JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Lady GaGa -- not just a pretty face.

"vintage" Lady Gaga, live at NYU: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM51qOpwcIM

Kevin

I've seen this before and meant to bring this up myself, so thanks, Kevin.

My questions are: How does one go from Stefani Germanotta to Lady Gaga? Was it her idea or was she following the directions of a manager or the record company? How does the transformation occur?

Is this a Kevin only thread? Just wanted to check before I posted.

Ask David Bowie, Madonna etc about transformations and reinventions

This Lady is actually one smart woman. Heard her on Letterman or Leno (can't remember which)...and she was articulate and seemed to speak carefully and in a well reasoned way.

So I'm not surprised by her ability to make the changes she feels she needs to make to carry off what she's doing.

I was hoping to have a few more Kevin's jump in, but ordinary names like Nigel and John are welcome also (ha, ha)!

Kevin

If she had not made the transformation, she would just be one of thousands of great singer/songwriters. Now she is unique and noticed.

Oh goody

Actually I was going to make the comment along the lines of John’s, but I also think Kevin’s questions (see below) are interesting and worth exploration.
It’s not just a change of identity, it’s whole new re-launch. There’s a handful that work and we get to hear about, but there must be thousands that fail

I really like both versions of her, but without the change, although very talented, she would probably have just been seen as a Tory Amos wannabe.

BTW, how did the non-Kevins get on this thread? Who leaked the secret password?

She has an incredible voice doesn't she? Just makes you want to sit back and listen... what a gift.

I listened, I don't know if it's good or not.

OK, I asked some friends, they said it wasn't from the 60's or 70's....so it's not good.

Well Kevin and Kevin and???
She has a definite Jazz sound in this Video more like the 50's. Pretty good I would say.

Hi Emmrich:

Thanks for taking the time to post the video of Steph. I like her this way... significantly better than some robot-looking space girl. I know, it's not kitchy enough but I want music, not over-the-top video. Before I saw this, I was totally non-plused by the person I saw last year on... cringe... American Idol.

After seeing this barefooted piano playing singer with real talent, I'm gonna be paying more attention.

Regards,

Dave

How does one make the transformation? Probably has something to do with being really involved with burlesque and taking a lot of drugs. Also, I wouldn't really call Lady GaGa unique. The sound of her music is simply derivative of trance and techno music which preceded her by decades. Other artists have done exactly what she does; just look at Madonna, whose producers have always taken underground electronic genres as the basis for her pop productions. Gaga's controversial image and bizzarre fashion sense has certainly been done by other female artists before, such as, well, Madonna to name one.

Not saying she's not enjoyable to listen to, but a lot of her music is really mindless and simply driven by production values which are ripped off from the electronic scene.

I liked her music/style/voice as "Stefani" (vintage) atleast the first song she played in the video on the piano at NYU. That song alone revealed her talents in composition, vocals and lyrics. She may infact have more immediate "commercial" success on a monetary/notoriety scale given her "GaGa" persona (which will be fleeting) but had she stayed closer to her original style I believe she would have had a longer career and a more universal appeal. The freakish clothing (or lack of) including blood poured over her, etc. is far too much and sadly diminishes her. Don't get me wrong she is making the money and headlines but so is Susan Boyle. I just think it's sad.

Andrew,

I don't disagree with you. But the average listener/fan doesn't approach their listen in that fashion. They like it or they don't and most of them don't care why. I think many musicians/performers and engineers would agree with you. But I doubt most of her fans even think about that in least.

I don't know but would think that the majority of her fans are 15 - 30 years old. Since the style and technical production of her music precedes her by decades, it's new to them. If it's from the 70's, it precedes today by 30 - 40 years. If it's from the 80's, it precedes her by 20 - 30. Most of the fans in the aforementioned age group would never have heard it or were so young, it didn't leave an impression with them. Thus it sounds new to them, for the most part.

Our oldest granddaughter is 14 years old. She's heard of Madonna but couldn't name a single song she recorded. My granddaughter is very close to the lower end of the age group who probably make up the biggest part of Lady GaGa's fan base.

To folks like me (I'll be 63 in March...don't know how old you are), a decade is a decade is a....etc. Not such a big deal. To a 15 - 25 year-old, a decade is like two lifetimes! To them, anything a decade old is ancient history. But when it's 3 or 4 decades old, it's a renewal of a genre they know about, but do not literally know.

I could be wrong about all that. But, that's what crossed my mind as I read your comment.

Have a great 2010, Andrew. And continued success with your music. I'm a fan!

Alan

Err... no, I don't think she does. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan and I love the album. It's great pop music but I would never say she has an 'incredible' voice.

You can blame Mr Costner for that, his tongue gets a bit loose when he's had a drink or two

lady gaga is an abomination IMO ,remember her target market is children and teenagers so now i quote "i wanna take a ride on your disco stick"...... and its an abrieviation of a word for a willie that rhymes with sick..... i think thats actually disgusting and so is her style and looks soo...... but everyone has there own opinion , i just waned a rant

I just wish she would A) realize that I am a happily married man, and B) respond to a simple %$#^ email.

I was offered once a chance to make a "most selling artist persona" well was not the same case, LOL but I never regretted having to say no. There's nothing wrong to say yes if you want to be heard and you are fine to make something absolutely different. There are people that want to do just their own thing, and people that want to feel the public and get to the masses, both approaches are possible. I honestly don't like what she does now.
About a comment up there about tori amos wannabees, I am a keyboard-piano songwriter, and when I started I get some points out with that sentence. I hadn't even heard of Tori by then. People have the combination of piano+vocals automatically linked to certain acts which is not fair to any of the "quiet" or alternative new coming singers and they easily turns out the way when maybe they should not

I wonder what made her change. She was on an interview on fuse...the other week and she said she wanted to be different and to speak to all the others in her music and delivery as some one that is not the norm but it is ok to be that way. I am paraphrasing here.

I really like her music. I am not wild on the clothes at times, and I feel her music, vocals, and songwriting are the real stand outs...but hers is a talent I think will be around for a long time to come. She is really into the entertainment value of it all. She said on her song, Just Dance, that the radio stations didnt want to play it for the longest time. Her club music is really popular and I really like her newest Bad Romance. Wicked good.

Kim

Seriously, I think she's simply sharp as a whip and full of talent. The comparisons to David Bowie are very apt, because they are both very ambitious and very versatile and broke into fame using theatricality to their advantage. There seems to be an undercurrent here that she made some sort of compromise by adopting the GaGa persona...but I really don't think so. I would say she devised her own rocket to blow the doors down and seize the Brass Ring, and I applaud her for it. Now I predict a long, Bowie-like career--full of surprising transformations and challenging music, because underneath all the costumes, she's got vision and talent.

Yep, I agree. I am guessing that the persona and the outlandish clothes she wears (sometimes almost wears) predispose some people before they ever listen to her. And when they do listen, they still can't get beyond the theatrics. A favorite? No, not musically. But a pleasant listen, none-the-less.

I could be wrong. But contrary to what my wife says, sometimes I'm right.

Alan

I certainly didn't mean that in a disparaging way. I just think that many people would compare her in the "Stefani" persona to Tori Amos, not only because she is a female pianist/vocalist, but with the similarities in style (as well as playing barefooted).

By the way, pRISCILLA, I really like your music, and it is a sad indictment on the music industry that, (so far) you aren't more famous than Tori or Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga.....Nothing special, unique or particularly talented. Appalling dress sense. I fail to see what the fuss is about. Heard an interview.... not impressed with attitude or intelligence displayed either. Some say it is a man....who cares one way or another.

Interesting thread... and it is funny how we each react in different ways to this type performer. They say that any type of publicity sells. I'm not sure I agree with that... but I'm not prepared to argue the point.

pRISCILLA: I noticed KER's comment about your music and made a quick visit to your site via the link you provided. I listened to "I Steal the Leaves" and was duly impressed.

I agree with you. There is substance here.

Tom

Kenvin, I envisioned you as being about 26. Whose picture is that?

Tom

Tom: LOL! I am just about 53! Going downhill fast.

Kevin

I recently saw her on Oprah .. i didn't know who she was, and my first reaction, was .. "HOW FREAKING REDICULOUS" ... then i listened to her.. i saw her perform ... my goodness.. She is VERY smart and Incedibly talented. She done very good for herself

If so, he's pretty good.

Kevin,

I was thinking you were in your middle 30's...you had all of us fooled! Regardless, your playing gets better all the time! Take care.

Alan

Al: I thought you all knew that I was an old fart (not as old as you, mind you LOL!)!

Kevin

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/musictoob/5172/how-did-lady-gaga-become-lady-gaga/

sounds like she did it on her own..........

Well I guess I am not a fan she intended to get, Im 44 a bit older.
But I think she is great! She is trying to say what we all are trying to say in a fresh unique way that is her, plus she adds theatrics to her shows. She is getting paid to entertain us and she does it well.

my opinion

Kevin...

Nope! Didn't know that. By the way, if you;re interested, I still a copy of the original recipe for dirt!

Al, the recipe for dirt? What happened to the pizza offer in the other thread?


Tom

Tom...

Dirty pizza!

Alan

I watched the video - That is one sweet looking Steinway

what can I say? thanks for the encouraging, it made my day

"By the way, pRISCILLA, I really like your music, and it is a sad indictment on the music industry that, (so far) you aren't more famous than Tori or Lady Gaga."

Agree, I do, I do......But this takes time, and she hasn't established a presence here yet, we hope that she soon will be playing more regular gigs in the States.
And when that day comes.......We'll ALL see how pretty and talented she is.

Alright, I've made my plug for today.....I await good karma to return to me someday.....like a front row seat, or a backstage pass?

All The Best of Luck to you, Pris...I believe that your day in the sun over here will come soon......

I like everyone who says way to go to any success hey she is topping the charts no matter what. Weather or not she has talent she got there with who she surrounded herself with and it is "US" who buy the songs couple million of them

Plus, have you ever seen a singer who could sing, play piano, AND spread her legs nearly 180 degrees at the audience and camera, all at the same time? (reference- AMAs)

She's an amazing singer. She's incredibly talented. She makes me want to throw up every time I see her. Sorry. Just my opinion.

Pop is now a 'who can sing AND push the envelope the furthest' contest now. What's next? The live gyno cam?

bill

I think she's amazing and genius quality entertainer....and can strip it down to just acoustic and can sing and play great ! I think you'll be hearing of her for years and years to come !

Lady Gaga's Extravagant Show
1 month ago

Lady Gaga spent £52,000 on a bath tub.

The 'Bad Romance' singer - who describes her stage show as "ostentatious and over-the-top" - is making a heavy loss every night she performs on the North American leg of her 'Monster Ball Tour, even though every concert is sold out, which has so far overspent by £2 million.

The massive costs have been run up by her elaborate stage design, costumes and props, including the giant bath she used while making a promotional appearance on UK TV talent show 'The X Factor'.

A source said: "The concerts are losing money hand over fist because they've spent a fortune on pricey costumes, technical equipment and elaborate set designs. She spent £500,000 on one stage alone.

"But Lady Gaga gets what Lady Gaga wants. Her wardrobe is huge and she wants to shock - and that costs serious money."
"But Lady Gaga gets what Lady Gaga wants. Her wardrobe is huge and she wants to shock - and that costs serious money."

According to her spokesman, the 23-year-old star just "doesn't care" about the financial side of things.

He told The Sun newspaper: "I can't comment on figures but it wouldn't be a surprise. Gaga puts everything into her live shows. I wouldn't want to be her accountant."

At the end of it, Micheal Jackson and Elvis were almost bankrupt. She is just getting to it faster than most.

MAB

MAB,

HA!!!!!!! That's FUNNY!!!

I wonder if she'll still be around (popular) in 2 or 3 years? Venture a guess?

b

Is this Reverse Nashbashing?

I posted in another thread that I had never heard her, {or many other current pop stars} that changed last night at the bar I played when apparently one of the patrons was a big fan of hers, and played about 10 of her songs in a row on the jukebox. About halfway through I was ready to jam a rusty fork up my ass, because if I had to endure that kind of pain, it might as well have been self-inflicted!

If I wrote songs that inspired that kind of response (ouch!) I'd probably consider myself an unqualified success. (lol)