Do you like Lady Gaga? I’ve been a big Gaga fan ever since the release of her 2008 album, The Fame. Before that, I really didn’t understand any of her work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on The Fame Monster where Gaga’s presence became more apparent. I think Bad Romance was her undisputed masterpiece. It’s an epic meditation on the hedonistic, existential despair of the modern age. At the same time, it also shows a glimmer of hope and a deep-seated, wistful longing for traditional values.Christy, take off your robe. Let us first consider the very nature of her as an artist. Not content with the name that her parents gave her - Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - she has boldly made a statement of self-definition. As surely as Napoleon reinvented himself and defined his time by crowning himself Emperor of France, Ms. Germanotta has performed a similar act. Sabrina, remove your dress.
In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Sabrina, why don’t you, uh, dance a little.
Take the lyrics to Just Dance. In this song, Lady Gaga weaves a stunning narrative of an innocent, confused girl thrust into the midst of a world of hedonism. It is the first step toward her inevitable corruption, fall, and ultimately, catharsis and transfiguration.
Bad Romance is the most moving pop song of the 2000s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I’ve heard in rock. Christy, get down on your knees so Sabrina can see your asshole.
Truly, Lady Gaga is a true “Artist” and one of the few truly postmodern, avant-garde figures in music today. Sabrina, don’t just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Lady Gaga works best within the confines of the Haus of Gaga, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Telephone, a great, great song, a personal favorite.
Posted on Friday, 12 March 2010
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