Comments on: Armchair Therapist: Come out, come out whever you are!

By: Tina

Tina — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:56:30 +0000

For the record, this man doesn’t have to let the public or his fanbase know if he is gay or not. All he owes his fans is good music which he has been giving us since Urban Hange Suite. If you don’t like what you observed at his concerts then don’t go. Stay your judgemental asses at home. None of us personally know him. All we have is his gift of music . BLACKsummer’snight is a grammy award winning masterpiece. How dare any of us single this man out as the ONLY black entertainer that you think is suspect. Now on to the concert, did anyone think that he may have just been exhausted from touring so much. He’s been on the road from 2008-2010 and has done 150 shows since then. He may have been pressured to do some of the shows by the record label, however I doubt he’s ever been under pressure to put out an album like some of these current artist. I’ve been to several of his concerts and I enjoyed all of them. He puts on a great show and does the best he can do with the gift that he was given. I appreciate the style of music he does and always will.

By: shonufflives

shonufflives — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:26:35 +0000

the fact that maxwell staying in the closet is unfortunate and disappointing, but i'm most upset and how hard he's trying now, so much established into his career, to play a denzel-esque role. the pressure to posture seems to have risen, and he looks unhappy. luther's lifelong stress about revealing his sexuality had to have been part of the physical trauma that ultimately took his life. maxwell should know better, but he's not acting like it.

By: Guest

Guest — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:52:55 +0000

We’ll have to disagree about the album, I thought it was a disappointment. In terms of topics though, I guess I would just like to hear him tackle something new altogether. You’re right, Black isn’t all “lay you down” lyrics but the songs are part of the same small universe of sentiments and issues I think he’s already tackled. Bad Habit, Cold, Stop the World: all seem to revolve around lust; Pretty Wings: broken heart/forgiveness, Love you: love/ want to love; All pretty typical territory. Stop the World: his first foray into we’ll call it “what’s going on” world, and credit to him for trying but it feels trite. Phoenix Rise is lovely, though no Lyrics to discuss I’ll give you Playing Possum and Fistful of Tears feel atypical, which makes them more interesting to me lyrically. Again, I just wonder what else he has in him. Love/lost love etc. are significant topics and its certainly any musicians perogative to write about what they’d like. I personally just enjoy when someone can go beyond or I guess, just somewhere different-if its genuine to them. For instance an album like Sting’s Soul Cages addressing the grief of his lost father and his relationship to his hometown, really resonate with me. I guess those dimensions just seem a bit more interesting to explore to me personally, and I bet Maxwell could explore a whole lot of other dimensions of life besides love and do a wonderful job of it.
Thanks for the response.

By: mypolaropposite

mypolaropposite — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:26:14 +0000

I disagree about the quality of the music: the new record is really fantastic specifically because it isn’t about crooning lovey-dovey ballads but rather about deep emotions that really suit Maxwell’s maturing voice. The problem is the fans who only want to hear the falsetto, the “lay you down baby” lyrics. Listen to “Help Somebody” and the final instrumental cut on BLACKsummer’snight which are mature and profound. None of the fans at the show I saw wanted anything to do with that kinda stuff. Totally unfortunate.

By: Guest

Guest — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:11:55 +0000

This characterization of the Maxwell concert was spot on in that he seemed bored, going through the motions, and ready to be done. I dont have any thought/speculation about his sexuality, but I believe his sensibility showed the wear and tear of someone having toured too much over the last 2 years with somewhat lackluster material and tired of the expectation that he has to “croon” for the ladies, which must be annoying and tiring regardless of one’s sexuality. To always have to be “on”. Marvin Gaye talked about loving and hating his fan base and image all at the same time. Its a fine line to walk, selling romance/sex-it has to feel somewhat degrading. Max didn’t seem to embrace that image years ago, though Im sure he knew that was a part of his success. Now he seems to have decided to play along and its got to be tiring. Just sitting in the audience I grew tired of the women who were oggling and yelling around me, like he was their man or it was some kind of chippendales act. It was like “where is your sense of reality? you dont know this man, get a grip!” Its all cool to think he’s fine, enjoy the music but some of these folls seem unhinged…
Anyway, I dont know/have concern with Maxwell’s sexuality but I do think he is talented and want to see his music and style evolve if he puts out another album. Otherwise, he is going to become a cliche and it will not be cute to see a 40+man yelling for panties and crawling on the floor for years to come. He used to be one of my favorite artists, but Im starting to cool to him simply because Black and his last concert apperances seemed so lackluster and disengenuous. I know he has another “Embrya” in him. I want to hear it. I want to hear and see him explore something different than love/romance, because I get the sense that he has some unique, interesting, thoughtful perspectives on life and emotion that would be much more compelling than an Al Green cover.

By: mypolaropposite

mypolaropposite — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:41:27 +0000

The difference between the Maxwell now is not that he’s effeminate, it’s that he looks like he’s faking something he clearly doesn’t want to be faking anymore; I could feel his pain, see that he was in the midst of the no-win situation that you mention. My issue
is not with folks who don’t come out, but with the heterosexism that makes it nearly impossible for the music industry (and narrow-minded fans, especially Black folks) to support an artist that doesn’t sing boy-girl love songs. Look at an artist like Janelle Monae, who the industry and Black fans don’t know what to do with because she’s not shaking her ass and trying to sex up the world in a video. *shrugs*

By: HypnotiqOne

HypnotiqOne — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 02:42:08 +0000

So what’s the difference in the Maxwell you saw before (and enjoyed) and the one you saw recently? Effeminence? So you don’t care who he sleeps with as long as he’s masculine enough to perfect the “smoke and mirrors” and “put the MAN in romance?” As a Black gay man, I think these are the reasons why it is very difficult for many of us to come out. It often times feels like a lose-lose situation in the Black community. So as much as you may proclaim that you want him to come out, I’m not so sure if his fan-dom (you included) would be so accepting as told by your reaction to the concert in the Garden. So I empathize with you Brother Maxwell. I pray that you do what feels right…for you…in your own time.

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By: mypolaropposite

mypolaropposite — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:32:02 +0000

I know…jail is not a good place for people who can't figure their shit out…the boys on the yard will help you with the quickness! And doesn't D'Angelo have drug issues as well? SMDH

By: BlackLizLemon

BlackLizLemon — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:54:33 +0000

I tried, Lord, I tried not to see the writing on the wall, but I think you're right. Oh, Maxwell.