Deborah Weiss attended High School at Interlochen Arts Academy and is currently an attorney and freelance writer.
Deborah Weiss
Adam Lambert Turns the Other Cheek (Again)
by Deborah WeissJewish, gay Adam Lambert seems to be more Christian than some “Christians” at the Baptist Church. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Adam is a singer first and foremost, and initially it was his voice that drew me to him. His range, falsetto, and his ability to hold high notes were amazing. On “American Idol,” his choices in music, clothes, lighting and sets, always made his performances entertaining. Indeed, I liked his whole performance package. Additionally, I was intrigued by his display of emotion, including the angry snarls and the steaming sexuality. I’m a Broadway and hard rock girl, and I liked the fact that he was over-the-top.
Some of the exact things I liked about his performances, also probably made me biased against him personally. I can’t really say I felt the kind of attraction to him that so many others professed. And, his Goth look — the pitch black hair, black eyeliner and nail polish, coupled with his unabashed sexuality, didn’t exactly lead me, conservative Debbie, to believe that he’s the kind of guy I’d want to be friends with or whose values I would share. Fortunately, I’m open minded, and as in my politics, I try to form conclusions based on fact, not superficial impressions. (more…)
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Susan Boyle: Celebrity, Reality and Therapy (UPDATED)
by Deborah WeissYou probably know who Susan Boyle is by now. She’s the 48-year-old frumpy, triple-chinned, thick eye-browed, unsophisticated singer from the show “Britain’s Got Talent” who recently became an overnight sensation. During her audition, all three judges laughed at her when she expressed her desire to become another Elaine Paige (Britain’s First Lady of musical theater known for her roles in Evita, Hair and Cats). Based on their assumption that an ugly old fat women can’t sing, once Boyle opened her mouth and began to vocalize “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables”, the judges’ jaws dropped, the audience gave her a standing ovation, and the world went into shock (author and some readers excepted).
Sure, she has a good voice….an excellent voice. But you’ve heard great voices before, right? Boyle’s voice was not out of the ordinary spectrum of good talent. The real reason for her sudden rise to fame was the stark contrast between the low expectations placed on her due to her appearance, and the fact that her voice was dissonant with those preconceived notions. (more…)
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Obviously, Adam Lambert Isn’t Gay Enough
by Deborah WeissIf you haven’t heard of Adam Lambert, you will soon. He is the flamboyant rocker who recently came in second on “American Idol” in a stunning upset by boy-next-door Kris Allen. Adam, the judges’ obvious favorite throughout the show, is a 27-year-old actor-singer who was struggling to make it in the music business until “Idol” came along. A former cast-member of “Wicked,” Adam worked in various Broadway touring groups and avant garde shows in order to pay his rent. But his real dream was to become a pop-rock star.
Adam has an amazing vocal range and a falsetto so rich in quality that it is imperceptibly different from his chest voice. His incredible ability to control his vocals enables him to hold his high notes seemingly forever. His versatility is unmatched in “Idol” history. With the arguable exception of country music (his rendition of “Ring of Fire” received strong emotional reactions both pro and con, as it was more like Johnny Cash doing Goth music with Middle Eastern undertones), Adam excels in every genre of music. He sings soulful ballads to pop to heavy metal and glam rock, all with ease, style, and pitch-perfect tone. (more…)
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