'Eh Eh' is pure bubblegum pop and I love everything about it :wub: :wub:

Edited April 30, 20205 yr by Jαsє

#1 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

#2 Lady Gaga - Poker Face

#3 Lady Gaga - Just Dance

#4 Lady Gaga - Applause

#5 Lady Gaga - Paparazzi

#6 Lady Gaga - Telephone

 

or this list is invalid x

 

| 39 // Dope // ARTPOP // Been hurting low, from living high for so long

| 40 // Government Hooker // Born This Way // I'm gonna drink my tears tonight

 

Another 'Born This Way' album track now, as Government Hooker comes into power. With the dream team of Fernando Garibay, DJ White Shadow and DJ Snake behind it, you know you're going to be in for a ride. The song is about female empowerment, using J.F. Kennedy's alleged affair with Marilyn Monroe as the inspiration here. It's a risky, provocative song but done in a fun and sexualised way. It features Gaga's bodyguard as the male spoken vocals and she battles with him throughout the song for power. It was premiered at the Thierry Mugler fashion show in Paris before the album dropped and obviously had me gagging for more. Still to the this day, an electifying, thumping banger and one of many highlights from the album that does not stop packing punches. I adore her vocals and spoken voice during the song and it's one that always surprises whenever I hear it. The lyric I have selected above is one of my all-time favourite Gaga lyrics - it represents the joy that comes from her music even when you're feeling low and in need.

 

And another surprise here - a song that for years I wasn't overly keen on but recently it grew in my affections. Dope is the only real slow moment on its album and as a result it totally stops you in your tracks. It was the second promotional track for the album and while I can see why (it's very different to what was released before it), I don't think it should have been as it doesn't reflect the album's tone at all. But what it does do well for the album is continue its theme of angst and pain. Following Gaga's cancellation of the BTW Ball and the severe pain she was in physically (and mentally), Gaga became addicted to drugs. As her life spiralled out of control, the drugs gave her solace and comfort. The song came from a different version originally meant for the fans, but changing it to this deeply personal version was a bold move and showed just how much Gaga was willing to share with her fans. It's a very dark song and even during the singing of it, Gaga sounds intoxicated. She performed it live several times and while it didn't hit me back then, over time it has cemented itself as a highlight off the album: a look into the pain that went into making the era possible. Away from the big thumping beats there was a hurting woman trying desparately to cope with her pain. Drugs gave her relief, but in this song it is the music that saves her. She is sorry as she laments that she needs the music and fans more than her drugs. I can't listen to the song now without feeling emotional about the state of mind Gaga found herself in during this era and it reminds us that the craziness and harshness of the album came from a place of deep pain. She is at her lowest because of how high she was in her career just before this point and that's such a painful message to hear as it reveals the imperfections of an assumed untouchable star. Music was the remedy and this song perfectly encapsulates that feeling of relief - it demands to be listened to and taken seriously.

 

Live performance:

 

 

Before the album dropped, I loved hearing all the songs appearing the way they did. Government Hooker was one such example at the Mugler fashion show. Gaga's walk is fierce and ferocious and her outfit, from the hair to the cigarette just exude the political power she sings about in the song.

Government Hooker, ha iconic tour performance. One of my fondest memories :wub:

Edited April 30, 20205 yr by :')

Eh Eh :wub: bubblegum, care free and cute! And that video. I loved that song so much back in the day and still do now.

 

Government Hooker and Bloody Mary are BTW highlights too.

 

Ok! Controversial opinion incoming but Dope is one of my weakest Gaga related tracks. I loved what the song was initially but the final version isn’t really for me :(

#1 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

#2 Lady Gaga - Poker Face

#3 Lady Gaga - Just Dance

#4 Lady Gaga - Applause

#5 Lady Gaga - Paparazzi

#6 Lady Gaga - Telephone

 

or this list is invalid x

> one of these is dropping out next

 

Government Hooker, ha iconic tour performance. One of my fondest memories :wub:

Yes! That was very iconic too <3

 

Eh Eh :wub: bubblegum, care free and cute! And that video. I loved that song so much back in the day and still do now.

 

Government Hooker and Bloody Mary are BTW highlights too.

 

Ok! Controversial opinion incoming but Dope is one of my weakest Gaga related tracks. I loved what the song was initially but the final version isn’t really for me :(

Oooop - I don't think Dope has many big fans, but it has grown on me a lot over the years. Maybe it'll do the same for you over time :snif:

 

| 37 // Applause // ARTPOP // art's in pop culture in me

| 38 // MANiCURE // ARTPOP // Heal me, cause I'm addicted to love

 

Two tracks from ARTPOP now. Starting with MANiCURE which was initially my least favourite song on the album! But over time, it has grown on me after I got over the off-putting vocals. The song title was revealed very early and various demos of the track leaked online too. The song doesn't have a hugely deep meaning, it's simply about getting ready to attack the night, and get laid ~ In an interview she stated that: ”This song is about getting ready to go out and catch a man, catch a girl … you are manicuring your body, you’re manicuring your spirit, & your mind, and then, the chorus hits and it’s all about being really shocking … You’re gonna get laid tonight.” It's one of her loudest and most abrasive songs but it works in the context of the album and I can't help but feel totally lost in the moment whenever I hear it. I love how liberating it is and how unashamedly brash it is.

 

And now, the lowest charting full single :o Applause as many know on here is far from top-tier Gaga for me. It does have many reasons for why I do enjoy it though ~ In the moments leading to the Born This Way Ball cancellation and the pain she felt during this, it was the applause of the fans and the audiences that allowed her to continue for as long as she did. This sentiment became Applause the single - a song about the power of appreciation. This meaning is beautiful and so empowering; it isn't about fame or vanity or the need for recognition anymore, it's about sharing those experiences of joy! It explodes in its chorus, the letter-spelling out is undeniably catchy and there is so much fun to be had. The video too is a crazy array of iconic moments (the best being Swan-ga of course!) and as a whole package I can see why it enjoyed by so many. From the POP EMERGENCY release a week or so early, to her VMAs performance where she harked back to previous eras, the single campaign was all guns blazing and continued on well from the BTW era - but is this what the world wanted? The single did eventually fizzle out and i'm not sure how remembered it is today but for its moment it did its job - it was a loud and welcoming entrance into a new Gaga era of music. The message of the song can be distorted as it does read like she lives for celebrity status that has been bestowed on her, but instead she has dismissed this and stated that it represents her love of live performances and performing for fans across the globe. It's a strong representation of the love she and her fans share an for that, it's a keeper ~

 

Live performance:

 

 

This performance begins in the weirdest and creepiest of fashions. Her big return to the stage and she is a crazed blank canvas ready to be filled in. Once this is removed however it really picks up and she has so much fun on stage. I love the references to her previous eras and it's a true celebration of Gaga up until that moment in her career. It begins the era fantastically but it's just a shame it all sort of fell apart soon after.

I still love Applause, it's so fast and stomping dance pop track!

 

| 35 // Million Reasons // Joanne // I try to make the worst seem better

| 36 // The Fame // The Fame // I'm obsessively opposed to the typical

 

The title track from The Fame is out next. It's a song that sums up the album perfectly as it's about all things excessive and sparkly. She recorded the song in one take and then took a few hours mastering the vocals and backing. It's a fun song with an overt message of pop culture, the media, celebrity life, and the after effects of this lifestyle. The song is inspired by Prince and using instrumentation remiscent of his more extravagent songs. After recording the song and calling it The Fame, Gaga exclaimed: "I love this song. I want to call my album this." and it subsequently became an anchor for the album, with the rest of its songs being borne out of this concept. It was gave birth to the aesthetics and style of the debut album and so we all owe it so much. It's such a fun song and so synonymous with her early days that's it has continually been a favourite of mine purely for the nostalgia.

 

Another single next and Gaga's first real success with a ballad! Million Reasons received big success in the US (her first smash in a while) after it was performed at the Superbowl. The song came about from Gaga's general thoughts and musings about the men in her life. Very simple on paper, it's a song of hope and heartbreak, of light and dark and of faith. In the song she sings of how one million reasons to leave a relationship can be undone by one reason to stay. The song was nominated for a Grammy, achieved respect from radios and became her signature ballad... until it was overtaken by a certain other ballad~ For me the song is now an essential Joanne track and one of her most beautiful songs. The simple message of love and the things you'd do for love is one of the ages and it definitely has a timeless feel to it. I believe it set a new tone for Gaga's music and helped to shape the A Star is Born era and the huge global success she achieved from that. That makes both songs in this section the starting points for seminal moments in her career!

 

Live performance:

 

 

The Superbowl was definitely a highlight of Gaga's career. Her hits across the years translated perfectly on the biggest stage on earth and so too did this - at the time, her most recent song, but it made perfect sense nonetheless. A beautiful moment showcasing Gaga at her most comfortable: behind a piano, gorgeously singing from her heart. The shoutouts to her mum and dad were so warming and the torches really add to the atmospheric beauty of the moment. You can see how big this moment is for her during this performance and it's one of the proudest moments of her career.

2nd post updated up until now and I'll try to update it regularly as we go :cheer:

JUSTICE FOR APPLAUSE. A carefree banger of a song but yeah, it doesn't hold the greatest of memories because as you say, everything started going down hill fast just after that. :(

 

---

 

A Dance in the Dark/Marry the Night top 2 would be glorious, especially as it would be the same as me :heart:

Yass at MR!!!!

Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) - We're so used to Gaga being a huge pop force with big productions and visuals, so it's strange to be reminded of these pre-megastardom moments. The song is so light, fluffy and sweet and the video is so low-budget, it feels so pure and innocent! It's like when she takes the role of "generic female vocalist on a rap song" on 'Chillin'', it's worlds away from how you perceive Gaga. I do really like the song for all those reasons.

 

Bloody Mary - Like how you view 'Eh Eh' on The Fame, I see this as a sort of 'breather' on Born This Way following on from the big numbers. I love those plucky strings, it gives the song an eerie vibe, yet the chorus is so melodic; it's a lovely juxtaposition.

 

Government Hooker - I always recall the first time I heard this whenever I play it, not for any particular memory, I just remember it really resonating for being such a quirky song: the operatic vocals at the start, the glitchy production, the background voices and laughs, the belty chorus, the melodic refrain... I just loved it! The synthline reminds me of the one that runs through Britney's 'Gimme More'.

 

Dope - Not really a fan of this one. It has the ability to be a good song though, I like how raw it is at the start but that just becomes more grating as it goes on.

 

MANiCURE - I've always had the exact same opinion as you did... until now! :o It's probably still one of my least faves on the album, but I find myself bopping to the chorus now, particularly the post-chorus. It is very brash and obnoxious, but hey, it's certainly at home on ARTPOP!

 

Applause - We share similar thoughts on this one too. The sentiment is definitely the best part and in that sense it makes it a good choice of lead single. The song itself is catchy enough but, following on from Born This Way, it felt very underwhelming and it's hard to shake that off completely even with hindsight.

 

The Fame - Might be my favourite album track from the album! Still give it regular plays today, the lyrics are so fun and they remind me of Bowie and Madonna's songs about fame and fortune.

 

Million Reasons - This was an immediate favourite from Joanne and I hoped that it would be the song to turn the era's fortunes around - little did I know just how well-regarded the song has become! The live performances of this are beautiful, but I especially love the Royal Variety performance. It's one of the first performances I'd recommend a new fan to watch.

My favourites from these recent sections are 'Government Hooker', 'Applause' and 'The Fame' :wub:

 

The memories of that Mugler fashion show! I was instantly hooked (:basil:) on 'Government Hooker' - what a particularly idiosyncratic moment in her career! 'Applause' in comparison is a lot more straightforward but a pick-me-up all the same. I'm actually surprised to see it here at all as you're always keen for it to go in survivors etc. but I guess lowest single is still not the highest of praise :lol: The ARTPOP era turned out to be messy but I do remember being really excited for it and spamming 'Applause' all day when it was first released! Then 'The Fame' is so fun as you say, definitely a highlight of its respective album :wub:

 

I'm one of those who has never been able to get into 'Dope' oops :( I appreciate the sentiment but the execution of it has always been quite jarring

I think in retrospect Applause sounds brilliant and colorful and the video is still amazing. I read that it was put together basically in a few weeks and the whole concept of the single (including the great VMA performance) seemed a but rushed and all over the place back then.

 

Now looking back at ARTPOP, it's incredible how many creative ideas she managed to put together in one era, like more than regular artists during their lifetime lol.

The Mugler fashion show is actually one of my fave all time Gaga moments :heart: So iconic!

JUSTICE FOR APPLAUSE. A carefree banger of a song but yeah, it doesn't hold the greatest of memories because as you say, everything started going down hill fast just after that. :(

---

A Dance in the Dark/Marry the Night top 2 would be glorious, especially as it would be the same as me :heart:

Ooooh no spoilers for the top end! But we shall see ~

 

Yass at MR!!!!

An fan! *.*

 

Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) - We're so used to Gaga being a huge pop force with big productions and visuals, so it's strange to be reminded of these pre-megastardom moments. The song is so light, fluffy and sweet and the video is so low-budget, it feels so pure and innocent! It's like when she takes the role of "generic female vocalist on a rap song" on 'Chillin'', it's worlds away from how you perceive Gaga. I do really like the song for all those reasons.

 

Government Hooker - I always recall the first time I heard this whenever I play it, not for any particular memory, I just remember it really resonating for being such a quirky song: the operatic vocals at the start, the glitchy production, the background voices and laughs, the belty chorus, the melodic refrain... I just loved it! The synthline reminds me of the one that runs through Britney's 'Gimme More'.

 

MANiCURE - I've always had the exact same opinion as you did... until now! :o It's probably still one of my least faves on the album, but I find myself bopping to the chorus now, particularly the post-chorus. It is very brash and obnoxious, but hey, it's certainly at home on ARTPOP!

 

Applause - We share similar thoughts on this one too. The sentiment is definitely the best part and in that sense it makes it a good choice of lead single. The song itself is catchy enough but, following on from Born This Way, it felt very underwhelming and it's hard to shake that off completely even with hindsight.

I agree about Eh Eh! And Chillin' which... I completely forgot existed until compiling my list for this :lol: It's actually a jam and she shines in it.

Government Hooker is quite Blackout - that anti-patriarchy vibe plus the production as you say! It's such a weirdly bold song.

Yes I remember us hating on MANiCURE back in the day but look how we've changed :lol: Used to find it pretty abhorrent, now I can't get enough! Likewise, our opinions on Applause being in sync *.* the TASTE continues x

 

My favourites from these recent sections are 'Government Hooker', 'Applause' and 'The Fame' :wub:

 

The memories of that Mugler fashion show! I was instantly hooked (:basil:) on 'Government Hooker' - what a particularly idiosyncratic moment in her career! 'Applause' in comparison is a lot more straightforward but a pick-me-up all the same. I'm actually surprised to see it here at all as you're always keen for it to go in survivors etc. but I guess lowest single is still not the highest of praise :lol: The ARTPOP era turned out to be messy but I do remember being really excited for it and spamming 'Applause' all day when it was first released! Then 'The Fame' is so fun as you say, definitely a highlight of its respective album :wub:

The Mugler show was incredible. What a way to premiere music <3 Yeah I am vocally against it constantly so people probably think I HATE it :kink: but it's more... weak in comparison to her highs and so I can't ever rank it alongside the best of her best. I do like it at times but I can't say it's comparable to most of her other singles :')

 

I think in retrospect Applause sounds brilliant and colorful and the video is still amazing. I read that it was put together basically in a few weeks and the whole concept of the single (including the great VMA performance) seemed a but rushed and all over the place back then.

The video is fabulous! It did all seemed rushed (POP EMERGENCY!!!1) and I can remember freaking out by the hour back then not knowing what was going on or if she'd lost the plot :'( I don't think she was in a particularly good place and it's sad to reflect on </3

 

| 33 // Hair // Born This Way // this is my prayer, I swear, I'm as free as my hair

| 34 // Perfect Illusion // Joanne // falling free in a modern ecstasy

 

The third single drops out in quick succession, and now the second lead single :o Joanne's Perfect Illusion, looking back, is one of the most unreflective lead singles she's had. It in no way represents the sound of its parent album or its themes. Instead it represents Gaga's "highest of highs and lowest of lows" in a relationship. The high and low aspect is reflected musically in the song, which is full of huge moments and and crashing beats that cause a cacaphony of sounds. It's a rush! Gaga refuted that the song was about her ex Taylor Kinney but many still believe this to be the case. The music video for the song was, as of then, the simplest video she had released. It shows her raving in a desert with as assortment of guest appearances from songwriters and producers - it is in effect a celebration of losing it to music and letting yourself go whole-heartedly. My reactions to the song when it first premiered were varied: I was in shock, I was in awe, I was confused, I was ecstatic. It's certainly one of the most dynamic songs she has recorded and I couldn't see any of her contempories releasing something like this. A strange way to start such a soft and subtle era, but what a way to make an appearance!

 

 

We also lose Hair which was a promotional single released in the build up to Born This Way (one of my favourite periods of Gaga's career!). Since it didn't light the charts up as hugely as The Edge of Glory, it remained only a promotional single, as You and I was selected over it for fourth single. It continues the theme of self-love and believing in yourself through the metaphor of letting one's hair down, quite literally and not letting anyone define your appearance or identity. Produced by RedOne, but with a sound some way from the tunes he made for her earlier eras. Here we have the glorious sax (by Clarence Clemons) and beautiful synths throughout. The instrumental is a highlight of the track, but Gaga's vocals too sound airy and liberating. The lyrics, while cheesy, do what they intend to and I can never not feel empowered and enlightened when I listen. Gaga has continually changed her hairstyles and been told what to look like and how to behave growing up and beginning her career and so its autobiographical nature is apparent, but it also relates heavily to her fans, many of whom have had to hide behind certain personas - until finding liberation through this song and its surrounding album. Special shoutout too to the song's single artwork - her fierce lying down upside down with bright pink hair glaring out of the black and white aesthetic - pure fire.

 

Live performance:

 

 

This performance made me cry. It was at a time of peak stanning and the entire episode was such a fantastic watch. Once you get past the baldness, which in itself is a beautiful sentiment, the performance shows off her angelic vocals and the power behind the lyrics and the message of the song. Behind a piano, Gaga is fearless and brave and here she extends that to her fans. The era was such a tribute to her fans being exactly who they wanted to be and I found so much strength in moments like this, when she became the 'unnatural' celebrity, breaking boundaries of the norm, the conventional and the "beautiful". Even listening and watching the performance today, in my late 20s, I am empowered, I am liberated, I am... thankful for this woman.

LOVE THIS PAIR!!!

 

Free as my hair-iii-i-i-i-i-iiiii-i-i-i-i-i-i--rr

'Perfect Illusion' instantly shot to #1 in my personal chart at the time (one of many chart toppers for Gaga) but it hasn't held up all that well for me over the years :( I think the rush of having new Gaga music helped it catapult to such heights at the time, but yeah, I would rank many other 'Joanne' songs ahead of it now! It doesn't help that the video is practically unwatchable for me due to the strobe lights as well, so I've barely returned to that. 'Hair' on the other hand... :wub: that was also very instant (another #1 in my chart of course, lol) but has held up extremely well 9 years later! It came at the right time during my awkward teenage years, when I was still trying to figure out my identity and didn't really feel like I fit in that much. God bless the likes of Gaga and Glee for giving me strength!