Is Adam Too Nice To Be a Rock Star?
9/12/2010 by NoAngel
A reviewer of the August 23rd Albany NY Glam Nation concert made an interesting observation. The writer, Steve Barnes, asserted that Adam was “fundamentally a nice guy,” with a “heart as gentle as Pat Boone’s.” While readily acknowledging Adam’s “thrilling showmanship” and vocal prowess, he dismisses Adam’s stage banter as “insipid” and suggests that Adam needs to be more genuinely shocking in order to be the star he is capable of becoming.
The reviewer is not alone in trying to put Adam into the bad-boy rock star box. How many times has Adam been given the opportunity (if not downright encouraged) to criticize other artists, American Idol, his OTT fans, the media, etc? Or has been asked to describe his touring life, with the assumption that he parties hard every night and demands square M&Ms in his dressing room.
I can’t speak for the reviewer, and I don’t know what he was expecting when he went to the concert. But many of us have discussed the dichotomy that is Adam, and have wondered at the contrast between the sexy wild child on stage, and the polite, articulate man who patiently answers the same questions over and over, calmly navigates flailing fans at the buses, and treats his people so kindly. Needless to say, Adam’s fans love and appreciate both sides. The fact that Adam is so grounded and down-to-earth off the stage while being so larger-than-life on it, is a huge part of his charm. It’s a bit of a mindf*ck, but we get it.
There is a reason that rock stars have a reputation for being bad boys (and girls). Sex, drugs, and rock & roll isn’t just a saying, and destructive behavior and outrageous demands are often par for the course. Ke$ha actively cultivates a dirty-girl rep; Gaga literally flips off the media, Kanye disrupts an awards ceremony… it’s all just a day in the life.
Adam chooses a different path. Endlessly gracious to fans, tolerant of the most idiotic DJs, supportive of his fellow artists, low-maintenance backstage. Would it be better if he were badder? He has said he wants to be a "rock stah!" Would it give him more cred if he actually did “get a room and trash it up” instead of just singing about it?
I have no idea. But I like Adam just the way he is. A sweet spirit who turns into a bad-ass mofo onstage. A guy who goes off on a Twitter rant and finishes with a smiley. Who goes all HBIC on a security guard blocking a fan’s camera and then blows him kisses. And who starts his concert casting a sultry spell of seduction and ends it with a peace sign and a huge grin.
Maybe Adam wants to be a different kind of rock star. Maybe it confuses the hell out of some people. Maybe that’s okay
9/12/2010 by NoAngel
A reviewer of the August 23rd Albany NY Glam Nation concert made an interesting observation. The writer, Steve Barnes, asserted that Adam was “fundamentally a nice guy,” with a “heart as gentle as Pat Boone’s.” While readily acknowledging Adam’s “thrilling showmanship” and vocal prowess, he dismisses Adam’s stage banter as “insipid” and suggests that Adam needs to be more genuinely shocking in order to be the star he is capable of becoming.
The reviewer is not alone in trying to put Adam into the bad-boy rock star box. How many times has Adam been given the opportunity (if not downright encouraged) to criticize other artists, American Idol, his OTT fans, the media, etc? Or has been asked to describe his touring life, with the assumption that he parties hard every night and demands square M&Ms in his dressing room.
I can’t speak for the reviewer, and I don’t know what he was expecting when he went to the concert. But many of us have discussed the dichotomy that is Adam, and have wondered at the contrast between the sexy wild child on stage, and the polite, articulate man who patiently answers the same questions over and over, calmly navigates flailing fans at the buses, and treats his people so kindly. Needless to say, Adam’s fans love and appreciate both sides. The fact that Adam is so grounded and down-to-earth off the stage while being so larger-than-life on it, is a huge part of his charm. It’s a bit of a mindf*ck, but we get it.
There is a reason that rock stars have a reputation for being bad boys (and girls). Sex, drugs, and rock & roll isn’t just a saying, and destructive behavior and outrageous demands are often par for the course. Ke$ha actively cultivates a dirty-girl rep; Gaga literally flips off the media, Kanye disrupts an awards ceremony… it’s all just a day in the life.
Adam chooses a different path. Endlessly gracious to fans, tolerant of the most idiotic DJs, supportive of his fellow artists, low-maintenance backstage. Would it be better if he were badder? He has said he wants to be a "rock stah!" Would it give him more cred if he actually did “get a room and trash it up” instead of just singing about it?
I have no idea. But I like Adam just the way he is. A sweet spirit who turns into a bad-ass mofo onstage. A guy who goes off on a Twitter rant and finishes with a smiley. Who goes all HBIC on a security guard blocking a fan’s camera and then blows him kisses. And who starts his concert casting a sultry spell of seduction and ends it with a peace sign and a huge grin.
Maybe Adam wants to be a different kind of rock star. Maybe it confuses the hell out of some people. Maybe that’s okay
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