I know there’s at least one massive Lady Gaga fan here at AAR (Jane, I’m looking at you). My appreciation for her has grown very slowly; there was always respect, but it took a while for me to get beyond the makeup, controversy, eggs and 15-minute music videos. I think what clinched it, though, was her two-minute live rendition of “Edge of Glory” on SNL, and which I found she also played for Howard Stern (above).
You know, there aren’t that many pop stars who not only write and sing their own songs, but also allow the frailties and flaws of their voices stand out, adorned and naked as she does. There also aren’t that many songwriters whose songs allow themselves to such a variety of interpretation – but Lady Gaga’s do. And there aren’t that many songs when, stripped down, are even better than the studio-produced, mass-accompanied ones – but I think this one qualifies in my book. And finally, there certainly aren’t that many artists who can, and do, do all three.
Lady Gaga does.
– Jean AAR
I live in Seattle, Washington and work as a legal assistant. I remember learning to read (comic strips) at a young age and nowadays try to read about 5-6 books a week. I love to travel, especially to Europe, and enjoy exploring smaller towns off the tourist track though London is my favorite city in the world.
Mmm. I watch her videos and a large part of me usually wonders, um, what was the point of that? Then again, would anyone have paid any attention if she was just yet another singer-songwriter who wrote good power ballads? It’ll be interesting to see what she grows into over the years, and how she’ll evolve.
The makeup and the weird outfits are a distraction. I’ve grown to accept them, much like I did Elton John, but she’s too GOOD for that.
That’s a good point Jane. I think she’s quite normal in a sense – has good features, bad ones, and amazing ones – but unlike many celebrities and musicians, she’s not always paranoid about highlighting her best ones and covering up her worst. What you see is what you get. And I like that too.
Agreed. One of the things I admire about her is that she’s not afraid to be ugly. I’m not saying that she IS ugly — I know some people rag on her, but I think she is naturally very pretty — but she commits to her eccentricity even when it isn’t flattering.
Me, too, Jean. She is terrific.