I wish 'Joanne' were a side project

[ReidOne 12,427]

Yep, you've seen this post 20x already, but it's my turn. 

I wish 'Joanne' were a side project, not the "comeback" of Lady Gaga. After the brilliant 18 months she served us with Cheek to Cheek and the "covers" era, we were absolutely percht for our Goddess to return to form. 

Instead she served us something that was.... pretty much the antithesis of what we show up for. And yes, it is brilliant in its own right (and I am happy and grateful we have it), but this whole era is starting to leave me feeling cold and disinterested.

And somewhat... betrayed. 

I listen to Gaga for primarily for 3 reasons: 

1) to escape reality

2) to bop my face off to her one-of-a-kind brand of electro dance pop

3) to marvel at her genius at infusing high art, conceptual depth, and subversive ideas into the typically "lightweight" world of pop

'Joanne' does not satisfy any of these things for me. It's way too "real" (the incessant politicizing/worship of one of the most loathed Presidential candidates in US history, Hillary Clinton), the refusal to include any form of electronic dance music (even going so far as to include RedOne, but only on an acoustic demo ) and an album completely void of symbolism or artistic depth (what you hear is what you get... there's no subtext). 

I mean, I'm fine if Gaga wants to explore this side of herself. And I do enjoy it for what it is. I would never want to stifle her artistic freedom and the right to explore that. But... as a long time fan, this era is simply the OPPOSITE of what I stan her for. And frankly, I strongly disagree with her standpoint on the politics. For the first time in my fandom, her "real life" views have become an impediment to my enjoyment of the art (which is the opposite of an "escape").

Furthermore, and I'm sure this won't be a popular comment, but it must be said... What she is doing on 'Joanne' is not breaking ANY new ground, artistically. It's all been done a zillion times before. And done better. It's fine if she wants to try her hand at these styles... I encourage that, actually. But just don't serve it up as the comeback pop album after we endured 18 months of another side project. 

I really hate to say this, but it is causing me to question how long I will continue to stan and if the artist I thought I knew so well ever really existed in the first place. Not saying that is the truth, but I'm actually shocked that I even have to face that reality. From HER of all people. 

I'm sorry for being negative, and for rehashing something that's been discussed plenty of times before, but I needed to get this out. 

I'm not anti-Joanne. I'm just missing Lady Gaga. 

[ReidOne 12,427]

AFTERTHOUGHT: 

Regarding my comments about not being sure "how long I will continue to stan"... what I mean there is this...

If Gaga does come back fully formed as her "old self" that we loved and enjoyed so much... will it ever be the same? She's seemingly "spit in the face" of that old identity so many times during the 'Joanne' era that I feel it will be tougher to obsess on it if it ever comes around again. Because now it will feel inauthentic. As if she's doing it just to please us (and to make some $), but she's really not into it. 

[JustAnotherDay 8,402]

7 minutes ago, ReidOne said:

the refusal to include any form of electronic dance music

John Wayne and Dancin' In Circles exist 

[Robot 6,317]

Couldn't have said it any better honestly.

The Joanne era is great and all, but it doesn't feel... Gaga?

[REALITY 76,671]

Me trying to analyze whether this is satire or not and trying to respond accordingly 

[Werk 13,166]

I'm not bright so excuse my stupidity but are you saying that you're not feeling this "stripped down style" and just want some bops? 

[ReidOne 12,427]

Just now, M Monstre said:

Me trying to analyze whether this is satire or not and trying to respond accordingly 

LOL... thank you for giving it that much thought! But much like 'Joanne', what you see is what you get with this post. No satire. Just my pure thoughts. 

[Squeeshy Keety 9,908]

This makes me sad 

Aside from the lack of promo, Joanne is exactly what I wanted, even if it wasn't what I expected. When she becomes unoriginal and untalented, I'll consider unstanning, but seeing as that is not the case, I don't see it happening. (Quit smoking, though, Gagz! I need that voice in check for your reunion tour in 2060 )

I don't support her unconditionally because I'm a sheep but because I know her worth. I love that she doesn't anchor herself to one style, and I would feel betrayed if she returned to another era's sound. She is beyond any other artist I have seen, and she impacts my life in a new way every album 

[ReidOne 12,427]

Just now, Werk said:

I'm not bright so excuse my stupidity but are you saying that you're not feeling this "stripped down style" and just want some bops? 

Partially, but it goes much deeper than that. 

 

[ReidOne 12,427]

1 minute ago, Robot said:

Couldn't have said it any better honestly.

The Joanne era is great and all, but it doesn't feel... Gaga?

Exactly. 

[QueenGaga 3,447]

9 minutes ago, NickARTPOP said:

John Wayne and Dancin' In Circles exist 

Only two tracks?

[JustAnotherDay 8,402]

Just now, QueenGaga said:

Only two tracks?

those are the most electronic tracks but every song has electronic elements. They all are co-produced by Bloodpop after all, an edm producer. 

At any rate, Gaga isn't required to do the exact same genre for every song on every album.

[REALITY 76,671]

11 minutes ago, ReidOne said:

LOL... thank you for giving it that much thought! But much like 'Joanne', what you see is what you get with this post. No satire. Just my pure thoughts. 

In that case, I'd say to you that Gaga is never going to do what you think she's going to do. She's much more than a pop artist, and I quite frankly don't really understand why people don't understand that.

I get what you mean, her old music was great, it was phenomenal, but we just can't be living in one dimension. I, honestly, don't really get why you don't think that this is "Gaga". This is "Gaga", and I know, we could have said that about literally every other album before Joanne, but this time, it's true. Joanne is about her and her family, and her stories; this is as real as it could possibly get. Just because it doesn't have some existential, higher-up, artistic meaning doesn't mean that it isn't Gaga, or just because that it isn't a catchy pop song, doesn't mean it isn't Gaga. 

Gaga herself has sort of been shrouded in mystery, and I know that may sound weird, but it's true. Not many people know her for who she is and really only know her because of her catchy songs. Joanne is an escape from that. It's a way to show people "Hey, this is who I am, and these are my stories". 

Hell, even the different genres and different styles of music are representative of who she is as a whole, and not just the fun pop star that we know. I do think there are underlying artistic elements in this music. I mean, Come to Mama is very metaphorical, as well as songs like Dancin' in Circles, Perfect Illusion, Sinner's Prayer, Angel Down, and Diamond Heart. They're all artistic, just in different ways. 

She's not "spitting in the face" of her old identity one bit. She's just expressing herself in a different light because she feels like at this point in time, it's necessary.

In all honestly, I love this "real Gaga". I love how personal she gets and how unfiltered she is, about herself and what she thinks.

 

[Duella Dvil 10,514]

To me this album really drew from a much deeper place in each album than just what you wanted from each album, and what you wanted from Gaga.

This record really is different from who we got to know post Just Dance but is it REALLY all that different from what came before, as The Stefani Germanotta Band? Nah.

So I saw this coming, tbh WANTED THIS SINCE 2011, and its the only logical progression after everything. I'm sorry that your wetdreams about tabloids saying "BYE BYE "LADY" HELLO "GAGA" never happened but really this era has been here the whole time. This isn't a different attitude, this isn't new music for her, it's a wild orgy between the Lady and the Gaga.

[ReidOne 12,427]

Just now, M Monstre said:

In that case, I'd say to you that Gaga is never going to do what you think she's going to do. She's much more than a pop artist, and I quite frankly don't really understand why people don't understand that.

I get what you mean, her old music was great, it was phenomenal, but we just can't be living in one dimension. I, honestly, don't really get why you don't think that this is "Gaga". This is "Gaga", and I know, we could have said that about literally every other album before Joanne, but this time, it's true. Joanne is about her and her family, and her stories; this is as real as it could possibly get. Just because it doesn't have some existential, higher-up, artistic meaning doesn't mean that it isn't Gaga, or just because that it isn't a catchy pop song, doesn't mean it isn't Gaga. 

Gaga herself has sort of been shrouded in mystery, and I know that may sound weird, but it's true. Not many people know her for who she is and really only know her because of her catchy songs. Joanne is an escape from that. It's a way to show people "Hey, this is who I am, and these are my stories". 

Hell, even the different genres and different styles of music are representative of who she is as a whole, and not just the fun pop star that we know. I do think there are underlying artistic elements in this music. I mean, Come to Mama is very metaphorical, as well as songs like Dancin' in Circles, Perfect Illusion, Sinner's Prayer, Angel Down, and Diamond Heart. They're all artistic, just in different ways. 

She's not "spitting in the face" of her old identity one bit. She's just expressing herself in a different light because she feels like at this point in time, it's necessary.

In all honestly, I love this "real Gaga". I love how personal she gets and how unfiltered she is, about herself and what she thinks.

 

Fully respect and understand all opinions shared here (and will give them some thought). I don't agree, but I also don't disagree. I think the things you enjoy about it still don't rectify the things that I do not enjoy, if that makes sense? 

If nothing else, fan to fan, I'm grateful Gaga has facilitated a fan community where intelligent responses such as this can be shared, without devolving into silly gif wars. So thank you!!