Though actually he did in some ways. In my mind, he's beyond a mere Prince...he's King of Kamp. He out-Freddies Mercury.
Why Prince Poppycock is Important for America
By: Lisa Derrick, firedoglake.com
For the past three months America's Got Talent showcased Prince Poppycock, the bewigged Baroque dandy who sings superlative opera in outrageous outfits. He is witty, elegant, polished, formerly a glittering secret sensation for nightclub habitués.
On AGT Prince Poppycock, sans costumes known as John Quale, presented more than an opportunity for America to regularly hear "cock" said on the teevee. Though I did rather enjoy that. And as far as exposing America to opera, heck Bugs Bunny was shaving the notes out of the Barber of Seville decades ago. No what Poppycock did was far deeper, he exposed the America's psyche.
Prince Poppycock is important for America because he makes a statement just by being himself and performing in full outrageous historical drag. On September 7 Poppycock showcased a message, singing a medley of "The Star Bangled Banner," "Yankey Doodle Boy" and "Stars and Stripes Forever" while images of American civil liberty heroes Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks and Harvey Milk screened behind him. America loved it, and voted yet again to keep him in the competition and into the finals.
That Prince Poppycock could get on a network show and last to the final round shows that underground Bohemian/queer cabaret culture is spiking through the mainstream beige, and growing more acceptable. Some may say that when the controversial becomes mainstream, the end is nigh, the snake is swallowing its tail, and/or The Man has co-opted cool, like punk rock being in malls via Hot Topic. Whatever, it's better than pantyhose mentality.
And that Prince Poppycock lasted as long as he did shows that there is a huge segment of America that will vote for an (out gay) man in towering wigs, satin pantaloons and high heels singing everything from Verdi to Queen. Maybe we aren't a nation of squares after all.
Now if only we can get that same segment motivate to vote on November 2nd.
I was excited and hopeful that maybe, just maybe Poppycock would score more votes than the talented, handsome but bland blond male blues singer, the 10-year old girl singer or the really-who-cares, seeming-to-defy-gravity performance troupe who appear to float mid-air and had Lionel Richie appear with them singing (predictably) "Dancing on the Ceiling."
Prince Poppycock is important because he shows that America is willing to embrace a flamboyant eccentric. But only up to a point. The 18th-century garbed Poppycock lost in the final round. Michael Grimm, the apparently,most likely straight (reading) male blues singer raised by his grandparents who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina won the competition, which makes more sense than the little girl runner up, because the prize is a Vegas show, and somehow a 10-year performing nightly in Vegas strikes a wrong note.
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