I said it last year, when I had a favorite going into the finale, and I'll say it again. In a competition between two male contestants on American Idol, it comes down to "competing masculinities," and "America" has specific guidelines on what is acceptable. Last year, the hard masculinity of David Cook beat out the soft masculinity of David Archuleta. Season 2, Ruben Studdard, the heavier Luther-Vandross-like crooner, beat out the not-then-out-but-everybody knew-was-gay belter Clay Aiken. This year, it's the ordinary, married, guitar-playing, laid back, singer-songwriter everyman from Arkansas - that's Kris Allen, for those of you not in the know - who stole the thunder from frontrunner, flaming-diva, rock glam, over-the-top wailing and possibly gay Adam Lambert from San Diego. Seriously, who's surprised that Kris beat out Adam? Look at the two of them! Did you really think America would choose flamboyance over the ordinary guy?
I ask the question because, inevitably, various blogs, twitters, and online mags are simply shocked - Shocked!! - that Kris won over Adam. Maybe last year taught me that, no, when we look at the guys in the competition, especially when the guys who are the last ones standing are often talented in their own niches (not taking anything away from Kris who does what he does quite well), it doesn't come down to talent and who's got the best voice or gives the best performance. Tuesday night, I thought it was tied, but for the last song (singing the hideous coronation song, "No Boundaries," which hit an all-time low for most cliched inspirational song on American Idol), I thought Adam did enough with the song to give him the edge. Well, it's not always so simple, is it? Kris was the cuter one, Kris was the safe one, Kris was the low-keyed one. He was recognizably "American" with that rugged individualism of regular guyness, in a way Adam was not, what with his winged, vampirish costumes (which I absolutely loved, but I wish he had said "Suck it!" and just flamed away in something far more outrageous in the style of Elton John or David Bowie, so we can really say, "Homophobia!" is what lost the title for him).
Fortunately for me, I had already decided to not get emotionally invested this year. After David Archuleta and Melinda Doolittle, I've definitely learned my lesson about rooting for the far-and-away best talent of the bunch, only to see them come close and not grab the title. I mean, this is how pop culture works. If the most talented and the most artistic were embraced by the masses, there wouldn't be such a thing as "art" vs. "pop culture," would there?
Still, pop culture is fun to study because, really, if you want to know what the mainstream attitudes about gender or sexuality or race or nationality are, popular choices make it quite blatant.
Congratulations, Kris! And thank you, Adam Lambert, for finally relieving the burden of American Idol runner-up title, which was unfairly placed on the shoulders of my beloved David Archuleta. Work that title, and work it well with all your glam-rock flaming-diva glory!
6 comments:
What you've written here are my thoughts exactly after the finale! Adam is electrifying. I enjoyed some of Kris' performances, but this black chick couldn't wait to see what Adam would do each week. Adam kept the season exciting. "Mad World" and "Tracks of my Tears" were beautiful. I will be there when Adam gives his first solo concert. The good news is that a performer doesn't have to win to be successful.
I am also a big Melinda Doolittle fan. It's sad that they try to lump all of the black female singers into one category. Melinda was flawless. "My Funny Valentine" was amazing. I still get chills when I watch that performance.
Heck yeah! Did you hear Adam belting out "We Are The Champions"? (OK, I sat there thinking this is Boy George doing a Freddie Mercury, but whatever). It was good. Not just good but GOOD!
I was rooting for him, too.
thank you for the archuleta love... i think this guy was robbed, plain and simple... he has some seriously mad pipes, is naturally soulful and is ready to just blow up... saw him in concert in richmond on his recent solo tour - dude sangggg his face off, and has gotten kinda sexy in the bargain... i want more brothers and sisters to check him out.. he has the potential to move robin thicke aside as the top ''blue eyed soul singer''... mark these words... this guy is the real deal.
Actually, I really wanted Danny Cokey to win it. He's used to teach music and he was widowed too. I thought that he would've been the one to upset Adam Lambert, instead of Kris Allen. Obviously, the only way Kris was able to beat Adam was the fans of Danny voted for Kris, imo.
You've encapsulated what I've been thinking for the last day and a half. Adam was just too edgy for America's tastes. The All-American boy, the relatable one had to take the title. From the video interviews given throughout the show of Adam's family, his father seemed to hold back a feeling of diappointment at what his son has become. As if like most men he wanted his son to be the boy who played sports, who put his machismo on display but instead became a threatre actor with an androgynous emo vibe to him. I may be judging but that's what I interpreted.
I only saw clips of the two singers so not exactly the best judge, but I preferred Kris' voice. It had nothing to do with genderbending and/or perceived sexuality, I just found Adam's vocals to be occasionally pitchy and his take on certain songs completely off base. But I think this every year about most of the people featured on recaps so . . .
thought you'd find this image funny (the article itself is a little catty and I think designed to stir up controversy, I'm just leaving the link for the pic not the words):
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b125395_clay_aiken_vs_adam_lambert_made_my_ears.html?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories
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