'd love to see it. Not just as payback, that's a nice extra, but as a reminder that you gotta walk the walk to get the promo. I do think Brown will get what's due him anyway, as his PR guy, who so woefully prepped him for GMA, has quit. Without someone to spin this, he's got issues, especially since anyone that knows the difference in Rihanna's last two albums knows the damage he did, on Grammy night no less. Fool. And why she dropped/changed the restraining order to help his career? I have no fucking clue!

After the concert footage made CNN for the second time last night, I feel the need to discuss Amsterdam. The two segments varied greatly in tone with the first segment, near Thanksgiving, being based on him being a turkey for his actions. That was a panel discussion with AJ Hammer, the host of last night's clip, being the loan dissenter, citing young fans and the video going viral, as the others said it's Adam, what do you expect? Plus, he likes the attention and making people think, as we all know. As for last night's clip, it was Rockers and Shockers of 2010, but anyone who knows anything about Adam knows that Amsterdam was a kickass night, but I wasn't totally surprised. As with much of his life, he hasn't exactly hidden his previous drug use. I was honestly surprised by how well he set up the toking with Purple Haze, not the fact that he lit up in Amsterdam. Also, until the encore at the Nokia, I thought the performance was going to be the only full performance of the song that he did. That would've been genius.


As for fan reactions, honestly, have people learned nothing in the last year? Adam loves to push buttons and as long as we react, he's done his job. All publicity is good publicity in the end, ask the fans who are fans because of the AMAs. As for the worry over young fans, if parents do their job, they have nothing to worry about. Talking to your kids about drugs will do more than Adam abstaining on stage. My parents are classic rock fans and I listened to many songs with drug innuendo and watch plenty of footage of illegal substance usage. Having my dad answer me honestly when I asked about certain lyrics, songs or actions did more than my DARE classes ever did. As such, I hope Adam continues to do whatever he wants on stage. And if you can't take the heat, maybe you shouldn't be giving him your time and money.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed by the Senate yesterday! First thing I did was call my dad, figured he might want to know before work on Monday, as Mom watches the news after he's asleep most nights. Then I thought about the encore performance of A Change Is Gonna Come that Adam did at the Music Box. Any other predictions he wants to make this week? Even with the Zodiac anniversary, that performance still hit me again when I heard the news. It'll be interesting to see how the news is received in Pensacola. Not sure with the Navy base here. Honestly, the base is part of why I want to leave. I grew up in a military city and have no desire to have my dating pool polluted by guys I'd rather not be with.

As I'm skipping sightseeing in New Orleans, here's why. First off, I live three hours from here and have done a lot of the touristy stuff before. Plus, cab fare from my location to the French Quarter is expensive. Additionally, two nights out in New Orleans is a bit much. Let's start with last night. After the concert, I found the barricades, but there were people in three locations, and I chose wrong. As such, I saw his head, but never got close enough to get a signature, and my camera was out of memory. After that, where I met some of my Twitter feed (littlefanling, ayaneva, mistresscurvy), Meredith and I headed to Bourbon St. We met up with Kendra, Rachel, Sarah, Carolina and Earleen. After food and drinks (Handgrenade!), we went to Bourbon Parade, where Adam was in VIP. That was crazy people watching, and I couldn't see anyone except the mohawked guys he commented on at the concert. The second time watching VIP, I actually saw Adam, briefly. And damn he looked good, but it was fun.


Later we went to the official afterparty at Oz. They had the FYE vid playing and then we went to the dancefloor with WWFM remix playing and Adam was there dancing!!! He tried to dance in front of the crowd that gathered, which by that time, I think IIHY might have started. Not sure, that might've been after. Anyway, fun on the dancefloor at Oz. However, after a night of following Adam around, I'm still reeling. Especially with the end to the evening. Second trip to Bourbon St that has ended in a friend talking to police after a medical emergency.



And that's not considering my own fun. No time for dinner, so had to grab chips and water instead of merch. Then, I left the group briefly because I had a partial seizure, but am mainly tired today, was fine last night. No harm done!




As crazy as Sunday was, Saturday was low key. Met up with Ilana, Rachel, Nuri, Sarah, and Rachel after getting in town. We went to Mimi's in Marigny, great tapas restaurant. Salads, cheeses, potatoes, fabulous! Chilled there until we went to Bourbon St. Went to the Cat's Meow, my first time on a balcony there, very cool. Only problem was my flats so totally didn't work, but shoe fail? Not new.

OMFG! Why does this keep happening? Why have I suddenly become Ms. Waterworks all over a concert? Watching everybody plan for Glam Nation concerts when I don't even have tickets to one is torture. Especially after the NOLA venue disappeared. Plus, if I get a job, Atlanta is out most likely, and Ft. Lauderdale would be complicated. However, now Rachel want to go, and after planning Cinci out only to have that scratched by an interview, as a Monday concert wouldn't work, is such a tease. I'm now thinking of sacrificing acoustics for the chance to see the concert at all. Might go to Tampa and then think of Ft. Lauderdale. Add to this not knowing whether travel would be from Pensacola or Tallahassee, and it's making me crazy. Debating asking parents how much money I can expect from graduation. That would make tickets much easier. I hate to ask that, but I need tickets now or I won't be able to concentrate the next three weeks.

Being stuck on a bus for six hours with no pen to go with your notebook? Zero fun. Having a discussion from the night before swirling in your head because your dad decided 4am was a good time for an iTunes tutorial? Even less fun. And then there's the fact that the ID3 tags on his mp3s sucked, so explaining how to transfer stuff was tricky, had to move from album view to list view, not something I do much. I did empty his iPod and show him how to add files, create playlists, and add music to his iPod though. Did all this through trying to mix his classic rock love and my dance pop obsession. The discussion we had about Adam's Satisfaction? Priceless. I said I didn't believe Adam singing that anymore, and he caught it immediately. Amused to be discussing sex with dad. However, that tutorial caused me to leave town late, as even the night owl needs sleep

As for the discussion he interrupted? Adam's opening acts for tour, who incidentally posted a twit pic of themselves yesterday, but anyway. Monday night was talking about Allison and the AI connection. I'm not loving the AI marketing of his tour, which happened in Toledo at least, as I looked at the Omni site for Tyler. I want recognition for him as a solo act, not a reality show product. However, wanting Allison to not open for him, I don't get. What I did get was not wanting a nightly duet, as this is an Adam concert. An occasional duet would be okay to me, as long as it's not the encore. It needs to be a song that fits within the set, or maybe Allison singing backup on Aftermath. That would work to get it in the set, get Allison back on stage, and be good middle ground.

How is a possible duet, especially in a backup role, any worse than the prospect of Orianthi taking Monte's guitar solo on the nights she opens? Same principle to me, the opening act back on stage during Adam's set, and probably being re-introduced at that. The AI connection will be cut when that's what Adam wants. He wouldn't have Allison or Orianthi on his tour if that wasn't what he wanted, but somehow the fact that he is friends with Allison and worked with Orianthi seems to have been forgotten. However, unless rationalflake gets her question answered about tour openers, we may never know how many options he had. If it turns out Adam did do Allison a favor, then people can rightfully get upset, but she may have been pushed on him due to Kris not having a tour, as I'd think Jive would rather pair them. I don't want drama over openers though, so not worth it. Plus, if Adam really got to choose his openers that says RCA has plenty of faith in his vision for this tour, and it should be trusted, even if guests appear on stage at times.

I once again fail at updating, but the Olympics, school, and fandom have eaten my life. And I'm too addicted to Twitter to stop and write an entry. Anyway, the end of the Olympics was great. The ladies figure skating went according to plan, mostly. Kim Yu-Na won gold while being coached by the guy that was denied gold in Calgary. Sweet revenge and awesome skating. Also, Mao Asada landed three triple axels in the Olympics for the first time ever. And then there was competition darling Joannie Rochette who won bronze despite her mother's sudden death. First time in forty years an American didn't medal, but the ladies are young and will be ready for Sochi. However, as much as I love figure skating, I didn't watch more than five minutes of the gold medal hockey game. It's never really been explained to me. I wasn't sorry Canada won though, I knew that was the medal that meant the most to them.

As for school, drama has ensued. I'm still getting a Masters, but non-thesis option as Dr. Frank dropped from my thesis committee last Tuesday. I then met with Dr. Gray and Dr. Grant and decided to redo my registration and take comps/turn my thesis into a professional paper and graduate in summer. Upchurch has agreed to remain as part of my comps committee, but I need two more professors for that and to find out whether Frank will supervise my professional paper. That's who Grant wants despite the awkwardness. We shall see, not sure if Grant contacted Frank as he said he would. The saga continues...

As for fandom, I owe my Adam filter some thoughts, but just keeping up with the news and music is insane. International promo makes my sleep cycle look positively sane. And now, I'm a news poster for hooplamagnet as well as a tweeter for the comm Twitter account. TweetDeck and I have made peace finally though. That on top of keeping up with songs? Crazy. My upload folder of Adam audio has over 300 files. How'd that happen? Fandom is insane. More on him later though.

Written Tuesday night: I've been keeping a journal since I was sixteen, but this might be my first ever hand written entry. I'm on a bus to Pensacola that's broken down outside Panama City. Biloxi's been canceled, but Sara and I are still going to NOLA tomorrow. After I watch The Early Show, that is. After all the drama of the last few days, not missing Adam Lambert live.

Written Thursday morning: I got into Pensacola at 4:20am on Wednesday morning after sitting in a church parking lot from roughly 8:30pm-2:00am waiting on a new bus. The attempt to fix the old bus failed. It was nine quarts low on transmission fluid and had begun to burn up some pump in the process. Epic maintenance fail and the driver should've turned around when we were forty minutes outside Tally and he first noticed a problem. Then, we'd have been an hour and a half or two late, not five. Oh and for those who care about such things, Sara and I sat on the floor of her apartment at 5:00am and watch the AMA vid because she doesn't watch Idol, but had heard FYE and had tried to Google the vid to no avail. However, she did find the Access Hollywood interview and was impressed. Will report back after she watched The Early Show later. I watched it live, but need to see it again. Whataya Want From Me sounded better on Letterman, And Music Again threw me for a loop. Wasn't expecting that to be the second song, but not sure what I did expect. I'm just thrilled that performance happened at all. Longer Adam entry awaits my filter, as I got very board on the bus.

I woke up from my pre-baking nap to somewhat horrid news from Dr. Gray. He doesn't think I'm ready to defend. However, if I can rewrite my intro and link my advertising chapters to my mascot chapters better it my be possible. Why didn't he tell me this about the chapters this summer? Did he not read anything until he had everything? I'm hoping my dad can help me figure things out because I already ordered my cap and gown and am ready to finish this. I had no idea changes this big were looming. Also, this may mean that the job I found may not work out, as I have no idea how many hours of reading, writing, meeting with /e-mailing Gray it'll take to be ready. I'm dreading telling my parents. Called them when I found out, but they were in bed already.

As for why I was baking after 11pm? Rachel's birthday is Sunday, so I took her cupcakes, a card, and a copy of Details. She was amazed I got her anything, but after the card, balloon and flowers she gave me last year, I owed her. She hasn't read the Details article, didn't even know it existed, but her reaction to the pics wasn't surprising. Not amused is the best way to describe it, as well as shocked because she's apparently been under a rock. However, after she was weirded out by the Wicked clips, I wasn't surprised. Eh, I'll check back after she's read the article and see if she gets the spread then, as she knows nothing of tour shenanigans. Need to link her a different Time For Miracles vid as well, as the one I sent was yanked, oops. I offered to gift her either TFM or the first single off the album, when it appears, her choice. We'll see which she chooses. And we tentatively made plans for Indian food on my birthday because I can make teriyaki, but haven't ever attempted Indian. I miss the homemade samosas my friends gave me in high school. Need Samrat, or takeout Indian, soon. However, I need to defend to not make my birthday miserable. I wasn't at Kellum long though, walked back in the rain as she was called to deal with trouble in another dorm. Hope the next visit's longer.