WorstBehavior 1,141 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 How 'Born This Way' Was Born: An LGBT Anthem's Pedigree Tim Cox understands the excitement Lady Gaga can generate when she performs live. Now 26, he has been a devoted "little monster" — the artist's nickname for her fans — since he was 15. The first time he saw Gaga sing "Born This Way" in concert, however, he was overwhelmed. "I broke down," he says. "I was hysterical with joy, with emotion — just completely lost myself in the song." Adolescence was painful for Cox. He was bullied for being gay before he really understood what the word meant, and grew up feeling like something was terribly wrong with him. Eventually, he found a sense of belonging with other Lady Gaga fans; they talked to each other via a YouTube channel he set up. (In a lot of ways, he says, Lady Gaga saved his life: "I have her signature ... tattooed on my arm, over a scar from a suicide attempt.") What not everyone realizes, Savage says, is that Lady Gaga's lyrics have a history, which she knew about. While compiling a discography of queer music some years ago, Savage unearthed a copy of a song by a singer named Valentino called "I Was Born This Way," which came out in 1975. A few years later, a gospel singer named Carl Bean released his own version of that song. "Fifty years from now," he says of Lady Gaga, "when she is not singing anymore, I would not be surprised if the song she is remembered for most is 'Born This Way.' " Article done by @Timmers https://www.npr.org/2019/01/30/687683804/lady-gaga-born-this-way-lgbt-american-anthem Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DitaDolla 11,006 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Born This Way was born this way! She is winning again…. somehow she always stays here. I can’t stand it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoni 5,332 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Hi guys, that's me. @WorstBehavior Do you mind tagging me in the OP? My name isn't Timmers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorstBehavior 1,141 Posted January 30, 2019 Author Share Posted January 30, 2019 10 minutes ago, Timmers said: Hi guys, that's me. @WorstBehavior Do you mind tagging me in the OP? Done Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miel 15,009 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Nice article. Never knew Carl Bean spoke on his inspiration for the song! 3 points in and ready for more Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoni 5,332 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 The radio segment with my interview will be added to the article later today or tomorrow. This article is just a digital piece to complement the actual NPR radio feature. My name isn't Timmers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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