The Gaga Formula

[BricksNStrings 231]

Everything contained in this post is my opinion based on observations as a loyal fan of Gaga's since Summer 2008. Also, I apologize for length...this is just something I was thinking about today so if it's a bit ranty sorry!

I think what has been our lady's most powerful asset to her career as a successful artist, as well as her "downfall" (and I put that in quotes because even a Gaga "flop" is #1 on the charts with a few hit singles and a Top 10 worldwide tour) is the fact that her music is both radio friendly and experimental. To those who mainly enjoy Top 40 radio, Gaga's music is a little too avante garde to be considered mainstream - and on the flip side, to those who enjoy a broader palette of music, Gaga's music is too mainstream and clean to be considered avante garde. I have friends who only listen to Top 40 stations, who think Gaga (or at least her pop music) is too challenging or "weird", and I have friends who play in bands and know a lot about music, who appreciate Gaga's talents but think her music is radio trash. The fact is, neither party is wrong - and this has contributed somewhat to most of Gaga's success and her "failures" (again, in quotes, because they're only failures up against her other works, and not when put up against other artists).

When Gaga was promoting ARTPOP throughout late 2013, many fans took note that in some interviews she would refer to ARTPOP as "avante garde" or experimental, and in others she would say it was "made for radio". People criticized her for this, but in my opinion, both are true, and neither are contradictory. The truth is, as Gaga said during the promotion of the record, "I've been making ARTPOP my whole career." And she's right - the music from "The Fame", "The Fame Monster", "Born This Way", and "ARTPOP" really isn't all that different from each other. All four records are dance pop, made for the radio, infused with some influences from glam rock (The Fame), EDM and trap (ARTPOP), 80s stadium rock (Born This Way), 90s dance music (The Fame Monster, Born This Way), 80s new wave (all four albums), and many other genres. She evolved and improved in some way of course, but for the most part, it was consistent.

Truthfully, all of the music was radio friendly: even if you think songs like Swine, Americano, or Teeth are too "crazy" or "loud", all three follow basic pop music structures and under certain circumstances or with certain promo could have been played on the radio, and similar songs to them were played on the radio around/before/after the time these songs came out. These are examples of Gaga taking basic pop music and infusing it with her own theatrical flair: something some of the greatest artists of all time were famous for, many of whom some music fans would say were leagues above Gaga, and many of whom fans on a contemporary pop music forum would call boring or have never heard of.

The entire time, Gaga has used the same formula to promote her work:

1) A theme that is inspiring, and means more than just "get down at the club": Everyone has The Fame inside them, be yourself and be brave cuz you were born this way, everyone has creative potential and can "paint their face"....notice how all three of these themes that have underlined each era are all consistent with Gaga's brand of "be yourself", which is inclusive to the audience, and makes them a participant. Transmission Gagavision, LittleMonsters.com, Born This Way foundation, and the ARTPOP app (Rest in Peace) are all examples of using inclusiveness to help expand upon her brand (the foundation is obviously much more than this also).

2) A visual way she represents herself to underline the theme: with The Fame it was "I never wear pants", "I never want anyone to see me in jeans and a T-Shirt", "I am always in costume, this is not a character". With Born This Way it was to be proud of your "flaws", and to embrace being a monster/unique/different: the facial horns, the surreal mole, the turquoise underarm hair, etc. With ARTPOP she literally painted her face, made herself "every icon", and collaborated with other artists both high brow and low brow who made her into their canvas.

I do not think Gaga is lying with any of these things. I think this is who Gaga is. But just like how you wear the clothes you wear because you, subconsciously or not, want to project an image of yourself, I think Gaga is being herself - and part of being an artist is selling not just your work, but your identity.

Do I think Gaga sits in a lab and says, "Hmmm...let me make the perfect pop tune so I get a #1, but let it also be crazy enough so I get attention." No, of course not! I think Gaga is an artist who uses similar themes, mediums, and inspirations, the same way artists in any craft do. She clearly has visual themes (another user has pointed out cages, eggs/rebirth, bathtubs, mental facilities, and mattresses on the floor being consistent visuals) that are consistent, and these are born organically, so why not her music and the way she promotes it? I don't think any of these consistencies are negative - I'm a fan of all four records, I love all four records, and I love the message she put forward with each one.

Why does any of this matter? Because I think it's important, as fans, to recognize that all artists have formulas, similar motifs, similar concepts, and similar ways of marketing themselves. For those who love and defend certain pieces of her work, and for those who hate and think Gaga let them down - both camps should accept the fact that Gaga was just being gaga. In his films, Alfred Hitchcock had themes of obsession, voyeurism, icy blondes and men wrongly accused of crimes. Many of his films were huge hits - Psycho, North by Northwest. Ironically, one of his films that did mediocre critically and financially, Vertigo, is now considered by some to be the greatest film of all time. Throughout his career, though, he evolved, he changed, he adapted - and yet, his work still had similar themes, and he still promoted it similarly.

The Fame, The Fame Monster, Born This Way, ARTPOP are each adored, loathed, liked, and ignored by fans, critics, and the general public. Some kid's lives were saved by Born This Way, others mourn "FameGa", others were inspired by ARTPOP, others were let down by ARTPOP. And Gaga did evolve and change as an artist - for better or for worse or neither, depending on your perspective - but the fact is she has had a similar formula and similar themes throughout her entire career, and I really believe her success and "failures" are based on the public at the time of her release, not the music itself.

 

 

[Gohan 16,412]

Agreed with every single word. It's like you've been inside my mind yesterday and then you put all of my thoughts out

I enjoy and love all four albums with all my heart (and even Cheek To Cheek ) especially, the themes and the way she always put that "Gaga touch" into every song/video/album.

She indeed has a formula, but she always brings something new to life

[Christina 1,027]

I agree with everything you pointed out. I love Gaga's work and the themes she uses. I also love how Gaga wants to experiment and how she doesn't like to repeat herself unlike some artists, who are afraid about their commercial success. 

[tomsches 17,392]

edit: nevermind

[BricksNStrings 231]

edit: nevermind

 what were you gonna say

[yASSsss 35,510]

 

 

 I really believe her success and "failures" are based on the public at the time of her release, not the music itself.

 

i luv reading such threads  I agree with everything u've said especially with this bolded part..ARTPOP could've been more commercially successful if it was released in early 2013 ..

[Lassex 1,169]

Your text just said everything   But I must discuss this one quote: ''You will never see me in a t-shirt and jeans''. That was her stage persona during The Fame (Monster) era. Born This Way era kind of gave her the permission to do whatever she wants in the future - Born This Way is about being born to change constantly into the direction you want to. And I don't mean that t-shirts and jeans should be her everyday outfit during the next era. I think it means that she's comfortable with her level of fame if she goes out in such a casual outfit. Anyway, I loved your post, even though I don't know what's the question or the solution!  

[tomsches 17,392]

 what were you gonna say

I only read until "Gaga's music is avante garde" and I was gonna rant about how her music isn't avante garde at all, but then I read "... but for others it's not avante garde at all". 

[Didymus 34,379]

"so why not her music and the way she promotes it?"

Nah, you definitely did miss the mark there. She already admitted twice publicly that she hates promoting her songs and other comments about ARTPOP ("Every song was written to be a radio hit"; "I know what my fans want: music to dance to in the club") and her early era controversies of her chart strategies convince me that, though she'll do what she can to fill everything with her own aesthetic and ideas, the process itself is probably less romantic.

[Fiona Apple 13,006]

Yeah I agree with most of the things you wrote.. 

[AyaKara 2,281]

I feel like ARTPOP was relatively unsuccessful because of the unusual promo strategies and changing of singles making the album life shorter than expected. The fact that the album itself is not very consistent with the meaning of ARTPOP and song quality also affected how people (including us) perceived ARTPOP. The app and its promises (unreleased songs, a video for every song, etc.) added to that.

I agree with everything else you wrote, though

[giskardsb 12,565]

thanks for taking time to write that. 

I also do think Gaga needs to be considered in terms of a performance artist.  Things like "this is who I am" or "I would never...." need to be taken in context of the current persona.  

You are right about her "riding the fence" musically although I think she's earned the right to go in whatever direction she wants now. 

[djBuffoon 12,117]

Excellent post

[Alfonso 1,547]

Great thread

I agree with you