The new Lady Gaga video "Born this Way" is out. We think this track, along with its video, is simply a big load of nothing.
Obviously, this is a personal opinion, but we do have our reasons.
Gaga herself has said (even before the track was out) that it would be the next gay anthem, very much in the tradition of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". We think that this was the fatal flaw - you simply don't start working on a track, pre-determing how epic it will be. This is something that happens naturally and it is only determined by the audience. At long last, the track was out and everyone was "Okay, "Εxpress Υourself" much?" The web backlash was swift and very soon videos begun to circulate, comparing "Born this Way" with Madonna's "Express Yourself". Like this one here:
Gaga herself has said (even before the track was out) that it would be the next gay anthem, very much in the tradition of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". We think that this was the fatal flaw - you simply don't start working on a track, pre-determing how epic it will be. This is something that happens naturally and it is only determined by the audience. At long last, the track was out and everyone was "Okay, "Εxpress Υourself" much?" The web backlash was swift and very soon videos begun to circulate, comparing "Born this Way" with Madonna's "Express Yourself". Like this one here:
We can't say we disagree. And to be more exact, "Express Yourself" is a very strong song (and that, 20+ years after), whereas "Born this Way" is "Express Yourself" in a mellow mix by Scooter with less bps. And we don't want to even discuss the lyrics. "Don't be a drag, just be a queen..." Seriously...?
The video itself is a cross between the birth of Uruk Hai in the "Lord of the Rings" films, with a touch of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" (just like "Express Yourself", btw. Fritz Lang seems to be the go-to source for any ~artistically inspired~ video, it seems), further combined with a bit of Matthew Βarney rip off (one of Barney's main themes, since the '90s is the biology of birth, genes and their metaphoric meaning). The only thing we have found interesting is Rick "Zombie Boy" Genest, who is pretty well known within certain web communities, and the fact that Gaga wears flats...
Note: Rick Genest was the"star" of Thierry Mugler's latest catwalk (the line is now being designed by Nicholas Formichetti, who is Gaga's pal.) We liked the idea. Here's a photo of Rick from the Mugler catwalk:
[via Jak & Jil]
All in all, we didn't like it at all. We find it pretentious and a very easily executed (even clumsy at points) mash up of several influences and reference points. And to think, that we actually like Gaga...
Here's also a Rolling Stone entry for the "Born this Way" video, should anyone be interested.
PS: Lady Gaga still can't dance. Good voice though.
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