There is a real thrill in hearing a major star be this willing to alienate casual listeners in the name of following her muse and rewarding her diehard fans. ARTPOP is the polar opposite of Katy Perry’s Prism, a bland pop record designed for mass appeal that is too lacking in quirks and character to have much resonance. Gaga’s obsession with fame, fashion, pop history, and her own cult of personality may be off-putting to many, but it results in music that is increasingly distinct and sui generis. Even though she puts up a front of being an untouchable pop deity, her music overflows with the humanity of someone who is unafraid to be vulnerable and ridiculous. Her refusal to compromise and monomaniacal commitment to living in a permanent imperial phase is genuinely inspiring, especially since it’s increasingly disconnected from a need for the market to validate her success. Gaga makes her own reality, and even if this album flops horribly, she has created a world in which she will always be a superstar.
Yas at people recognizing Self-awareGa tho.
Love it.
