Aural Only: Lady Gaga

Don’t be a drag, just be a queen! This morning, Lady Gaga unveiled her anthemic pop jam “Born This Way”. As you may have read, Elton John called this the “gayest song” he’s ever heard, claiming it will obliterate Gloria Gaynor‘s “I Will Survive” and transform the world into a raging homosexual twink orgy.

Okay, so he may not have said that last part, but it was essentially implied in his overall tone. There’s no other word aside from “gay” to describe “Born This Way”, with the exception of maybe “really gay”. While we take a moment to gather our thoughts on this track, feel free to chime in with your own…

– Dewitt

To listen to “Born This Way”, follow the JUMP:

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150 thoughts on “Aural Only: Lady Gaga”

  6. Ehm, Express Yourself rip off?

    Not sure what I think about it.
    It screams Express Yourself to me.
    It’s just undeniable. Start to finish.
    Vocal arrangements, Music structure, even the Message… everything.

  12. Try singing Madonna’s line “…don’t go for second best, baby, put your love to the test…” over the line “…I’m on the right track baby I was Born This Way.” Practically a note-for-note match. Not only is this a steal musically, the lyric idea is pretty much the same too. If this is all Gaga has to say on her second album, she’s in deep trouble! What a disappointment.

  13. I agree with Jimmy for the dramatic build up this song she made the past year for this song I expected something so much better. It honestly is horribly and when the lyrics came out I new it was going to be, I had a fellow gay chastise me for not liking it, saying that its the next gay anthem and that I need to just love it.

    I also cant get over the feeling that she is using the gay community to seem edgy while she makes millions of millions off her “little monsters” that she claims to love. She just loves her money

  15. Wow … a TOP billing act like Lady Gaga writes a song for the gay community, actually puts her money where her mouth is and campaigns for equal rights for us .. and you guys tear her up … classic!

  17. i will survive is a classic, girls just wanna have fun is a classic, this will be a huge hit and ill get drunk dancing to it. if we’re still talking about it in 20 yrs, its a classic. only time will tell……that’s a classic too?

  18. you know, I used to be a big Lady Gaga hater. I didn’t like her music much and her persona was (and still is) insidiously annoying. And I know no matter what, people are going to be polarized throughout her career, however long or short. But come on…is this all that bad? Especially when you compare it to the other pop acts cashing in on being gay friendly for publicity. I mean, this beats Katy Perry’s stupid song about firework tits and Kesha’s stupid song about nothing in particular.

  19. i will survive is about making a come back from a break up. girls just wanna have fun are for the “girls” with vaginas, not the “girls” with cocks. this is for us. and i agree with Jess: why are you hating? because she is supporting a community that was good to her from the start? yeah, definitely a hasbeen . . . get a clue.

  20. Really do not like the song at all….and here’s another reason I feel off about the song…her album is available for exclusive pre-order through Target…who contribute to anti-gay campaigns

  22. I’m a bit confused……………….Gaga supports the Gay Community……………..OR………………the Gay Community supports Gaga??

    Last I looked, she made no deposites to my accounts, though, we………………………well,nuf said…

  23. It’s a fun song (though hard to understand in places where the instrumentation is too loud). It’s nice that she puts a lyric in about being more than just gay (transgender, bi, etc). I like her music, and have both CDs, but don’t play them on a regular basis. But all in all, it’s not anything wildly amazing to me. I’m going to wait until Adele’s new CD comes out to be amazed.

  24. Yeah, I get it, it sounds a lot like Madonna. But are you saying that this is the ONLY post-Madonna song that screams Madonna influence?
    Lady Gaga is not the only person that has done stuff that sounds like past artists! But it is a song that will be taken up by people of this time that may not know Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” and it will give them a reason to find the song and listen to it, eventually helping Madonna out.
    So, when it comes down to it, anyone (not just musicians) is going to be inspired by people that came before them, go from there, and be able to trace that back to the inspiration source and go from there!

    Summary: Lady Gaga is able to make a great song that can sound like past artists. Cuz that’s was music has been for the past many years.

    Little Monster, out.

  25. It’s a ripoff of ‘Express Yourself’.

    But ignoring that, it still doesn’t hold up well. The production is too busy in places.

    The lyrics are awful. Way too literal and cliche. I feel like Gaga created this song with the INTENTION of creating a gay anthem, and it just doesn’t work that way. Most (if not all) of the great gay anthems were great songs on their own, that told a story or spoke to an experience in a way that really clicked with the gay community.

    There’s no subtlety at all in this. It’s pretty much just Gaga yelling “GO GAYS GO!!” on top of a rehashed Madonna beat.

  26. After all the hype, I’m quite disappointed by this song… that’s all I can really say at the moment.

  28. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I mean c’mon she’s been playing the Madonna card since she came out, it’s just majority of her fans are too young to know what young Madonna looked/sounded/acted like or they just don’t care.

  29. Maybe it will grow on me, but not really feeling it. Will she not make a simple dance track anymore? Does everything have to be a statement?

  30. 1) Ripping off someone’s song doesn’t help the original artist. 2) She’s been using Madonna’s image for a while now. 3) Please, please, take a grammar class. I could hardly understand what you were writing.

  32. I like it. I started bopping in my chair halfway through. It is overproduced — it sounds like the dance remix of a pretty good song.

  34. I LOVE IT!!!! i guess it kinda sounds like express yourself but music and is constantly used to influence other things……I dont care what people say…i think its AMAZING

    I honestly cant wait for her album…..BORN THIS WAY

  35. AMAZING SONG!!!

    FANTASTIC!

    LYRICS, MUSIC, ARRANGEMENT, MESSAGE.

    WAY TO GO GAGA!!

    BRITNEY BETTER TAKE SOME LESSONS FROM U!

  40. I would probably love it if I could understand what she’s saying…it seems so overproduced that I have a hard time making out the words to most of the song.

  41. It’s not about her social views, it’s about the song being crap. I love her for standing up for what she thinks, but she’s a musician first, not second.

  42. This is the best song on radio right now.

    Is is the 2nd best Gaga song next to Bad Romance.

    I dont understand why people are hating. It has everything u could possibly want – great beat, great lyrics, great vocals, great production, and a great message!

    And honestly, I think Elton John is senile. He has lost his shit. All he does is sit and comment about everything. He is a complete ass who hasn’t done anything good musically since the 80s. Get off you fat ass Elton and do something instead of commenting on everything that you know nothing about!!

    Oh and ya…lets not forget that Gaga wrote this song, helped produce it, and the vocals are 100% hers!

  43. THIS SONG IS FOR US!! LOVE GAGA FOR THIS!! BEST GAY Anthem!!! I love Madonna like crazy but this song is amazing, just get over it. This song will be screaming from my car all day! 🙂

  44. The fact that she has her album exclusively at gay-hating target just shows that she doesnt care at all about her fans, just their money. I cant believe she would pose as a gay activist and then funnel millions of dollars through one of the worst companies for gay rights. Its pretty ridiculous either she is ignorant about what target is doing with that money or doesnt care and just wants to use the “little monsters” to get a big paycheck.

  45. I guess I like this because it’s like Madonna from back in the day, cause there’s no denying it’s a step above homage to her. xD

  47. song is mediocre at best. Definitely a let down from all the hype. I hate the fact that “It’s a song for gays” is a reason why people like it. Crappy music is crappy music, no matter who sings it.

  49. This song is a grower. The beat is great and definitely Gaga is bringing us back to the dancefloor. I agree that the song should be in the countdown next week. I mean after tomorrow’s issue, any song that comes to compete against Gaga is gonna have a hard time. This one will last the 15 weeks and beyond.

  52. I actually heard the song for what it was without having the hate of, “OMG ITS XPRESS YOURSELF WTF” scribbled all over my subconscious beforehand. I enjoyed what I heard and to me it is what it is and I like what I like. If it’s an “exact copy” of some other song then who the hell cares? To me I see it as a 2 for 1 deal and I’m going to just enjoy myself even more than bitching about it.

  54. Am I the only one who thought ”Ok, we get it, you like gay guys, now make something decent”

    One of her worst, probably her worst, Hekatonkheir Thumbs down.

  57. I’m always amazed by those blind fans who’d say anything to cover the truth.

    It is a decent song. Her voice is exceptionally amazing on the track.

    However, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a rip off of Madonna’s Express Yourself with a little Vogue in spoken parts.

    This was a very anticipated release, but it ended up a disappointment. It is trashed all over the net.

  58. Whatever guys! I can’t believe what u say about music.

    This song is great from start to finish.

    Why can’t it be her lifting her hat to Madonna? Why does it have to be a rip off of a Madonna song? Why does everything she do need to be compared to Madonna?

    This is a great song. And I cannot believe manhuntdaily users are actually complaining about “too much gay.” I say its about fuckin time we had all this gay!

  59. i just love it. It’s different , fun and soon everyone will sing it. I must say i do love the oldschool songs to … but that’s better … and … Bad Romance is so last season :D:D:D

  60. @Kirk cos it’s a rip off?

    You can literally play Express Yourself vocals over the music of Flop This Way

    or

    You can play Flop This Way vocals over the music of Express Yourself.

    I don’t see Madonna getting any credit for this and GaGa pretends that she wrote the song… so it’s irritating.

  61. And the worst part: She goes out of the roof trying to maintain her originality with all her outrageous outfits and all of the rest she does. But now she is being accused of literally copying Express Yourself and saying that she is ‘lifting her hat to Madonna’ is just not enough.
    I like GaGa and lots of things she does, but I am very disappointed with her. She must publicly admit plagiarism and put Madonna in the lead credit and then ask her permission to perform the song.

    http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20110169309&keyword=music&subcatg=MUSICINDIA&nid=85069

  64. its a medicore pop song, but sounds like she was trying to hard. For the fans that think she is so REVOLUTIONARY, there is nothing new or exciting on this track. It is what it is, a fun, danceable, pop song

  65. 10% of Gagas ticket sales from here shows go to gay homeless teen orgs in each city she performs. Check out the March on Washington and last years National HRC dinner on Youtube. I remember seeing her working the Gay Club circut back before she hit it big. Best of all she promotes abstinance to teens not in a relationship. At least she’s doing something good, being a role model for youth instead of flashing her snatch like Paris and Britney.

  70. Nex – your a bit out of it. Madonna has ripped, borrowed, and stealed from alot. She has also recognized who has come before her and has “tipped” her hat to them without giving them any credit.

    Although there are similarities between the 2 songs (Gaga has publically stated that Madonna influences her and the madonna is her fave artist), Born This Way is still a stand alone song.

    The lyrics are different; the voice is different; the message is different.

    Madonna’s Express Yourself was at a time when women needed more rights. Born This Way is at a time when gays need more rights.

    Lets just put it at face value: This is a fun, well produced, well mixed song with great vocals and an amazing message.

  71. Well said Kirk and Ryan.

    Nex – you are way off about this song. Waaaay Off!

    This is a great song. They played it 6 times at the club on Friday night.

    It is already the #1 downloaded song on itunes; radio is playing it like crazy; djs are spinning it at every club! The song is doing its job – its making people feel happy, together, and wonderful!!!

  72. 1) Get off your high horse. Pop music’s nature IS to rehash itself. It is produced for the masses and lacks creativity as a result. Please, please, please, take a 20/21st century humanities course and pay attention to pop art developed in the middle of the 20th century.

    While you’re at it, maybe take a music appreciation class and learn about ‘real’ music. You know, that ‘stuff’ developed in the romantic era that puts everything in the last half of the 20th century (and everything up till this very date) to shame.

    2) And do you think Madonna is going to be able to carry the torch forever? You’re not the least bit relieved that another person has stepped up to the plate to bear the torch as time progresses? One that outdoes her predecessor in quite a few areas?

    Pathetic.

    3) Not everyone’s primary language is English, あほ. Maybe you should tack on a diversity course to compliment your humanities and music appreciation courses.

  74. I like someone with a daring heart, fear no gossip and back-stabs, be herself through low and high. And no one is as true to the description as GAGA. Her first impression was not great, but I grow on her little by little and the more I see the differences sides of her, the more I love her even more and that goes with her music…

  75. I would prefer P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass” as my gay anthem. It isn’t quite as forward as Lady Gaga’s song and it seems to mimic what straight people think about gay people. In particular, the part of the lyrics that states ” if you are wrong / In all the right ways / All my underdogs, we will never be, never be / Anything but loud / And nitty gritty dirty little freaks”. I bought it when it first game out right around Atlanta’s Pride in Oct. and thought it was very fitting. Plus, it is fun to dance to (especially for those of us who can’t dance and dance like she does at the end of the video) 😉

  76. Listened to Express Yourself.

    Did not hear the same thing at all. Completely different messages all together. Anyone with half a brain could put this together. Unfortunately, many posters do not seem to have the required half.

    The opening lyrics in EYS: “Come on GIRLS” which proceeds to ” Make HIM express how he feels”.

    BTW? “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian transgendered life.” It also goes on to address religion and ethnicity.

    Express Yourself is a lamentation about the condition of women in relationships. Madonna is telling these women to stand up and make THE GUY see them as a human being (similar to Beyonce’s Single Ladies).

    Born This Way is the exact opposite. Gaga tells us to love ourselves…to not be afraid of what we are. It’s an affirmation to EVERYONE (but clearly targets the LGBT community).

    Besides the instrumentalization, I hear very little that is the same. Express Yourself does not have sections that cut away from the pop theme to insert direct vocalizations (meant to be monotonic) as a platform for the artist (Gaga in this case) to add direct insight.

    Gaga also has some amazing vocals in this particular piece. She hits quite a few notes with strong vibrato, reminiscent of Aguilera’s style. She also ranges from the bottom of the bass clef to two octaves higher throughout the piece. Quite impressive.

    BTW has a beautiful cello introduction (IIRC…might be another string instrument) that flows directly into the synthesizing and digital effects. Love the over emphasis on the digital elements similar to Telephone. Classic Gaga style.

    The lyrics themselves are simple which is the only disappointing thing. Gaga’s song writers usually are very clever when it comes to innuendo/pun usage but the only one we find in this particular piece is the drag queen reference.

    A wonderful closing that reminds us we have the same genetic makeup but can still be very different from one another. And that echoing sentiment stays with the listener.

    Overall, a very nice piece of music. Most of you ‘critics’ need to step back. =) You either have no idea how to properly criticize music or are just bitter with hate in-general. I’m not a hardcore Gaga fan but I am a musician. I will give credit where credit is due and Ms. Gaga certainly stepped up to the plate with Born This Way.

    Though if you’d like to debate I’m all ears. Just please don’t expect me to take you seriously if you think the epitome of music can be found in the last half of the 20th century.

  77. And that is wrong? I don’t think any of the former ‘Gay anthems’ (what an asinine idea to begin with) addressed us directly because most of the artists did not want to deal with the controversy.

    Gaga grew a pair and touched upon a subject that is extremely controversial and taboo to begin with. This is homage to our community. She is at the top of the food chain as far as the music business is concerned yet STILL shows us love: demonstrating that she still remembers her roots and the people who gave her a jump start.

  78. Yes because I’m sure it’s such a simplistic decision and I’m sure Gaga has complete control over what her producers do with her work after it is produced.

    So much ignorance.

  80. @Kirk & Nathan: crazy gaga fans failing to admit the truth. 100% rip-off is 100% rip-off. She just changed the words a bit. The music is there, the singing style is there, the message of empowerment is there.

  81. I guess most people do not know this, but that cover art is a rip off of artist Orlan, who is an incredible conceptual feminist french artist (as in museum/performance/visual arts artists, not musician/performing art artist)… only Orlan actually had permanent horn implants done…. she’s the real thing, not a poser like Gaga…

  82. I hate to break it to you but the Target as an anti-gay monster corporation out to get us is a false narrative fed to morons stupid enough to continue to buy into the Democratic party line that big companies are trying to ruin lives. Target donated to a pro-business political action committee, and that group in turn spent money supporting a political candidate that was opposed to gay marriage. It’s hardly the simple as you have stated, and frankly doesn’t reflect anything about the social inclinations of Target’s leadership or those of Lady Gaga or her record label. But hey, maybe you’re right, maybe Lady Gaga decided it was in her best interest to write an explicitly pro-gay pop song and then turn around and stab the gay community in the eye by pre-selling the accompanying album through a homophobic company that is using those pre-sales to compile a list of all gay Americans and their personal information so they can destroy us. Definitely seems to fit her M.O.

  83. I think many people are not exactly following her message.

    We do not choose who we are born to or what hand of cards life deals us at the time of birth. Even so, we are given labels based on something that we had no control over to begin with. Gaga realizes that these labels set us apart…but in this piece she mocks them. She goes the extra step to tell us that it doesn’t matter what ethnicity we belong to, what sexual orientation we associate with, or what gender orientation we have.

    Literally: we are born this way. She (and her producers) seek to break the borders that stereotype all of these groups and cause class conflicts.

    This piece of music was MEANT to be literal in every sense of the term. It clearly has worked well. So far from this blog alone, Gaga has demonstrated that bringing these taboo subjects into the spotlight creates animosity and discourse.

    What better way to address this subject than to tell us that these stereotypes are not who we truly are. We are who we are and we have no choice in that regard. However, we do have the option to break free from the stereotypes and just be human beings who acknowledge each others’ differences yet still coexist in harmony.

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