Can Gaga Smash In Today's Pop Culture Landscape?

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

I think Gaga can have moderate success in today's climate, but can she smash and have a true comeback to pop culture prominence? I'm not saying she has to, or even should, but in a world increasingly turning to right of center politics, hip hop dominating the charts, chill and relaxed pop dominating along with male artists. Can an LGBT icon and eccentric artist like Gaga truly have MASS appeal on the level of Drake or Beyoncé? I want a Gaga album release to be an EVENT where everyone (including the straights) is aware and hyped, but I don't think Gaga can reach too far from outside her base in today's landscape when everything feels stacked against her. I hate that there is now a huge stigma to being a Gaga fan, and I hate that radio doesn't support her anymore. It feels like Gaga needs a complete shift in pop culture to have a comeback. 

[witchcocktor 1,438]

No. She will never, ever smash again, she already smashed, and it's good enough. BUT, she WILL deliver quality music and potentially have a great tour to go with her era, and she'll make tons of cash and remain critically acclaimed in the eyes of her peers.

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

Also, in an era of increasing conformity, what was once Gaga's biggest appeal. A unique artist who preached about being yourself, is now a turn off for the majority of normie listeners who want mindless pop or rap by a male artist or featuring a male artist. 

[Monster2015 1,117]

I feel like The Cure could’ve been the beginning push to bring her back on top but the promo was so lackluster as well as not many performances of it. However, I think she can get back on top again. Maybe not TFM big again but somewhat close to it

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

Just now, Monster2015 said:

I feel like The Cure could’ve been the beginning push to bring her back on top but the promo was so lackluster as well as not many performances of it. However, I think she can get back on top again. Maybe not TFM big again but somewhat close to it

What about the problems she's facing at the moment? When will pop culture shift back to being more female and gay friendly? 

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

8 minutes ago, witchcocktor said:

No. She will never, ever smash again, she already smashed, and it's good enough. BUT, she WILL deliver quality music and potentially have a great tour to go with her era, and she'll make tons of cash and remain critically acclaimed in the eyes of her peers.

So you think it's an impossibility?

[SEXODUS 5,927]

Popstars have been able to make an impactful comeback after the GP thought they were already down the hill. Madonna and Britney would be the perfect example of that. 

Fact is, you kinda need to trade your art with simple and mechanical marketing strategies to be able to do that. I don’t think Gaga couldn’t peak again if she actually tried to get that success again. What I think is that she doesn’t want to get back on top. She just wants to do whatever her art tells her she feels like doing. That’s liberating to her but can divide her fanbase, which is exactly what’s been happening since ARTPOP.

[Oyster 2,458]

THIS. ok I’m not gonna lie I really hate how people on this site still act like Gaga is a world force. Being realistic, she is not. People have forgotten about her. And she needs a major push to be relevant again otherwise she will only ride out tours on hits like just dance and poker face. And as much as it sucks, it’s the truth. I just hope her team understands this and work to make people remember her. 

[IAmNotHere1997 25,824]

Y'all need to stop living in a bubble and pretend 2011 will come again and we'll ever have another succesful dance-pop female-dominated era.

Gaga just needs a hit. That's it. There's a point in your career when you just don't belong the upper half of the charts anymore, and sadly, she is there. And she needs to do something about that.

[Patrickern777 610]

She has done it before (when the fame era was new, hip-hop was dominating the charts back in 2008/09) so why not now? I hope she to change music history one more time so the GP will know who is the main queen of pop!

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

17 minutes ago, Oyster said:

THIS. ok I’m not gonna lie I really hate how people on this site still act like Gaga is a world force. Being realistic, she is not. People have forgotten about her. And she needs a major push to be relevant again otherwise she will only ride out tours on hits like just dance and poker face. And as much as it sucks, it’s the truth. I just hope her team understands this and work to make people remember her. 

This so much. I don't think Gaga is over, but she needs a shot of life in her career at this point. It feels like the fanbase has lowered its expectations where everything feels amazing, but really Gaga shouldn't need to do endless promo to get any radio play, things should be going viral and gaining traction on their own. Public interest needs to be brewed up again in a big way. 

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

10 minutes ago, gabrielflorin01 said:

Y'all need to stop living in a bubble and pretend 2011 will come again and we'll ever have another succesful dance-pop female-dominated era.

Gaga just needs a hit. That's it. There's a point in your career when you just don't belong the upper half of the charts anymore, and sadly, she is there. And she needs to do something about that.

Outside of trend-hopping and collabs I don't know what she can do at this point though. The superbowl should've reinvigorated her career more than it did. 

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

8 minutes ago, patrickern said:

The has done it before (when the fame era was new, hip-hop was dominating the charts back in 2008/09) so why not now? I hope she to change music history one more time so the GP will know who is the main queen of pop!

I just don't know if lightning can strike twice, but I'm praying for that. 

[TheodoreRx 1,540]

24 minutes ago, SEXODUS said:

Popstars have been able to make an impactful comeback after the GP thought they were already down the hill. Madonna and Britney would be the perfect example of that. 

Fact is, you kinda need to trade your art with simple and mechanical marketing strategies to be able to do that. I don’t think Gaga couldn’t peak again if she actually tried to get that success again. What I think is that she doesn’t want to get back on top. She just wants to do whatever her art tells her she feels like doing. That’s liberating to her but can divide her fanbase, which is exactly what’s been happening since ARTPOP.

The comebacks you listed happened pre-streaming though. I just am losing hope looking at the charts. 

[SEXODUS 5,927]

2 minutes ago, TheodoreRx said:

The comebacks you listed happened pre-streaming though. I just am losing hope looking at the charts. 

I don’t understand how streaming would be an obstacle? I’m assuming that if you’re able to catch the GP attention again, streaming is just another way of listening to that music, same way buying it was back in the day.