Adam Lambert becomes first openly gay artist to debut at #1

I'm with Microwave - without wanting to get into an argument, or start with all the 'some of my best friends are gay' lines, I just can't believe there are straight people who would hear a track(s) and like it, but then find out the artist was gay and then state that they didn't like it or not buy it based on that.

Sadly however I have experienced the other way around, where a lot of gay people have raved about an artist and bought all their material, seen them live etc...even though they don't actually like their music, simply because they have been adopted as a stereotypical 'gay icon' (eg Cher, Kylie, etc etc)

How is this important? Doesn't matter whatsoever

Even more shocking: Lambert becomes the first artist to debut at #1 who is openly gay.

Elton John never debuted at #1?

Elton John's Captain Fantastic debuted at #1!

Was Elton openly gay when it debuted at #1?

Well, he was closeted (he didn't come out until 1988). If that's the case, then Lambert is the first "openly" gay artist to debut.

Début chart positions are nice for the artist's ego and very nice for the record company's annual bottom line, but the only real test is how well the music lasts 20 or 30 years from now. Time tends to weed out a lot of crap, like this No. 1 Hit Single from 1976:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_Duck

I wonder who the first openly gay artist to earn a number one debut in the US will be? Does Neil Patrick Harris sing?

Well I bought the album earlier today, and I enjoyed it! Even a Queen live concert fanatic has to enjoy something other than analyzing/researching shows :)

[QUOTE] [b]Micrówave wrote:[/b]
[QUOTE]For an openly gay artist to debut at #1 is certainly something to take note of.[/QUOTE]Maybe, if you're gay.For the rest of us who could really care less what you do with your privates, it really doesn't matter too much.  In rare circumstances, I guess it could mean something.  I'm sure NBA star Rudy Gay is happy to get credit for all those jersey sales even though he's really not that good. The first Black artist... ok.  The first woman... ok.  These are cultural events of note.  The first gay artist?  Um... not so much.[/QUOTE]

Ignorance is bliss I suppose. For you to boil down being gay to "what you do with your privates" shows you to be the complete idiot I always thought you were.

[QUOTE] [b]cmsdrums wrote:[/b]
I'm with Microwave - without wanting to get into an argument, or start with all the 'some of my best friends are gay' lines, I just can't believe there are straight people who would hear a track(s) and like it, but then find out the artist was gay and then state that they didn't like it or not buy it based on that.
Sadly however I have experienced the other way around, where a lot of gay people have raved about an artist and bought all their material, seen them live etc...even though they don't actually like their music, simply because they have been adopted as a stereotypical 'gay icon' (eg Cher, Kylie, etc etc)[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, straight people aren't remotely homophobic enough. You know some truly enlightened people I guess.

and what precisely is wrong with gay people supporting other gay artists? Why is that "sad"?

Because they shouldn't be classed as "gay artists" and be judged on their sexuality, they should simply be "artists" and judged on their music. To my mind they are actively bracketing abd marketing themselves on their sexuality when there's no need.

I fucking hate Simply Red's music and wouldn't buy their stuff just because Mick Hucknall is heterosexual like me, and I'd like to think that gay people wouldn't buy music by certain artists just because they're gay, but the fact is a lot do. Equally I love Queen's output, and it didn't matter a toss to me that Freddie was gay.

Small and manipulated as you think AL's # 1 debut is, it is hugely societally significant. Just reading the posts on this forum showcases how homophobic people still are. Many will dismiss an openly gay artist's music simply because he/she is gay. And so what if I bought all 77,000 copies myself? I love him!!!!

It makes a nice story, but it's a lot of shit. Freddie did more for gays just by being himself than any of these out-and-proud prancing morons ever will. It's like what Morgan Freeman says about Black History month. He doesn't think there should be one. Being neither gay or black, maybe my opinions on these two issues aren't worth much, but I defer to Freddie and Morgan - less yapping about a lot of crap that does not matter and does not involve you, and stick to your craft. Start talking about your sexuality or your ethnicity when your 'artistic' output isn't enough to carry itself.

Oh look.