Lady Gaga's highly anticipated new album Born This Way was released today. With the numbers of Little Monsters continuously escalating, its not much of a surprise that it's already number 1 in many countries. But, one question must be asked in the wake of its release...does it truly deserve its early success? I am undistputedly huge Gaga fan but would never give anything but a completely honest opinion of her new material. With that said two words immediately come to mind when I ask myself if the early success is deserved...HELL YES!
There are several criteria I take into account when rating pop music. (not in any particular order)
#1 Will I purchase the day of release?
#2 Is there more than one or two songs I immediately like or love after one listen?
#3 Does it emotionally move me beyond just wanting to dance?
#4 Is it vocally strong?
#5 Is it a creative step forward or more of the same?
#6 Is there a live show from this artist in my future?
BTW, sales, music critics or marketing ploys will never influence me!
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being perfection, I give Born This Way a 9. SERIOUSLY!!!
#1 I could not wait another day to purchase BTW.
#2 There are 9 songs on this album that I LOVED the fist time I heard them. I have NEVER said that about any other album of any genre. More to come on each individual song.
#3 I emotionally connected to this music on so many levels. Two songs really hit that place inside that says this is not just good but this is special. Bloody Mary and Heavy Metal Lover. More later.
#4 My favorite component of the Gaga triple threat is her vocals. I've wished to hear Gaga push herself vocally knowing we haven't heard the best of her yet. She so delivers but I still feel there is more there and that's exciting.
#5 TKO without a doubt. I respect the journey from The Fame and The Fame Monster that has brought BTW to reality but there is a maturity that comes with living and learning that is apparent in this album.
#6 Saw the Monsterball 3x and already planning on attending the BTW Ball multiple times!
Song by song rating:
1-3.5 not worth listening to
4-6.5 ok at best
7-7.5 good
8-8.5 excellent
9-9.5 approaching perfection
10 perfection
Marry The Night: 8 excellent song, catchy as hell.
Born This Way: 8.5 great song, great message, perfect choice for first single
Government Hooker: 8.5 love the heavy beat and the humor of this song, loved this song the first time I heard it. HATE that it's censored!!!!
Judas: 9.5 love love love this song! the beat, the metaphors, the bridge is sick! CAN"T understand why this song did not blow up the charts.
Americano: 7 can't compare to Alejandro for me but ok
Hair: 9 beautiful beginning-awesome sax, IMO s/b single #4, awesome vocals, very uplifting song
ScheiBe: 9 great song, very unique, club music at it's best
Bloody Mary: 9.5 gave me chills, strongly showcases Gaga's songwriting chops, almost perfect IMO
Black Jesus Amen Fashion: 7 decent song, just ok for me
Bad Kids: 7.0 don't love it but like it
Fashion of His Love: 7.5 not great but good
Highway Unicorn (Road to Love): 8 good beat, good vocals
Heavy Metal Lover: 9.5 lyrical perfection, haunting vocals, s/b single #5, almost perfect IMO
Electric Chapel: 9 another spectacularly unique song, awesome guitar, single possibility
The Queen: 7.5 decent song
You and I: 6.5 loved this song live with just Gaga and the piano. Not crazy about this version
The Edge of Glory: 9 loved this song the first time I heard it, great vocals, beautiful lyrics, not surprised it took off and is now single #3
Not fond of remixes so I won't rate them.
Additional thoughts:
I'm in awe of the enormous talent of this 25!!! year old powerhouse. What she has accomplished at such a young age is astounding. BTW is a giant step forward creatively for Gaga IMO. Some of the best pop songs I've heard in a long long time. After Bad Romance, I must admit that I thought Gaga would have a difficult time surpassing what is still in the top 5 of my all-time favorite pop songs. Not sure she has but has come damn close with a few. I feel absolutely ungrateful for wanting more less than 24 hours after BTWs release but that's the downside I guess of what greatness inspires.
What I truly hope for Gaga is that she allows herself some down time to enjoy this success. I share the fear of many that if she doesn't, she'll burn out. That would be a unacceptable and unbearable.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Adult Gaga Monster
Oh yes I am an adult Lady Gaga Monster and I'm proud of it! Paws up!
From the second I heard Just Dance on the radio, I predicted that Lady Gaga would rule the music world. I also predicted that she would be the artist of this decade. She is well on her way of achieving this astounding accomplishment of which I have no double she will.
The appeal of Lady Gaga for me is not the over-the-top fashion statements OR the pied-piper persona leading her little monsters down a path of freedom from discrimination and prejudice OR her sheer determination and fuck you attitude to all who dare stand in her way of following her undeniable destiny of pop music supremacy...all of which I LOVE about her. The appeal of Lady Gaga to me is simpy her God-given talent as a singer, songwriter and musician.
From the seemingly endless amounts of pop musics manufactured "artists" built of pitch correction, tna, diva-ess tantrums and pole-dancing type coreography, FINALLY rises a genuinely, gifted ARTIST in truest sense of the word. If you strip away the fashion, stage makeup and ballsy attitude, the foundation is crystal clear and irrefutable. She's a classically trained pianist with a voice that speaks for itself (without pitch correction) whos struggle with her own self image and fear of failure gives her the vehicle to pen some of the best pop music I've heard in decades.
Lady Gaga has singlehandedly saved pop music and music in general for me. She is the defibulator that has in some ways has jump-started my musical heart that was beating but not really singing.
From the second I heard Just Dance on the radio, I predicted that Lady Gaga would rule the music world. I also predicted that she would be the artist of this decade. She is well on her way of achieving this astounding accomplishment of which I have no double she will.
The appeal of Lady Gaga for me is not the over-the-top fashion statements OR the pied-piper persona leading her little monsters down a path of freedom from discrimination and prejudice OR her sheer determination and fuck you attitude to all who dare stand in her way of following her undeniable destiny of pop music supremacy...all of which I LOVE about her. The appeal of Lady Gaga to me is simpy her God-given talent as a singer, songwriter and musician.
From the seemingly endless amounts of pop musics manufactured "artists" built of pitch correction, tna, diva-ess tantrums and pole-dancing type coreography, FINALLY rises a genuinely, gifted ARTIST in truest sense of the word. If you strip away the fashion, stage makeup and ballsy attitude, the foundation is crystal clear and irrefutable. She's a classically trained pianist with a voice that speaks for itself (without pitch correction) whos struggle with her own self image and fear of failure gives her the vehicle to pen some of the best pop music I've heard in decades.
Lady Gaga has singlehandedly saved pop music and music in general for me. She is the defibulator that has in some ways has jump-started my musical heart that was beating but not really singing.
My blog name says it all
I created this blog so I would have a place to write about the thing I love most...music. Music has been the only thing in my life that has never failed to deliver what I need.
Music has taken me to places my own dreams could not lead me to. It has picked me up when I wasn't strong enough to stand on my own. It has calmed the rage of disappointment long enough to drift into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Music IS my church!
Music has taken me to places my own dreams could not lead me to. It has picked me up when I wasn't strong enough to stand on my own. It has calmed the rage of disappointment long enough to drift into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Music IS my church!
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