| 12 // Heavy Metal Lover // Born This Way // Would you love me if I ruled the world?

 

Another Born This Way era album track rocks out now. Heavy Metal Lover is a journey. It's a sordid, lewd, intoxicating number, with Gaga burning the streets in the night, seeking fun. She lusts after oral sex, having an orgy, craves bondage, and just get into trouble. It is all of her darkest fantasties being realised in the most trippy way possible. Her vocals are heavily distorted, making her seem even more elusive and unattainable, while the production is heavy and pulsating. The bridge turns the song on its head, references the song 'Born This Way' and builds epically into a final chorus made for the sex gods. The song was the last one to be recorded for the album, but what a way to close an already epic era. The song is potentially a reference to her now-ex boyfriend Lüc Carl, but this hasn't been confirmed. Either way, it's a rip-roaring stomper and a true highlight on an album full of countless highlights. It has so many moments throughout it: the opening whisky mouth lyric, DIRTY PONY, the born this way bridge, the production, "let's raise hell in the streets", "would you love me if I ruled the world"... every second of the song offers a different experience and it's all put together seamlessly.

 

Live performance:

 

 

She performed the song at the Born This Way Ball on top of a motorbike. It begins with an extended intro and dancers setting the scene, before she emerges. She throttles the bike and recreates the album cover throughout the performance and it's one of the tour's most sexy moments when one of the dancers gets on top of the bike and Gaga and truly brings the lyrics of the song alive. She gets off the bike for the final chorus and offers an electrifying final dance routine *.*

I must admit that I underrated 'Diamond Heart' at the time but along the way I had a u-turn and now I really like it. The message is so comforting and I love the country twang to the production in particular. 'Monster' is an absolute essential, I agree that it should be a Halloween classic! It's certainly a staple on my Halloween playlist anyway *.* 'Gypsy' is a standout anthemic moment on 'ARTPOP' for sure but I must admit that I do find it a little overrated in the grand scheme of her whole discography! Perhaps I need to experience it live. However... I'm elated to see 'Heavy Metal Lover' so high! It's a bit weird to think I used to bop to such a lewd song lyrically back when I was 13, but I think I was too innocent to even realise how filthy it was :lol: the final minute and a half is genius in particular. A song that keeps you on your toes for sure!

'HML' is one of her best ever and it's one of those songs where I frequently sit and wonder what a music video would have been like for it :cheeseblock: A Gaga classic!

 

| 11 // Shallow // A Star is Born // In the bad times I fear myself

 

Just missing out on the top 10 is Gaga's current biggest single ever (feels weird saying that). Shallow, before I get into the music, is important because it is the song that really brought her back to the commercial success she didn't really have for years prior. And it's clear to see why: the song is a behemoth. It is a beautiful collaboration between two people on the cusp of falling in love. It is a song about self-doubt and coming out of the dark spells of your life, being renewed on the other side - a sentiment that runs parallel with Gaga's career up until this point too! In the film, Ally sings the song in the parking lot and it is the first real moment when we see her songwriting and star potential. Then when Jackson invites her onto the stage and she performs to thousands, her career is unearthed, her star is born. The song has gone on to be one of the biggest songs of all time, particularly in the streaming era as it completyely captured the world with its hard-hitting lyrics of self-importance. It was originally supposed to be a sole Ally song, but I can't quite imagine it existing without the love the two artists share in the song. I have SO MANY moments attached to this song: I heard it at Brighton Pride and burst into tears, I cry every single time it is played in the film, in the early days of my relationship, when I thought it wouldn't progress, this song brought me back to life, and I have listened to it so many times while driving and travelling the world in love. It is a truly incredible song and one of those rare, perfect moments in the music sphere where everything comes to together and changes the world of its listeners for the better. I am genuinely shocked that this hasn't made the top 10, but it just shows how stupendous this woman's career is and how much of an impact her music has had on me!

 

Live performance:

 

 

Could it have been any other performance? Performed at the Oscars, on the night she made history there, Gaga is an angel and Bradley is a dashing handsome rockstar. The pair together create magic on stage, it is truly a union of musical souls and a reimagining of what could have been if the film's events hadn't taken such a sinister turn. It blurs the boundaries between art and reality - is this Jackson and Ally or Bradley and Gaga? A stunning, heavenly performance for a masterpiece of a song.

Shallow :wub:

 

Controversially I kinda prefer the GRAMMYs performance but I adore this song and the meaning.

 

I think it’s one of those songs that I love when I hear it but sometimes I kinda have to be in a certain type of mood to listen to it (or it has to be like late at night) maybe that’s just bc of the weather though and her pop music being more worthy of blasting in a heatwave :lol:

I never expected 'Shallow' to become her biggest ever selling single and go down as an iconic classic...but there you go. What a moment in her career.

SHALLOW, one of her best songs!!!!!!!

 

Will never get old.

'Shallow' is wonderful :heart: its usage in the film is one of my favourite moments in it for sure. Forever grateful for what it did for her career at that point!

So much Shallow love :heart:

 

Controversially I kinda prefer the GRAMMYs performance but I adore this song and the meaning.

 

I think it’s one of those songs that I love when I hear it but sometimes I kinda have to be in a certain type of mood to listen to it (or it has to be like late at night) maybe that’s just bc of the weather though and her pop music being more worthy of blasting in a heatwave :lol:

It sounds glorious when you just need some alone time or space. Sometimes when I shuffle Gaga and it comes on, I have to skip it because it fills me with so many emotions and if i'm happy and positive and don't want to be sent into a sad place, I just can't listen to it :cry:

 

The Grammys performance is life-changing <3

Before we get into the top 10:

 

11. Shallow

12. Heavy Metal Lover

13. Gypsy

14. Monster

15. Diamond Heart

16. G.U.Y.

17. Just Dance

18. Sexxx Dreams

19. Paparazzi

20. Telephone

21. The Cure

22. LoveGame

23. The Queen

24. I Like It Rough

25. DWUW

26. Grigio Girls

27. Always Remember Us This Way

28. Judas

29. Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)

30. Paper Gangsta

31. You and I

32. Stupid Love

33. Hair

34. Perfect Illusion

35. Million Reasons

36. The Fame

37. Applause

38. MANiCURE

39. Dope

40. Government Hooker

41. Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)

42. Bloody Mary

43. John Wayne

44. I Don't Know What Love Is

45. Aura

46. Dancin' In Circles

47. Boys Boys Boys

48. Artpop

49. Speechless

50. No Floods

 

| 10 // Scheiße // Born This Way // I wish I could be strong, without somebody there

 

We start the top 10 with a bang *.* Scheiße was introduced to the world at a Thierry Mugler fashion show before the Born This Way album surfaced and it had the online fans going crazy trying to decipher the lyrics and work out what on earth was happening. It turned out that the song contained predominately German gibberish and the point was that it wasn't supposed to make sense. The faux-German represents talking shit, literally, and about being a female without all of the bullshit that comes with it. It's a female empowerment song that takes you straight to the German nightclubs from where the idea was originally conceived. I love the lyrics (that make sense), particularly the desire to be strong without the need for someone there, and these juxtaposed next to the German-gibberish and the pounding, underground disco beats make this one of the most exciting pop songs she's put her name too. It still sounds incredibly electrifying today and hasn't aged an iota. It's sure to be a fan-favourite for years to come. AND a favourite of Gaga herself, who revealed that she wanted the song to become a single, but her label were against it. It has since resurfaced years later, including at the Joanne tour, Enigma and as the opening of her Coachella set, so she clearly has a lot of time and love for it. It's a song that demands to be heard loud and proud and is one of many moments on the albums that is so empowering, feel-good and important in carrying the born brave message that the era signifies.

 

Live performance:

 

 

There are loads of live performances to choose from for this, given it's become a bit of a darling choice for her being performed at multiple opportunities. I have gone for the Joanne Tour performance though as it's the one I witnessed live most recently. There is so much fierce passion behind the performance, as she demands everyone to dance and be taken in by the song. The moving stage with the choreographed dancers moving between them was incredible to witness live and the entire thing was a spectacle. At the Birmingham performance, the stage failed and as they were recording for a DVD it had to be re-done, so I witnessed it twice *.*

An amazing start to the top ten.

 

Dare I say this as it’s a bold statement but Scheiße may just be my favourite ever non Gaga single in history.

 

An amazing dance number what sounds incredible live and just goes OFF.

 

A song only Gaga could really pull off but I’m HERE for it.

An amazing start to the top ten.

 

Dare I say this as it’s a bold statement but Scheiße may just be my favourite ever non Gaga single in history.

 

An amazing dance number what sounds incredible live and just goes OFF.

 

A song only Gaga could really pull off but I’m HERE for it.

 

Top 3 for me. What an absolute MASSIVE tune.

How 13 year-old me managed to learn the opening faux German without even trying I’ll never understand.

 

Yes, I still remember it word-for-word

 

| 09 // Alejandro // The Fame Monster // Just smoke my cigarette and hush

 

Alejandro burns hot like Mexico in the top 10. My 9th favourite song from Gaga is the sizzling 3rd single from The Fame Monster. I was slightly annoyed at the time at its decision to be released, but over time it has aged better and better than a lot of early Gaga and now it is a firm favourite. The song is hugely addictive, and has one of the best intros of Gaga's career. When the beat kicks in, it's truly a scorching beauty to witness. It is very confusing as to why the video was contrastingly so cold and wintry, when the song is so summery, but the imagery in the video is very powerful and the hints to Madonna can only be seen as a good thing seeing as she pioneered so many ideas in her music videos. The song is about her fear of men and is shown through her saying goodbye to her previous lovers. It was a huge success, and I remember distinctly hearing it on radios all the time during the summer of 2010. It sends me back to that summer, and listening to the song in the heat and feeling so free with the song. As mentioned, over time it has continued to be such an earworm and has matured divinely.

 

Live performance:

 

 

She performed the song live on American Idol, opening first with a piano ballad version of Bad Romance. When Alejandro starts, she begins to move and the men of her past dance around her. Her black veil hides the secrets of her past affairs and it's hugely distorting to see her dance while still concealed. The veil is eventually removed to reveal a scarred woman perhaps from the burns faced during the Bad Romance video? :o She returns to the piano to offer a sprightly, hispanic breakdown, before returning to dance for the final chorus. A very enjoyable performance with loads of sections.

I love Alejandro.

 

A modern day La Isla Bonita.

 

Just the other day I said it was god tier Gaga and it’s definitely very high singles wise and in general terms in my rankings too.

 

I was always fully Team Alejandro at the time of release as well I really think this was a good choice as it’s the most commercial song on The Fame Monster and the most different sounding song too it’s perhaps the brightest song on the album tbh. The video was a choice as an artistic piece I like it but I do kinda wish we got a brighter video at the same time.

 

 

Alejandro is still to this day as well the most Madonna sounding song she’s ever done. Like if Madonna got pissed over this sounding like La Isla Bonita id have gotten it lol.

 

This sounds more like La Isla Bonita than Born This Way does Express Yourself but that doesn’t take away the fact it’s just a fantastic summery pop piece of heaven. A Spanish inspired anthem :heart:

i think the tip of the hat to erotica is a form of flattery + tbh i think gaga did that whole look better.

 

this was the one track that made me think ace of base + that whole europop sound, i really don't hear la isla bonita at all (oops).

 

the top 10 has been immaculate so far x

 

 

A fantastic start to the Top 10! :wub: I feel like I'm appreciating Scheiße more this year than ever before, with thanks to AF Idol and me being more Gaga mad right now than I've been in years. :o Alejandro is brilliant, like you it throws me right back to the summer of 2010 and happy memories.

 

Also peeping the rest of this page - Heavy Metal Lover at #12, oh my, the taste on display :heart: Shallow is going to go down as a classic and I'm so happy it gave her (and Bradley x) such deserved success. Really special.

I love Alejandro.

 

A modern day La Isla Bonita.

 

Just the other day I said it was god tier Gaga and it’s definitely very high singles wise and in general terms in my rankings too.

 

I was always fully Team Alejandro at the time of release as well I really think this was a good choice as it’s the most commercial song on The Fame Monster and the most different sounding song too it’s perhaps the brightest song on the album tbh. The video was a choice as an artistic piece I like it but I do kinda wish we got a brighter video at the same time.

It was definitely a clever choice looking back because of the commercial factor. Europe really ate it up! I agree with the La Isla Bonita comparisons too and I love that song from Madge, so I'm not complaining. Another Madonna inspired number coming up next :kink:

 

 

 

A fantastic start to the Top 10! :wub: I feel like I'm appreciating Scheiße more this year than ever before, with thanks to AF Idol and me being more Gaga mad right now than I've been in years. :o Alejandro is brilliant, like you it throws me right back to the summer of 2010 and happy memories.

 

Also peeping the rest of this page - Heavy Metal Lover at #12, oh my, the taste on display :heart: Shallow is going to go down as a classic and I'm so happy it gave her (and Bradley x) such deserved success. Really special.

 

Glad you're enjoying Scheiße more now - I remember the mess of it being performed twice at the Joanne Tour and being very at it all x I also get transported back to the summer of 2010 with Alejandro. A vibe *_* Ty r Jay <3