Won't change a thing in terms of receipts.

However, how countries are perceived in the world changed with victory or defeat. A country can be downgraded from super power status to a meaningless third rate power overnight.

In these terms, it was the only decisive engagement in pop history and it happened that early in their careers that Gaga was obviously defeated in singles, frontloading power, albums, touring,... basically in all aspects.

The rest of the stan world can have 30+ year old stan wars without a clear winner and still keep it going.

1. Applause has her singing in a weird theatrical voice in the verses, singing about Koons and art. So no.
2. It was in the Top 10 for like 14 weeks and sold well, how is that not a hit?

Whether or not Katy was releasing at the same time, the era would have turned out the way it did. Pop fans obsess over making everything a competition, but that isn't what made the era go the way it did. Gaga was not in a good place mentally or physically, she wasn't inspired the way she normally is and she wasn't ready to get back out there....her people were rushing her. She said she was writing to tracks and couldn't sit at the piano and write like she normally does.

And when the era started, she was depressed with everything going on behind the scenes (her management drama, her realizing that a lot of people she thought cared about her only cared for the money she could make them, etc).

However, it made Gaga feel inspired to go back to the basics and focus on showcasing her raw talent to the world, and she's gotten so much more respect in the process. She's more focused now on cementing a legacy.


All that said, I still think it's hilarious how some of you guys are still talking about it 3 years later. You act like it was this colossal flop when it had two hit singles, it was #1, sold decently, and had a successful tour.

ARTPOP is still trash and Katy demolishing her wasn't going to change that

I don't like Applause at all but this is the exact opposite as what I would call a "generic" song lol

Applause would have gone #1 and ARTPOP would have scanned platinum.

ARTPOP would've suffered the same fate. Only deluded stans think Katy had anything to do with ARTPOP's reception.

Katy would still be the legend, with her multpile platinum, Grammy nominated(not every album from 2013 has that ), #1 singles and not canceled tour, she is today,

So experimental and edgy to say random words that sound smart on a generic electro beat

Lmao Applause is anything but generic

Btw Applause was not the mistake of the era.It was actually the main good thing about it

Katy would still be the legend she is today.

DWUW should've been the lead

I think applause might of been able to go #3 or maybe #2 at most, and maybe ARTPOP would of sold a few thousand more copies, but nothing much would of changed

Gaga would still be the legend she is today

Regardless of how you want to spin it, those verses are FAR from generic.


And mighty rich of you to try and bring up Grammys. And what does cancelled tour have to do with anything? Gaga never had a full cancelled tour, she had one cut short due to health.

Katy had nothing to do with ARTPOP's underperformance, the era would have turned out the same way.

ARTPOP didn't even do that badly. It was a #1 album, had 2 Top 10 hits and a worldwide tour. Stans just love exaggerating so they have an excuse to drag someone over years after the era ended.