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A Friend Stopped By | 06/02/2009 11:00 pm

What Is It About Adam Lambert? by Allegra Huston

The author of Love Child reflects on the panty-throwing days of yesteryear … and on the latest inspiration for the flinging of undergarments from ‘American Idol.’
By Allegra Huston
© Getty Images

Editor’s Note: Allegra Huston’s new book, Love Child: A Memoir of Family Lost and Found, hit bookstores in April and has received rave reviews from Melik Kaylan at Forbes, the Daily Telegraph and wOw’s own Liz Smith, among others. Allegra is the youngest daughter of film director John Huston and sister of Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston. She was born in London, raised in Ireland and Los Angeles, and now lives in Taos, NM. She was a publisher in London for nine years and has been a freelance writer and editor since 1994.

In the early ’80s, I moved to London and discovered that housewives were throwing their panties at Freddie Mercury. I found it baffling. Tom Jones I could understand, though I didn’t buy into it; but Freddie Mercury was so obviously gay. These 40-something women in polyester dresses and perma-set hair were making idiots of themselves on the BBC, as if they didn’t understand what gay was.

I haven’t had a crush on a famous person since my yearning, aged 14, for John Travolta to rescue me from the mountaintop house ...

Could they really not know? I was only 16, but I knew perfectly well – maybe it was because I came from Los Angeles. I’d gone to Frederick’s of Hollywood with my stepmother to buy pink ostrich-feather mules in a size 13 for her friend Philip, to assist in his transformation into Marcia Hardridge.

And now I’m in my 40s, and, if I were the panty-throwing type, I’d want to throw mine at Adam Lambert. What has happened to me?

I’ve never liked the front-combed hair-in-the-face look. I don’t know that I’d actually vote for the black nail polish. And I’m a bit worried that he’s got some ghastly secret piercings. To be honest, I’m not really sure I want to find out. But there’s something about him that keeps me — and half the women I know — replaying old "American Idol" episodes on DVR and gazing at photographs of his blue-penciled eyes. (Let’s not forget that Brando did eyeliner too.) Bravery, maybe — he hooked me with “Ring of Fire.” The damn-the-torpedoes flamboyance, the oh-my-god-what-did-I-just-do look when he finished. The intense self-discipline obvious behind the recklessness. And the sweetness. And the smile.

Frankly, I don’t mind whether he’s kissing a guy or a girl in that photo with the overcoat and scarf and purple hair held back by sunglasses; it’s a very sexy photograph. I wouldn’t want to print it out if he was kissing a girl. I’d be jealous of her. A guy, I can’t compete with. 

I’m thinking it may be better to have a crush on a gay man. I haven’t had a crush on a famous person since my yearning, aged 14, for John Travolta to rescue me from the mountaintop house that, behind my grandmother’s back, we called Gloom Castle. I felt like an idiot then, and I’d feel like one now if I was mooning around over photos of Johnny Depp or Denzel Washington and wondering whether, if we were stuck in an elevator together, they just might be up for it. Of course, they’re more my age. I was at university listening to the original “Mad World” when Adam Lambert was born.

He’s utterly unattainable. So what am I thinking? This way, I can really laugh at myself. I’m not like those Freddie Mercury housewives; I know the score. This is not a sad obsession. I’m hoping it might be chic.

More From Allegra Huston:

"What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?" Seduce Adam Lambert, Obviously
 

12436 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

EKA -

Yes, Harriet, I was thrilled to find this thread…. a day late  ….but I wasted time on the "feminism’ thread and was turned off and went back to my youTube trawling for Adam, not realizing I could have been wallowing in my adoration here on WOW.

Such guilty pleasure, such fun, I love it ! 

By EKA - on 06/03/2009 9:22 am
Harriet Shoebridge
… it is fun, isn’t it?  … actually, I’ve taken the name of my paternal grandmother, a Victorian, a Cockney, London, born within the sound of Bow Bells … writing, smiling to myself, wondering what she thinks, from her ‘perspective’, about all this … more smiling …
By Harriet Shoebridge on 06/04/2009 12:18 am
Lamberkitten UK
This was a great article Allegra - I remember reading about your mum in a Jack Nicholson biography - sorry to briing up - but she sounded well cool and probably had her work cut out for her there! But back to the point - great to find another fan of Adams who obviously "gets" him the way we lesser mortals do.  I too am in mid 40s, self employed woman with own business, and somehow managing to find waaay too much time googling/ogling and daydreaming about Adam.  My husband tries to act annoyed but I think even he has a soft spot for him.  My kids, mid 20’s, one of which is very cool and in his own rock band, also think Adam rocks though they don’t obsess like I do.  Adam’s market seems to be a lot of middle-aged women but  I do think he appeals to those outside this too.  Thanks for writing this and giving us AdamAddicts another fix! Will look for your book which sounds interesting.  Is this fiction or documentary I wonder?  Good luck and take care x
By Lamberkitten UK on 06/03/2009 2:38 am
Choy Aching
omg I was thinkin d same thing. Thankfully its not only me. My mom loves him 2. Imagine that. Even after all those gay stories we are still so interested in his every move. Jus he is one of the most fascinating people. So free and his life is just u can’t figure him out, Totally unique and simply FASCINATING and phenomenel vocals and a great guy!
By Choy Aching on 06/03/2009 2:42 am
Lamberkitten UK
Sorry Allegra, mistaken Angelica for your mum, didnt read properly, reading the intro I see she is your sister.  Sorry, too Adamised to think straight! x
By Lamberkitten UK on 06/03/2009 2:43 am
Dona Howlett

How I’ve enjoyed reading all you Young Women’s views about Adam….

I’m a 77 year old great grandmother and Think he’s fabulous.

What a voice…….what a personality……..he’s drop dead gorgeous.

I think the thing that comes across the strongest to me is he portrays a man who Knows who he is…….Loves and likes himself, therefore being able to give so much love to others.

Isn’t it wonderful on rare occasions someone comes along in our lives that can rekindle old feelings that have long been gone.

I kept thinking while I watched him How Proud his parents must be, then the camera would catch a view of them and the smiles were as radiant as his.  You could really tell he came from a loving family.

I thought the young man who won was very good……..but not in the same ball park as Adam.

It really doesn’t matter that he didn’t win………He will have a fabulous career that will be lasting………not a flash in the pan as so many young artist are today.

You girls enjoy your Hormone Lift while it lasts.

I’ve always thought wouldn’t it be wonderful if about every 5 years nature would allow us to have about a month of our lustful youth again.

By Dona Howlett on 06/03/2009 2:56 am
Sharon Marley

Isn’t this wonderful!  I’m so happy to read all the comments on so many sites from women in their 40’s and beyond who adore this wonderful gift we call Adam.  At first, I thought I was going nuts.  How could I be falling for a guy so young???  It isn’t like me all.  But I now realize, like all of you, that he is special.  His voice, his looks, his sex appeal, his personality, his genuiness  (I could go on forever….), is timeless (and ageless).  We haven’t seen the likes of this in decades.  I hope he’s around for a very long time.  I can’t wait to see what he has for us next!  In the meantime, like a lot of you, I’ll be replaying my DVR and websurfing till my head hurts.

PS—is anyone on here going to the Tacoma, WA idol show?  I either need someone my age, or a decoy to take—LOL!

By Sharon Marley on 06/03/2009 3:30 am
EKA -

OMG, Dona,  I am sooo glad to find you here !!!! But not surprised. Isn’t it nice to have this conversation about the best of feelings and not the worst.  I haven’t been checking in to WOW as much lately because I am tired of the political nastiness …. OH hell, truth be told, I am plugged into my iPod re-listening to Adam’s performances or watching him on YouTube.

Isn’t this fun ?  If you missed it, go to the link I posted at the very beginning of this thread and listen to Adam singing a song from Brigadoon when he was 22 - it will melt your heart.  Get back to me !!! 

By EKA - on 06/03/2009 9:31 am
Dona Howlett

EKA

I listened…………..it melted

By Dona Howlett on 06/05/2009 11:58 pm
Jeannot Kensinger
Oh Dona, you said it all. We could start a big bad girls fan club of Adam!!!!At least like you wrote we do get that rush everyonce in awhile, check the tube on EKA ‘s listing when he sang in 1995, it is fabulous.
By Jeannot Kensinger on 06/03/2009 1:20 pm
mac cop

Ok so here I am 3:40am, 54, cant sleep so what do I do I get up and go search for Adam stuff on the internet.  This is so not me, never done it before, never sent a comment in, never felt like this about a rocker or an actor.

I too meet people my age and randomly converse and when Adam comes up the reaction is the same from all of them.

He definately has something.  I hope he does his own concert tour so we all can get a good dose of everything Adam.

By mac cop on 06/03/2009 4:02 am
Gloria Gold

I love this article- great topic Allegra!  I also love the comments from the ladies.  Its great to know that so many of us feel the same way about Adam.  It does remind me of the Elvis phenomenum and Im loving every minute.  Who would have ever thought i would join an official Adam website  and love it so much! Im 54 and don’t want to know better….

By Gloria Gold on 06/03/2009 4:03 am
Kathy  Heilig

Great essay, Allegra! Vicki, you made it safe for me to post here. Thanks.

I have thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s confessions. I, too have been having trouble getting work done as I process the force of nature that Adam represents. Every performance is saved on my DVR and all I can download is in my iTunes library.

A huge part of Adam’s appeal is his authenticity. While he seems a bit surprised that his ascendence to star status is considered by many to have social significance, he admits he consciously chose songs with messages that would resonate for the gay community (see Slezak interview). He is a wonderful role model for all of us, especially the outsider kids he want to influence. I am so ready for that Rolling Stone cover story. The more he is out, the better for all of us.

Refreshingly, the intensely aphrodisiac nature of Adam’s energy not lost on this 55 year old lesbian mom with 3 sons his age. Sexuality is, indeed, fluid. My wife and I have our tickets for the tour, and my iTunes music list rotation is all Adam these days. It’s fun to feel 20 again, but way smarter.  ;)

By Kathy Heilig on 06/03/2009 4:06 am
Colleen Simmonds
Okay, ladies, let’s be honest. The guy is so hot he takes our breath away and makes us feel all those feelings we had when we were 15! He is so exciting to listen to, I love the high notes, wait for them in fact. Perhaps being gay helps him to be more sensitive and appealing - like Nate on Oprah. I am sure he couldn’t hit those notes if he wasn’t! We are so lucky to still be around to enjoy this talent - can’t wait for the DVD - what am I talking about - I want the video!
By Colleen Simmonds on 06/03/2009 4:16 am
Nancy Walter

I have never posted to a blog before, but Adam drives me to it. I am a 40-something music and drama teacher. Adam demonstrates everything I long to teach my students: creativity, presence, skill, heart. He communicates so completely it takes my breath away. I think those things transcend sexuality, and draw us to him as a person, not just an object. But, he is really cute.

 I had a bad day at work today, and went up to my office and put on his album. It made my troubles go away for a little while.

By the way, I used to love Travolta, too. It is good to know there are kindred spirits out there.

By Nancy Walter on 06/03/2009 4:35 am