Does Gaga reflect your life?

[NotMyFlop 1,979]

I vividly remember discovering Lady Gaga  10 (!) years ago this month. I was 12, at home, and surfing this on-demand channel that had prominent (and some underground) music videos. I remember seeing Just Dance and Poker Face on. I don't know what compelled me to watch them. I rarely watched artists that weren't in my peripheral. I remember being SHOOKED at what I watched. Quickly, I became obsessed.  I loved having an artist that was 'mine'; people at school, nor anyone in my family listened to her. Gaga was my own sweet corner of the world where escapism came so easily. I gleamed at discovering new content and was SO proud when she made it huge weeks later. Although she wasn't mine anymore, it was the anchor to overcoming life and it's many, many obstacles. 

I have always viewed Gaga as growing with me instead of separation. I noticed an immediate duality, almost like a connection. I just got her in this way I hadn't understood other artists. While that isn't intended as disrespect, it felt to me like Gaga represented the very fundamental core(s) of who I was, even aspects I didn't quite know existed yet (read: homosexuality). Every album, including A Star is Born, has this way of being the exact album I need at the time. The messages, themes, presentation, etc. Understandably, I probably read into the albums what I want to hear or have, but there are still some undeniable coincidences. Because of this, Gaga has been my vessel to channel all my pain (good, bad and in-between). I have fallen in love with several artists over the subsequent decade, but none has quite the pull Gaga does. Gaga's music, now, is like an addiction. Hearing Just Dance or Poker Face attaches the excitement of listening to it, seeing it live, nostalgia, etc. Additionally, it carries this presence of being a song I frequently listen to during every period in my life. It's like a friend who has been with me 100% since the beginning, my best friend, etc. I'm serious when I say l listen to Bad Romance at least once a week. I have so many memories attached to her career that parting from it seems like an impossible up taking, but one I'll never have to take. 

When The Fame/Monster dropped, it was much more about the era, performances and the craziness than the music for me. I loved the eccentric, weird, theatrical, dark, edgy and just jaw-dropping persona Lady Gaga was. At the same time, I was going through intense bullying at school for being gay. At the time, I didn't know. My personality was a blend of what Gaga was - and so I clung to her because she made me feel my dark, weird and eccentric self was actually okay. In the time I had no support from my parents, peers or teachers - Gaga was literally the only thing I held dear. Seeing her being bullied for her bisexuality and 'having a penis', while also being able to push through it and still be herself was exactly what I needed at the time. 

Born This Way, well, came out right about when I started to realize that I was actually gay. That it wasn't some weird phase, something placed on me, etc. I was 100%, actually LGBTQIA+. I actually purchased the entire album on the day it came out and did a car trip with my family, where I listened to it in the middle row of my mini-van. I love how it blended that darkness she toyed with, the weirdness, but sprinkled in more self-love positivity and being so openly pro-gay. As I doubled down on existing inside the closet and being straight-passing to the world, this was the one self-indulgent body of work that let me be who I wanted to be. I would be home alone and play the album all the way through and perform my heart out. 

ARTPOP came out as I began distancing myself from the fandom for various reasons. I still listened to the music, loved the music and watched her performances, but it simply didn't click with me. However, while it wasn't representative of my life, it was the era I decided to come out in.  I think it's why to this day I don't defend this album. 

Cheek to Cheek and the infamous tribute era really just let me keep Gaga at bay for a while. I was exploring who I was, as she was exploring her artistry, and I really didn't need her at the time for my growth. I still listened to the previous works during the hard times, but it's not something I did extensively. This era is where I really found more artists (and genres) I connected with and expanded my musical catalog well beyond pop music. I fell back into Gaga's trap in 2015 with the American Horror Story announcement - and have been hooked ever since. 

Joanne came out my sophomore year of college. Sonically, it was more mature than her previous body of work. I was older and needed something more mature. I still never get over how I started to fool around with this boy I thought I loved and he gave me a million reasons to walk away and was a perfect illusion.  In all seriousness, this album about family, pain, strength, and vulnerability is something that just resonated with me. It's a very beautiful album. 

A Star Is Born came out as I am now in my first real, deep and intense relationship. The music really just resonates with me on a spiritual level because of this. I feel the emotions, the love and the passion that comes out of her voice (and Bradley's!). I long for the day  Is That Alright? becomes my reality, and fear the day INLA happens. As I come near to graduating college in this era, I truly feel like I am becoming my full version of myself, much like Ally does in the movie. 

Because of all this, and to stir up controversy, here are my rankings of the albums. I've come to realize that the order they are chosen correlates to how much I needed them at the time they came out. 

The Fame Monster > A Star Is Born > Born This Way > Joanne > ARTPOP > The Fame > Cheek to Cheek 

Does anyone have similar stories? Share!

 

 

 

[Gaga4stef 112]

Well I'm older than your average monster so this doesn't really apply to me. Prince and his music are more the soundtrack to my life.

That being said Gaga's music is currently playing a vital role in helping me through the darkest period of my life - one which I hope to never come close to repeating as far as the level of devastation. I lost my husband in a tragic accident 3 weeks ago tonight, and Gaga's music - specifically Joanne and ASIB - have given me brief moments of relief from the crippling anxiety and grief I now live with. 

 

[Quartz 12,535]

I actually think about this a lot.

I was really in a dominant mindset during college, rather bitchy. This was during TFM.

Then when I was coming to terms to the flaws about my body, BTW was the soundtrack. I learned to accept myself and learn how to play my strengths.

ARTPOP came out when I was starting my career. That was a helluva messy time of exploration and failure for me, very much the AP era.

Then when Joanne came out, I finally found the purpose I had to follow in life. It's like, I suddenly am much more mature and guided.

I'm on a high in my life now, very much like ASIB is for Gaga.

It's really odd if you think about it. She's like my soul's personal muse or something. I hope she doesn't flop again soon. That would prophesize a bad time for me 

I think my mindset is also very closely linked to her music and it affects me on a subconscious level because I just love her artistry that much. Enigmatic illuminati hypnotic queen indeed 

[Quartz 12,535]

5 minutes ago, Gaga4stef said:

Well I'm older than your average monster so this doesn't really apply to me. Prince and his music are more the soundtrack to my life.

That being said Gaga's music is currently playing a vital role in helping me through the darkest period of my life - one which I hope to never come close to repeating as far as the level of devastation. I lost my husband in a tragic accident 3 weeks ago tonight, and Gaga's music - specifically Joanne and ASIB - have given me brief moments of relief from the crippling anxiety and grief I now live with. 

 

I'm sorry to hear that. It must wreck you to hear I'll never love again.

[misunderstood 8,736]

Not at all. .

The ARTPOP era (late 2013-early 2014) was relatable but that's it.

[Queen Bitch 10,513]

Yes she is. I see myself in and relate to most of my biggest idols. Gaga, Madonna, Kanye, Bowie. I know I can't relate a 100% to a multi-millionaire pop superstar. But so many of her songs I feel like I can relate to; Hair, Joanne, Marry The Night, Born This Way, Million Reasons, Perfect Illusion etc. though most people can probably relate to those songs in some way. She is also my go-to artist whenever I feel sad or lonely, then I'll listen to ARTPOP or Born This Way. 

Sorry but right now I'm too lazy to write a long text explaining it. 

[Douche 106]

Lady Gaga is very successful, super rich, and lives in a mansion in Malibu.

She is so me!

[FfFfFfFF 56,083]

I became a fan in 2017 so I don't really have the feeling of career progressing simultaneously with me (even though I remember the singles in order). Her albums stories are rather atemporal for me.

[MyQueen 2,409]

BTW era  reflected my life

[That J 12,166]

5 hours ago, Gaga4stef said:

Well I'm older than your average monster so this doesn't really apply to me. Prince and his music are more the soundtrack to my life.

That being said Gaga's music is currently playing a vital role in helping me through the darkest period of my life - one which I hope to never come close to repeating as far as the level of devastation. I lost my husband in a tragic accident 3 weeks ago tonight, and Gaga's music - specifically Joanne and ASIB - have given me brief moments of relief from the crippling anxiety and grief I now live with. 

 

I'm also older than the average so we can relate there. Wanted to send love, prayers and healing vibes of comfort to you. Cry when you need to and dont ever feel bad for laughing when you do! Much love xoxoxo

 

[ctherainbow 3,162]

Definitely!  The highs and lows, and themes, of her career have almost always mirrored my own life experiences, and it’s something I really value about her artistry.    

[Sneaky Oliver 22,219]

Yes. I always say that Gaga is like a friend of mine. Our “relantionship” feels like friends sharing their crazy experiences. I had my own personal dark vibe, artsy vibe, classic vibe etc and each one felt genuine to me, it was not that I was channeling her music into my life. I am in a full-circle kind of moment with her music, because this year was super intense and I can feel all the feelings. I mean I feel exactly what she meant for Bad Romance or Dance in The Dark and the new songs too like Perfect Illusion. Its not that I could not understand them before but I can relate to their meanings so much more now! Its insane! 

[GagaUnderYou 4,993]

The mind is a interesting thing. I can think back to each era and remember how I felt, how I was in that time in my life. I have an emotional attachment to music, and I remember songs like moments in my life. Gaga is a powerful musician, I can't wait to see what Enigma is about. 

[Damon 10,904]

well I started stanning hard with BTW bc I felt so related with the message and I instantly embraced it, that era truly felt like a special bond between her snd monsters

[That J 12,166]

I came out in 1998( nobody believed me until '99 lol) so by the time Gaga hit, I had already gone through the motions of what she would be about....at least at first. 

For Fame and Fame Monster, I was just happy to have some new GOOD music and visuals so I fell in love! 

Born This Way was very important even though I was older and had already been out a very long time. I just never thought in my lifetime I would hear songs like some of the ones on the album being so popular. Seeing a song that says it's ok to be gay or bi, etc stay at number one so long inspired me. 

I've enjoyed everything she has done and while my life wasnt always on the same page, my memory was and my hopes were too!