So wearing lipstick, which all actors, singers and stage performers do, and earings, which has been socially acceptable for men in the USA for a LONG time now makes someone look feminine? At least they're not wearing the lycra and spandex that my rock idols of the 70's and 80's donned...
All kidding aside, I responded because we are very quick to stereotype the newer music stars and excuse the same exact criticisms our favorite stars faced 'back in the day.' I see the same arguments put forward by my peers that they heard from people our age referring to the bands we grew up on. I find it incredibly amusing how we've become so much like the parents that we swore we'd be different than.
I'll hold as valid, however, any criticisms of the actual music as it's extremely formulaic and contrived and designed by professionals to have mass market appeal for the purpose of sales revenue. But then again, that idea isn't new either. After all, it was Paul McCartney of the Beatles who said: "John would be getting an extension on his house or something, and the joke used to be, 'Okay! Today let's write a swimming pool.' It was great motivation."