In a world where any trashy train wreck can transform into a universal pop sensation, people with genuine talent have received a shining beacon of hope. No longer shall our daughters be forced to look up to, but never live up to, the stereotypical, physically enhanced bimbos of the pop world. A new queen of pop has been crowned, with nine VMA and five Grammy nominations, her talent speaks for itself. All hail Lady GaGa.
The world fell in love with the fantastical lyrics and the 1980s techno pop beats of Lady GaGa’s debut album “The Fame.” The record quickly shot to the top of the charts and produced four number 1 hits with “Just Dance,” “Pokerface,” “LoveGame” and “Paparazzi.” GaGa has returned again with a second album, “The Fame Monster.” The record was number one on iTunes the day of its release and has remained at the top of the charts ever since. “Bad Romance,” the first single off of “The Fame Monster,” has also remained at the top of the iTunes Top 100 List.
GaGa is widely known for her often other-worldly wardrobe, out-there actions, and out-spoken personality, as well as her rockin’ vocal chops. Her voice wasn’t really show-cased on “The Fame,” but that has changed with the new album. Fans adore her live performances for the simple reason that she actually sings.
“It’s kind of in the job description isn’t it?” she quipped in an interview on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
On her sophomore album, GaGa, steers away from her obsession with money and fame, opting for darker lyrics on topics which, she has said, scare her, topics like love, sex, drugs and loss. The vocals featured on this album reflect her live performances more than the over-produced tracks on “The Fame.” GaGa stands out in the pop world, because unlike many of her pop star peers, she writes and produces all of her own music. She is not only vocally talented but also knows how to make her music truly one of a kind.
One track stands out on this album; “Speechless” is a prime example of GaGa’s musical ability. With simply a piano and drums, she proves she doesn’t rely on her bass heavy dance-pop roots to get a poignant message across. The track is reminiscent of early Queen. “Speechless” was written while she was on tour to convince her father to go through with a surgery to repair some damage to his heart. The heart wrenching lyrics seem to be enough to convince anyone GaGa is still a regular human being despite all of the racy costumes and flashy performances.
“Would you give it all up? Could you give it all up? If I promise, boy, to you, that I’ll never talk again, and I’ll never love again, I’ll never write a song, or even sing along, oh boy, why you so speechless?”
The album contains, in my opinion, a couple of tracks, which have major potential to become hits. “Bad Romance” has already made its way to the top of the charts with an undeniably unique and innovative video to boot. “Monster” retells the story of a past fling that keeps coming back for more, continuing to control her mind. “Dance in the Dark” features a catchy pop beat that will keep you hooked until the end. “Telephone” features fellow pop icon, Beyoncé, resulting in the collaboration of the year, which will, most likely, go down in history.
GaGa certainly stands out in a crowd. She has never had a performance that hasn’t had people talking for weeks afterward. Never has she performed a song the same twice, for “repetition gets dull” she has stated. Each performance is unique, each performance has a message. GaGa has never gone on stage to sing; she goes on stage to perform.
With 2009 being dubbed “The Year of GaGa,” she has secured her spot in pop history and rightfully earned her status as a music icon. Being credited as the Madonna of our generation by blabber-mouthed rapper Kanye West, GaGa has certainly made it known she is who she is with no apologies. The Queen of pop has arrived; Lady GaGa is here to stay.