Ok, I think its time someone made a post like this, even if its lengthy.
Lady Gaga: A Reflection - 2011
In early 2009, Lady Gaga blew up around the world with her smash hit single Just Dance, very comparable to the way Britney Spears became an instant global phenomenon 10 years earlier. In the space of a year, she had notched up 3 or 4 smash hits, a successful album, iconic VMA performance an even more successful EP and much like Britney, her rise to biggest popstar in the world was one showered with unstoppable praise.
Some fans may say that 2011 was a difficult year in the world of Gaga compared to the previous 2 which saw her glide along easy with no one disputing her status. First of all, her new album campaign and the first single started off with the first blatant accusation that she had copied Madonna (even though the 2 had been compared since Gaga began her career (ie both Italian American, headstrong women with a "kooky" artistic edge). Born This Way and Express Yourself gate was quickly followed by the rush release of Judas which underperformed and was again lambasted for being blasphemous. Once her new album came out with the infamous unflattering Bike Ga picture - many fans supposedly deserted her for becoming too weird and not singing about partying and disco sticks. The Edge of Glory had a crap final video, You and I underperformed in Europe while the reverse happened with Marry The Night in the US. On top of all that countless lawsuits have been thrown at her this year: "she stole money from the Japan bracelets" "she ripped off my song" "she made me work overtime as her assistant and treated me like her slave" and the stupid "she mocks disabled mermaids." Adele, one of our biggest exports from the UK blew up big in America and worldwide this year, after performing at the Brits where Gaga was a no show and lost out on her next UK #1. To be honest, Adele's success this year did deal a further blow to Gaga because people started basically preferring a gimmick-free performer who only had to sing in a black dress on stage and have the world at her feet.
We also have Katy cheating her way to MJ's 5 #1 record with crap remixes getting her 1#s and Rihanna releasing a new album (as she does every year
) with the massive We Found Love, causing their main stanbases to say that Gaga isn't the biggest popstar in the world anymore because she hasn't achieved what their fave has.
But...despite this, 2011 saw Gaga:
- have the 2nd biggest selling album in the world
- the biggest EMA winning female since Madonna
- the highest earning female popstar of the year
amongst other accolades.
Katy has been shamefully cheating her way to #1 records with lazy remixes whenever its clear the song won't get #1 otherwise, and Rihanna's main following remains here in the UK, even though WFL was/is massive she still sadly managed to lose out on a #1 album in the US. She's also releasing You Da One too early, and I think its probably going to only be really massive in the UK (as virtually all her singles are here). Even though Rihanna is my second fave, I don't think either her or Katy have had the massive cultural impact that Gaga has had and is still having on the music industry.
Gaga simply isn't the New Hot Thing anymore and is settling down into the music industry more, it also happened to Britney after her first 2 eras. No one can notch up countless smash hits forever (unless you put out a lazy remix featuring B.o.B or Nicki Minaj). The one thing I would advise Gaga on though is to let professionals direct her videos more often even though with MTN she proved she is improving. But all in all, the bitch aint going nowhere any time soon
Oh and Adele is also taking a lenghty break for a couple of years apparently, so we don't have to worry about her "setting fire to our faves" for much longer, hehe
(this isn't meant as a bitter comment).
Thoughts?
