Lady Gaga

[tilthefirefades]

So I basically have a rant in store First off let me say that in the beginning I loved her music. Last year she was the soundtrack to my summer, when it was simply fun catchy pop music. Perfect for the summer time. Then, all of a sudden, she became this icon, and captured my generation. I do not understand how she is an icon, nor where people get the idea that she is some fresh, new, creative entity. Now let me say this, if people would stop placing her on this pedestal above all other creation, I might would still enjoy her. There are many things that trouble me about her, let me list them:

-Her huge amount of gay fans. If I could obtain some amount of public attention, and claim that I just love the gays, it would be an immediate fan base. I really don't think she cares too much about my life, nor any other fellow LGBT people.

-The fact that people are claiming that she is better than Madonna. Madonna being the woman who, IMO, started the revolution of provocative women in the pop world. Not to mention that she is a true icon.

-That people think that Christina Aguilera is copying Lady Gaga. Christina being the one alongside Britney Spears who helped shape what Madonna started into modern pop genre and style. Christina had her "dirty" phase back in 02 (I think) and that, to me, was shocking. Only her exception was the talent before and after it to make it worthwhile and enjoyable.

-And finally, is it really that over the top? What sparked my creating this thread, is the massive amount of my friends who agree with me. Also seeing Viv's sig pic made me see that I am not the only one who is over Lady Gaga's evil rule. Cigarette glasses, bra and panties, stupid hair, all of it. It's not really that over the top, unless you make it such. Lady Gaga is only doing what Madonna did in the 80's, and what Manson did in the 90's.

Anyway, what does everyone else think about her?

[bucklind17]

I'm the type of person who tends to like something less as soon as the hype explodes. If it's all people are talking about, I'm less likely to want to give it the time of day. Glee is a perfect example of this. I didn't like Glee the first time I watched it and everyone's obsession with it makes me like it less. Mostly because I believe in liking things because you truly connect to them and appreciate them and as soon as something is as hyped as Gaga has become or Glee is or Justin Bieber or what have you, it goes beyond that person's creation and into their image and that bothers me. It's not a matter of disliking the peripheral aspects of an artist, because I love a lot about my favorites bands. It's rooted in their music but it sometimes transcends that. But the ROOT should be the music.

At this stage in the game, I don't think that is what a lot of people are into Gaga for. They are into her because she's huge, it's the in thing to like, her videos are provocative, etc. And that's fine, as a pop culture icon, but as a musician, no. Maybe that is what she wants and is going for, I don't follow her enough at this point to know what she's said on the subject, but she is a legitimate talented musician. Girl can write a song, can play a song, can sing a song. I wish the focus was more on that and less on what she was wearing, who's she's supporting/offending, what her videos mean. But, like I said, that a general feeling I have toward the mainstream music industry in general. She is just happens to be a great example of it.

That said, I like her music. I listen to it. Other than that, don't have much interest.

[vivfox]

I no longer listen to the radio on a daily basis. But when I did and before I knew what Ga Ga looked like, her music was played on the stations I listened to. I enjoyed all of her singles. Mostly I don't like to watch videos because if the performer is ugly to me, it could ruin the song. A good example is the song called Good Times(I get High) by Styles P. This song was an anthem for me for several years. Then I saw the video and this ugly guy with a chipped front tooth singing this song in a dirty public restroom was a major turnoff. I still like the song but I don't want to see anymore of his videos.

I don't seek out Ga Ga's videos either. I have seen a few of them and I see her in magazines all the time. I think she does care about her Gay fans. She told Larry King how much Gay's have supported her career and how much she appreciates that.

Anthony, if you like her music like you did last summer I don't see any reason why you would stop liking her just because her star exploded.

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by vivfox

I no longer listen to the radio on a daily basis. But when I did and before I knew what Ga Ga looked like, her music was played on the stations I listened to. I enjoyed all of her singles. Mostly I don't like to watch videos because if the performer is ugly to me, it could ruin the song. A good example is the song called Good Times(I get High) by Styles P. This song was an anthem for me for several years. Then I saw the video and this ugly guy with a chipped front tooth singing this song in a dirty public restroom was a major turnoff. I still like the song but I don't want to see anymore of his videos.

As a big-nosed Italian fugmo myself, kindly suck it, good sir.

[Macfanforever]

Thank goodness for Old rock and roll,I'f I was the edge of 17 today ,"Thanks Stevie" I probably would tune in new pop radio. or better yet , new country radio with Taylor Swift. but thats my opinion,Ok I dont care what the artists is gay, or not I have no problem with that.If they can write and sing good,Like Elton John ,Which I love his music and he's a wonderful person too.Ok If the artist appeared nude or cursing on tv or anything that offends the viewer , or a radio listenerThe viewer or radio listener does has a option to turn the channel or shut the set off.

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

As a big-nosed Italian fugmo myself, kindly suck it, good sir.

Naw, you're not my type. I'm not into women who wear granny panties. So ESAD punk rocker.

[Artemis]

I love GaGa, I don't go out of my way to read everything she says or see every show she's appeared on or anything, so she's not over-exposed with me yet, but I like her music, and to be honest, the woman knows how to put on a show.

She knows how to write a catchy hook, Poker Face and Bad Romance have to be my two favourite songs from last year. My 52 year old mother loves those songs too, and she only likes Shania Twain and Queen xD

With GaGa, you either love her or hate her, I think. I thought her Telephone video was brilliant, and fair play to Beyoncé for playing her part in that.

I don't much care about GaGa the person, as I don't go reading articles / interviews from her, etc, but I love her music. It's just perfect pop, to me anyway. My best friend absolutely hates her, to the point where, we were in her car the other day, my friend was driving, and Bad Romance came on the radio - my friend stalled xD

[GypsyBlueEyes]

Originally Posted by bucklind17

I'm the type of person who tends to like something less as soon as the hype explodes. If it's all people are talking about, I'm less likely to want to give it the time of day. Glee is a perfect example of this. I didn't like Glee the first time I watched it and everyone's obsession with it makes me like it less. Mostly because I believe in liking things because you truly connect to them and appreciate them and as soon as something is as hyped as Gaga has become or Glee is or Justin Bieber or what have you, it goes beyond that person's creation and into their image and that bothers me. It's not a matter of disliking the peripheral aspects of an artist, because I love a lot about my favorites bands. It's rooted in their music but it sometimes transcends that. But the ROOT should be the music.

WOW! You have no idea how accurately you've just described me...I'm the exact same way!

So, that being said, I absolutely ignored everything Lady Gaga from the very beginning. Since then, I have come to like a few of her songs but that's about it. I don't think she would ever have had so much success if she hadn't used such an outrageous image to garner attention. Honestly, there are things artists can do to enhance a performance or a song and then there's just taking it to the extreme so that it loses all sense of being realistic. I can understand the comparisons with Madonna...some decent music, fashions that set them apart from everyone else, they're provacative, etc. I've always thought about Madonna, and now feel the same about LG, that a very large part of their popularity stems from the fact that they are great business women. Nothing they do is by accident and everything is planned down to the tiniest detail to garner a certain reaction. Unfortunately, for me that detracts from the music because it makes it less personal, less about music and lyrics and it becomes a product that is sold to the public. I think this is especially the case for LG. I mean, I don't understand how she's considered to be groundbreaking or innovative...in terms of fashion, all she has accomplished is used what artists like Elton John have been doing for years and taken it to the extreme. She's been known to show a lot of skin, which has definitely been done before also. She isn't the first person to write a catchy pop song, either. I've watched some of her interviews too...everything she says seems so calculated that it seems like she hides behind the Lady Gaga product and we don't ever get any more than what has been marketed towards us. I'm not necessarily coming down on her for that, either. I just consider what she does and her identity as Lady Gaga to be more inclined towards performance art than what is generally considered a singer/songwriter/musician. After all, it's not like she's the only one. I look at it as a kind of continuum in which you've got the traditional singer/songwriter/musician on one end and the extreme Lady Gaga on the other with the Britney's, Christina's, and everyone else somewhere along the continuum. Only time will tell if she has the longevity of someone like Madonna. In the media driven society we live in, people love anything that pushes social norms and that has worked to her advantage. However, never before has the idea of "the next best thing" been so true. Everyone is always looking for it...it could be that people will get bored with the "Lady Gaga show" and there's very little (if anything) she can do to top herself now.

Anyway, that's just my take on her

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by tilthefirefades

Anyway, what does everyone else think about her?

There has been tons of discussion about LG on this board.

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=42257

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=43318

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=41577

... are some of the larger threads devoted/largely centered around her.

[tilthefirefades]

Originally Posted by LukeA

There has been tons of discussion about LG on this board.

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=42257

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=43318

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=41577

... are some of the larger threads devoted/largely centered around her.

Thank you for bringing what I already knew to my attention. But really I mostly made this thread out of the recent comments I've read elsewhere concerning Christina copying her, and that LG is better than Madonna.

And Viv, like Bucklind17 kinda said, I find it hard to enjoy her songs anymore with the extreme amount of hype around her.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by tilthefirefades

Thank you for bringing what I already knew to my attention.

Oh, it was nothing personal- just that such a general question pertaining to such a widely discussed topic inherently calls for a certain amount of retrospection.

[tilthefirefades]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Oh, it was nothing personal- just that such a general question pertaining to such a widely discussed topic inherently calls for a certain amount of retrospection.

True, I should have specified in my first post that I mostly intended the question to be answered concerning the opinions I listed.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by tilthefirefades

-That people think that Christina Aguilera is copying Lady Gaga.

On her new album/lead single? She absolutely is copying her.. which played a large part as to why the single bombed/arena tour had to be canceled.

[louielouie2000]

There seems to be a generation gap between mine and yours, Anthony. Because I can't think of anyone my age or older who has a single kind word to say about Gaga. But everyone younger than myself seems to worship her. I guess it's that way with Madonna, too. Most everyone my age seems to think she's fantastic... but my parents think she's a no talent. I will say this about Gaga vs Madonna. Madonna was famous for a while, and THEN levied her fame to push boundaries and be provocative. Provocative about gender roles, sexuality, religion, etc. Gaga has made her mark by BEING provocative right out of the gate. And what's she provocative about? Wearing insane stupid clothes? Is that all she's really got to say or contribute? The difference between Madonna and Gaga is that Madonna actually had something to say, a true agenda, walls to tear down. Gaga is just screaming for attention which she obviously didn't get enough of as a child.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

There seems to be a generation gap between mine and yours, Anthony. Because I can't think of anyone my age or older who has a single kind word to say about Gaga. But everyone younger than myself seems to worship her. I guess it's that way with Madonna, too. Most everyone my age seems to think she's fantastic... but my parents think she's a no talent. I will say this about Gaga vs Madonna. Madonna was famous for a while, and THEN levied her fame to push boundaries and be provocative. Provocative about gender roles, sexuality, religion, etc. Gaga has made her mark by BEING provocative right out of the gate. And what's she provocative about? Wearing insane stupid clothes? Is that all she's really got to say or contribute? The difference between Madonna and Gaga is that Madonna actually had something to say, a true agenda, walls to tear down. Gaga is just screaming for attention which she obviously didn't get enough of as a child.

I'm 36 (37 in a couple months) and I thing Lady Gaga, the character, is...brilliant, though I'm really just so/so on the music. I agree with the generation gap thing whoeheartedly. When I was 16 every adult I knew thought Madonna was the most silly and ridiculous thing to ever hit the pop music scene.

It's funny how time changes boundaries - and we have no idea what the future holds. The stuff Gaga is doing now may seem normal and tame, even boring to the next generation, but I think people now are far too quick to dismiss her as a fad that will pass. Let's not forget that the woman - Stephanie Germanotta - we've not heard from her at all, only from the alter-ego that she performs under. Lady Gaga is a character, not a person - and all of these songs and videos are representations of the character that Stephanie has created. Two, three albums down the road, Lady Gaga might not even exist, having been retired or even killed off via music video to make way for a new character, or an actual glimpse at the artist behind the persona.