Born This Way in depth album analysis

[Edonis 28,950]

I love love love this analysis but two things: 

1. I think HU(RTL) is meant specifically as a gay anthem for equal rights. I know you mentioned it with the specific line about not caring if love is a law, but I think the entire song encompasses LGBT power and highlights the struggle people go through daily. I also think that song specifically speaks to a lot of the issues going on in 2010-2011 with the LGBT community (don't ask don't tell, marriage equality, etc.) But a solid review. 

2. Last is your Yoü and I analysis. I agree with everything you said but felt you left something out about Yüyi. Being a mermaid means of course she can't have coital sex, but that also means if she is to have romance, it has to be of the purest kind. That's not to say that sex is nasty or bad or whatnot, it's just that the romance of Yüyi and whoever she gets with has to come from a place of pure love and not just physical attraction. I think she really represents a concept that many psychologists, sociologists, and philosophical minds hint at, which is falling in love with a soul, regardless of gender or physical appearance. It's a stretch but I always assumed that that's what Yüyi also meant. For her romance is so great that it isn't masked by physical attraction but rather an attraction to a soul. 

Lol sorry about the long essay post haha. 

[Rino 5,120]

I loved your review, it was a great read. 

2 minutes ago, Edonis said:

2. Last is your Yoü and I analysis. I agree with everything you said but felt you left something out about Yüyi. Being a mermaid means of course she can't have coital sex, but that also means if she is to have romance, it has to be of the purest kind. That's not to say that sex is nasty or bad or whatnot, it's just that the romance of Yüyi and whoever she gets with has to come from a place of pure love and not just physical attraction. I think she really represents a concept that many psychologists, sociologists, and philosophical minds hint at, which is falling in love with a soul, regardless of gender or physical appearance. It's a stretch but I always assumed that that's what Yüyi also meant. For her romance is so great that it isn't masked by physical attraction but rather an attraction to a soul. 

this is brilliant, I think I can finally understand You and I's music video concept now 

[PartySick 159,822]

2 minutes ago, Edonis said:

I love love love this analysis but two things: 

1. I think HU(RTL) is meant specifically as a gay anthem for equal rights. I know you mentioned it with the specific line about not caring if love is a law, but I think the entire song encompasses LGBT power and highlights the struggle people go through daily. I also think that song specifically speaks to a lot of the issues going on in 2010-2011 with the LGBT community (don't ask don't tell, marriage equality, etc.) But a solid review. 

2. Last is your Yoü and I analysis. I agree with everything you said but felt you left something out about Yüyi. Being a mermaid means of course she can't have coital sex, but that also means if she is to have romance, it has to be of the purest kind. That's not to say that sex is nasty or bad or whatnot, it's just that the romance of Yüyi and whoever she gets with has to come from a place of pure love and not just physical attraction. I think she really represents a concept that many psychologists, sociologists, and philosophical minds hint at, which is falling in love with a soul, regardless of gender or physical appearance. It's a stretch but I always assumed that that's what Yüyi also meant. For her romance is so great that it isn't masked by physical attraction but rather an attraction to a soul. 

Lol sorry about the long essay post haha. 

Great points!

The bit about Yüyi and the "you can't have sex with a mermaid means you can't always make love work" thing was what Gaga said but I love your take on it!

[Edonis 28,950]

28 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Great points!

The bit about Yüyi and the "you can't have sex with a mermaid means you can't always make love work" thing was what Gaga said but I love your take on it!

Lol yeah I looked up the interview 😂 

But yeah just my opinion 😁

[PartySick 159,822]

1 minute ago, Edonis said:

Lol yeah I looked up the interview 😂 

But yeah just my opinion 😁

We think a lot alike

You'll know what I mean if I do this for ARTPOP haha

[AphroditeLaydee 1,230]

1 hour ago, PartySick said:

It's possible. It is a sonic album and the sound has just as much to do with the emotion as the lyrics do in some cases. I was thinking of doing one of these for ARTPOP but I'm not here for getting dragged because I see value in Jewels n' Drugs or Donatella  or that I see a non sex meaning behind Sexxx Dreams that even Gaga may have never thought about.

Please do one for ARTPOP! It's by far one of my favorite Gaga records, and drag me if you want but I listen to it more than TFM. Also, thank you! This analysis was amazing! BTW is an album that is just on a whole other level of superiority. Thank you for this thread PartySick!

Also, about your Sexxx Dreams analysis, I think it's fair. I think I read it back then that the song wasn't just about sexual fantasies with lovers, but also fantasies of achieving your dreams in general, idk it was a long time ago and I was way younger

[PartySick 159,822]

1 minute ago, AphroditeLaydee said:

Please do one for ARTPOP! It's by far one of my favorite Gaga records, and drag me if you want but I listen to it more than TFM. Also, thank you! This analysis was amazing! BTW is an album that is just on a whole other level of superiority. Thank you for this thread PartySick!

Also, about your Sexxx Dreams analysis, I think it's fair. I think I read it back then that the song wasn't just about sexual fantasies with lovers, but also fantasies of achieving your dreams in general, idk it was a long time ago and I was way younger. PLEASE SHARE YOUR ARTPOP ANALYSIS I BEG YOU  

Wow what?! You remember?  

Tbh I haven't listened to a track from TFM in weeks but I've listened to ARTPOP (the whole album) at least three times in the last week  I'll certainly do one on ARTPOP!

[KARMA 1,022]

Born This Way is when and why I became a fan of Gaga, and BTW is truly her best album to date.

Thank you for the beautiful analysis 

[PartySick 159,822]

3 minutes ago, KARMA said:

Born This Way is when and why I became a fan of Gaga, and BTW is truly her best album to date.

Thank you for the beautiful analysis 

Thank you for reading it

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

1 hour ago, PartySick said:

Hi, friends

I'm not sure who else is a fan of overly critical and deep analysis like I am, but hey if you are you've come to the right thread

I was inspired by @Enigma's thread to really look deep into Born This Way and rediscover the meanings, messages, themes, and whatever else there was to know as well as sharing my personal thoughts on each song of course, you could probably write a novel on each of the woman's songs... 

Feel free to start a discussion and share your thoughts and feelings on the album too! I love hearing others' perspective on things like this.

Marry the Night
Theme: Self empowerment, overcoming obstacles

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I'm gonna lace up my boots
Throw on some leather and cruise
Down the streets that I love
In my fishnet gloves

I'm a sinner

Gaga's given a few different backgrounds to this song. One was her saying "I hate Hollywood! I just wanna live in Brooklyn and make music". With Katy Couric, she said it's about committing oneself entirely to something, for her, it was music. On Alan Carr, she said it's about marrying your insecurities in order to overcome them.

The video itself, according to Gaga, deals with one of the "worst days" of her life: when she was dropped from Island Def Jam. "I love obstacles. To marry your obstacles means I, the artist, wholeheartedly accept everything you throw at me".

My personal take from this song is, of course, finding the strength to go on in the face of hardship. To know that you can do it and to not let anything stop you.

Born This Way
Theme: Acceptance, pride

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I'm beautiful in my way
God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

That really says it all, doesn't it? It's a song about realizing your self worth and accepting who you are as a human being. After her Grammy performance, though, and being asked about it on a few occasions, I've taken a different meaning from it as well. It's a song, not only about acceptance, but also growth. You can be reborn however many times you need to until you find that one thing you want to be.

So let that be an end to the conversations saying she's a hypocrite for having cosmetic work done  BTW has nothing to do with appearance if you attribute your own value to being more than just your appearance.

The video: "When I started writing it, it was meant to be a song about revolution and freedom and lack of prejudice. And when I started to create the visuals for it, I thought so much about my fans and in so many ways it is the monsters that created the imagery."

Two things about the video that I've always loved was the little tribute to Michael and the bubble gum bit. She asked Rick Genist why he had so many tattoos and he said he used to cover himself in the faux tats from the Bazooka Bubble Gum wrappers and eventually decided to get the real deal  

Government Hooker
Theme: Rebellion

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As long as I'm your hooker (back up and turn around)
As long as I'm your hook-ah (get on the ground!)

The song was made from an old dark hip-hop beat DJWS had. There's not much to say about it...besides the fact that it's just a godly song  The meaning, though, is a test of how far you're willing to bend to the rules before you start breaking them.

"The humor is that a machine tells me what to do and I happily do it as long as I get f*cked. It a relates to how our government f*cks us over, but it makes fun of the plastic popstar – I’ll do anything as long as you f*ck me and pay me."

"There's a voice in the background when I'm singing /As long as/ I'm your hooker/ and then the Government says: /Back up/ And Turn Around/. How much are you willing to be a puppet and hooker and how much more do you want to fight for what you believe in?"

Judas
Theme: Empowerment, self value

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I wanna love you
But something's pulling me away from you
Jesus is my virtue
But Judas is the demon I cling to

"It's no surprise, I'm sure, to many of you, that Judas is a man of the biblical senses, so expect to see some symbolism in this video [...] You have to look into what is haunting you and you need to look into forgiving yourself in order to move on. And it's really fun to dance to and sounds like it could be a pop priest record."

Some people have interpreted Judas as a song about Gaga being in love with a guy she knows is a bad boy. However, my take is much closer to what she says. If it weren't for Judas betraying Jesus, Jesus would not have been the savior that the Christians know. Whatever's hurt you in the past, learn from it. Grow from it. Overcome it. You're a better person for it!  

Americano
Theme: Injusitce, civil rights

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Mis canciones son de la re-revolución
Mi corazón me duele por mi generación
If you love me
we can marry on the west coast

We fell in love, but not in court...because the courts refuse to recognize our love. Expanding upon the idea Government Hooker brought up, Americano segues directly into human rights in relation to the governments that deny them. 

"I won't speak your Americano, I won't speak your Jesus Christo" means that I don't subscribe to the same hateful God you do and I refuse to accept your unjust legislation. Instead, I'll rebel and be a champion for my rights and the rights of others.

She also once used the song to promote the legalization of marijuana but for the life of me I can't remember when or where...

Hair
Theme: Acceptance

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I just wanna be myself and
I want you to love me for who I am

A very basic, but powerful message at this song's core. Gaga says she felt like she wrote this song back in high school. We all know the story, she had no where to sit at lunch, her classmates threw her in the garbage, laughed at her, made fun of her, and while she was out there working hard, others were putting her down for her dream.

For the longest time, this was my favorite Gaga song. When I think of this song, I imagine myself back before I came out, back before I felt safe to be me. I see myself slumped over, crying alone in my room with the lights out wishing that I could be free and hoping to one day know who I am and to be able to let that person express himself.

Scheiße
Theme: Empowerment, feminism

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I wish that I could dance on a single prayer
I wish I could be strong without somebody there
I wish that I could dance on a single prayer
I wish I could be strong without the Scheiße, yeah

This most godly of dance tracks addresses the unfair idea that women can not be strong on their own. Thankfully, that ideal is a dying one. You don't have to be a woman to find strength in it, though. Anyone who is being or has been doubted by others can relate to its lyrics. Anyone who's been treated as if they're incompetent can listen and say "I wish they'd let me stand on my own for once. I'll show them. I can make it!"

You don't even have to think much about the song's message to dance to it! It's quite good fun to memorize and recite the Old English/Latin/German gibberish too  

Bloody Mary
Theme: Divinity, humanism

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Love is just a history that they may prove.
And when you're gone, 
I'll tell them my religion's you.
When Pontius comes to kill the king upon his throne.
I'm ready for their stones.

I think Gaga says it best, honestly.

"I believe that Mary Magdalene was both fully divine and fully human. She has to be strong when Jesus fulfills the prophecy to die for everyone’s sins, but she still has the moment of humanity where she’s upset to let him go. She had to be a superstar, but she must have cried too." 

"Not life alteringly deep perhaps but it works as a pop song."

Liberdade e Amor

Black Jesus † Amen Fashion
Theme: Vision, self empowerment

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There's no way I could be stopped,
Was taking my best shot,
I had a better plan.

There's no way I could be stopped,
Was coming for your spot,
I met better men.

Gaga has said that BJ†AF is an autobiographical story of her moving downtown. She had seen the world in one way before, iconic imagery (of a white Jesus) being what had taught her, but now she was seeing this new way of life. This Black Jesus, so alluring and so fresh. The "Amen Fashion" bit is her believing that creating a new world view is as easy as changing your fashion.

All you have to do is be brave enough to put yourself out there and have an open mind.

Bad Kids
Theme: Sympathy, empowerment

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This song is a tribute to Monsters' stories told to Gaga during the Monster Ball.

I've always taken a rooted feeling from this song...if that makes any sense I've never really acted out or been a "bad kid" but I know that when others act out or bully, more often than not, it's because they have deep seeded insecurities or pain from life experience or something less tangible. It's a song that reminds me to never judge anyone because everyone has a story, you don't know what people have been through to make them they way they are now, so show them a little patience and understanding. Prove to them that someone cares.

So don't ask, 'cause I'll tell 
you I'm free, while you dwell
Throw your hands up in the crowd
Cause if you're bad kid and you're proud

Fashion of His Love
Theme: Love, tribute

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Fashion of His Love can be interpreted as a love song, because it really is. However, Gaga wrote it as a tribute to her friend, the legendary designer, Alexander McQueen.

The song's idea was indirectly expanded upon this past year when Gaga said she'd never be a fashion designer. Instead, she likes to be the muse and the canvas for the genius minds that create the incredible clothing she wears. It gives a whole new meaning to the lyrics:

I seeing all the signs from above,
I'm going to be the one that he loves,
I was made for loving him
The Fashion of His Love

Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)
Theme: Empowerment

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She don't care if your papers or your love is the law
She's a free soul, burning rolls with a flag in her bra
We can be strong, we can be strong
Follow that unicorn on the road to love

HU(RTL) is, to me, about chasing a dream. It's about a journey. There's a hint of LGBT rights in the line "she don't care if your papers or your love is the law" as well!

The only statement I could find about this song was NME magazine saying the sax represented Gaga's innocence because she grew up listening to Springsteen and Billy Joel. I feel that further strengthens the idea that it's a song about journeys

Heavy Metal Lover
Theme: Rebellion

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Wash the night with St. Jame-son,
Like a baptism, heavy metal lovers play,
Baby we were born this way

This is totally subjective as I couldn't find a statement from anyone clearly saying what this song's meaning actually is. I feel that it serves to strengthen the rebellious emotion and theme that runs throughout the album. There is not direct message other than it's a badass song that's supposed to make you feel like a badass  

Electric Chapel
Theme: Safety, acceptance

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Pray for your sins
Right on the dark
Caskets will fall

If you want to steal my heart away,
Meet me meet me baby in a safe place,
Come on meet me 
In electric chapel

Gaga has referred to the Monster Ball as being an Electric Chapel, a safe place for herself and her fans to express themselves in, free of judgment or prejudice. It's a song about needing to find love, acceptance, and a safe place that fosters your right to be you.

The Queen
Theme: Empowerment

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I can be, the queen you need me to be.
This is my chance to be the dance,
I've dreamed it's happening,
I can be the queen.

Pretty straightforward, honestly. Gaga said the song was about bravery and wanting to be unafraid. 

This song has one of my favorite bridges because, being the space nut that I am, I've always been emotional about mankind's quest for knowledge and the sacrifices made along the way. Her mentioning the Challenger explosion gets me teary eyed every time  it's such a shame that it's only a bonus track 'cause I think it's one of the stronger songs in her entire discography

Yoü and I
Theme: Romance

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It's been a long time since I came around
Been a long time but I'm back in town
This time I'm not leaving without you

It's a love song, mother f*ckers! A rock n' roll love song featuring one of the most legendary guitarists and beats of all time. Inspired somewhat by Lüc Carl, it's ironic that she met her fiance, Taylor Kinney, on the set of the music video

Something I found out for the first time was the symbolism behind Yüyi the mermaid. You can't have sex with a mermaid, which means, in love, sometimes you just can't make it work. Flop fan, I know, but that's so cool.

The Edge of Glory
Theme: Reflection, happiness

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Another shot before we kiss the other side
Tonight yeah baby, tonight yeah baby
I'm on the edge of something final we call life
Tonight
Alright!
Alright!

"One of the songs on the album that is truly one of my favorites, it's called 'Edge of Glory' and it's kind of a sad story. Sorry to be a downer. But my grandpa died about five months ago, and my dad and I were going to say goodbye to him at the hospice, and I got out a big thing of agave tequila and my dad sat next to me at the piano and we started to doing shots back and fourth, and I wrote 'Edge of Glory' on the piano and my dad and I cried. The song's about your last moment on Earth, the moment of truth, the edge of glory is that moment right before you leave the Earth. So that song can be played on the piano, but it's actually set to this giant, huge, techno rock, Springsteen-esque dance beat. I actually had Clarence Clemons from the E Street Band come in and play saxophone on it. It's ****ing beautiful.”

"The song is about, how when I watch my grandpa die, I believe that he looks [at] my grandmother and I realize that he was a champion in the life and that's when he's able to go to the edge of glory that represents being on the edge of that glorious moment."

It doesn't get enough appreciation from me, honestly. It's a song that represents the feeling I have to have when I die. I need to be able to lie on my death bed (or rocket or whatever awesome way I go out) and look back on my life. Instead of being sad that I'm dying, I want to say "wow...what a f*cking ride that was!" I've never wanted to view death as the end of a tale, just the final step in an amazing story we all write daily. That "edge of glory" moment before you die is when you truly appreciate that. It's such a surreal thought.

Also, it's poetic, in a way, that this was the last song Clarence Clemons ever did before he passed away. I'm glad it's such a sentimental song

It's looking at Gaga's work like this that gives me a next level appreciation for how talented, understanding, and intelligent she is. Born This Way is one of the best bodies of work I've ever heard from one of the greatest artists to ever walk on this Earth. If I ever meet Gaga personally, I'll be sure to tell her about the impact her music has had on me and how much it's changed everything about me down to my very core.

Thanks for reading my very long winded rambling  I look forward to a conversation by anyone who read any of it

@Michelle@Higher I did it

Something inside me knows how beautiful is your soul.

[PartySick 159,822]

4 minutes ago, Lord Temptation said:

Something inside me knows how beautiful is your soul.

Awww, thank you

[2020Covid19IsOurs 6,901]

This is so wonderfully put!  You should definitely do more of these! 

[Edonis 28,950]

39 minutes ago, PartySick said:

We think a lot alike

You'll know what I mean if I do this for ARTPOP haha

 I'm perched 

[PartySick 159,822]

@Edonis@AphroditeLaydee

I'll tag you guys when I do one for ARTPOP...just remember, it's always harder the second time around (the second time around)

@Lord Temptation I'll tag you too since you love ARTPOP as much as I do

[Edonis 28,950]

19 minutes ago, PartySick said:

@Edonis@AphroditeLaydee

I'll tag you guys when I do one for ARTPOP...just remember, it's always harder the second time around (the second time around)

@Lord Temptation I'll tag you too since you love ARTPOP as much as I do

Thanks! That would be great!