A pop music sensation like Lady Gaga is unique to a generation; hers may be the definitive story of celebrity in the Internet age. A savvy student of fame, the artist formerly known Stefani Germanotta launched a legitimate musical career out of her own blatant bids for attention—those half-meta personal statements that, in the early days, stirred a frenzied media obsession every time she opened her mouth, debuted a new wacky outfit or stepped outside in another ill-fitted, ******* leotard. From reshaping the sound of pop radio to using gay culture as a foundation for mainstream success with more panache than anyone since, well, Madonna, Gaga’s accomplishments in five short years are spectacular. So is her rapid flameout, spurred on by addiction to that most potent of celebrity drugs: her own artistic genius. There is time yet for her to learn a bit of humility, rein in the drama and enjoy healthy longevity as a nostalgia act. But either way, should VH1 still exist in 2024, Gaga’s Behind the Music episode will be one for the ages.
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Rihanna above Lady Gaga?
