Rocco's Pop Revolution: Seen through the eyes of someone living it

I can’t even explain to you all the gasp, jaw drop, laughter, accompanied by the “OMFG”‘s that came after I read the headline “Clive Davis Comes Out As A Bisexual”. Is that not the funniest thing ever?

I mean, I’m used to these lame coming outs from Lance Bass, Rickey Martin and Anderson Cooper— like dude, we know. But Clivey Clive saying he could get down with a dude if he wanted to is hilarious because he’s really old and just seems like a rich Republican that would never admit to liking penis, but instead get caught in an airport bathroom with a man. Ya know what I mean?

Hey, fellas!

I don’t know how I didn’t see this coming. I mean, what straight man rocks an electric blue tie with matching pocket hankie (is that what that’s called?) and matching diamond pin on the lapel?? NO STRAIGHT MAN. Plus, I think he sprays tan.

Davis, who has been married and divorced twice, has never before publicly addressed his sexuality. In a candid five-page section toward the end of the book, due in stores today, he writes that he first had a sexual encounter with a man during “the era of Studio 54.” “On this night, after imbibing enough alcohol, I was open to responding to his sexual overtures,” writes Davis, who says he had only been with women before. Being with a man, he writes, provided “welcome relief.”

After a period of “soul searching and self-analysis,” Davis separated from his second wife in 1985, and says that he went on to have simultaneous relationships with two women and a man. In 1990, he entered into a “monogamous relationship” with a male doctor, who is not named in the book. Although that relationship ended in 2004, Davis says he has been in a subsequent relationship with another man ever since. Davis writes that his coming out deeply affected his ties with one of his sons, Mitchell: After what Davis calls “one very trying year,” father and son worked out their differences, Davis says.

Clive Davis is dating a man right now. Does anyone else like this man a little bit more because you know picture him as an adorable, old, gay man shuffling around in a deep purple velvet robe, with his younger male boo and chihuahua by his side? Because that’s how I see him now.

Anyway, Clive Davis is gay and the less fun part of the story is he hates Kelly Clarkson, calls her a crybaby and Kelly Clarkson hates him back and calls him a liar.

So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.

First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.

But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with.
But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.

He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….

Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.

OHHHHH SNAP, GIRL!

I don’t know why Kelly Clarkson’s defense wasn’t just who cares about the lies he’s spreading— let’s talk about this new gayness that is coming to light and chat about the real reasons why he loved Whitney Houston so much… because gay men LOVE Whitney.

That tie.

-Rocco