Gaga needs her Born In The U.S.A.

[ctherainbow 3,162]

Considered one of the rawest depictions of the American middle-class struggle of the 1980s, featuring a lineup of 7 Top 10 singles, and widely cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time, Born In The U.S.A. is a Bruce Springsteen album released in 1984.  Gaga has been an outspoken fan of Bruce's, citing him as the music she used to listen to with her dad growing up, and I believe that she could benefit immensely from the release of an album with elements similar to Bruce's music, especially Born In The U.S.A., albeit updated for the 2010's, and here's why:

1.  We already know that she's a fan of Bruce's work, so it wouldn't be that much of an artistic stretch for her to incorporate themes of his music into hers.

2.  She's a huge fan of rock music in general, and although she's said she would rather be the next Iron Maiden than Madonna, but some of Bruce's more commercial work, such as Dancing In The Dark, fits her need to continue to maintain a commercial image, while allowing her to explore rock music.

3.  Yes, Bruce's brand of commercial, Americana, arena rock is largely dying out, except for legacy artists, but Gaga helped bring dance music back to the forefront of the American music scene, so why couldn't she produce a smash hit with elements of American arena rock?

4.  We've seen her potential in the past to create songs with the epic but raw feel of Bruce's rock, such as The Edge of Glory, songs with an American heartland feel, such as You and I, and songs with raw vocals and plenty of emotion even in the studio version, such as Speechless and Dope.  

5.  She could collaborate with Bruce on the record, which would give her an incredible amount of respect among a huge number of people 40+ years old, which, contrary to what many pop music stans may think, buy records, listen to the radio, and now they've integrated into the internet age, also stream music.  It would give her a track that would rocket up the AC charts, something she's been severely lacking as compared to some of her contemporaries, such as Adele.  

6.  Born In The U.S.A. covered topics that scared young and middle-aged people of the day, such as the legacy of the Vietnam War, the decay of middle-class America, and the outsourcing of jobs, which helped the record resonate with a massive number of Americans.  It would be a fantastic counterpoint to her work on The Fame; contrasting her earlier work as a young, brash musician glorifying/parodying celebrity culture, against a new album that showcases her as a seasoned musician and human who expresses the fear, pain, anger, and hope of today's average middle-class young person.

7.  Would she have to tone down the abstract, avant-garde tone that she developed with ARTPOP?  Absolutely, but that really isn't a tragedy.  She's gonna have to kick the more extreme elements of anyway, if she wants to have any kind of a career in the future.

8.  I apologize to anyone who thinks differently, but this is an opinion thread, so don't jump on me for this:  Born This Way is her best album, and one that sounds the most like classic rock.  Without the overt acceptance themes of Born This Way the song and Hair, if the sound of the album had been a bit more cohesive, and if songs like Bad Kids and Americano had been refined and turned into more commercial and overt Americana/youth protest tracks like Bruce produced, the album would've been much more palatable to the straight male demographic, and if Gaga coupled that with (I know the fanbase will lynch me for this) a stripped down, very simple but s-xy, Americana look for the album cover and booklet, at least (obviously leave her current level of crazy fashion and outrageous performances, albeit with overt Americana themes, such as some of the imagery in the Telephone music vid), and with a lower ratio of pure dance tracks than usual(since anything can be remixed and released for dance play as a remix, it's not hard), a rock-influenced album like Born This Way, but less out there, would be perfect.  She could still write about things that matter, but I'd want her to be including tracks that explored themes which more of the GP could sympathize with.

9.  Not only would this type of record have the potential for incredible commercial success, it would also open up her artistry to areas of activism that she hasn't dipped into as obviously thus far, such as income disparity and the lack of upward mobility for the middle and lower classes.  She's written tracks like Posh Life before, so I know she's more than capable, but thus far she hasn't released anything of her own, and that really needs to happen.  Country music, which is phenomenally successful in terms of drawing crowds to tours, as well as being quite successful in terms of sales, appeals to the same type of low-income, average American Joe who a rock-influenced Gaga album has the potential to appeal to.

10.  I realize that this record would not necessarily go over as well with areas outside of the US and Canada, but let's face it, rock is less local than jazz is, and Cheek to Cheek did just fine worldwide.  Furthermore, since the dethroning of R&B in the 200s, generally, what's been big either in the US or the UK has caught on with the rest of the world eventually, so I'm not worried about that.  You and I, one track, did an immense amount to expand her image and sound among the American public; I still see it performed by 45-year-old straight men at country karaoke bars, and an entire album of hybrid Edge of Glory/You and I/Posh Life/Speechless songs, with a rock twist, a big-name collaboration or two, and more Americana image and lyricism, would be not only my dream album from her, but also a great idea for her artistry, image, and commercial appeal.

What do you guys think?  

(And yes, it's a book, sorry 'bout that.  There was a lot to cover.   )

[Camden 133]

Considered one of the rawest depictions of the American middle-class struggle of the 1980s, featuring a lineup of 7 Top 10 singles, and widely cited by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time, Born In The U.S.A. is a Bruce Springsteen album released in 1984.  Gaga has been an outspoken fan of Bruce's, citing him as the music she used to listen to with her dad growing up, and I believe that she could benefit immensely from the release of an album with elements similar to Bruce's music, especially Born In The U.S.A., albeit updated for the 2010's, and here's why:

1.  We already know that she's a fan of Bruce's work, so it wouldn't be that much of an artistic stretch for her to incorporate themes of his music into hers.

2.  She's a huge fan of rock music in general, and although she's said she would rather be the next Iron Maiden than Madonna, but some of Bruce's more commercial work, such as Dancing In The Dark, fits her need to continue to maintain a commercial image, while allowing her to explore rock music.

3.  Yes, Bruce's brand of commercial, Americana, arena rock is largely dying out, except for legacy artists, but Gaga helped bring dance music back to the forefront of the American music scene, so why couldn't she produce a smash hit with elements of American arena rock?

4.  We've seen her potential in the past to create songs with the epic but raw feel of Bruce's rock, such as The Edge of Glory, songs with an American heartland feel, such as You and I, and songs with raw vocals and plenty of emotion even in the studio version, such as Speechless and Dope.  

5.  She could collaborate with Bruce on the record, which would give her an incredible amount of respect among a huge number of people 40+ years old, which, contrary to what many pop music stans may think, buy records, listen to the radio, and now they've integrated into the internet age, also stream music.  It would give her a track that would rocket up the AC charts, something she's been severely lacking as compared to some of her contemporaries, such as Adele.  

6.  Born In The U.S.A. covered topics that scared young and middle-aged people of the day, such as the legacy of the Vietnam War, the decay of middle-class America, and the outsourcing of jobs, which helped the record resonate with a massive number of Americans.  It would be a fantastic counterpoint to her work on The Fame; contrasting her earlier work as a young, brash musician glorifying/parodying celebrity culture, against a new album that showcases her as a seasoned musician and human who expresses the fear, pain, anger, and hope of today's average middle-class young person.

7.  Would she have to tone down the abstract, avant-garde tone that she developed with ARTPOP?  Absolutely, but that really isn't a tragedy.  She's gonna have to kick the more extreme elements of anyway, if she wants to have any kind of a career in the future.

8.  I apologize to anyone who thinks differently, but this is an opinion thread, so don't jump on me for this:  Born This Way is her best album, and one that sounds the most like classic rock.  Without the overt acceptance themes of Born This Way the song and Hair, if the sound of the album had been a bit more cohesive, and if songs like Bad Kids and Americano had been refined and turned into more commercial and overt Americana/youth protest tracks like Bruce produced, the album would've been much more palatable to the straight male demographic, and if Gaga coupled that with (I know the fanbase will lynch me for this) a stripped down, very simple but s-xy, Americana look for the album cover and booklet, at least (obviously leave her current level of crazy fashion and outrageous performances, albeit with overt Americana themes, such as some of the imagery in the Telephone music vid), and with a lower ratio of pure dance tracks than usual(since anything can be remixed and released for dance play as a remix, it's not hard), a rock-influenced album like Born This Way, but less out there, would be perfect.  She could still write about things that matter, but I'd want her to be including tracks that explored themes which more of the GP could sympathize with.

9.  Not only would this type of record have the potential for incredible commercial success, it would also open up her artistry to areas of activism that she hasn't dipped into as obviously thus far, such as income disparity and the lack of upward mobility for the middle and lower classes.  She's written tracks like Posh Life before, so I know she's more than capable, but thus far she hasn't released anything of her own, and that really needs to happen.  Country music, which is phenomenally successful in terms of drawing crowds to tours, as well as being quite successful in terms of sales, appeals to the same type of low-income, average American Joe who a rock-influenced Gaga album has the potential to appeal to.

10.  I realize that this record would not necessarily go over as well with areas outside of the US and Canada, but let's face it, rock is less local than jazz is, and Cheek to Cheek did just fine worldwide.  Furthermore, since the dethroning of R&B in the 200s, generally, what's been big either in the US or the UK has caught on with the rest of the world eventually, so I'm not worried about that.  You and I, one track, did an immense amount to expand her image and sound among the American public; I still see it performed by 45-year-old straight men at country karaoke bars, and an entire album of hybrid Edge of Glory/You and I/Posh Life/Speechless songs, with a rock twist, a big-name collaboration or two, and more Americana image and lyricism, would be not only my dream album from her, but also a great idea for her artistry, image, and commercial appeal.

What do you guys think?  

A fellow true bruce fan, love that gaga loves him

[ctherainbow 3,162]

A fellow true bruce fan, love that gaga loves him

Yay, there's more than one of us on GGD.   

[Camden 133]

Yay, there's more than one of us on GGD.   

People are always suprised when i tell em im a monster, i tell them shes really just a rockstar in a pop stars clothing.

[ctherainbow 3,162]

People are always suprised when i tell em im a monster, i tell them shes really just a rockstar in a pop stars clothing.

So true.  I just hope she fully realizes that inner rocker in a full album, rather than a couple songs spaced out at different times in her career.

[Camden 133]

So true.  I just hope she fully realizes that inner rocker in a full album, rather than a couple songs spaced out at different times in her career.

I believe she really wants that too and i hope she lets herself have that she deserves it. Monsters can be so greedy sometimes. I know we are monsters but you DONT BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU!

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

Yay, there's more than one of us on GGD.   

There certainly is!  I love Bruce Springsteen, too!!     

[PrinceGaga 7,585]

Love Brucey! I'm here for this  

[Camden 133]

There certainly is!  I love Bruce Springsteen, too!!     

Looking for a lover who come on in and cover me 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

Looking for a lover who come on in and cover me 

We could, we could belong together.  

[Camden 133]

We could, we could belong together.  

Sometimes the simplest move is right 

[giskardsb 12,565]

People are always suprised when i tell em im a monster, i tell them shes really just a rockstar in a pop stars clothing.

dance pop fans seem to have a hard time accepting this reality :)

[giskardsb 12,565]

Bruce is cool but I'd prefer her Jagged Little Pill. She might be too happy for that at the moment though. 

[Camden 133]

dance pop fans seem to have a hard time accepting this reality :)

So much respect to you for that. Hats off to you.

 

[Bad Bromance 5,809]

Sometimes the simplest move is right 

The melody that you choose can rescue you.