Lady Gaga shocked the crowd at the MTV Video Music Awards by appearing and performing as her male alter ego, Jo Calderone. While I loved Gaga’s performance of “You and I”, mostly because it featured Queen guitarist Brian May, everyone seems to be fixated on the Calderone character instead of the music. Check it out below and let me know what you think (please)!
As for me, I love the song and the guitar playing. The Jo Calderone thing seems like another way of Gaga pushing buttons. I like what she was trying to do, but it seemed a little silly to me. Calderone looks like a member of The Jets from West Side Story. I was waiting for a medley of “When You’re a Jet” and “Somewhere“.
Whatever.
Chris Brown stole the VMA's for me. I don't care if he had beat my mom in the past, that show was on point.
If anybody didn't see it, check it out on YouTube.
That seemed pretty dumb to me. I think her whole appeal is more character than music most of the time, and this seemed pretty pointless. This seemed more like the fans were loving the acting and Gaga character discussion and there just happened to be music involved as a bonus.
I will agree with Chris Brown doing awesome in his performance this year. That was a great show he put on. Frankly, I could really care less anymore what these celebrities do so the whole him beating Rihanna or Vick involved with dog fighting (just to name the more popular issues in the recent past) are non-issues. I think Chris Brown has always been a great performer like he was in this show, people just ignored his talent for a pointless reason for a while.
Her image and character are definitely a large part of her mainstream success, but I think you're discounting her musically. She writes most of her own material, unlike most pop artists. She also collaborates with great musicians like Brian May and the late, great Clarence Clemons. Remember, she started out at Interscope as a songwriter before Akon gave her a big push.
I'm not so much discounting her musical ability as I am ignoring it, just as many of her fans do when they take that aspect for granted. Yes she has the ability. But no one that I know of (and I know far too many Lady Gaga fans) says "I wanna listen to the new Gaga single because- 'the lyrics are so great' 'she's such a talented singer' or 'her songs have such depth and great meaning.' Her most vocal fans (and the majority of any news or popular discussion) about her deals with her persona and character.
And yes I'm aware of her background as a songwriter and producer. She has talents in those areas, and then decided to sell out and cash in the checks for herself
I understand that you don't like her, but how is she a sell-out? Is there another type or music that she'd rather be writing and performing? It's also funny that you consider her a sell-out, but are amped for the Chili Peppers album. I like them, but those guys have definitely softened their sound for mainstream success.
Well a sellout is usually considered to be someone who either gives up some portion of their integrity or morals in pursuit of money, or someone who moves career paths simply because it is more lucrative. Obviously the first possible definition doesn't apply, but the second one does. She had a successful career as a songwriter, and I believe she did quite a bit of producing work as well, and she chose to become the center of attention for more money. I have never seen one shred of evidence to support the idea of her transitioning to a singer simply because she has always pursued a career as a singer (also, think how Taylor Swift always wanted to be a singer/performer so that's what she did—instead of writing and producing, then coming out and saying 'hey I can be a singer too').
Also, I never stated here that I don't like her—liking her or hating her has nothing to do with it—I simply stated that much of her appeal is the persona and character that she embodies in the pursuit of money and fame.
With regards to the RHCP album, I've been a long time fan and if you are implying that they are also sellouts while questioning my assertion of Lady Gaga as a sellout then answer me this—which of those two puts on a front in order to perform and sell their albums? RHCP is a pretty straightforward band, whereas Lady Gaga doesn't break Gaga character when anyone is around. Her whole life is a performance. Their new album has the potential to be a lot more of a sell out than any other album, yes. But unless something changes with this album then they will still be considered too black for white radio and to white for black radio, just as they always have been. If you really listen to their music throughout their entire discography the tone changes sometimes, but the style is still exactly the same.
I've never really subscribed to the "my rockstars have to have died and come back to life" or "they still have to do obscene amounts of drugs and act hardcore" just to be considered legit rockstars. So if the RHCP sound gets more mellow and mature with age (like the Stadium Arcadium album did) then I'm fine with that.
Wow, you're doing a lot of judging without knowing much about her career. She was performing well before she was hired to write songs at Interscope. Prior to Interscope, she was signed to Def Jam as a performer, but was quickly dropped. The first time I saw her was a Lollapalooza 2007, well before she made it big with The Fame. Your assertion that she suddenly decided to become a singer to be the center of attention is just wrong.
RHCP has changed a lot over the years. Their sound was harder and funkier prior to Navarro. When Frusciante came back, he wasn't nearly the same and I honestly believe he was much better when he was on drugs. You can chalk it up to them getting older, but they clearly altered their sound for more commercial success. I loved the band's first four albums, but it was downhill after that. One Hot Minute was kind of a mess. To me, it seemed like they stopped trying with Californication.
Dude… going from songwriter to performer isn't a change in career path, it's a promotion.
In terms of selling out, the only selling out she ever did was at every arena she plays. And no, I'm not a fan, but I can give credit where credit is due.
Every thing she did, she really did for herself. It was a long road too.
But back to the sentiment… Elvis went into Sun Studios in 1953 to record gospel songs his mom could play on her record player while he was at work because he thought she'd like it. See, Elvis had a good job as a truck driver and was on the up and up. At almost any studio, anyone can pay for the hours and record whatever they want. This is what Elvis was doing.
One day, Sam Phillips (owner and engineer at Sun) had to take a leak and left the board for a while. At this point, Bill Black (the bass player) says "let's mess around and play some of that juke joint music" and they start playing a version of a 1946 blues song by Billy Crudup called "That's All Right".
Sam Phillips hears this, pinches it off immeadiately, runs out to the booth, and insists the band records that and something like it for the B-side of the single.
The rest, is history.
The moral is, if Elvis wouldn't have "sold out" as you say, it's arguable there would have been no rock 'n' roll mainstream. By Lennon's own admission, there would have been no Beatles. Considering Elvis' impact on American race relations, it's plausible the civil rights movement may have never happened or at least been delayed for quite awhile.
The next anecdotes…. James Brown, Ice-T, and Eazy-E were all pimps and drug dealers.
Getting past the fact that it's completely wrong that Gaga suddenly decided to be a performer, I'm not sure why that's being used against her. Tina Fey was an SNL writer for years. She cleaned up her looks and started performing in sketches. Is that selling out? Is what she did bad?
Very valid point.
I've worked, lived, and was raised by songwriters my whole life. Never once did any of them say "My dream is to one day write songs for other people to perform" or "I wrote this song because I thought Celine Dion would sing it amazingly".
They all want to be performers before they even learn the craft, and that dream truly is a life-long one.
I honestly don't care about her or the type of music she makes. I can guarantee I'd pay more attention to her attire than music though since I'd mute it.
I think I'm getting old.
I don't think it's your age really. I never would have pegged you for a Gaga fan. She doesn't seem to cater to the polo-shirt sporting crowd. :P
Ha! You'd be surprised at some of my tastes maybe! :)
I'm sure I would. I didn't mean to pigeonhole you or anything.
Eh, she looks better as a chick in a meat dress.
Mmmm… beeeeef…. (*drool*)
-M
I would also like to take this opportunity to quote the great Lewis Black:
"MTV is to music as KFC is to chicken!"
Mmmmm… chiiiiiiiiicken… (*drool*)
-M