Well put. I just glad to be able to have these types of conversations with you all. I respect all of you POV's and appreciate your knowledge on music. Besides you all must be kool to like a dude like Maxwell's music any.

One Luv

And, ONELUV, essentially that's what I feel the takeaway is from this debate--it's that we have choices and can exercise them as we like. The right to choose and freedom of choice is a God-given gift that I really do not take lightly. However, we must also remember that there are consequences for our choices and Maxwell knows [or will learn] that his artistry may suffer or soar as a result of how he chooses to publicly express himself as an artist. As I mature as a music lover and Maxwell aficionado, I still am very concerned with the lyrics and the spirit of the music to which I listen--and as the Neo-Soul movement continues to take deeper roots--I cannot help but analyze or observe that some of the lyrics from the J. Scotts and E. Badus of the world (examples only don't get upset now) are peppered with lyrical references to lifestyles and recreations that maybe I may not participate in--but it's a part of life and more importantly their life...[hey isn't the the gangsta rap excuse though---"it's a part of life?"] I digress...But my point is, we have choices to support or not support or to agree and to not agree but we cannot infuse that on others. As individuals we can choose. So I appreciate your POV, ONELUV as well as several others' points of views in this forum and am glad I can choose to take a few minutes from work to participate. But a result of my choice could be less money in my pocket, so let me get my A$$ back to work:) Grace and Peace, y'all.

That was funny(selective luv)
Call it what you want, but if I don't happen to like a persons personal life style, well so be it. I love Maxwell's music from all that I have heard over the years and he is one of the few artist that no matter when I play him the crowd still loves his songs. However if he did happen to write love songs for men I would be turned off by those lyrics which are important to me when listening to a song.
Now what a brother wants do or do to in his personal life, I really don't care, I have my own life to deal with and I am quite busy with it. But on wax, I have the right to be pick, discriminative, bias or whatever else I want to be when spending my money on anything. Heck, I have been a lot more bias on plenty of other artist for plenty of other things such as drug use in lyrics or cursing or just lack of good lyrics period.
So we all do it, at our liking & convience...

One Luv(not all luv)

Again, I look forward to the release of Maxwell's new CD, Black Summer's Night in August 2005...

Bryan, USA, the Maxwell fan

i agree with the don't like - don't buy idea. its our basic right as consumers. we are severely misled, however, if we believe that our "values" (a.k.a. discriminatory opinions) don't dictate the behavior of many beloved artists.

if an individual's longstanding "like" for an artist is suddenly reversed by a simple personal revelation in their music, isn't that (on a market level and, truly, the only level that most of us really interact with artists like maxwell) the same thing as "telling people what to do"? keep it partially real, folks, or we might not "like" (support your work) you anymore. what a disturbing reality for any artist to face.

i am close to and love plenty of people who take the same standpoint as "oneluv". in each of these situations, i can't help but note that "selectiveluv" would seem to be a more appropriate descriptor.

That's just what will happen. If his cd is going to be about a man making love to a man, well I won't buy it. I am not telling him who date, nor what to write about either, but at the same time I am not *** nor do I agree with homosexuality, but I also don't go around telling people what to do either. But if someone wants to make a album about with homosexual overtones, that is their choice and it is my choice to either buy or not buy. I will say that I have all of Maxwell's albums and other albums with him on them and will continue to buy what he makes unless he makes something that I do not like and the same goes for any other artist I like.

for the person asking about the maxwell website..

www.musze.com

check it, if you are disgusted thinking about maxwell talking to a man, how bout this: DONT BUY THE CD!

I can't believe that some people, including the studios, are so ignorant and primitive to have a problem with an artist being openly bisexual or ***. It is 2005 and if you have problems with same-sex relationships you need to educate and enlighten yourself so you won't be a backward bigot. Maxwell's talent is impeccable and he should be embraced whatever his sexual orientation.

i am the biggest MAXWELL fan in the world. i cant wait for his new cd BLACK SUMMER'S NIGHT to drop in august 2005...
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brian in usa (AL)