LADY GAGA
By now we imagine you've seen the pre-fame video of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Her own family could be forgiven for not recognising their daughter as the alien-like, peroxide, scantily yet startlingly-clad, tea-sipping, über post-modern pop creature that is Lady GaGa. She's managed to fit 10 years of Madonna's career into one and now, especially in the extraordinary Bad Romance video, her appearance has evolved into a Marilyn Manson-like grotesque of distorted features and body shapes, which handily sends the paparazzi cameras into a flashing frenzy whenever she goes outside. Whatever you think of her music, you've got to give her full marks both for effort and for challenging the accepted rules of what a female pop star should look like. Our only worry is that for GaGa to go any further with her image she's going to have to start grafting on extra body parts (or chopping some off).
MICHAEL JACKSONWe're not going to dwell on the cosmetic surgery because everything that could ever be said on the issue has been said. But what's often overlooked is the way Michael consciously transformed from preppy, conservative Motown star to consistently reinventing, futuristic, other-worldy being, all in the service of pop escapism. Michael clearly believed that pop stars shouldn't look like the man in the street, even when his fellow singers were opting for ripped denim and stubble. Michael knew that true pop stars should look astonishing, and they should change their look dramatically with every new album. Their concerts should be riddled with costume changes, and their outfits iconic of the times; with a single glove capable of making $350000 after your death. Let this be a lesson to anyone hoping for fame from music: if your fans can't dress like you for Halloween then you're just not doing it right. Learn from the King of Pop.
MADONNAWe can't help be irritated each time a lazy news reporter describes Madonna as "the Material Girl". It was one song and one video, 24 years ago. Get over it! The problem is, it's a far snappier title than, say, thrift shop punk, wayward bride, Italian street toughie, Monroe-meets-Minnie Mouse, mermaid, dominatrix, **** star, space geisha, flower child, goth witch, Pilates bunny or any one of the hundreds of image reinventions Ms Ciccone has had since she first burst into our lives, all backcombed hair and too many bangles. Never mind the Kabbalah, we think Madonna's only real belief is that one should never be bored when you look in the mirror.
DAVID BOWIEThey call him the chameleon of pop (though probably not to his face, that would be tiresome). David Bowie's initial image was one of Carnaby Street mod, lost amongst a sea of similar ace-faces in the swinging mid-60s. It wasn't until he began to study avant-garde theatre and clowning as ways to present his songs that Bowie made his mark. Beginning with the recurring Major Tom character for 1969's Space Oddity, his image changes became ever more elaborate and considered, peaking with the creation of an entire alien persona for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. The effect it had on the future of music is immeasurable. David Bowie made it ok for men to wear makeup and blur the gender lines, and awkward young musical upstarts have been smearing on the eyeliner ever since. If it hadn't been for Bowie, every pop star would probably look like your binman.
VICTORIA BECKHAM When Top of the Pops magazine's Peter Lorraine nicknamed Victoria Adams 'Posh Spice', he could just as easily have chosen 'shy, doesn't smile because she doesn't like her teeth and wears the same black dress and the same long bobbed hair in every photo shoot Spice'. Though that probably wouldn't have fitted on the page. But whether it was the influence of style-obsessed husband David, or just what happens when you're a multi-millionaire with a lot of time on your hands, the international fashion icon, designer and Vogue cover star Victoria Beckham is a far cry from the girl-next-door strutting awkwardly in heels in the Wannabe video. She's an inspiration to us all, if only we weren't such incurable scruffy slobs with a fondness for pies.
BRITNEY SPEARSOf course, Britney Spears has hardly changed from the sweet, pigtail sporting, lolly sucking, former Mouseketeer who allegedly believed that True Love Waits. Except there was the time she became a sweaty, writhing sex-beast for the Slave 4 U video. And the time when she became a nudey, writhing sex beast for the Toxic video. And the time she became a Madonna-snogging, writhing sex beast for the Me Against the Music video. And then there was the walking about in basically just a bra and knickers for, well, most of this decade. And there was the head shaving. And, and, and... Actually she's changed quite a lot, hasn't she?
CHRISTINA AGUILERA
While on the surface, Christina's transformation from Mickey Mouse Club girl to filth-monger seemed as dramatic and indicative of a personality crisis as Britney's, Aguilera's radical image change is paralleled by a maturing stability in her personal life. So while she made chaps the world over feel a bit funny every time they saw her in chaps, writhing and greased in the video for 2002's Dirrty, she was actually at the start of a relationship that would see her marry and have a baby with her husband Jordan Bratman. She waited until after getting hitched to pose nude for GQ magazine; more a tribute to Marilyn Monroe than a publicity seeking cry for help. She's since ditched the harlot chic for 40s forces sweetheart and Mariah-like diva dresses (she hasn't appeared on Mr. Blackwell's Ten Worst Dressed Women list for years!) Calculated and controlled her look may be, but she's come a long way from rolling about on a porch in stonewashed denim.
SHAKIRA
at Victoria. That woman is the poster girl for eating disorders...she used to look healthy.
they had to have done this on purpose
Either way!
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