Is Gaga shocking anymore?

[Monsterious 26,867]

the SB was her last shocking thing

Gaga can't shock us anymore, she will surprise us in the future 

[StrawberryBlond 14,824]

The JW video was shocking. It reminded me of the videos Gaga used to make, with the heavy sexuality, dark undertones and disturbing implications. I think she hasn't done a video this shocking since Judas or Alejandro.

But that aside, Gaga has dropped the shock factor for multiple reasons:

1. Being shocking was becoming very old among the public, not just for Gaga, but in general. Being 'real' and singing genuine songs with minimalism became popular and anyone who wasn't doing that style was viewed as try-hard and considered to be untalented, hiding their lack of talent behind shock. The phrase: "Do you know what Gaga could do to be shocking? Dress in jeans and a t-shirt and sing a ballad" became common and she must have heard it. She knew the world had moved on from this style and she had to evolve in order to survive. It's the same with any artist who shocks. Madonna went through a big demure makeover after Erotica nearly ended her career and she stayed in it for many years. ToddInTheShadows once said in regards to the situation: "The public was suffering from shock fatigue. Eventually, the world runs out of monocles to pop." I think Miley's shocking performance at her VMAS hosting gig in 2015 which went wholly unreported and everyone forgot about is proof that the world gets sick of shock value very quickly and it's a trick you can only do a few times before people stop caring.

2. Being in love with Taylor changed her. She started wanting to dress more like a lady and be more ordinarily attractive. That happens to a lot of pop girls when they fall in love, even the wild ones like Madonna and Xtina. This is usually when they tone down their shocking nature because love cancels out the need to be angry and rebellious.

3. The OTT style was getting very exhausting for her. It stands to reason that she could only come up with concepts for so many outfits before her creativity would run out and she likely thought it was far more important to focus on the music instead of the visuals.

4. She genuinely wanted to make a stripped-back album where it was just her and instruments and she'd just gone through a heartbreak, so it stood to reason that Joanne was going to be more vulnerable, more real, both of which were more relevant to her than trying to shock.

5. Being shocking was something Gaga needed to get out her system. People grow up and change and their priorities change. There's a reason why so many people are rebellious in their teens but suddenly calm right down by their mid-20's. A lot of people just have that 'wild' gene present in them from a young age and they need to get it out. Once it's out, they appear to become 'boring.' But they've merely become an adult, that's all. No one stays the same person their entire life. When you're young, especially, you can change rapidly as a person every couple of years.

[PrinceGaga 7,585]

I think for her, dressing normal and showcasing her voice to the GP is shocking. I suppose she's just gone from 100 to 0 really quickly and the GP are adjusting to it still where the fans (us) have remained with her the whole time and seen the transition. 

[JustAnotherDay 8,402]

No, she has exchanged shocking for being extremely talented in every area. 

[REALITY 76,324]

Is she shocking now? Not really. But does she do some shocking things? Yeah. The two biggest ones I can remember from recent history are her Super Bowl performance and her Grammys outfit this year. 

Honestly though, I don't think she really "needs" to be shocking anymore. She's already made a name for herself, and while she's definitely known for her shock factors, and why its evident that many people want her to return to that, she should just be able to do what she wants to do. 

[Fame IV 4,426]

21 minutes ago, Phoenix said:

Nope. She's boring and predictable now.

The only voring and predictable thing I see here is your post.

Seriously, are se talking about the same person who did the halftime show this year? Gaga is shockingly talented. And continues to shock the audience with her talent, creativity, power and kind heart.

[Fame IV 4,426]

13 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

The JW video was shocking. It reminded me of the videos Gaga used to make, with the heavy sexuality, dark undertones and disturbing implications. I think she hasn't done a video this shocking since Judas or Alejandro.

But that aside, Gaga has dropped the shock factor for multiple reasons:

1. Being shocking was becoming very old among the public, not just for Gaga, but in general. Being 'real' and singing genuine songs with minimalism became popular and anyone who wasn't doing that style was viewed as try-hard and considered to be untalented, hiding their lack of talent behind shock. The phrase: "Do you know what Gaga could do to be shocking? Dress in jeans and a t-shirt and sing a ballad" became common and she must have heard it. She knew the world had moved on from this style and she had to evolve in order to survive. It's the same with any artist who shocks. Madonna went through a big demure makeover after Erotica nearly ended her career and she stayed in it for many years. ToddInTheShadows once said in regards to the situation: "The public was suffering from shock fatigue. Eventually, the world runs out of monocles to pop." I think Miley's shocking performance at her VMAS hosting gig in 2015 which went wholly unreported and everyone forgot about is proof that the world gets sick of shock value very quickly and it's a trick you can only do a few times before people stop caring.

2. Being in love with Taylor changed her. She started wanting to dress more like a lady and be more ordinarily attractive. That happens to a lot of pop girls when they fall in love, even the wild ones like Madonna and Xtina. This is usually when they tone down their shocking nature because love cancels out the need to be angry and rebellious.

3. The OTT style was getting very exhausting for her. It stands to reason that she could only come up with concepts for so many outfits before her creativity would run out and she likely thought it was far more important to focus on the music instead of the visuals.

4. She genuinely wanted to make a stripped-back album where it was just her and instruments and she'd just gone through a heartbreak, so it stood to reason that Joanne was going to be more vulnerable, more real, both of which were more relevant to her than trying to shock.

5. Being shocking was something Gaga needed to get out her system. People grow up and change and their priorities change. There's a reason why so many people are rebellious in their teens but suddenly calm right down by their mid-20's. A lot of people just have that 'wild' gene present in them from a young age and they need to get it out. Once it's out, they appear to become 'boring.' But they've merely become an adult, that's all. No one stays the same person their entire life. When you're young, especially, you can change rapidly as a person every couple of years.

Exacly, and because of that people don't become boring. They gain maturity, perspective, they start focusing on their talents. Gaga is everything besides 'boring'. Her creativity, stage presente, charisma, theatrility - oh my, she's f-ckin shocking for everyday's standard.

[Lady Palutena 3,147]

I don't think I've ever been shocked by her, maybe the Meat Dress and Swine SXSW performance possibly but for me, I always saw it as her expressing herself in a way that she felt she could. It never bothered me. Still doesn't. 

[EmiRivington 311]

If shocking means unexpected then I think she still is. No one was expecting Joanne. 

[Phoenix 17,395]

10 minutes ago, Fame IV said:

The only voring and predictable thing I see here is your post.

Seriously, are se talking about the same person who did the halftime show this year? Gaga is shockingly talented. And continues to shock the audience with her talent, creativity, power and kind heart.

waa

[RAMROD 109,353]

Don't think she wanted that anymore, she has been saying repeatedly that she won't wear crazy outfits because it's crazy, she wants people to see her beyond that. She didn't do those for gimmicks. Which explains so much with her fashion choices lately shifted to classic looks when she appears on red carpet.

But to me, she is still shocking her fanbase over her choices lately, even some of them caused some of you pressed to this day because you're still unaccepting how shocking the career move she was taking. Plot twist bish!  

[OBEY 57,109]

She didn't shock me since the disgusting puke fest

[Pat Stewart 20]

John Wayne's video had me shook 

[Slayer 9,227]

1 hour ago, IllumiMark said:

Shocking? After seeing a girl vomiting on her I don't think that I can be shocked by anything else she does.

I feel like this was a pivotal moment for her. It was the last time she ever did anything truly shocking and controversial. In fact, it's probably the reason WHY she hasn't done anything like that again. It nearly destroyed her image for good. It had everyone talking and not in a good way. People were done with her.

OP: Personally, I don't mind that she's not doing shocking, controversial things anymore. What else can you do when someone's vomited on you onstage? There are no more boundaries to push. She's done it all.

The only thing I'm slightly disappointed about is her doing a complete 180. She didn't give us any middle-ground between shocking and boring. She just went from one to the other within about six months of the vomit performance. And she's been getting increasingly more boring ever since. I couldn't believe it a few months ago when my mum and I watched a performance of Million Reasons and my mum said it was "nice" and she was "pretty". Like, what the hell? I did not become a fan of Lady Gaga because she was nice and pretty and the kind of singer my mum would like. Sorry, but she's boring as f*ck now.

[Dirtyicecreamz 1,716]

I think gaga is very clever. Releasing Joanne is "shocking" in it of itself because it's so unexpected coming from someone with her career and previous success. Her being "normal & stripped back" is the shock factor since we're so not used to it (at least not the GP). Ironically, had she continued with the craziness in her fashion, performances, etc, than she wouldn't be shocking anymore but very much predictable :P