Madonna is not a big influence on Gaga

[Kahzandra 130]

On 12/4/2016 at 1:12 PM, JustLikeHoney said:

This is probably the best analysis of Gaga influences that I have seen on this site. It should be a thread so people can add to it and it should be pinned somewhere so everyone can read. I would love to hear more of your opinion as to why each of these pop/rock stars influenced Gaga's looks. Did they also influence her music?

This is a great post.

Wow, thank you! I tend to write longwinded posts on here...and I always wonder if other members even bother to read them lol...so I really appreciate the praise 

Hmmm As far as how I picked up on those influences?   I was only born in the mid 80s, but I have always been fascinated with pop culture, fashion, and music from that decade.  While my classmates were blasting Ja Rule and Britney Spears, I was out looking for CDs of Berlin, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, etc.  

Going forward into the mid 2000s, it just seemed like hiphop and reggaeton were completely taking over.   I started exploring and rediscovering the 90s, especially the Eurohouse and rave side, which was almost like a re-packaging of 80s synthpop for a new decade.  So I guess it's safe to say I became an "expert" on those eras.

It was also around this time, I started taking interest in Korean and Japanese music and fashion, which had a kitchy, garish, retro quality to it  (I saw that influence on Famega too)

In late 2008 when Gaga came out of nowhere, she was like a powerhouse of every type of music and performer I ever loved rolled into one - memories of Ace of Base, Roxette, Dee-lite, Whitney Houston, Madonna actually came flooding back to me when I started watching her videos and listening to the demos of the Fame Monster.  It was like that a style of music and performing that had been absent for so long had suddenly reappeared in mainstream music.  

Sometime around when she was first getting popular, she mentioned how she was heavily influenced by dance and pop music from her childhood, classic rock, funk, and pop albums her parents raised her on, as well as metal and glam rock.   But Gaga was crafty, and took it one step further and added a fresh 2010s twist to her style and sound.  

Also worth mentioning I think... M.I.A.'s look right before Gaga released The Fame was very 80s/early 90s influenced...and I wouldn't doubt if she was keeping an eye on that retro-futuristic style M.I.A had in 2007 into 2008.   

 

 

[Elizabeth 450]

I think she was someone who Gaga admired and looked up to as a strong female artist, and she did influence her to an extent in the early days, I mean she even thanked Madonna in the credits of The Fame (amongst other people), and I think if it were not for the whole Born This Way controversy, Gaga would still refer to her in such a way. 

I do completely agree with you though, Madonna is not a huge musical influence on Gaga currently. The scope of music Gaga listens to is far far wider than and her influences far-ranged! It would be extraordinarily close-minded to say that Gaga's biggest influence is Madonna. 

[Mario Salas 973]

Yes, she is.  Even if you don't want to acknowledge.

[mic 1,415]

She is till this day, go through Madonna's discography. And Gaga may say they are very different bla bla but actually they are very much alike apart from the fact Gaga can sing well