What does Gaga have left to prove?

[Bebe 17,093]

15 minutes ago, koonsisme said:

I think people want her to prove she's capable of producing "The Fame Monster" caliber work. People try to say she was a one trick pony who never matched that success. They want to see her be a major force in pop culture again, to dominate like she once did. 

Not sure she cares to do that, though. 

Maybe I should re-frame my question slightly. Why is it important for Gaga to prove she is capable of becoming a major force in pop culture again, in terms of the level she was at during TFM? She has already been that and continues to pursue projects that excite her. Why tread over the same territory just to prove you can?

Why does she need to prove anything to anyone at this point? She has already had a stellar career, she has achieved incredible things, at this point why does she have to continue trying to prove herself to people? She is already a success story.

At this point, why can't she just write music that isn't focused on the charts? Why can't she just work on creativity interesting projects? If I was in her position, I wouldn't care one bit about trying to achieve #1 singles, I would be in a position where I can live very comfortably for the rest of my life and create whatever I wanted to.

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

2 hours ago, Nino said:

Me running back to this thread every 30 seconds to defend GaGa's legacy 

Gaga has a legacy, but she still needs to build up on it, mainly on longevity. This is objectively true. I don't mean number 1 or massive sales, at the very least, Joanne, if critically acclaimed and selling even only decently would help solidify her as a reputable artist.

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

1 hour ago, Halsey said:

That she can release a solo original jazz album

oh yea, this one, too. Can't really claim to be a fantastic jazz artist just by doing covers. Although even just one really really good jazz song is enough for me to reaffirm her status as a talented jazz chanteuse.

[Gagaterium 220]

Right, I don't want to offend anyone here, and I hope y'all let me say this, but I think the reason a large proportion of the fan based is worried is because........ the name Lady Gaga itself screams Fame/Media/PopStar.

That is genuinely how the name reverberates in the minds of millions of people, including the GP's. Her debut album was called The Fame, an album solely dedicated to hunger for FAME and anything glamorous, flashy and opulent.

Her second incredibly successful album was called The Fame Monster, this time continuing the theme of the first through eye catching, extravagant visuals and get-ups.

Every single album since then, including ARTPOP, has been about being the ultimate pop star and making the ultimate pop music. So excuse some fans for being slightly pressed or ''worried'', but the 180 degrees change of direction was bound to shock everyone and worry those who, believe it or not, were into her FOR GAGA, not Stefani/the Tony Bennet era/AlternativeGa.

As to your question, like others have said, LONGEVITY, that's what she has to prove. If she really wants to be the next Madonna/Cher/Bowie, longevity is the last thing she needs to prove.

But that is only if she's still concerned with being a pop star. If she just wants to be a musician and create the music she wants, she obviously doesn't need to prove anything else.

[Bebe 17,093]

5 minutes ago, Gagaterium said:

Right, I don't want to offend anyone here, and I hope y'all let me say this, but I think the reason a large proportion of the fan based is worried is because........ the name Lady Gaga itself screams Fame/Media/PopStar.

That is genuinely how the name reverberates in the minds of millions of people, including the GP's. Her debut album was called The Fame, an album solely dedicated to hunger for FAME and anything glamorous, flashy and opulent.

Her second incredibly successful album was called The Fame Monster, this time continuing the theme of the first through eye catching, extravagant visuals and get-ups.

Every single album since then, including ARTPOP, has been about being the ultimate pop star and making the ultimate pop music. So excuse some fans for being slightly pressed or ''worried'', but the 180 degrees change of direction was bound to shock everyone and worry those who, believe it or not, were into her FOR GAGA, not Stefani/the Tony Bennet era/AlternativeGa.

I myself am in between, like I've said before. I will always support her, I do enjoy everything she does and I think I always will, but that doesn't mean that I don't see why other fans see this era as daunting.

I have completely understood why fans could be turned off by her new direction, it's completely different from what she has done before. No more crazy outfits, no more sleek electro-pop, no more choreography, no more glossy, clean music videos.

It's understandable for some fans to dislike this new direction and that's fine, my point isn't really about that. My focus was on Gaga because I wanted to drive home the point that, although some fans might want #1 hit after #1 hit, why should she?

[Gagaterium 220]

4 minutes ago, Bebe said:

I have completely understood why fans could be turned off by her new direction, it's completely different from what she has done before. No more crazy outfits, no more sleek electro-pop, no more choreography, no more glossy, clean music videos.

It's understandable for some fans to dislike this new direction and that's fine, my point isn't really about that. It's more about the fans who think she needs to have chart success and be a 'legend'. Like, why?

Maybe that's what they want, but even then, why? Why care about the charts, why should she care about the charts?

Sorry for the last minute editing

Yeah, I totally get what you're saying. I don't want to call them Little Chartsters, but that's pretty much what people who will literally only continue to be a fan if she stays on top of the charts are. I imagine it's because of the appeal of the unstoppable mega pop star and stanning for said mega pop star. If that's gone, they will just be left with Stefani and her music, and some people apparently don't really care about that.

[Bebe 17,093]

1 minute ago, Gagaterium said:

Sorry for the last minute editing

Yeah, I totally get what you're saying. I don't want to call them Little Chartsters, but that's pretty much what people who will literally only continue to be a fan if she stays on top of the charts are. I imagine it's because of the appeal of the unstoppable mega pop star and stanning for said mega pop star. If that's gone, they will just be left with Stefani and her music, and some people apparently don't really care about that.

I did a little bit of last minute editing myself, so you're forgiven

I agree with you though

[Gagaterium 220]

Just now, Bebe said:

I did a little bit of last minute editing myself, so you're forgiven

I agree with you though

Same, sis

[Chromatislaps 34,840]

2 hours ago, Nino said:

 

Michael Jackson is remembered for 2 smash hit  albums. Something tells me GaGa will be okay.

uhm no: Ben, Don't Stop Till you Get Enough, Rock With You, Thriller, Billie Jean, Wanna Be Starting Something, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Man In The Mirror, Dirty Diana, Black Or White, Remember The Time, Dangerous, Scream (feat. Janet), Earth Song, They Don't Care About Us, You Are Not Alone, Blood On The Dancefloor, You Rock My World...I think MJ has more signature hits than GaGa has at this point, denying that is pure delusion.

[Gagafy 296]

41 minutes ago, Bebe said:

She has proven she can be a major pop star  She has proven she can sing Jazz with Tony Bennett, she has proven she can write pop hits, she has proven she can shock people with her talent, she has accomplished more than most can dream off. This isn't about her being or not being a 'legend'.

You are missing my point so let me lay it out like this to maybe help you understand better. 

Look at even semi-popular acts like Grimes. She makes great music, she has a fanbase and she is free to make music that she likes without worrying about charts. She has a career, she can make a living from music, she can make the music she wants. Why should an artist like Grimes care about scoring a #1 hit? I mean great if she does! But why should that be her focus? She is already in a position where she can create what she wants to create and can make a living of her music.

Gaga is in an even greater position. She has already accomplished so much, she has made a fortune and she still has exciting projects ahead of her. Why in her position should she care about chart success?? She can make whatever music she wants at this point, she can pursue a wide range of projects. 

Why should Gaga be bogged down in trying to prove anything? Why would someone in Gaga's position care about charts? 

How is it delusional on any level to ask why Gaga needs to prove herself?

those achievements you've mentioned are only the peak of her success, it means nothing. Longevity is what counts in entertainment industry.

Replication is easy for those criteria that you've mentioned. It has already been done by other pop artist easily. Sing and collaborate with other legends, writing pop hits, shock culture, no.1s, awards ... these are cheap. But if you add longevity into that equation, artists able to maintain those "criterias" for many years are only a handful.

I will just say this again, she has only achieved peak pop culture and critically acclaimed success for that 1-2 years (3rd year got owned by Adele). And this doesn't prove anything, at all.

Your question is relevant for artist like Mariah Carey, Paul Mccartney, Tony Bennett, Madonna and other music legends. Gaga is not that level to say she has proved, cemented as queen and accomplished "so much", she pales in comparison. It's delusional to even ask the question like you did.

#if she doesn't care, PI doesn't coincidentally released just right before the qualification for next Grammy ends (same goes for Applause).

[Bebe 17,093]

7 minutes ago, Gagafy said:

those achievements you've mentioned are only the peak of her success, it means nothing. Longevity is what counts in entertainment industry.

Replication is easy for those criteria that you've mentioned. It has already been done by other pop artist easily. Sing and collaborate with other legends, writing pop hits, shock culture, no.1s, awards ... these are cheap. But if you add longevity into that equation, artists able to maintain those "criterias" for many years are only a handful.

I will just say this again, she has only achieved peak pop culture and critically acclaimed success for that 1-2 years (3rd year got owned by Adele). And this doesn't prove anything, at all.

Your question is relevant for artist like Mariah Carey, Paul Mccartney, Tony Bennett, Madonna and other music legends. Gaga is not that level to say she has proved, cemented as queen and accomplished "so much", she pales in comparison. It's delusional to even ask the question like you did.

You're missing my point entirely, it's surprising because in the post you quoted I posed the same question about Grimes and I clearly don't think she is a legend.

This is my point, Gaga has already achieved so much. She has had an amazing and diverse career. 

Gaga has made her fortune, she has achieved incredible things and continues to have incredible opportunities. From her perspective, why should she care one bit about the charts? She has a networth of over $250 million. She can do whatever she wants. She can make whatever music she wants and play to whatever audience she appeals to, whether that's in stadiums or theaters.

We all know she loves heavy metal, why shouldn't she make a hardcore heavy metal record? We all know she adores David Bowie, why shouldn't she just go that route and start making interesting, experimental records with little regard for how commercially viable they are? She loved C2C why shouldn't she continue making albums with Tony and/or start releasing solo Jazz records?

It might not be what you want, to you it might be important that she scores #1 hits and becomes a 'legend' like MJ or Madonna, but why should she care? She is in a position where she can do and create whatever the hell she wants. If that music is commercially viable and is a hit on the charts then great! If it's not commercially viable but is still interesting, of high quality and appealing to me then I'll remain a fan (and if it isn't appealing to me, oh well - I can't fault her - In her position I would make whatever the hell I wanted regardless of who it appealed to).

You are not addressing anything I have said, at all, at any point in this thread. Why should Gaga give a **** about continued chart success after all she has achieved and after she has already set herself up financially for life? For her perspective why would it matter? Why does she need to prove she can be a "Mariah Carey, Paul Mccartney, Tony Bennett, Madonna" type legend?

Why can't she just create music she loves without focusing on the charts?

[babyboo 965]

true. what i think some people don't understand is that those artist that has been on top of the world usually want to step out of the spotlight as it can be a very harmful position to be in. Gaga even said herself that the circus almost killed herself didn't she? even bey is not as out there as most celebrities right now (she's smart that she can still be very successful while being very private). So just respect her decision. She'll probably decline commercially but her legacy has been cemented 

except madonna i don't think there's anybody that wanna/can maintain being the it girl for life tbh

[Gagafy 296]

4 minutes ago, Bebe said:

You're missing my point entirely, it's surprising because in the post you quoted I posed the same question about Grimes and I clearly don't think she is a legend.

This is my point, Gaga has already achieved so much. She has had an amazing and diverse career. 

Gaga has made her fortune, she has achieved incredible things and continues to have incredible opportunities. From her perspective, why should she care one bit about the charts? She has a networth of over $250 million. She can do whatever she wants. She can make whatever music she wants and play to whatever audience she appeals to, whether that's in stadiums or theaters.

We all know she loves heavy metal, why shouldn't she make a hardcore heavy metal record? We all know she adores David Bowie, why shouldn't she just go that route and start making interesting, experimental records with little regard for how commercially viable they are? She loved C2C why shouldn't she continue making albums with Tony and/or start releasing solo Jazz records?

It might not be what you want, to you it might be important that she scores #1 hits and becomes a 'legend' like MJ or Madonna, but why should she care? She is in a position where she can do and create whatever the hell she wants. If that music is commercially viable and is a hit on the charts then great! If it's not commercially viable but is still interesting, of high quality and appealing to me then I'll remain a fan (and if it isn't appealing to me, oh well - I can't fault her - In her position I would make whatever the hell I wanted regardless of who it appealed to).

You are not addressing anything I have said, at all, at any point in this thread. Why should Gaga give a **** about continued chart success after all she has achieved and after she has already set herself up financially for life? For her perspective why would it matter? Why does she need to prove she can be a "Mariah Carey, Paul Mccartney, Tony Bennett, Madonna" type legend?

i am not addressing since the start because your whole statement and question is not even relevant for Gaga. That's my whole point and you're missing it.

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

38 minutes ago, Bebe said:

although some fans might want #1 hit after #1 hit, why should she?

i'm one of those "she needs to prove longevity" fans. However, I do not mean that to be a #1 hit after another. Consistent critical acclaim, decent sales and even just top 15-20s are enough for me to consider her having longevity.

[YeehawKylie 7,817]

49 minutes ago, Bebe said:

Maybe I should re-frame my question slightly. Why is it important for Gaga to prove she is capable of becoming a major force in pop culture again, in terms of the level she was at during TFM? She has already been that and continues to pursue projects that excite her. Why tread over the same territory just to prove you can?

Why does she need to prove anything to anyone at this point? She has already had a stellar career, she has achieved incredible things, at this point why does she have to continue trying to prove herself to people? She is already a success story.

At this point, why can't she just write music that isn't focused on the charts? Why can't she just work on creativity interesting projects? If I was in her position, I wouldn't care one bit about trying to achieve #1 singles, I would be in a position where I can live very comfortably for the rest of my life and create whatever I wanted to.

I think Gaga does have goals she wants to achieve, but recreating her past success isn't one of them. I think she has always had a strong goal to have a diverse, consistent and strong portfolio/discopgraphy.