Has any body else heard that Maxwell's record company haulted th release of his new cd, Black Summer's Night due to its numerous homosexual overtones? Is this mere speculation or does this rumor have merit?

I heard it a while back, I don't believe it but you never know

MichaelsLight said:

I hope it's just a rumor! Maxwell is my second favorite artist besides Prince. So, please tell me it's a rumor if not just to make me feel better .

I think that there was a thread about this previously. I don't recall where it left off...fact or fiction?

nurse said:

Relax, I don't think this is true. Maxwell is no newcomer to the music scene. He's been out there alot. If he is gay, it would've leaked out long before now. Look at Tevin Campbell, Rashaan Patterson, George Michael, Eddie Murphy, Ricky Martin -- we all know about these guys. Why would Maxwell remain immune from the OutSquad? Because there's probably not any evidence. And in the absence of evidence, it's safe to presume he's straight...

he better not stick to format...


do something like Embryo.. meaning "different"
[Edited 1/8/06 20:29pm]

nurse said:

being gay would make him no longer one of your favorite artists?

TheAstonishing said:

Of Course Not !! I'd still love him .I wouldn't care if he was gay. I just don't like to hear rumors about him. He's great-just like Prince. Their both unique artist.

TheAstonishing said:

YES! Now whut?!
You know that women fantasise about Prince and Maxwell and you know that would kill the fantasy. So, in effect, your answer could be YES. Most women don't want to fantasize about a man that they know likes men. She probably likes to think that Max is singing to her and only her. If it doesn't apply to her, I know several women it does apply to and that would be your answer. Now whut?!
[Edited 1/8/06 20:44pm]

BlaqueKnight said:

the situation you've described is the fan/heart-throb relationship. not the fan/artist relationship. but even going with your notion... perhaps a white man loved Mariah Carey as an "artist" until he found out she was half black, because he's white and only likes to fantasize about white women. would that be acceptable to you as well?

oh, and by the way. she answered the question for herself, so i'm not sure why you were butting in in the first place.
[Edited 1/8/06 20:52pm]

xpertluva said:

Maybe they delayed it bacause it was shit. He might have been asked to re-record the album, after getting himself some talent.

TheAstonishing said:

So what if it is a fan/heartthrob relationship? Maxwell can't be a heartthrob? The very nature of the question was leading towards defensiveness. That happens on here a LOT. Nobody's trying to take all the gays away but hetrosexuals shouldn't have to apologize for liking someone because they are physically attracted to them and them being gay would detract from that fantasy, thereby detracting from the appeal that said artist would have to them. There are a lot of women who wouldn't like Prince as much if he wasn't a pretty boy. Many will never admit it but its true.
I butted in because this is a message board. Its public. I can. Whut?!

BlaqueKnight said:

you're right...its sorta a let down....Like damn....I can't be a hoe after the show and get some Maxwell lovin'. I completely get that it kills the fantasy.

This is an interesting thing because I remember when he first came on the scene, my cousin who's a stylist in NYC told me that Maxwell was gay because she knew his partner at the time.

Personally, it never stopped me from lovin' on Maxwell's music but it did kill the fantasy.

Rhondab said:

does the fantasy come from the music or looking at him or both?

badujunkie said:

depends on the person.....

I've always thought he was a sexy man but now I know he's a sexy man that would have NO interest in me (if that really concerned me).
[Edited 1/8/06 21:27pm]

since when is it impossible to write a record with homosexual overtones
if you're a straight artist?

it's called *daring*, exploring different themes and new points of view
about writing lyrics i guess.

IstenSzek said:

For a black R&B artist in this day and age who's primary source of income is the female populus, its called killing your career.
Of course he can do it, but the real question would be "Is it worth it?"

BlaqueKnight said:

you're absolutely right, i know. but don't you think that's a shame? i'm not
saying this because i'm gay myself or anything, i couldn't care less. it's a
thing about artistic values.

you keep hearing about people like Q-tip and Maxwell whom their companies
constantly send back once they have an album ready, telling them it's not an
album they're willing to release.

in a world where the most shitty plastic pop (i'm talking about things even
worse than Jessica Simpson and stuff, i mean the *really horrible crap*) is
apparantly on a high priority list by major companies, it amazes me that an
artist like in this case Maxwell doesn't get to release what he wants.

he's not an artist that has only teen fans who want a certain type Maxwell
or they'll lose all interest. his audience is mainly adult people that have
enjoyed his previous albums, which were all quite different from one another.

and even if the company was justified in refusing to release an album and put
an artist's career in the fridge for a while, until people forget about them
and their entire potential is being shot to pieces (which is horrible imo but
apparantly that's the way things are done this day and age), then still they
would have to give an artist the chance to release such an album on their own
without the label being involved.

I remember when "Now" was scheduled for release, they kept pushing it back
and reports were that maxwell had to make changes, advised by his company,
because his album as it was then sounded too much like a prince record. as
if that is such a bad thing.

then finally the album was released and although it contained a handfull of
stellar tracks, it was dull and had the soul sucked out of it imo. you can,
on better listen distinctly hear that the album probably started out as an
entirely different affair and turned into the released product later on, and
that is not a good thing.

anyway, i'm rambling like a headless chicken. all i wanted to say is that a
report like this one makes me sad that we have to wait longer still for any
new material by maxwell. he's a great artist and i just want some new tunes
from the man.

BlaqueKnight said:

absolutely so!

brothaluv said:

You forgot Robbie Williams.

HamsterHuey said:

He plays it up for media attension iam sure.

BlaqueKnight won this round. If Maxwell did come out as gay, it would seriously compromise his ability to move cd's. Women, generalization I know, fantasize about artists like they do actors. They project all their desires on the guy too. It's all make-believe. But it's hard to willfully suspend your disbelief when you know there's NO WAY the dude will ever want you! Women dont like to play second fiddle to another woman, so you can imagine how they feel about a man.

It would be nice if people could just enjoy you for your music, but it's more complicated than that. Thats' why Luther Vandross never came out completely during his lifetime. Most artists will just say their bisexual -- leaving a sliver of hope to their female audience. This phenomenon isn't as prevalent with men because a sexy woman is a sexy woman -- regardless whether she acts, sings, dances or is slinging hash at McDonalds...

IstenSzek said:

I'd love to hear an album like that from Maxwell, I think he if anyone could deliver good artistic results from that kind of standpoint. But isn't he also married/about to marry at this point too?

BlaqueKnight said:

hmmmm....let me go check my cousin's sources AGAIN.....


at the end of the day...WHO CARES.....I just want the damn CD!!!!!


and I'm gigglin' hard at brotha's inclusion of Eddie Murphy....

Lawd.....and I LOVEEEEEe me some Rahsaan...I don't care who he's singing to, for or about!!!!

TheAstonishing said:

-----
It has nothing to do with anything being acceptable. That is how a lot of woman feel and some white guys may feel the same way about Mariah.

Get off this P.C. nosense and yes I am butting him to this discussion.

TheAstonishing said:

once again...the fantasy is killed...so yeah...its ok....

it would be rude to talk..but me and musicians friends in new york know him very well...for years...like 11-12...we all know what he's into...and its different than 90% of us...

Maxwell is way cute so as a female thats bought his shit from the beginning it would be an adjustment to hear him singing about men But I'd still buy it b/c I dig his music (hopefully the music would be good, since that's what it's all about) & I'd get used to it. His voice is wonderful & hopefully always will be

Like Rhonda said (Rhonda, you are KILLING me this morning w/ Eddie's inclusion & hoeing after the show!! ) it does kill the fantasy. But we don't buy their music just for the fantasy, it can be a part of it though when you find an artist attractive.

It's funny though that no one can list any lyrics - I'm curious about what's being said. Is it blatant? Nasty? Clever? What's making the label freak out so bad, I wanna know

Luther always sang about women, we all know the truth...

It took MeShell a while to sing about women...

George Michael sang about women...

Who cares, as long as the music is good...