Lady Gaga - You and I

"You and I" is the fourth single by American recording artist Lady Gaga from her second studio album, Born This Way (2011). The rock and roll-influenced song samples Queen's "We Will Rock You" and features electric guitar by Brian May. It has peaked at #35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 to date.Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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Katy Perry - bigger & better than Lady Gaga?

Last week Lady Gaga and Katy Perry went head-to-head with new video clips. As recently as last year, this would have been a cake walk. Mother Monster would be using her rival's wig as a merkin, while Katy cried on the phone to Russell. But a lot has changed since then. Despite the unprecedented tidal wave of hype and promotion surrounding "Born This Way", "Teenage Dream" is the album churning out the hits. It's not like Lady Gaga is doing poorly - her last three singles have reached the top ten in America - but Ms Perry is gunning for her fifth consecutive US #1. And with the amazing "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" currently occupying the top spot on US iTunes - she has a very real shot of pulling it off. To put things into perspective, the so called biggest star on the planet has only managed three in her entire career.

No doubt Monsters will point to Gaga's album sales. "Born This Way" is almost equal with "Teenage Dream" on that front after less than a month. But we all know those figures were seriously inflated by the 99 cent Amazon deal and, given its rapid decline in sales ever since, Katy would probably have her there too. After all, Lady Gaga is already on her third single and, with the exception of "Hair" or perhaps "You & I", she's all out of potential radio hits. In the past you could legitimately argue that Mother Monster was at least untouchable as the new queen of music videos but Katy has stolen that crown too. "ET" is everything "Born This Way" wanted to be - stylish, cohesive and clever - and the reported $10 million dollars that Gaga spent on "Judas" is the biggest waste of money since "Waterworld".

That leaves us with their current videos. Katy's "Last Friday Night (TGIF)" is a joyous 8 minute extravaganza that plays like a 80s sitcom. Kathy Beth Terry, the pop star's alter ego in the clip, is an awkward teenager who crashes her neighbour's party. Not only is said neighbour internet sensation Rebecca Black but the video is also jam packed with celebrities ranging from Kenny G to Debbie Gibson and a bunch of nobodies from Glee. It's completely ridiculous but I love every second of it and the trashy extravaganza has already racked up 22 million views on YouTube. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga dances on a fire escape in her clip. That is literally it. If nothing else it can be marketed as a cure for insomnia. I'm not blaming her for pulling back and doing something less extravagant but "Edge Of Glory" deserved a majestic clip. I envisaged cliffs, angels and an eerie death scene. Not some shitty stripper busting a move on a staircase. Next!

Anyway, you decide. Here are their the videos. Is Katy Perry now the biggest name in pop music or is this just a temporary blip in Lady Gaga's march to greatness?

VS
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Lady Gaga - The Edge of Glory

"The Edge of Glory" is the third single by American singer songwriter Lady Gaga from her second studio album Born This Way. The song was released digitally on May 9, 2011 and to US Radio on May 17, 2011. It has so far peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the UK Singles Chart.Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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Born This Way - Album Review

I usually don't feel the need to justify myself before writing a review but I have been taking the piss out of Lady Gaga rather frequently around here due to her sticky fingers, so I thought I'd start by bringing your attention to this link. It's my 2009 'best of' countdown. As you can see, I ranked "The Fame Monster" the second best album of that year and hailed it "the new measuring stick for dance-pop". And I still stand by that. When Lady Gaga is making solid pop music without desperately trying to be outrageous or groundbreaking, she is almost unbeatable. Like a demented cross between Madonna, Britney and someone with actual talent - she lifts pop to dark and dangerous new heights. Take "Bad Romance". To this day that song gives me chills. Strip away the "rah rah rahs" and you're left with one of the most honest 'Dear John' letters ever committed to music.

I guess that's half the reason the beginning of the new era has irked me so much - it's all image and hype. Lady Gaga can talk about tackling the big issues until the pointy implants in her face explode but nothing she has released since "Dance In The Dark" - her last great single - has connected with me at all. Happily, there is a lot to like about "Born This Way" when you dig beneath the unnecessary trappings but it doesn't change the fact that the album crumbles under the weight of her own ego. Mother monster needs to stop advocating for minorities that (she mistakenly believes) imbue her with credibility and put together a cohesive album. She's so busy trying to prove she can do everything that she ends up doing very little right. One minute the most powerful woman in pop is bringing back 90s house, then reviving disco, before moving on to 80s soft rock and the industrial rave scene. Her fans call it eclectic and Lady Gaga herself has gushed that this is the album she has always wanted to make. I'm sorry bitch but that doesn't make it good. Just unforgivably self-indulgent. At its worst, "Born This Way" sounds like the soundtrack to a beginner's party at the Hellfire club. At its best, the album reminds me of a mixtape my mum might have made back in 1987 with heavy lashings of Starship, Laura Branigan and Foreigner! It's no masterpiece but definitely salvageable. Here is my track by track review below:

Marry The Night

This is the song Lady Gaga premiered on Facebook application Farmville. I'm guessing people who tend to imaginary sheep don't hit up the club all that often but whatever. "Marry The Night" is a rather inoffensive if somewhat stillborn opener. Which is surprising because I love Fernando Garibay and he usually brings the best out of Gaga. The explosive introduction is exciting and raised my expectations until the song changes pace and becomes a rather strange mish-mash of 80s Bruce Springsteen and bad 90s techno. It definitely has its moments and has grown on me immensely but the track lacks the catchy hook that Lady Gaga usually does better than anyone.

Born This Way

I've already said enough about this heinous mess. "Born This Way" makes me ashamed to be gay. If we've reached the point where we need a middle-class, heterosexual attention seeker who looks like a 47-year-old transvestite to advocate on our behalf with the supposedly uplifting message that we're all freaks but still deserve love and acceptance then I'm out. There is nothing joyous or inclusive about the lyrics and Gaga can deny ripping off "Enjoy Yourself" all she likes but the similarities are undeniable. Everything about this makes my skin crawl.

Government Hooker

Yuck. If any song sums up what is wrong with Lady Gaga circa 2011 then this is it. "Government Hooker" is the most pretentious song you will hear all year. From the pointless lyrics to messy production, this is one big cry for attention. I could probably cope with an instrumental because there are some interesting flourishes but what exactly is the point of this? To prove that Gaga is cool and edgy and can write lyrics about sex workers and dead presidents? Bitch, please go back to riding that disco stick and leave the faux intellectualism to someone with more to say. I will give her credit for the high camp operatic intro though.

Judas

The fame monster's unauthorised remake of Loli Lux's stunning "WannaBE" is the biggest flop of her career. And for a while looked like it would derail the incredible momentum she had built over the past two years. The problem is that "Judas" is a massive step backwards. It's a fairly standard RedOne production that sticks to the tried and tested "Bad Romance" formula without bringing anything new or fresh to the table. Even the religious imagery that pervades the lyrics in getting boring. Madonna and the Pet Shop Boys did this shtick better in the 80s - it's not shocking, just lazy and boring. And then there's the chorus that sounds like the worst song Aqua never released. Having listened to the rest of the album, Gaga must have been smoking crack when she chose this as the second single. There are so many better songs on "Born This Way".

Americano

By this point I was lamenting the death of my love affair with Lady Gaga. I thought the time had come to throw my paws into the air one last time and leave the monsterhood for good. "Americano" is so fucking lame it needs a walking stick. A sad re-imagining of "Alejandro" that combines Mariachi music with bad Euro-disco, the track apparently tackles heady issue of illegal immigration. It's as hideous as it sounds. If the prospect of a white woman singing chunks of a song in bad Spanish before breaking into the occasional burst of "la la la" then this is for you. If not, do your ears a favour and press delete. This is the worst song Fernando Garibay has ever put his name to. Shame.

Hair

Just when I was ready to write of "Born This Way" as a total trainwreck, along came "Hair" and instantly revived my interest in the project. One of the many buzz singles released to promote the album pre-release, this got lost in the circle jerk over "The Edge Of Glory" but I think it's every bit as good. Although not quite as amazing as Ashley Tisdale's genre-defining song of the same name. But back to Gaga. This is just a solid, I am who I am pop song that I can imagine Cydni Lauper belting out in the 80s. It's fun, catchy and genuinely uplifting. RedOne is such a strange producer. He's done more for recycling that Planet Ark but occasionally he pulls one out of the bag and I love this odd hybrid of 80s Starship-esque pop and dance elements. Great use of sax too. This has to be a single.

Scheiße

As it turns out, Lady Gaga - I can speak German and your pathetic attempt at butchering my mother tongue in a bizarre bid for Teutonic chic is an epic fail. It doesn't even make sense. Is this some kind of anthem for scat lovers or just a lame attempt to revive late 90s house? Whatever the case may be the title accurately describes the song. This is shit.

Bloody Mary

The dubiously talented DJ behind "Government Hooker" returns for "Bloody Mary" - a song that has been singled out by many critics as one of the album's highlights and a future single. I'm not that enthusiastic about it but it is definitely one of the most straightforward floorfillers on "Born This Way". It's like a less intense but more authentic "Judas". The lyrics are less ambitious but they work and there's something hypnotic about the simple chorus. Not great but not bad at all. And if the rumours about this becoming a single I implore Lady Gaga not to ruin it by sitting on a crucifix shaped dildo in the video. Because we all know that's the moment she's been waiting for her whole life.

Bad Kids

"Bad Kids" is everything I want from Mother Monster - a fun pop song with a catchy chorus and universal lyrics. This encapsulates the sentiment I think Lady Gaga wanted to say with "Born This Way" until her pretentious streak got in the way. "I'm not that cool and you hate me, I'm a bad kid that's the way that they made" sings the diva against the crispest 80s beats to hit the airwaves since the glory days of Stacey Q. Who didn't feel like that as a teenager? There's something organically anthemic about "Bad Kids" that makes it a standout on the album. I know that Lady Gaga likes to sing about being shunned and different but more often than not it strikes me as a marketing exercise. This, however, no doubt comes from a time in her past when she was just a mannish teenager called Stefani. Credit must go to producer Jeppe Laursen (of Junior Senior) for bringing the diva back down to earth.

Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)

This has singled out by some critics as the worst song on "Born This Way" but I kind of like its 80s hair band on acid sound palette. Sure, the lyrics are completely inane but I love the hands in the air chorus and I can imagine singing along to this in the car. As long as I was sure no one was listening. The production meanders and it's generally a bit of a mess but I find this kind of good natured experimentation a lot more forgivable than something like "Government Hooker" or "Scheiße".

Heavy Metal Lover

"I want your whiskey mouth all over my blond south" is the worst lyric of the year. I'm sorry but a song about eating Lady Gaga's pussy was always going to leave a bad taste in my mouth. Pun intended. I get the frenzied monster response to this. It's pure filth and the sleazy beats are great - I'd love to hear a dub - but it's nothing but distracting filler for me.

Electric Chapel

Now I know bringing up plagiarism claims are a big no no when it comes to Gaga but damn this reminds me of The Cardigans' classic "Losing My Favourite Game". Those "do do dos" are so familiar and I think she's lifted the guitar riff too but whatever. This is a nice song and sometimes you don't have to break new ground to deliver a decent pop song. Ever since "Speechless" I've been wanting Lady Gaga to explore her inner rock chick and she almost does it here but her current obsession of mixing guitars with electronic elements takes over yet again. My problem here is the lyrics. What exactly is this song about? I just get visions of Elvis weddings in Las Vegas but knowing mother monster it's probably about resolving the Middle East conflict or famine in Africa.

Yoü And I

This has been doing the rounds for a while now. Lady Gaga has performed it during her Monster's Ball tour for the best part of a year and the studio version isn't all that different. Produced by Mutt Lange, "Yoü And I" - what is with that fucking umlaut? - is this album's "Speechless" or "Brown Eyes". An overwrought piano rock ballad that is supposed to highlight the diva's versatility but just sounds like a Richard Marx B-side. I can't help but think Mutt would have been better off giving this to his ex-wife. Shania Twain would have nailed this. Gaga tries so hard to imbue it with pathos and meaning that it ends up being an empty exercise of vocal acrobatics. If nothing else it gives her something new to sing behind a flaming piano on the next tour. Distinctly average.

The Edge Of Glory

First things first. This does sound very similar to Soraya's iconic 2008 smash "Sin Miedo" with a bit of Cher's "Song For The Lonely" thrown in for good measure. But they are two of my favourite songs of all time, so anything that borrows elements from them was always going to be a winner. I'm not convinced that this is the masterpiece that some have held it out to be (now that I've listened to them back to back a couple of times I think I prefer "Hair") but there's no denying it's a great song. There's a real sense of melancholy that permeates the verses, which only serves to make the explosive chorus all the more joyous. I love the now or never theme that runs through the lyrics and applaud Gaga from not making stupid noises or randomly singing in a different language. She has treated this song with the respect it deserves and Fernando Garibay moulds the craziest mix of Eurovision ready pop with "Born To Run" Bruce Springsteen. I even love the crazy sax solo. "The Edge Of Glory" is a worthy addition to Gaga's cannon of hits and deserves to sit proudly next to "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance". I just hate the fact that she will ruin the video with those stupid face implants but whatever. This is a reminder of what Lady Gaga is capable of when she just lets the music flow. It also underlines how sub par the vast majority of the rest of the album is.

6/10

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Thiefga strikes again!

Lady Gaga's brazen thievery is becoming a recurrent theme on my blog. I got the ball rolling by explaining how Mother Monster stole La Toya's entire career before exposing "Judas" as a Loli Lux re-make. I then noticed that poor Sheena Easton had also earned a seat at the next Victims of Lady Gaga support group meeting. Well, the latest diva to be fleeced by pop's favourite kleptomaniac is Soraya Arnelas. Her usually placid fans are up in arms over the similarities between "The Edge Of Glory" and the club queen's 2008 Spainwide smash "Sin Miedo". If you can read Spanish, check out this post over at Fandemia. Gaga has basically stolen the backing track and sung some shit over the top. I'm disgusted and appalled. It's one thing to steal from a relative unknown but Soraya is an international superstar who came 23rd at Eurovision and once scored a top 20 hit in Poland. Did Gaga really think no one would notice? I've been giving this a lot of thought and I honestly believe Soraya has inspired the Grammy winner's entire career. The parallels are uncanny:

1. They are both blond.

2. Their families both hail from Europe.

3. I can't be sure but I suspect they both have vaginas.

I rest my case.

Compare "The Edge Of Glory" with the vastly superior "Sin Miedo" below. Don't worry, Soraya. Justice will be served!

VS
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Loli Lux takes on the UK!

A couple of weeks ago I posted the shocking story behind Lady Gaga's new single "Judas" - namely that it rips off Loli Lux's vastly superior club anthem "WannaBE". Well, the stunning American DJ could have the last laugh. The song has now been picked up by a British label and is, rather amusingly, being promoted as "the original Gaga track"! See the digital promo above. I'm really happy for Loli. "WannaBE" is a great song and deserves to duplicate its Ukrainian chart domination around the world. Check out the video below and request "the original Gaga track" from your local DJ this weekend!

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Lady Gaga - Judas

"Judas" is the second single by American recording artist Lady Gaga from her second studio album Born This Way, which is scheduled for official release on May 23, 2011. The song was released worldwide on April 15, 2011. To date, the song has peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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Sheena Easton was the original Lady Gaga!

Yesterday was Sheena Easton's 52nd birthday. Which is ridiculous because she still looks younger and fresher than Miley Cyrus. Anyway, I was planning a little tribute post to celebrate the occasion and decided to write about "Telefone" - my all time Sheena favourite. Released in 1983, this synth-pop gem became the Scottish diva's 4th US top 10 hit and nabbed her a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal. I love everything about it, from the sublime 80s production (courtesy of Greg Mathieson, who also delivered the goods on her previous album "A Private Heaven") to the supernaturally catchy chorus. That's not even mentioning Sheena's adorably indignant vocal. She's so pressed that her man hasn't called! Her pain is universal and a generation of gays loved her for it.

So here I was writing about my beloved idol when I started having visions of Lady Gaga. I initially assumed her Monsters had finally gone too far and made a voodoo doll in my likeness but then I had a shocking realisation. Sheena Easton is yet another victim of the fame monster's thievery. Just look at that cover. It conveys the same demented, slightly Gothic look that Gaga likes to think she coined. Then I re-watched the video and knew I was onto something. The black & white clip sends up B horror, bringing an unexpected edge to a fluffy pop song - making it an early blue print for "Born This Way". Only Sheena succeeds where Gaga falls flat. Her clip is hilarious and the bad special effects (the bat kills me) add to the fun. I love her crazy eyes at the 50 second mark and the stunning beauty rocks that lace gown with more attitude than a punk rocker. This is so far ahead of its time it's absolutely mind boggling. Everyone talks about Madonna's role in shaping Gaga - perhaps it's time to pay Sheena her due. And wish her a happy birthday while you're at it!

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Loli Lux - The latest victim of Lady Gaga's thievery

Lock away your demos, ladies. Lady Gaga's sticky fingers will stop at nothing to steal your next hit! After raping and pillaging "Express Yourself" for "Born This Way", Mother Monster turned her attention to poor Loli Lux. But unlike Madonna, the emerging electro-pop diva isn't taking it lying down. The outraged DJ/singer issued a press release, putting the shameless thief on blast for ripping off her 2009 Ukrainian smash "WannaBE". Loli says she contacted RedOne through a mutual friend and forwarded him the track. That's the last she heard from him until "Judas" debuted using a very similar hook.

"It's sad when my work ripped off like that but I have more new and really great unreleased material that I will keep safely guarded for now."

Shockingly, this isn't the first time Lady Gaga jacked Loli's swagga:

"I have always crossed paths with Gaga through having mutual friends, it's not the first time she has borrowed ideas from me. It was previously my DJ trademark to wear military hats but I had to stop that after Gaga started doing the same."

I usually take these kind of accusations with a grain of salt but the Fame Monster is turning out to be the shadiest bitch in the game. There are strong similarities between the hooks and it's a bit suspect that Loli forwarded RedOne the song before "Judas" was recorded. You can listen to the tracks side by side here. Whatever. Loli Lux is clearly on the rise and I actually prefer her song to Gaga's. Watch her classy video and the obvious inspiration for "Judas" below. Where can I download this smash?

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My thoughts on Gaga's Judas

The second single from Mother Monster's highly anticipated new album leaked yesterday and it's already sitting at number one on US iTunes with predicted sales of upwards of 400,000 copies. That should be enough to snag the world's most ragged looking 25 year old another chart-topper and elevate her a further rung above Katy Perry and Rihanna on the pop ladder but is it any good? Here are some random thoughts:

1. It's better than "Born This Way", which isn't really that much of an achievement.

2. "Judas" has been widely likened to "Bad Romance" but I don't agree. That song has an underbelly of hate, hurt and love that is completely missing from Gaga's latest single. There is nothing raw or personal about this. "Bad Romance" will be remembered as one of the best pop songs of the noughties because it rings true. Behind the slick production and catchy vocal hooks is a very simple break-up anthem that will stand the test of time. "Judas", on the other hand, is emptier than Toni Braxton's bank account.

3. I like that it sounds like Bananarama in the chorus.

4. Lady Gaga needs to stop working with RedOne. Sure, he knows how to keep things fresh for musical geniuses like Kat DeLuna but his relationship with Stefania is getting boring. I hate "Born This Way" but it represents - for better or worse - some kind of development, while "Judas" could have been a "Fame Monster" B-side.

5. Time to leave the religious imagery alone. It's so incredibly dull. She's done it before - as has every diva with a rebellious streak since 1980. Just move on, ho.

6. Despite all my bitching, I don't mind it and am able to listen the whole way through without cringing or wanting to call Madonna's lawyers. It's just that, as a former Monster, I expect so much more. Lady Gaga is too talented to be writing throwaway pop songs that Aubrey O'Day would reject.

7. I don't know how I feel about Gaga's third album now. The first two were so brilliant, part of me thinks she can't get it so drastically wrong this time around. But why release these stinkers as singles if there is better material in the can? At least the cover is BRILLIANT.

How do you feel about "Judas"?


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Katy Perry - E.T. Video Review

It's been a week since the premiere of "E.T." and I'm still finding new things to love about Katy Perry's latest video. In fact, there's only one thing I'd change about it and that's the completely redundant Kanye West cameo. I haven't been this annoyed by a tacked on rap since Mims ruined "All I See"! Apart from that, "E.T." is pretty flawless. The clip suits the song perfectly and has made people excited about music videos again. Which makes the criticism directed at it all the more confounding. Seeing as Katy is too busy celebrating her 5th US number one hit to give a shit - she now has more than Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera - I thought I'd respond for her.

1. It rips off Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" video
Are you derelict homosexuals for real? Sure, they are both set in space but that's where the similarities end. Gaga's grim manifesto is a pretentious exercise in shock value, while Katy's clip plays like "WALL•E - The Musical". The storylines, costumes and art direction could not be more different. Mother monster's desperate need to be edgy is palpable. Pop's favourite one time faux lesbian, on the other hand, is just happy to look pretty floating around in her alien make-up. That might sound like a dis but Katy's entire "American Dream" marketing campaign has been built on kitsch and the diva somehow manages to bring that innate cuteness to the album's darkest song. For the record, I'm choosing to forget that "Circle The Drain" exists.

2. It has no plot
Excuse me but this shit is the intergalactic Dr Zhivago! Here's my interpretation of the plot. Alien Katy is being used as a sex slave by Cuntye in that sick pod. Because that's the kind of slimy shit he'd pull in space. One day she has some kind of psychic connection with a broke down robot on a deserted planet, who is rotting away on the scrapheap - much like Ashanti. So Katy jumps ship, transforms into a sexy humanoid and learns all about his shithole planet as she plummets through space towards her soulmate. It's a long journey so she has plenty of time to experiment with her hair and try on a few different outfits. By the end of the song, the persistent bitch lands and brings that fucker to life. Probably by humming "Ur So Gay" into his robot ear. They both change into their true selves and life happily ever after. You mad?

3. This blockbuster is a publicity stunt to nab her 4 consecutive US number ones hits
No shit. What did you expect - a $200 fiasco like "Better Than Today"? Katy's record label actually has some idea what they're doing.

8.5/10

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An Open Letter To Lady Gaga

Dear Lady Gaga,

You are one shady bitch. I loved your first two albums - you know, when you actually made fun music - and couldn't care less if you recycle Madonna's entire back catalogue but the time has come to stop ripping off La Toya. I know it's hard not to be inspired by the greatest vocalist of the past 25 years. Toy Toy's own sister spent decades jackin' her swagger but at least Janet had the decency to become a massive flop and disappear, while you continue to rob the Priestess of Pop blind. At first I thought your La Toya obsession was cute. It's clear she's everything you aspire to be (and more) but your latest image is the final straw. You're obviously trying to con Toy Toy's tens of fans into buying your new album by dressing up as her long lost twin sister. Well, I'm on to you and plan to expose your evil trickery to the world. Listed below are six irrefutable examples of your thieving ways. In the words of the great one herself - it's time to get correct!

Yours in utter disgust,

Mike

Example 1: Her new look

It annoys me that deluded monsters hail Lady Gaga's alien look as innovative and cutting edge when La Toya has been compared to extra-terrestrials for years. Compare the following pics. Need I say more?


Example 2: Taking to the runway

When the world's least original pop star walked the runway for Tierry Mugler fans fell over themselves proclaiming Gaga a fashion icon. If only they knew the Benjamin Button of pop stole the idea from Toy Toy.


Example 3: Hitching her wagon to Beyoncé

One of the smartest moves Gaga ever made was roping in the services of the vastly more popular and critically acclaimed music icon Beyoncé to give her some credibility and class. Only, you guessed it. Toy Toy got there first!


Example 4: Red carpet publicity whoring

Mother Monster's arrival at this year's Grammy Awards made international headlines but the bitch has nothing on the thinking man's Jackson, who has turned red carpet whoring into an artform. Even if no one's there!


Example 5: The Eiffel Tower

One of Toy Toy's most iconic photoshoots took place in front of the Eiffel Tower, so I guess it was only a matter of time before Gaga tried to emulate her glamorous idol.


Example 6: Ripping off Madonna

Lady Gaga thought she was so clever ripping off "Express Yourself" but it's clear she got the idea from La Toya, who scored a massive top 30 smash (in Holland) some 20 years earlier with a song that samples "Like A Virgin". Compare "Born This Way" with the vastly superior "Sexbox" below.

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Born This Way - Video Review

It's no secret that "Born This Way" makes me want to pierce my eardrums with a rusty knitting needle. I intensely dislike the song and was kind of hoping to hate the video, so I could throw away my monster membership card and jump on the anti-Gaga bandwagon. But against all odds, I like it. The seven and a half minute extravaganza doesn't scale the same dizzying heights as "Paparazzi" or "Telephone" but I finally get the Klingon-tastic face implants and low rent sex shop clothing. "Born This Way" is as pretentious as you've come to expect from Gaga but at a time when Ri-Cycle and Zombie Spears either blatantly steal or walk through their videos in a medicated haze, the fame monster deserves credit for taking the medium seriously. Her transformation into the new Ziggy Stardust is almost complete - albeit with shit music stolen from Madonna.

The Nick Knight directed clip begins with a unicorn - clearly borrowed from Ke$ha's vastly superior "Blow" video - before moving on to the unseemly sight of Lady Gaga giving birth, while reciting her monster manifesto. I love the gloomy score and influence of B grade horror movies, so I'm willing to overlook the cringeworthy speech about mitosis and the multiverse. Whatever. Mother monster could have just cut the crap and said "this shit is about the age old battle between good and evil - and includes lots of big words to make me sound intelligent" but that would have been too easy. The script might be painful but it's hard to fault the costumes, make up and special effects. I particularly like the birth of evil, with its translucent exoskeleton imagery and machine gun straddling.

From then on, the mood lightens and the demented diva finally allows herself a bit of fun. There is some clever choreography in black leather lingerie and my favourite scene, where Gaga hangs out with heavily tattooed model Rick Genest - dressed in a tux, with a pink wig and full skeleton make up. It's the prettiest she's looked in years! The not particularly subtle vaginal imagery also amuses me. It's a rather lazy metaphor for creation but I'm a sucker for an old fashioned shock tactic and the visuals remind of 80s Cronenberg. The finale, which I interpret as a homage to Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" video, is surprisingly cute. By the end of the clip, I had forgotten I was listening to one of the worst songs of 2011. Which, if nothing else, is a reason to celebrate. All is not forgiven but I'm interested to see where Lady Gaga takes us next.

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Lady Gaga - Born This Way

"Born This Way" is the lead single and title track by American recording artist Lady Gaga from her upcoming second studio album Born This Way. The song was released for radio airplay on February 11, 2011. She first performed the song live at the 53rd Grammy. It was a runaway success, peaking at number one in 13 countries, including debuting at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, only the 19th song to do so.Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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Britney Vs Gaga

Lady Gaga: You are the joke of [the] music industry and your fans are fucking ridiculous.

Britney: Silly cunt, you wish your little monsters were like my loyal fans. I have fans [on] every street corner in every country, state and region. My fans range in different races, age and gender. Unlike yours who are just a bunch of 24 year old fat male trannies.

The most defining clip in the history of YouTube. The end.Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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Born This Way - The Verdict

A lot of people have been asking what I think of "Born This Way" and, to be honest, at first I wasn't 100 percent sure. I freely admit to suffering from a bad case of Gaga fatigue and didn't want to write the song off prematurely - only to sing its praises in a couple of weeks. But the lead single from the fame monster's third album has finally started to sink in and I kind of wish it hadn't. As much as I enjoy taking the piss out of her and wish she would go into hibernation for a couple of years, it's impossible to deny Lady Gaga's talent. Her first two albums will be looked back on as milestones in popular music and you only have to turn on MTV to see the extent of her influence on other artists. Along with Justin Bieber, she is the closest thing we have to a phenomenon and - for that reason alone - I want her to keep delivering the goods. But "Born This Way" just doesn't cut it and not for the reasons I keep reading on other blogs. Here are my two cents on Lady Gaga's first real misfire.

The Good

I'm not sure if this really belongs in the 'good' category but I really don't give a fuck about the Madonna comparisons. Her trolls will swear black and blue that Madge did everything first - from discovering fire to inventing the wheel - so please take the plagiarism accusations with a grain of salt. It's also particularly ironic that "Born This Way" is being compared to "Express Yourself" because, as other pre-historic gays might remember, that song was accused of ripping of Sly & The Family Stone's entire back catalogue when it was released in 1989. My point is that no one has done anything remotely original since the 80s - besides Ke$ha and Bey. Seriously, half the time I can't tell the difference between Jay Sean, Taio Cruz and Jason DeRulo when they come on the radio and I consider myself a fan of at least two thirds of that trio. Gaga has obviously drawn on 80s pop music for inspiration and probably fell asleep with "The Immaculate Collection" on repeat. So what. At least she didn't steal the song outright, which is more than Madonna can say about "Ray Of Light". The funniest thing about the whole plagiarism scandal is Ryan Tedder coming out from under his rock to put Gaga on blast. Bitch, please. Go and listen to "Halo" and "Already Gone" back to back and write a letter of apology!

Apart from being amused by all the finger pointing by deluded stans, I love that a song by a manufactured pop star (which, like it or not, is exactly what she is) has the power to captivate and polarise music fans to such a extent. I haven't seen this kind of mayhem since the glory days of the Spice Girls. Everyone has an opinion on "Born This Way" and they are not afraid to share it. Happily, the huge interest surrounding the song is actually translating into sales. Despite all the criticism and almost fanatical hate, "Born This Way" is already the fastest selling song of all time on iTunes and has demolished all radio airplay records in the US. The much touted diva battle between Lady Gaga and Britney Spears was settled in a first round KO. If there was any doubt who reigns supreme on the American dance-pop scene, the debate is now over. That doesn't make "Express Yourself 2" (sorry, couldn't help myself) a great record - it just makes it relevant and genuinely popular.

Last but definitely not least, millions of children around the world will be walking around the playground singing "don't be a drag, just be a queen" and asking their parents what a "transgendered life" means. That alone is almost - but sadly not quite - enough to make me love this hot mess.

The Bad

Now for the bad. Firstly, I just don't think "Born This Way" works. The dubious lyrics (which I'll get to in a moment) are clunky, the chorus lacks bite and Fernando Garibay's 80s inspired production sounds like it was lifted from Kelly Llorenna's genre defining debut/greatest hits album. How can you go from the pure pop explosion of "Just Dance" or the spine tingling menace of "Bad Romance" to a song that Dana International would turn down for being too dated and cheap? I'm excited that Gaga has mixed things up and explored a new sound but you can't claim to be music's greatest songwriter and leading pioneer and then regurgitate all that went before you without turning it into something new or at least giving it your own spin. To my ears "Born This Way" is the result of Lady Gaga either smoking way too much crack or being surrounded by too many yes men who tell her she's creating art every time she farts. Her monsters clearly don't care - given the sky high sales figures - but I have a bad feeling this could be the beginning of a major backlash if the rest of the album isn't significantly better.

Now for the dealbreaker. As a card carrying gay man, I find "Born This Way" borderline offensive. Lady Gaga wants us to know she has our back. That it's ok to be a big old poof. That we're all fabulous. I want her to know that I couldn't give a fuck about her condescending acceptance of my lifestyle. I just need Julia Gillard to sign a piece of legislation and I'm good. When will straight people stop equating gays with landmine victims and Kurdish refugees? I'm not anybody's cause. I could take this kind of pep talk from Rufus Wainwright or K.D. Lang but Lady Gaga should be writing songs that cheer up 24 year olds who look 47 instead of fighting my battles for me. That might sound ungrateful but there is nothing about this song that makes me feel better about myself. Ke$ha and Katy Perry recently tackled similar themes on "We R Who We R" and "Firework" but made their songs inclusive so everyone - regardless of age, sexuality or appearance - can identify without feeling like an outcast or charity case. That is the magic of those tracks and the reason why they will live on as real gay anthems. There is nothing uplifting about "Born This Way". Sure, it might be camp as Kylie's dildo but much like that piece of plastic - it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

The Verdict

Lady Gaga's supposed gay anthem makes me want to delete all the gay porn from my computer, enter into a sham marriage and dedicate the rest of my life to finding a cure for homosexuality.

3/10


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2011 Grammy Round Up

Apart from Bey outshining Lady Gaga and Usher with her stunning natural beauty and transcendent star quality in the era defining picture above, the Grammys were a bit of bust this year. At least as far as the winners were concerned. Honey B was robbed of Grammy glory for "Halo (Live)" and Lady Gaga or Katy Perry should have snatched album of the year. At least most of the performances were good. There was an interesting mix of acts from the legendary Barbra Streisand - bow down, bitches! - to street scum like Rihanna. Everyone with an internet connection has already thrown in their two cents, so I'll keep this short and sweet.

Here are my 10 favourite things about the 2011 Grammy Awards:

10. Beyoncé deigning to bless the event with her heavenly presence.

9. The fact that Ciara somehow managed to buy an invite on eBay.

8. Justin Bieber's face when Esperanza Spalding won 'Best New Artist'.

7. The shocking realisation that Bruno Mars is kind of hot. From a distance.

6. Barbra Streisand proving that real talent is - indeed - evergreen.

5. Watching Ri-cycle make a complete idiot of herself by turning in the night's worst performance. Poor Drake.

4. Christina Aguilera snatching wigs left, right and centre.

3. The hot mess that was Katy Perry's rendition of "Not Like The Movies" - complete with sequined swing, billowing curtain and her wedding video. So tacky, self-indulgent and hideously wrong... but I loved every second of it!

2. Janelle Monae's hair.

1. Knowing that Ke$ha was probably asleep in the gutter somewhere holding a packet of Winnie Blues in one hand and a bottle of Jack in the other while all this was taking place. Next year, my precious, next year.

Source URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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Proof That Kylie Does Everything First

Lady Gaga is so fucking shameless. First she steals Madonna's career and now blatantly rips off Kylie's stunning "2 Hearts" artwork (below) on the cover of her latest single. The likeness is hard to deny. Both covers share a similar composition, Gaga's eye make-up is almost identical to Dannii's ancient sister's and the cheeky bitch even swiped my homegirl's font. Is nothing sacred? We all know that swagga jackin' is rife in pop music but Lady Gaga holds herself out as a cutting edge innovator, who is in total control of her career and image. Recycling a well known single cover from 2007 just isn't good enough. Having said all that, it is a compliment of sorts - acknowledging that Kylie was, as usual, ahead of her time. I actually think the entire "X" era is incredibly misunderstood, from the styling to the music. But more about that another time. For now let's concentrate on the diva's new status as Lady Gaga's muse and congratulate her on scoring the 34th UK top ten hit of her career this week with "Higher". Kylie wasn't blessed with Dannii's breathtaking vocal talent or raw beauty but she's done alright.

Kylie's Top 10 Hits

1987 - I Should Be So Lucky
1988 - Got To Be Certain
1988 - The Loco-Motion
1988 - Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi
1988 - Especially For You
1989 - Hand on Your Heart
1989 - Wouldn't Change a Thing
1989 - Never Too Late
1990 - Tears On My Pillow
1990 - Better The Devil You Know
1990 - Step Back in Time
1991 - What Do I Have to Do?
1991 - Shocked
1991 - If You Were with Me Now
1991 - Give Me Just a Little More Time
1994 - Confide In Me
2000 - Spinning Around
2000 - On a Night Like This
2000 - Please Stay
2000 - Kids
2001 - Can't Get You Out of My Head
2002 - In Your Eyes
2002 - Love at First Sight
2002 - Come into My World
2003 - Slow
2004 - Red Blooded Woman
2004 - Chocolate
2004 - I Believe In You
2005 - Giving You Up
2007 - 2 Hearts
2008 - Wow
2008 - In My Arms
2010 - All The Lovers
2011 - Higher

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The 10 Worst Videos Of 2010

Choosing the year's worst videos was like picking up in a brothel. Too fucking easy. It seems that everyone dropped their bundle in 2010 and dished up pile after pile of steaming shit. I avoided choosing the videos that stank due to budget restrictions - actually most of those made my best of countdown - because there's only so much you can do with $20 and an iPhone. Instead, I focused on clips that had the resources to be so much better. I should also point out that I'm strictly talking about the visuals. I love most of these songs. In fact, many of them will feature on my best singles of 2010 countdown. But that's still no excuse for inflicting the following crimes against humanity upon us!

10. Alejandro - Lady Gaga (Video)

I really couldn't decide whether to put this in my best or worst videos of 2010 countdown. The direction and cinematography are absolutely stunning and Lady Gaga deserves props for wearing a latex nun's habit without looking like she's just escaped from an insane asylum. My problem with "Alejandro" is that it's all been done before. This video is like looking inside Madonna's brain circa 1989. There's the religious symbolism that permeated her entire "Like A Prayer" album, the industrial setting of "Express Yourself" and even the pre-historic diva's pointy bra. Hell, she even lifted the dance routine from "Vogue"! I'm sure the clip is revolutionary if you're 15 and didn't experience the real deal but it gives the rest of us a serious case of deja vu.

9. Get Outta My Way - Kylie (Video)

This clip sums up everything that's wrong with Kylie at the moment. She's completely lost touch with the people that buy - or would potentially buy - her music. You have a ridiculously catchy song about flirting with guys at the club to make your lame arse boyfriend jealous and Dannii's much older sister films a high art video wearing Gaultier couture in which she stands around on chairs like a hypnotised meerkat. I honestly believe if she had pulled on some jeans and made a fun clip that even remotely related to the song, the middle aged housewives and suburban gays that comprise the bulk of her fanbase would have come to the party. Instead she impressed ten fashionistas in Paris. Good job.

8. Skin I'm In - Static Revenger featuring Luciana (Video)

Now this pains me. I worship at the church of Luciana and can legitimately lay claim to being her number one fan. She's also a good friend of mine and I fucking LOVE this song. But there's no denying that the video is completely rancid. It's cheap, visually boring and makes a genuinely stunning woman look like a 49 year old bus driver. Then there's the small matter of Static Revenger hogging the spotlight, the ugly extras and redundant special effects. "I Like That" was literally filmed for 500 pounds by Luci's hairdresser and it stands up against anything funded by a major label. This, on the other hand, is just rank.

7. The Way You Love Me - Keri Hilson featuring Rick Ross (Video)

Any video that features cameos from Jojo, Faith Evans and Dawn as Charlie's Angels-esque special agents should be genre defining. And "The Way You Love Me" starts promisingly enough. That is until Miskeried (as she's known to Bey stans) strips off and takes pussy popping choreography to previously unimagined depths. This shit would make a gynaecologist blush. Seriously, bitch - put it the fuck away! I don't want to see your bony arse grinding away like a ten dollar hooker on Meth and I really don't want to catch an accidental glimpse of your grand canyon. Nasty!

6. Indestructible - Robyn (Video)

Congratulations, Robyn. This video turned me off sex. For life.

5. Licky - Shontelle (Video)

Yet another great song undone by a disastrous clip. "Licky" was filmed at the height of Lady Gaga mania and her influence can be seen in every outfit Shontelle wears. Unfortunately, instead of making the rich man's Rihanna look cool and edgy - they have the unfortunate side effect of making her look like a man. Seriously, I've seen drag queens without make up look more feminine that Shontelle in this clip. The scene where she's strolling down the street dressed as some kind of tranny pimp could explain the number 81 chart placing of her fabulous album.

4. The Flood - Cheryl Cole (Video)

Seeing the convicted criminal from Girls Aloud impersonate Sophie Ellis-Bextor in "Promise This" was offensive enough but the mind numbingly dull "Halo"-by-the-sea video for her latest flop borders on inhumane. With nothing else to look at apart from pop music's most infamous charisma free zone, you are forced to listen to her paper thin voice and compute shiteous lyrics like "turn the lights out in the lighthouse". Ear rape has never been quite as soul destroying.

3. Commander - Kelly Rowland (Video)

How do you blow a sure fire hit that had the internet in a frenzy from the minute it leaked? Easy. Hire the world's worst special effects team, rope in an ugly French DJ to make a completely unnecessary cameo and come up with the lamest dual personality storyline in the history of modern music complete with extras wearing gas marks. Oh and throw in some bad choreography for good measure as well as a selection of outfits that Kelly probably stole from a charity bin outside the House of Dereon.

2. Get Em Girls - Jessica Mauboy featuring Snoop Dog (Video)

Poor Jessica. She must have thought she had it made when Sony sent her over to LA to film "Get Em Girls" with Hype Williams - the man behind Bey's "Videophone" and Ke$ha's "We R Who We R". But instead of the iconic clip she was hoping for, the diva ended up with a video so bad it almost killed her career and sunk her album before it was even released. The whole thing is just so tacky, forced and unconvincing. Seeing Jess awkwardly stumble down a runway in some of the worst ensembles in fashion history is truly painful to behold and I can't decide if Snoop looks more bored or embarrassed. Happily, the success of "Saturday Night" has turned things around for Australia's new Queen of crunk but this will live on in infamy for all the wrong reasons.

1. Mistakes - Brian McFadden and Delta Goodrem (below)

If nothing else this clip answers a question I've long pondered over. What happens when two gigantic cunts collide?


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2011 Grammy Awards: Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Sara Bareilles - King of Anything



Beyoncé - Halo



Norah Jones - Chasing Pirates



Lady Gaga - Bad Romance



Katy Perry - Teenage DreamSource URL: http://popmusicrecords.blogspot.com/search/label/Lady%20GaGa
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