2011: The Year of Gaga
This year, Gaga has made many monsters happy, hits, and most importantly, HEADLINES!
Here's a look back at what Gaga has accomplished this year, and a review of what has happened!
BORN THIS WAY (SONG) Sending off a more positive message to her monsters, Gaga hails that, "It doesn't matter if you love Him/or capitol H-I-M" from her previous, "I'll follow you until you love me" message. Although the comparisons to Madge's, "Express Yourself" are enviable, you can't help but tap you foot at Gaga's romp-stomp gay pride anthem. B+
BORN THIS WAY (VIDEO) In the first official video from her life-changing album, Gaga appears in many looks. She shows up as a skeleton, horned underwear dancer & even as an actual Mother Monster! Of course, it is a concept video in which her new race on planet G.O.A.T (Government Owned Alien Territory) is threatened by a sinister force. And thus, let the dancing begin! Gaga danced her way through an 8 minute long spectacular in which she falls in love with a "different lover", praises her little monsters and pays tribute to the likes of Madonna & Micheal Jackson! Plus, there's a unicorn! A-
GRAMMY PREFORMANCE OF "BORN THIS WAY" Emerging from the egg that would make her, "born" on stage, Gaga proceeded to do a theatrical, yet, somewhat lacking performance of her powerhouse single. With her yolk-like latex outfit, Gaga sang quite well and even played a very impressive church organ with the heads of her race (as seen in the B.T.W video). While the performance was really enjoyable, I'd have to say it is not her best. (I'd also like to note the egg idea was not Gaga's. It was her horrible director, Laurianne Gibson.) B
JUDAS (SONG) While the charts may tell you different, I absolutely LOVED this song! I would actually call it, "Bad Romance (Reprise)". The set-up is basically the same as Romance, however, Gaga sings as Mary Magdalene confessing how she hates to love Judas! It's dark, it's funky, it's euro-pop, it's techno, it's different. Although many would consider this Gaga's first major flop, "Judas" will always be one of my absolute FAVORITES from the album! You won't want to miss this track! A-
JUDAS (VIDEO) Oh, Gaga, another concept video! This time she modernizes the classic story of the betrayal of Judas to Jesus - and she tells it of course from Mary's P.O.V. The entire time, the video fits the dark theme of the song, "I'm in love with someone I shouldn't be! I'M SUCH A HOLY FOOL!". The dancing is spot on, the plot is controversial yet great, and the song is fabulous is always. Although it might not have been such a good idea to release this as her second promotional single (hello, "Scheiße" anyone?), the video is goddamn (no pun intended) amazing. A
THE EDGE OF GLORY (SONG) It's the single most glorifying moment in Gaga's career - a song for the dead. She sings as well and meaningful as ever to her grandfather who, "passed the edge, into his glory". To say this is the single most beautiful moment on the album is an understatement. And when Clarence Clemons (if you can believe she got him on the album) belts out his 1 minute long sax solo, it's as if he's playing the heavens! And the ringing chorus, ("I'm on the edge / of glory / and I'm hanging on a moment with you...") can take someone who doesn't even like Gaga and turn them into a little monster! Paws up! A+
LADY GAGA: GOOGLE CHROME ADVERTISEMENT Best ad of 2011 goes to Gaga. Why? For her inspiring, feel-good, monster-filled Google Chrome ad! She delivers it in such a real, wholesome way that you can't ignore. If you thought Gaga wasn't a "real girl" take a look at the ad. It'll make you wish that this was the actual Glory video! A
THE EDGE OF GLORY (VIDEO) More like, "The Edge of Boring" this 5 minute long shoot of Gaga dancing in a cute corset is all you'll get. Although it is the first video where the directorial credit goes to, "Haus of Gaga", I'd say, they failed. You see Gaga dancing, hair in her face and it looks as if she's having a great time - but she is Gaga. This video would be great if it was by Rihanna or Katy Perry. Gaga has another standard. She lost us with this boring video (and P.S if you have Clarence, flaunt him!) C
HAIR (SONG) Using the common metaphor of Hair, Gaga sings about how she desperately wants to be as free as her hair. It works! With special guest Clarence Clemons (yes, again!) who just MAKES the song, Gaga's 4th single is as free as she intends! Just what you'd expect from the queen, catchy beat, underdog winning message & lyrics that make you go, "PAWS UP!" B+
GOOD MORNING AMERICA PERFORMANCE Doing her hits, "Bad Romance", "Born This Way", "Judas", "The Edge of Glory" & "Hair", Gaga really set her mark on the Good Morning America Summer Concert Series. Gaga opens with Romance and she swings onto the stage on a zip line on a red awesome costume! Romance sounds concert ready and she breaks into "Born This Way" and "Judas" afterwards. She improves on her Grammy performance of, "Born This Way" by swimming in slime with her Monsters and "Judas" is just amazeballs (yes, amazeballs). Glory is another high energy number in a new outfit (oh Gaga!) which is nice considering we'll hear it stripped down SO MUCH in 2011. Then, "Hair" on a unicorn piano, which is just totally unique (especially because she never really did much with, "Hair"). Overall, Gaga gave us an amazing possibility of what the Born This Way Ball could look like! A-
BORN THIS WAY (ALBUM) [SPECIAL EDITION]* 17 new tracks from Mother Monster! Thank you God! Gaga mentions, hookers, religion, unicorns & heavy metal on her new album - Yes, you'll never stop listening. It opens with "Marry the Night" which of course is the best song on "Born This Way". The church bells, the syntheses, the lyrics, the delivery - everything goes together in such a well thought out marriage, there is simply nothing wrong with this song. Then after Born This Way, we go into the pop/techno/opera "Government Hooker". To say that the song is unique is the biggest understatement in the world. You'd never think that singing about fucking John F. Kennedy and being a hooker would come out so clean and fabulous. But it does, and only Gaga could ever pull this song off! After that we go into "Judas" and then the Puss In Boots theme song, "Americano". While "Americano" is not an official single, if you saw the cute kid flick, Puss in Boots, you'll know what this song is. Although this is my least favorite on the Album, the song is quite catchy. Gaga sings of a gay relationship she has and how she is living on the edge of the law, and how she doesn't speak our, "langugano". The frequent, "la-la-la-la-la-la-la"'s get a bit tedious, but the ending with a bang certainly is interesting. After, "Hair", we go back onto the dance floor with "Scheiße" (or, "shit" in English). This faux German club banger Gaga wishes she could be strong without the "Scheiße". To say that is one of my favorite songs on the album would be another understatement. To the illegible sounds of the "German" hook (I'd post lyrics but I'm not even sure what languagano they are.), the too catchy to hate chorus, & the electrifying beat, "Scheiße" is defiantly a highlight of the album! Another highlight? "Bloody Mary", another song in which Gaga plays the roll of Mary Madeline. The story of Judas betraying Jesus - told from Mary's prospective, genius! I love this song to DEATH, haha, I kid. But seriously, another one of the albums highlights is "Bloody Mary". It's sort of like, Born This Way's, "Teeth" - totally unexpected. On an album full of up-beat dance tracks, this slow horror track is too great! It's almost like a break from all of the upbeat songs. "Mary" sings of love, betrayal & dancing. ("I'll dance, dance, dance / with my hands, hands, hands / above my head, head, head / like Jesus said") Then, more religion on the new-environment-but-I-love-it track, "Black Jesus † Amen Fashion". This special edition only track, Gaga sings about her story of living on her own and her determination. Her "new perspective" inspires her to find her black Jesus. Although this is probably my least favorite of the bonus tracks, I still really enjoy busting a move to this song! And the looks on people's faces when I blast it is priceless! AMEN! You'll never get it out of your head (and to say this is my least favorite, that must tell you something about the album!). Next, we'll hear a guitar riffed, "Bad Kids" which Gaga lists all of her bad qualities & sings, "Don't be insecure / if you're heart is pure / you're still good to me / if you're a bad kid baby" -- empowering! When you're angry at your parents (or at anyone really, but I see this song as being more of a teen anthem) you can blast this! Gaga don't motherfucking care if you're a bad kid baby! I do enjoy the unique heavy metal guitar riff that makes you feel both shame and a sense of cool that you've never felt before. We proceed to another bonus track, "Fashion of His Love". Strangely, this song samples one of Gaga's unreleased songs, "Then You'd Love Me (Earthquake)", however, I like this song much better. Although you might mistake it for a Sex & the City soundtrack outcast, don't be fooled. This surprisingly not-so-Gaga track is quite enjoyable! It sends a positive message (and let's us into her very, VERY personal love life). While kind of hinting at religion, this song is perfect feel good love song! After, we're back on track to the "normal" Gaga and start out journey onto, "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)". Again, one of my favorites on the entire album! I don't know what I like most about this song - the intensity, the absurdity, the sheer epic-ness? All of the above. With the classic line, "Get your hot rods ready to rumble", Gaga outdoes herself on this track. She even described it as being the first song she thought of when she saw the album artwork!
(see it now?)
Either way, one of the key tracks for BTW, is Unicorn! (And plus, who doesn't love a good motorcycle/gay pride/love/unicorn/party/rebel anthem?) On-wards - into the rebel, party track, "Heavy Metal Lover"! For those who don't know what his track is, it's the song Gaga sang first when she preformed at Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve. At first, I didn't like this song - I thought it was repetitive and just a bit boring. However, with more listening of the lyrics (best one liner: "Dirty pony I can't wait to hose you down.") and more imagery of the possible performance, I grew to really enjoy this song. It's another slowed down beat, but don't think for a minute it won't make you wanna get on the goddamn dance floor! With a hint of S&M, Gaga and her Rivington Rebels bring heavy metal back - HEAVY METAL LOVE-AH! Next, we take a trip down to the, "Electric Chapel". With even more guitar riffs at tribute to 80s pop, this song is another highlight. (I know, I know - "everything is the best song", whatever, my review!) It is so intense and dark that it's another side of Gaga. More religion innuendos & a neon sign featured in the "Judas" video, Gaga's safe place turns into the best guitar track on the entire album! Yes, the best guitar track. It's so...for lack of a better word, amazeballs. Next, another special edition track called, "The Queen". To say this is the best bonus track, would be correct. The lyrics ("Tonight I will return / the fame and riches earned / with you I'd watch them all be burned"), the music (epic, unexpected guitar solo ending), the mood (GLORIOUS! TRIUMPHANT! ELEGANT!), the Queen. And we close with "Yoü and I' & "The Edge of Glory". To say that this album is the best moment of 2011, would almost be accurate (right behind killing Osama, y'know, priorities.) - Lady Gaga does not fail or flop on, "Born This Way"! A-
YOÜ AND I (SONG)* She got Brian May. Take that it in. She got, Brian May. The Brian May. Brian May from Queen. Now that you know that much, you know how much this track will be amazing. Although you may be thinking, "But Liam, how does it get better than the glorious live performances she's been doing country-wide?" Oh, it just KICKS THAT ONES ASS. Y&I is one of the most glorious moments on BTW and one of the most glorious moment of the year! If you haven't heard one of the best songs of the year, click here asap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8z28P_YAN8 and then, when you're done almost dying, you tell me what this most amazing piece of artistry deserves? A+
(*GRAMMY NOMINATED)
YOÜ AND I (VIDEO) New characters from Gaga - cue Yüyi the Mermaid, Bride, Jo Calderone & Nymph. Yüyi is defiantly my favorite (of course, other than the obvious pick, Jo). Why? Because the look is so brilliantly crafted and so fashion forward! Not to say that Bride and Nymph aren't great, however, Yüyi is just the best. Not trying to deny it! Hmm, I'm having trouble deciding which is my favorite - "Judas" or "Yoü and I". Hmm? Well, it's probably a tie! Oh! Oh! Oh! And get this, Gaga appears in her mothers old wedding dress; how sweet and sentimental is THAT? For the emotional factor (and that fact that Gaga just KILLS with the fashion!), I'd have to say this is my favorite...nah, it's a tie. A
(from left: Yüyi the Mermaid, Jo Calderone, Nymph, & Bride)
VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS OPENING PERFORMANCE Dressed as her male alter-ego Jo Calderone, made a 5 minute or longer speech, about Gaga and she's a fucking star! Then, he goes on to sing Yoü & I, with, in person, BRIAN MAY! With Grease-like choreography, Calderone and his back-up dancers sing and dance like they're straight out of a Broadway musical! Then, with the most MIND BLOWING guitar solo from Brian and a dangerous (she almost falls off her piano!) piano solo from Gaga, the duo ends and goes down as one of the best (or worst depending if you talk to Entertainment Weekly) Video Music Award performances, EVER. Mind blowing. A
YOÜ AND I (FASHION FILMS) After the Y&I video was initially released, Gaga decided that it wasn't enough to just have a music video for her single. Oh no, that would certainly not do. So, using her personas in the video (check above), she created 3 fashion films. Each one unique and different at the same time. I'd say, she missed an opportunity to do a shoot with Nymph and Jo together (Jo did not get a fashion film, however, you can follow him on Twitter [@JoCalderone]!) however, you might get bored over just six minutes of Gaga's flawless and crazy apparel. B-
HAIR (LIVE AT iHEARTRADIO) When another tragic death of a gay teen was discovered, Gaga decided that he was not a victim, he was a lesson for all of us. Those few words have inspired so much, as I hope that they will inspire you. What a ballsy statement. Saying a gay teen's death was not a tragedy, but a lesson. How inspiring is that? After her speech about Jamey Rodemeyer, Lady Gaga proceeded to do a stripped down version of "Hair". Well, the first 2 verses were stripped. And how beautiful were they? Well, just think about the most beautiful sight you've seen and triple that. Then, sporting her bicycle piano, her guitarist "Jesus" has a guitar solo and the band comes in for the most epic finale. What a great way to show the world that Gaga and the LGBTQ community will not back down - we will fight! (Sidebar - Lady Gaga even discussed bullying with the president and made #MakeALawForJamey trend on Twitter to let people know that bullying should not be tolerated in America.) This might have been Gaga's best performance of the year. It doesn't get much better than this. "Sometimes, the right thing is more important than the music, isn't it?" A++
LADY GAGA FOR MUGLER (COMMERCIAL) "Don't fuck with Mugler." says a pig-tailed, buck-toothed Gaga. She's promoting Mugler, and she takes on yet another persona - Mugler Woman. While a piano intro of, "Black Jesus" plays in the back round, Gaga talks aobut how much she is in love with Mugler & how you don't fuck with Mugler, or Mugler Woman. The ad is simply fabulous to say the least. Even if Gaga seems stoned, she promotes this line with style and creativity. Coming off of her fashion films, Gaga scores a win. (P.S if you wonder why you won't be seeing on a television near you, here it is - PARENTAL ADIVS-ah, fuck it, I don't care. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVrSx9-LqCE&feature=channel_video_title -- Don't fuck with Mugler Woman). A-
A VERY GAGA THANKSGIVING / A VERY GAGA HOLIDAY - EP Katie Couric, Tony Bennett, Sister Bayo - what a list of guest stars! For those who didn't watch (which would be shocking because it got the best rating for ABC in its time slot in YEARS!) Sister Bayo is Gaga's old elementary school principle. It was a touching moment when she kissed her hand again and Sister Bayo said that she was so proud of Gaga. In the special, Gaga is cooking, singing in the classy live setting, & she reveals what her family used to do. She uses her Italian heritage and back round to bake, and boy, does she look like she's having a good time! Then, during her interview with Katie, she tells us that she has helped her family's dreams come true - she helped her dad open the restaurant he's dreamed of (and only a few block from their house, how great is that?) and she's bought her parents a car...she just seems so down to Earth during this entire special. Throughout the special, she duets with Tony ("The Lady is a Tramp") and Tony raves about her, calling her the "female Picasso". She also sings some of her hits, "Bad Romance", "Hair", "Born This Way" & "Marry the Night". Gaga released 4 of her performances as a live EP (extended play) available for purchase on iTunes. She called it, "A Very Gaga Holiday" and the tracks included, "White Christmas", "Orange Colored Sky", "Yoü and I (Live)" & "The Edge of Glory (Live)". While the obvious stand out track here is her reved up version of, "White Christmas" in which she adds a new verse ("I'm dreaming of a white snowman / with a carrot nose and charcoal eyes / Oh and when he cries I'm gonna tell him it's okay / because Santa's on his sleigh and he's on his way") and makes it so fucking jazzy that you can't even tell it's Gaga anymore - the real touching moment of the EP is when Gaga strips down Glory and stops right in the middle to tell the story of her Grandpa's way of making pizzelles (and for those you who haven't had pizzelles, you haven't lived yet.) and it just tugs at your heartstrings. Overall, the raw and realness of this special are enough to make a non-monster have a new found respect for Gaga. And the EP is just a nice little festive thing you can bring out each year and enjoy (because Gaga's voice is totally rocking on this. It's so jazzy and new!) without shame! B+
MARRY THE NIGHT (SONG) For reference, please check back at my Born This Way album review. Thanks, this song is amazeballs. A+
EUROPEAN MUSIC AWARDS PERFORMANCE Futuristic moon Gaga appears in what might just be the best performance Europe will ever get! Gaga's over the moon and she's a satellite dish. She's Gaga being Gaga. It's such a pure and great performance! Not that it's saying much; Amazeball song * Totally amazing performer = Mind-blowing over the top action. A
MARRY THE NIGHT (VIDEO) Longest Gaga video? Check. Auto-biographical? Check. Oscar worthy? TRIPLE CHECK. In what many critics and fans said was Gaga's best video to date, Gaga chooses to tell the story of her being stabbed in the back by her old record company and having to do it all over again. She'll have to marry the night! The hardest part about grading this video is choosing what my favorite part is! The prelude? The freak-out Cheerio's? The training-dancing? The montage of clips at the end? I do have to note that I absolutely HATE the way the moon looks when they first show the car and the song starts. It looks so photo-shopped in! And the ending confused me a bit, I mean, is she on top of the world? Is it to pay tribute to her amazing EMA performance? Either way, the entire video should get nominated and win an Oscar for Best Short Film! Gaga puts on the most believable performance (it's hard not to when you're telling YOU'RE story.) and she just...UGH...kills it! Oh, and of course, the bitch looks fierce the whole time! At one point, she's wearing ballet shoes that must be at least a foot inch of just heel! She's fantastic and this video just proves she fought for her fame! (Sidebar - this video set online records because it got so many views in such a short period of time!) BEST LINE: "I'm gonna make it...I'm gonna be a star...you know why? Because...I have nothing left to lose..." A+
LADY GAGA PRESENTS THE MONSTER BALL TOUR AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN (SIDE NOTE: This is an Emmy award winning special!) Finally, us common folk get to see the most amazeballs, frenzy, extravaganza that IS, "The Monster Ball"! Gaga goes through a lengthy setlist including most of her, "The Fame" album and all of her, "The Fame Monster" album. Gaga has such a God-given gift of stage presence it's astounding. Even when she's just sitting at her piano, she knows how to put on the best show you'll ever see! Because I really want you to see this, I'll let you in on my FAVORITE numbers! "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" because she's motherfucking crazy in this number and when she says, "BANG BANG" there are actual gunshot noises and the lights and visuals are just epic! Another? "LoveGame" where she is on a subway to get to the Glitter Way and it breaks down! It's a revamped version with a lot of new percussion and it eventually spins into the "LoveGame (ChewFu GhettoHouse Fix) [feat. Marilyn Manson]" in which Gaga screams, "NOW DANCE YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!!" One more? Okay, the serine moment in which she preforms, "So Happy I Could Die" in an angelic white and glittery dress is one of my favorite moments! So, I don't want to spoil the whole thing. What I will say is, once you've seen it, it will SET YOU FREE LITTLE MONSTERS A++ (P.S - the finale is, "Paparazzi" with an ACTUAL fame monster and an ACTUAL fire bra and crotch! Now do you wanna see it?)
STUCK ON FUCKIN' YOU (SONG) The unreleased song that Mother Monster promised was released on Christmas! To my surprise, it wasn't like anything on Born This Way. Or, The Fame Monster even. Not even her early demos or The Fame! "Stuck on Fuckin' You" is the most unique song Gaga has ever written and produced! What makes it unique is it's 60s rock vibe, I mean, what an accessible pop-star! Chart topping pop-hits and then a hippie rock song? Not to jinx it, but I think that Lady Gaga and the Haus of Gaga might become the next Queen / Beatles.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXje0s_bOa4 A-
DICK CLARK'S NEW YEAR'S ROCKIN' EVE (PERFORMANCE) Debuting a live preformance of her song, "Heavy Metal Lover" Gaga had the best globe looking fixture on her head (which she slowly removed as she went throughout her setlist). While she appeared to have gained some weight, it wasn't a problem. Gaga's weight has always been slim ever since The Monster Ball has been in production. So, she preformed great, but not very memorably, and her outfit whilst dropping the ball was simply spectacular. B
OVERALL GAGA'S 2011 WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS, AND I KNOW THAT 2012 WILL BE EVEN BETTER FOR HER!
GAGA'S YEAR: A-
PAWS UP!
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