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In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"

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Maura Johnston
09/08/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
This woman is full of crap. Sorry. Totally sick of her "BUT IT'S ART" undergrad BS, totally wish she wrote more memorable songs.
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Maura Johnston
09/08/09

@Maura Johnston: And she *doesn't* believe herself. In fact, she's at her weakest when she's trying to "discuss" her art, because it comes from a position of defensiveness.
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Jack_Burton
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
The Empress has no clothes (well, no pants anyway).

I think she may be taking herself too seriously - just as Marylin Manson did. Where does inspiration and homage end and appropriation and derivation begin?

To me she seems like a club-kid turned DJ turned popstar. Like Kid Rock, or Andrew WK, I don't see what the big deal is - it's well-designed pop, and an artist image that suits it well.
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thesciencegirl
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
Her pantlessness bothers me, but I've gotta admit: she's growing on me. And as far as pop music goes, she's good.
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Cam/ron
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
Good post. The late 00's will go down as a pretty weak, unremarkable time for pop music so it's a little refreshing to see a peacock, even though her music is rather uninspired and factory-stamped. Gaga's fusion of Britney Spears and Mudd Club art-sleaze can be striking, but so much of her imagery are just rehashes of past artists' work (poor Roisin Murphy). I'm more interested in how her imagery impacts listeners as I'm thinking about the armies of Madonna-bies that arose 25 years ago.
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Harlot Brontë
09/03/09

@Cam/ron: Wait, I think I remember you mentioning a while back that you were a music journalist, or am I muddled and thinking of someone else? I'd genuinely love to hear more. Please go on! What do you think of Gaga's longevity? I initially scoffed and derided her as a flash-in-the-pan, but then I actually gave her a listen. And while she's a little formulaic, I can't help but respect the burgeoning musicality - she's young, but it seems like she has a lot of other ideas to give. Do you think she can claim a following anywhere near as strong as mid-80s Madonnna?
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Cam/ron
09/03/09

@Harlot Brontë: Yep, I'm a music writer but I usually cover the electronic and experimental music worlds. It's too premature to tell if she's going to have a following comparable to early Madonna since so many new artists come and go in the pop scene, especially since MTV barely covers music anymore. I'm also impressed by how she tries so many ideas at such a young age, and it's cool that she exposing teenage girls to "performance art" (although I wish more teens were into Hercules and Love Affair). However, Madonna's early records had many strong songs that captured their time very well and still resonate ("Lucky Star" is still fun to hear today), while Gaga's tunes fail to do so.
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CherriSpryte
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
This is going to sound ridiculous, but she can actually sing. Incredibly well. I don't know why she choses to obscure it on her album, but if you listen her singing acoustically, she sounds amazing.
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Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
You perfectly summed up what it is a find compelling. I have an overwhelming hatred for hypocrisy. I find myself drawn to all sorts of odd or distasteful people merely because they are not hypocrites. That is how I feel about Lady Gaga. She is true to who she is and honest about what she is trying to accomplish. I respect that much more than someone like Beyonce who wouldn't show her belly in the beginning because it was slutty and then writhed around in her music video's a few months later.
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labeled
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
I believe in a glamorous life.

Without love,
it ain't much.
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wooden_shoes
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
I love that everyone is wailing and gnashing their teeth over this. Gaga does what artists do best: cause controversy. Who wants boring when you can have crazy?
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Diziet_Sma
09/03/09

@wooden_shoes: Spot on. You're so right.
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Wit is periodically disensouled
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
"memorable martyrs of fame in history"

Am I wrong in thinking that the "martyrs of fame" aren't meant to be famous martyrs, but people whose death was attributable, at least in part, to their fame? Like Princess Di, (God forbid) Marilyn Monroe, etc.?

I am definitely thinking way too much about this. I couldn't even recognize a Lady Gaga song if I heard one.
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jigglyball
09/03/09

@Wit is periodically disensouled: Yeah, my first thoughts were Marilyn Monroe, Heath Ledger, Princess Di, etc., and I really don't think she meant it that way. I certainly hope not.
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Diziet_Sma
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
Well said, Dodai. I agree with every word. I don't even know her music very well, beyond the singles, but thank Zeus for eccentrics - in every walk of life. And Gaga reminds me that music is one medium where female eccentrics have been as successful as the men: Diamanda Galas, Grace Jones, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Alison Goldfrapp, Bjork et al. I'll take interesting over mass-market any day.
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Edited by Diziet_Sma at 09/03/09 12:42 PM Diziet_Sma was starred Diziet_Sma was unstarred

Kilotwat
09/03/09

@Diziet_Sma: I'd say Lady Gaga is both. Gloriously so! Weird is fine and good on its own, but weird shoved in everybody's face is even better.
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
09/03/09

@Diziet_Sma: I enjoy the spectacle of Gaga, but have to say that her music is pretty generic to me, while those other artists you mention had pretty interesting music as well as the spectacle.
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mirrorghost
09/03/09

@Diziet_Sma: fully agreed. i'd promote your comment if i could :)
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JohanPaladin
09/03/09

@Kilotwat: People [ ... ] like to have [Gaga] poked, poked in their noses
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BlueJeans
09/03/09

@Kilotwat: Weird for Weird's Sake. I'll raise that banner.
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Diziet_Sma
09/03/09

@Kilotwat: You're right! I should have said mass-market bland.
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Diziet_Sma
09/03/09

@Grim Reaper of the Forest: The music doesn't do much for me either; but that is just a question of taste, I guess. She doesn't bore me as a person, like so many other artists whose music I'm not interested in - Beyonce, Katy Perry, whoever.
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egg cream
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
Honestly, I don't think giving vague, recycled answers about art and fame and pop culture and inspiring a movement (a movement for what? a glamorous life? a lust for fame? Kermit heads? more sparkly things? that's not inspiring a movement, that's perpetuating an already-existent consumer culture) and attempting to legitimize those answers by grasping at places and pasts which truly were revolutionary (and in which you were never involved!) because your boring, derivative, boilerplate pop music certainly doesn't back up any of your statements about how you're an original and exciting artist is any more interesting than an adolescent writing and singing well-crafted stories about adolescent life. And I don't even like Taylor Swift!
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BBooms
09/13/09

@egg cream is here, is second tier, get used to it: Maybe instead of immediately dismissing her as "recycled" you should actually listen to what she says. I don't think her music is particularly good, but as an artist and a celebrity she is very interesting.
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unmoldednicole
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
I can't wait to "study" Lady Ga Ga's VMA performence on youtube and learn the answer to the universe! Why are we here? Is there a God? Will the world really in 2012? Clearly we will learn ALL these things on YOUTUBE from an Mtv performence by Lady Ga Ga. YES!
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AvantGardenia
09/03/09

@unmoldednicole: SPOILER ALERT: The climax of the latest Dan Brown novel, "The Symbol," has Robert Langdon examining said YouTube video frame by frame to discover that Lady Gaga is actually Jesus and Mary Magdalene's offspring because CHRIST ALSO ESCHEWED PANTS!
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AuntieBee
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
In the world of visual art, while I recognize that some are doing good, powerful work, most performance artists are pretentious twats. Gaga keeps calling herself a performance artist as if it adds depth to her ridiculous display, and maybe for some people it does. For me, it makes a lot of sense... she is a pretentious, self-indulgent drama queen. I don't like it on performance artists, and I don't like it on her.

If you love it, that's cool. I've heard a lot of people go on about her exceptional talents. On that note, I'm of the belief that I don't have to recognize talent that doesn't get used. I don't have to like crummy songs on the speculation that she chose to write 'em crummy on purpose, it's deep and I just don't get how clever she is. But you go ahead without me.
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BiteMeMitchell!
09/03/09

@AuntieBee: I think the problem is that in this case, people are confusing "talent" with "ability". She certainly has the ability to play instruments and to write music, but the music that she actually creates is generic, middle of the road rubbish.
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Kathy
09/03/09

@BiteMeMitchell!: See, but that's kind of what I like about her. That she chose to work in big budget radio pop music instead of becoming a performance artist, or an indie musician. Without Madonna telling Dick Clark she intended to rule the world, which was totally preposterous at the time, where would pop be? I think it's kind of brave and awesome for Gaga to use her abilities, her toolbox of musical knowledge, and risk it and put herself in the pop music line of fire. She goes big and ballsy and a little nuts. And if it lets girls at large be a little weirder, I'm for it. And I think it actually does.
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hovy
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
Lady Gaga is working with Michael Bolton for his big comeback album.

This alone is enough to place her on the Enemies of Hovy list. Her music isn't bad, and the crazy outfits and whatnot are fine, whatever floats her boat.

But helping Michael Bolton? Oh hell no.
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galaxina
09/03/09

In reply to In Defense Of Lady Gaga, Whose VMA Performance "Will Inspire A Movement"
And now I file Lady Gaga under ridiculous people who take themselves way too seriously. Even if it's all a big joke, it's faux-pretentious, which is almost worse than the real thing.
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