American Idol is usually the last thing we would watch on TV, but when someone sent us a clip of the glorious Adam Lambert killin’ some old school rock songs in a totally new way, we became insta-fans. His loss was a sharp reminder of America’s deep seeded biases. Did Adam Lambert lose for being the worse singer? Surely nobody with a decent set of ears could deny him having a far superior voice to Kris (the winner). Did he lose for being Gay? We happen to think so. We asked man about town James Costa for a report live from the Finale and after party in Los Angeles. Here’s what he told us:
Groundhog Day at Idol. Why does it keep happening? Why does America choose mediocre over greatness? I was at American Idol Finale and afterparty and felt like I was living a bad dream over and over. There were many times where I wanted to yell out, “How the fuck did this happen?!” I have been an Adam fan all season. I was never a big fan of the show until I saw this guy belt out songs in versions I never expected them to be sung in. They would send chills down my spine. When I saw the reaction to Adam on blogs, mags , and TV shows I thought to myself “America will get it and vote this guy as the next American Idol!”
Who cares if he likes guyliner and black nail polish!? So do tons of straight rockers. Why should Adam be treated any differently? Boy was I wrong. The old expression about Americans comes to be true once again. Never underestimate Americans, but also never overestimate them. What was the big fear Americans had in voting for Adam and making him the next American Idol. Was the world going to end if he won, would God strike us all dead, would the manhood of American men turn to mush? I know there are all kind of conspiracy theories out there of why Adam lost.
The one I think is most true is that you had Gokey fans who were mad that he lost and if they had to punish anybody it was going to be Adam. He was an easy target. His sexuality was not clear (read: Gay), he was a glamrocker, a Jew, and he could sing the pants off anybody on that stage. He was the ultimate threat to America’s manhood. So those votes, combined with the Kris fans (mediocrity defined!), and the religious right who have nothing better to do but spend their time making people who don’t believe what they do as miserable as possible gave Kris the edge. Adam just had his fans, with no hidden agendas, who just though he was the best singer. Which he is. Kinda tragic if you really think about. Are there so many Americans out there who are so frustrated with their lives that they take it out on the most talented guy in a singing competition? Anyway, I’m glad it’s all over but I fear that next year will be more of the same except the damage has already been done to American Idol. The bloggers are wild with threats of never watching the show again. I have to agree with them. I’m not sure if I can ever watch the show again. Until Americans grow up and get over their sexual identity issues we are doomed to repeat our past mistakes in who we vote for.
James Costa is a writer, producer, and animal welfare activist who resides in Los Angeles. He is also a board member of The Hunts Point Alliance in The Bronx, as well as an Advisory Member of the Sabre Foundation, a worldwide book donation program.