Discussion: Did Britney/Gaga need gimmicks?

Sunshine.

I know, I know, this thread comes off a little shady, but it's a legit question. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing cuz some of things defined pop culture, but simply put would they be who they are now if it hadn't been for:

Britney:
The kiss
The snake
The provocations
etc...

Gaga:
The ~~tacky~~ avant garde clothing
The crazy music videos
The cult-esque following
etc...

Could they have ridden the crazy roller coaster that is the Music Industry on talent alone?

*Also why is Christina never mentioned when referring to the kiss...she was there to ya know?

JonnyϟLightning

Brit's gimmicks were flawless and worked. That's all I'll say.

Callisto.

Everyone in the industry uses gimmicks.

Chemist

Quote:

Originally posted by iBeyoncé.

Everyone in the industry uses gimmicks.

!

ChrisRTW

B94

Well Britney not really, her music is what people are really here for. Gaga idk where she would be. I'm assuming her talent is what would keep her holding strong, and her love towards her fans which would help her without the gimmicks.

Vin

Quote:

Originally posted by JonnyϟLightning

Brit's gimmicks were flawless and worked. That's all I'll say.

This. And I believe the only "gimmick" Britney Spears did
was "The Kiss."Otherwise, she caused headlines
effortlessly for just being herself as an artist and
didn't TRY to be controversial like others.

...Vin

MrPeanut

Quote:

Originally posted by Vin

This. And I believe the only "gimmick" Britney Spears did
was "The Kiss."Otherwise, she caused headlines
effortlessly for just being herself as an artist and
didn't TRY to be controversial like others.

...Vin

Come again, Vin.

People talked about Britney's utilization of jailbait sexuality more than anything else when she hit the scene, just like Gaga's costumes were front and center in the public discussion.

CaptainMusic

Britney didn't really need them and would have still been successful, it's not like she used and relied on gimmicks as much as gaga does. That said i still think gaga would have been some what successful without them.

Quote:

Originally posted by VAN de

*Also why is Christina never mentioned when referring to the kiss...she was there to ya know?

It's so hilarious and sad tbh.

Bdawg

someone define gimmick for me. like is gimmick mean to purposely do?

Sunshine.

Quote:

Originally posted by iBeyoncé.

Everyone in the industry uses gimmicks.

Everyone...

supaspaz

Quote:

In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature.

One of these girls is not like the other...

Amaru

The hypersexualized schoolgirl outfit was also gimmicky. But I still think Britney would have been successful, she had a brilliant marketing team.

Bad Wolf

YES. Both.

Quote:

Originally posted by Vin

This. And I believe the only "gimmick" Britney Spears did
was "The Kiss."Otherwise, she caused headlines
effortlessly for just being herself as an artist and
didn't TRY to be controversial like others.

...Vin

Girl bye! Britney used just as many gimmicks as Gaga.

She worked the young sexualized teenage girl gimmick + that's how her career took off.

Gaga's gimmicks are just more "tongue-in-cheek."

MrPeanut

Quote:

Originally posted by supaspaz

One of these girls is not like the other...

Pop stars used sexuality as part of their act before Britney, obviously, but the same goes for pop stars using theatricality. It's nothing that Gaga started. It's all designed to get attention.

Nicole

Well their whole careers are based on gimmicks so the answer is evident.

supaspaz

People don't seem to understand the difference between image and gimmick. Being a sexy schoolgirl is an image; being carried to the Grammys in an egg is a gimmick.

Nicole

Quote:

Originally posted by Rainbow

YES. Both.

Girl bye! Britney used just as many gimmicks as Gaga.

She worked the young sexualized teenage girl gimmick + that's how her career took off.

Gaga's gimmicks are just more "tongue-in-cheek."

Not to mention the obvious lies about being virgin to make the jailbait image even more tantalizing. Please.

supaspaz

Quote:

Originally posted by MrPeanut

It's nothing that Gaga started. It's all designed to get attention.

Exactly.

MrPeanut

Quote:

Originally posted by supaspaz

People don't seem to understand the difference between image and gimmick. Being a sexy schoolgirl is an image; being carried to the Grammys in an egg is a gimmick.

Dancing with a snake on stage, stripping into a nude bodysuit, putting in a random lesbian kiss on stage with a huge icon are all just natural image? Being eccentric and theatrical is also a general "image," but the specific antics are all gimmicks.