And since her music is on the radio constantly this year, I think it would be very appropriate to begin with Lady Gaga who is having quite a successful breakthrough year. I recruited a friend from IMDB to come and give her "LOVE" side of the argument, because I'm definitely on the side of "I don't get it" when it comes to Gaga. 
"LOVE" by LibraRhapsody
Has there been a female as daring or as commercially successful so early on in their careers since Madonna and Mariah? Yes. Two words for you. Lady GaGa. Lady Gaga, the outrageous fashionista, it would be suprising if you were unaware of her, but just in case, think 80's influenced heavy dance tracks, flirty electronic beats and lyrics like "I wanna take a ride of your disco stick". Think Gwen Stefani meets Christina Aguilera , with a hint of Grace Jones thrown in. Her first two monster pop singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" (worldwide #1's) are wild, retro, sexy and intentionally ridiculous (like their music videos, from her hand movements to the giant dogs). Gaga is as original as she is daring. Unapologetic about her sexuality for sure when she declares shes "bluffin with her muffin" or "dont think too much just bust that stick". On her Top 10 Album "The Fame" she focuses on the glamour of celebrity, which she says, is about how anyone can feel like a celebrity. As well as being commercial and feel good Gaga has depth take "Paper Gangsta" or "Sommerboy" the slower tracks that don’t get lost on her hard hitting LOUD album. And she shows fragility in "Brown Eyes" when Gaga recalls "in your brown eyes, I was feeling low, got some brown eyes, but I saw her face, I knew that it was wrong, in your brown eyes".
Gaga is a breath of fresh air to music, the music industry now seems to ignore talent over image. Its not about vocals and lyrics anymore its about beats and sales. Sad but true. That’s where Gaga blends talent and substance with the relevant factors of a good beat and commercial hook. She plays the piano, writes and produces her own material and can direct a music video. She is taking the music industry by storm, giving hilarious and bizarre interviews and being nominated for awards. She's well on her way to becoming the next big Pop Icon.
"HATE" by ME
Hate might not be the best word to describe my feelings for Lady Gaga or her music. Upon reading about her I actually do respect her hustle. She was signed and dropped years before her recent breakthrough. She than began writing for other artists before she got her big break in hooking up with Akon who signed her to his Kon Live label. The result is the debut "The Fame", which is filled with catchy dance songs -- catchy dance songs that are poorly written, and have very unoriginal concepts. There in lies my problem with Lady Gaga, or maybe I should say Gaga fans. They seem to think her music is so revolutionary, so unique, so new. And I would say, look back just 5 years ago when Gwen Stefani released her "Love.Angel.Music.Baby" album. Upbeat dance ready songs concerning Fame and Riches with addictive hooks and juvenile lyricism. And let's just assume you're too young to remember that. Let's go back just 3 years ago when Fergie put out practically the same album. It's crazy to me that Gwen and Fergie's albums were panned for not having any substance, yet here we are today seeing people actually say that Lady Gaga is innovative?? I think not.
She is cute though, I mean her videos for "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" are captivating. And there are a select few songs from her (overrated) album that are worth checking out... the best being the title track. But there's no way in hell I'm buying that Lady Gaga is the new Madonna. She's not even the new Britney Spears. Not yet at least. I think she makes up for her lack of apparent talent (by the way I've never seen her perform live) or songwriting prowess with great imagery. Avant-Garde outfits
that get her on the fashion wrap up lists, which undoubtedly get her name out there. She's become quite a Celebrity this year, but is she the Flavor of the Moment (like Katy Perry last year) or will she truly become the Star her fans seem to think she already is?
She is cute though, I mean her videos for "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" are captivating. And there are a select few songs from her (overrated) album that are worth checking out... the best being the title track. But there's no way in hell I'm buying that Lady Gaga is the new Madonna. She's not even the new Britney Spears. Not yet at least. I think she makes up for her lack of apparent talent (by the way I've never seen her perform live) or songwriting prowess with great imagery. Avant-Garde outfits
that get her on the fashion wrap up lists, which undoubtedly get her name out there. She's become quite a Celebrity this year, but is she the Flavor of the Moment (like Katy Perry last year) or will she truly become the Star her fans seem to think she already is?
I agree with Libra. Considering all the no talent g=having, following the band-wagon, "entertainers" we have today, Lady Gaga is refreshing. Gwen was refreshing, so was Fergie, but they're the only ones allowed to have a certain sound and style? It's hard to be completely original in this day and times and I think Lady Gaga is doing damn well at it. And if you think Lady Gaga's and Fergie's albums sound the same, something in wrong with your ears.
ReplyDeleteAmilla
I agree with Libra. I think Gaga brigns a freshness and creativity that the music industry has been sorely lacking for a lnog time. I also love how funky and bohemian she is. She's not afraid to stand upot from the crowd in fact she celebrates it and I admire her and respcet for that and of coruse the girl is talented. She can sing, play, produce the lot. There are only a few singers I can think of who can do more than just sing and do a little booty dance around the stage amnogst them being Gaga of course, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Amy Le and a few others which I can't remember but you get the ponit. The only issue I really have with Gaga is that although I admrie her bold new look, sometimes the girl needs to cover up. While I appreciate that fashion is an artand is about expression, you can express youself without wearing only underweaar oer whatever still GO GAGA, GO ORIGINALITY AND GO 4 INDVIDUALITY AND FREE EXPRESSION.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I've seen Lady GaGa perform live 5x, once before she was even a "name" and four times since. As a music/entertainment journalist, her four song EP was sent to me a year in advance of the release of The Fame. After listening to it, I called her publicist, a friend of mine, and said, "I need to speak to this girl. She's going to be HUGE!" I'm so glad I was right.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between GaGa and Britney Spears or Madonna, and even Fergie and Gwen Stefani who you more closely compare her to, is the fact that she wrote every single track on her album. She wrote it all. Every last bit. That, unquestionably, proves talent. Anyone can buy a great producer/songwrite combination and come up with a hit, but to write two back-to-back #1 singles yourself shows something real is going on. Further, GaGa released this album at 22 years old, not 31 (Fergie) or 35 (Gwen). By the time an artist reaches her 30s, maybe she should have a bit more "substance," ut a starry-eyed kid looking to make it big who is obsessed with fame, riches and living the high-life . . . well, that's entirely understandable.
Comparing GaGa to Katy Perry is certainly understandable. They were both break-out artists of the same era and basic genre, not unlike how people once compared Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson or Britney and Christina. Both have had tremendous early success, but it looks like (unfortunately for Katy) a few management missteps and a couple poor releases have dampened her lustre. At the moment, GaGa's only real problem with seeing a third consecutive Top 5 hit (or potential third #1) with "Love Game" is the staying power of "Poker Face." It's just not budging yet!
In my opinion, it really comes down to the music. Maybe I don't recall the critics you do, because people seemed to love both Gwen and Fergie's albums; radio certainly did. And GaGa is no different. The best part is, that in all the times I've spoken to her (four, I think), she has not once denied her music being -- quite simply -- pure, unadulterated pop music. She didn't set out to write lyrics to change the world. She wanted people to sing along. She wanted the musical equivalent of a sugar rush, not a nutriciously balanced meal, and I think with The Fame, she graduated at the top of her class!
tbh i dont think that she is revolutionary, refreshing or paticularly talented. however i am a fan. i think that i have to agree that the music industry is no longer really about the music you make, but your status, celebrity and notoriety. lady gaga shifts albums and the more she sells the more of these three magic igredients she'll get.as pdiddy once said, it's all about the benjamins baby :)
ReplyDeleteı also agree wıth lıbra she ıs funny fashıonable and creatıve ı dont see what you mean by badly wrıtten her lyrıcs are genıus and funny but ı get that some people just dont get her
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