After all this time: BTW vs Express Yourself

[Ashley 9,372]

This brings back bad memories.  I believe the songs are slightly similar if only for a few seconds so I guess Gaga and Garibay thought it wouldn't be a huge deal. 

As far as the whole controversy, I wish Madonna would've handled the comparisons more maturely, especially since she knows better than anyone how ruthless the media can be.

[Doot 2]

The two songs do not sound anything alike.

 

It is true that they do have the same chord progression, but so do a lot of songs.

 

Bad Romance and Judas also have the same chord progression. The issue with the song was that it came out at a time where she was already being compared to Madonna so people were actively searching for a way to compare Gaga to her. I also think it's a matter of the general public being morons.

They will believe anything you tell them. Like the bit on Jimmy Kimmel where he took some random guy, told him to walk down the street with fake paparazzi following him, and people freaked out and asked for pictures, and were crying and saying how they were his biggest fan and he was their favorite actor. The media and the general public are ridiculous.

[15jocart 2,305]

9 hours ago, MaryJaneHolland said:

But does that make sense?  Many songs would sound like each other if you change one's speed to make it same as the other one's. I don't know if you're getting my point.

I definitely prefer BTW, but I think it's just an unfortunate coincidence that the one line in EY sounds exactly like BTW's chorus. Oh well.

[Bebe 17,093]

They sound similar, the very first time I heard Born This Way I picked up on it and that was like as soon as it was released. I didn't have time to check out what anybody else thought of the song or how they thought it sounded. When other's picked up on it, I agreed that they sounded similar.

Idk, it's just the chord progression so I don't see a huge deal. Most people are used to the  I–V–vi–IV progression found in a lot of modern pop music, the progression in Born This Way and Express Yourself is a pretty common disco chord progression though... Both songs are influenced by that disco sound which is why both feature the same chord progression.

I don't think it was Gaga trying to sound like Madonna, I think it was Gaga and Madonna trying to infuse their songs with a disco influence and using a chord progression popular in the genre. It's just an uncommon chord progression for pop music, so there was a limited field of music in the modern pop genre that could sound similar.

[baptism 2,670]

I think they sound similar and it was intentional. BTW is better though.

[shane_c 480]

I think the madonna email remark was meant as a joke and not meant to be taken literally. Gaga has a dry sense of humor and sometimes you can't tell if she's being serious, like when she said her perfume would have blood and semen, and she spent 3 days in the egg....

I dont really hear much similarity and Im still not convinced after listening to the video posted here. I think just about any two songs can sound similar if played in a comparison with the speed changed. Ill accept that there is some similarity though, but that it was exaggerated by people trying to to tear Gaga down when she was at her peak, people that were jealous.

Madonna didn't care and only reacted to the controversy created by other people, but then once she started she saw an opportunity to seem relevant again by comparing herself to the days biggest pop star so she exploited the controversy for all its worth, which I think was a wrong thing to do. 

[Lanius 1,055]

14 minutes ago, shane_c said:

I think the madonna email remark was meant as a joke and not meant to be taken literally. Gaga has a dry sense of humor and sometimes you can't tell if she's being serious, like when she said her perfume would have blood and semen, and she spent 3 days in the egg....

I dont really hear much similarity and Im still not convinced after listening to the video posted here. I think just about any two songs can sound similar if played in a comparison with the speed changed. Ill accept that there is some similarity though, but that it was exaggerated by people trying to to tear Gaga down when she was at her peak, people that were jealous.

Madonna didn't care and only reacted to the controversy created by other people, but then once she started she saw an opportunity to seem relevant again by comparing herself to the days biggest pop star so she exploited the controversy for all its worth, which I think was a wrong thing to do.

[Bette Davis 12,742]

I mean, it's an obvious homage to Madonna, as Madonna was Gaga's biggest influence and she looked up to her. Madonna should have been flattered that the biggest star of the moment chose to pay tribute to her, but instead she was petty and vile.. shocking. Typical Madonna 

BTW is the better song imo. 

[Muscletank 410]

6 minutes ago, Bette Davis said:

I mean, it's an obvious homage to Madonna, as Madonna was Gaga's biggest influence and she looked up to her. Madonna should have been flattered that the biggest star of the moment chose to pay tribute to her, but instead she was petty and vile.. shocking. Typical Madonna 

BTW is the better song imo. 

Hmm I don't think Madonna would have been so ungracious if Gaga hadn't put so much denial regarding the controversy. I think it came to a head when Gaga said the song was inspired by Whitney Houston, which I think Madge would have thought was a giant slap in the face. It's painfully obvious BTW is inspired/influenced by Express Yourself however I don't think it was a calculated cover.

And for me, BTW is one the weaker songs on that album and I nearly always skip it; I never skip Express Yourself.

[Muscletank 410]

26 minutes ago, shane_c said:

 

Madonna didn't care and only reacted to the controversy created by other people, but then once she started she saw an opportunity to seem relevant again by comparing herself to the days biggest pop star so she exploited the controversy for all its worth, which I think was a wrong thing to do. 

It's not necessarily Madonnas fault tbh. Literally in EVERY interview around that time, she was being asked "What do you think of Lady Gaga?". She was probably sick of it and would get flak either way. And why is everything about being "relevant"? To who? Madonna will always be relevant to me. I'm not sure why "relevance" is something that millenials think they own. You might want to check the box office receipts on her last 6 tours.

[loribb 338]

I remember preparing for the first listen with my mom and right after the chorus started I thought "OMG this sounds like EY". Personally I head no problem with that, but I was afraid it would flop because Madge comparison would explode more than ever before, and they did, but luckily it was so big

I prefer BTW over EY 

However I do believe in conspiracy theory that they might have made a deal, like it will prolongue interest in Gaga from 2010 and give Madonna a little bit of spotlight for her new album to come in 2012 

[Red Velvet 10,988]

16 hours ago, John Slayne said:

I know BTW was a historic moment but deep down in my heart I love EY more 

We will burn you at stake for beliefs in MDNE.

[brizoda 3,846]

they're not the same andBTW is the better

[Giorno Giovanna 3,178]

17 hours ago, MaryJaneHolland said:

I think they did know the song sounds alike, but probably thought no one will notice. Hence why Gaga tried sugarcoating it from the start saying that the song was sent to Madonna and she loved it.

I don't think they aim was to rip off Express Yourself tho.

Here's this video, which claims that the songs sound alike, if you  speed up EY.

But does that make sense?  Many songs would sound like each other if you change one's speed to make it same as the other one's. I don't know if you're getting my point.

I guess there are a couple similar vocal moments, but that's all. They tried the same with Papa Don't Preach/Perfect Illusion, but again it was the same key or something. Many songs have the same key/vocal level (or however it's called professionally).

wow they do sound similar if you speed up Express Yourself

but I prefer BTW

[Buddy 5,686]

Yes, but there are 88978979 songs that sound like 7868768768 songs. WHO CARES?

Madonna does not own that chord progression. In fact, it is very common in disco.