Gaga Whoops....

[burningyen]

I find her to be a very small step above Amy Winehouse in general nastiness. At lease Winehouse can sing. I won't let my daughter watch either of them.

Nastiness is in the eye of the beholder, but Gaga can sing.

[zorrow]

I hear a lot of rock elements in Gaga songs. And she likes Queen, Led Zeppelin, and even was "caught" buying a Saxon album not so long ago. And she's still a pop star, but a really good one -and a good businesswoman too, no doubt! And yes, she can sing and write good songs -at least, this is singing and good songwriting to me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYPZv-1bW_E

PS: I also found this, still related to Saxon: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermo...wsitemID=151169

[Gitslide]

My nephew used to play with her when she was just Stephanie something-or-other in NYC. He's a good musician and says she's the real deal.

I think Paparazzi is a good tune.

[mc2]

I think Gaga is great -and I am serious! REALLY!

I agree.

Just a bunch of haters whining because she hit the big time after years of paying in NYC/NJ dive clubs playing rock covers.

IMO she writes and sings waaay better than Madonna or any of those who targeted the same niche over the years. Cetainly out markets any of them.

I don't see her as a Dale Bozzio....I see more Cher/Madonna in the dance/gay/costume market that made her...but you can hear her rock background because she has a better sense of melody/hooks than Cher or Madonna did.

[anotherfreak]

"IMO she writes and sings waaay better than Madonna or any of those who targeted the same niche over the years. Cetainly out markets any of them"

Have to agree, her marketing is at liest as good as the talent she brings to the table.

[SteveB]

I hear a lot of rock elements in Gaga songs.

I still think that Bad Romance is a harder rocking song than what passes for most rock bands these days. Just google "Bad Romance Rock Cover" and you'll see how well it can work. Her stuff often has great melodies, huge hooks, and big Choruses. She said in some interview something like, "I write the chorus first, because if you don't have a great chorus nobody gives a fuck." She also said she intended to write Pop music that her metal friends would listen to.

She also has that New York east side edge in alot of her stuff which makes it much more palatable to me than the often saccharin LA pop sound. I think this is a funny quote of hers of when she considered moving to LA -

"I put my toe in that water, and it was a Kegel-exercise vaginal reaction where I clenched and had to retract immediately. I ran furiously back to New York, to my old apartment, and I hung out with my friends, and I went to the same bars."

I'm looking forward to the next album. The first one "The Fame" was kindof scattershot, I think her producers had more control on that album and they were just trying a bunch of stuff to see what would stick. On "The Fame Monster" I think she took more creative control, the songs are generally edgier and I suspect the "real" Gaga came out more. It sounds like on this next one she had a ton of creative freedom, it will be interesting to hear what comes out. She's basically said that the "Born this Way" single is unlike most of the rest of the album, and much of it is darker.

besides, how can you not like a girl who tweets this "The Number of the Beast. Having' beers listening to Maiden w the New York Boys. Happy 666 Twitterland."

[Ted]

Say what you will about Gaga's singing/music/what have you, that's all subjective. Fact is this girl is all pro. She took a potentially predictable Today Show appearance and turned it into entertainment genius when the sky opened and began downpouring into the first song. She took the ball and ran giving an amazing performance leaving it all on the stage. Many quasi-pros would have freaked, she loaded both barrels and fired.

ie... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPPUY7PkJl0

Here's a much cooler vid of a band playing in the rain....

Great, great performance! That DVD is very good all around IMHO.

I think that we should settle the whole Dale Bozzio vs Gaga thing right here and now - ladies, this way to the swimming pool full of jello... HELLS YEAH!!!

I second this idea!!!

[SteveB]

This is a pretty cool Rock version of Bad Romance....

[Turdus]

The Saxon connection is quite cool. For those into metal, they've been putting out some really good records for the last 10 years. Nearly as good as their late 70's, early 80's stuff.

But, sorry... Gaga does nothing for me, and I'm probably one of the few here that has seen her live.

Whatever... the whole time I was at her show, I was wishing that it was Aerosmith, or somebody cool up there.

[Uncle Thor's Hamer]

Gaga does do a great performance and writes some good stuff. But she does seem high on the nasty scale.

My 18 yr old does a killer acoustic version of "Bad Romance" on ukelele which always gets a good reception from the college and high school kids. The only vid I have is her doing it on guitar, and she was getting over a cold that night so she sounds a bit nasal.

Sara playing "Bad Romance"

[SteveB]

But, sorry... Gaga does nothing for me, and I'm probably one of the few here that has seen her live.

Whatever... the whole time I was at her show, I was wishing that it was Aerosmith, or somebody cool up there.

If everyone had the same tastes it would be a boring world. I can definitely see your point as we talked about previously about how you felt at her show with your young daughter there. I was surprised how many young kids were in the audience. I really like maybe 1/3 of Gaga's songs, the rest are either just ok or "meh" to me. Her live show is more like pop theatre, not much different than going to see a showing of "Cats" or "Lion King" or something, so I appreciate the dancing, choreography, and the spectacle of all that.

What I find almost more interesting than her music is Gaga in a social context... how she manipulates nearly everything and plays the game so well. She's a smart girl and has studied fame, celebrity, and pop culture intently. It's almost like she's currently doing "research" which will end up in a thesis project. I find it interesting to watch how the world reacts to her.

Saw Aerosmith with Sammy Hagar last year. Great show, even if they played too many of their "2nd phase" hits for my taste.

[velorush]

My 18 yr old does a killer acoustic version of "Bad Romance" on ukelele which always gets a good reception from the college and high school kids. The only vid I have is her doing it on guitar, and she was getting over a cold that night so she sounds a bit nasal.

Sara playing "Bad Romance"

Awesome! Much preferred over LGG! Would love to see the uke version, as well.

[Turdus]

I was surprised how many young kids were in the audience.

Right on Steve... same in DC. And probably each of those kids had a parent who was duped into taking them. The kids don't know what she's about... they think she is Selena Gomez, or some other current Disney star. And since I don't relate to pop music, I was not really too familiar with her.

So does she have an obligation to the younger fans? That could be a lengthy debate in itself.

[chewie37]

So, went to the show in Tampa last night since the wife won tickets from a radio station. Have to admit that just like Air Supply & Abba that Gaga is a bit of a guilty pleasure. (Hey, I like what I like - what can I say). Not a fan of every song for sure, and I definitely think she's a little . . . odd.

But some random thoughts in no particular order.

- Fun show, good crowd. Low stoner factor (at least in the section I was in) compared to the Ozzy show here last month (that one had me worried about the "test" for my next reserve weekend).

- Attractively inappropriately dressed ladies. Gotta love the wife for pointing out some of the better examples!

- Very much like a modern Broadway show. (not much plot but interesting visuals tied together with songs).

- Seems like she can actually sing.

- Surprised by the live band. Figured the music would be all pre-recorded; not sure how the drummer didn't explode like a Spinal Tap sit in.

- Some songs work better live than they do on the albums.

- When she let her guard down she was actually kinda cute.

- She talks too much between songs. 2 hour set could have easily been 90 minutes if not less without some of her ramblings (and costume changes).

- Wife likes her, fringe benefits for me . . .

- Would probably go to a show again.

[mathman]

Gaga does do a great performance and writes some good stuff. But she does seem high on the nasty scale.

My 18 yr old does a killer acoustic version of "Bad Romance" on ukelele which always gets a good reception from the college and high school kids. The only vid I have is her doing it on guitar, and she was getting over a cold that night so she sounds a bit nasal.

Sara playing "Bad Romance"

Sounds good, love to hear the ukelele version also.

[atquinn]

I was surprised how many young kids were in the audience.

Right on Steve... same in DC. And probably each of those kids had a parent who was duped into taking them. The kids don't know what she's about... they think she is Selena Gomez, or some other current Disney star. And since I don't relate to pop music, I was not really too familiar with her.

So does she have an obligation to the younger fans? That could be a lengthy debate in itself.

I would assume the the kids have a much greater idea what Gaga is about than their parents! Twasn't it ever thus?

-Austin

[crunchee]

I was surprised how many young kids were in the audience.

Right on Steve... same in DC. And probably each of those kids had a parent who was duped into taking them. The kids don't know what she's about... they think she is Selena Gomez, or some other current Disney star. And since I don't relate to pop music, I was not really too familiar with her.

So does she have an obligation to the younger fans? That could be a lengthy debate in itself.

I would assume the the kids have a much greater idea what Gaga is about than their parents! Twasn't it ever thus?

-Austin

+1. If you're looking for family entertainment, you could always take the kids to a Mets game.

[Turdus]

Take your 10 year old to the show, and then tell me what you think.

[Jorge]

My 18 yr old does a killer acoustic version of "Bad Romance" on ukelele which always gets a good reception from the college and high school kids. The only vid I have is her doing it on guitar, and she was getting over a cold that night so she sounds a bit nasal.

Sara playing "Bad Romance"

Cool, UTT, congratulations!

[crunchee]

Take your 10 year old to the show, and then tell me what you think.

No kids here. This is the first time I'd heard about a specific age. Concert-wise, I'd give kids the same rule that my parents gave me. If I had my drivers' licence', my own car, and was able to afford the tickets, the gas, AND the car, ALL on my own and not on the parents' dime, sure! Otherwise, the only concert I'd even think of taking 'em to is 'Peter And The Wolf'.