Will there be an LG6? Or, is 'Lady Gaga' in a trunk on highway 10?

[JustJames 968]

Yes, yes. Another day, another ARTPOP thread. But, seriously, this is a LG fan forum and you have to admit, the popstar perhaps formerly known as Lady Gaga gave us a LOT to talk about when times get tough; and, I think we can all admit - maybe for different reasons - that this waiting period is getting pretty tough. So, if you're burnt out on ARTPOP discussion, then that's cool, to quote our girl: "b*tch, don't kill my vibe." Every time I listen to the demos, concepts, album, and quotes from this time period, I find something that I didn't see/hear/think of previously. 

My latest thoughts have been on the first lines of the album, the album's conclusion, and her career afterward. She promoted the album by saying Lady Gaga was over, opened the album by stating she had killed her 'former' (in this episode, I am interpreting this as her saying she killed her former vessel of art: Lady Gaga), told us we were then going to see the girl behind the aura, and concluded the album by sailing away on a jet to live a Gypsy life but hinting that she still needed a 'hit' of applause and fame. She incoherently preached to monsters at artRAVE that they didn't need contracts, managers, or agents to be artists. She tried to tell us in MANiCURE that she was quitting her role of as the princess of pop; in DWUW that her body hurt from all the shows; in ARTPOP that she tried to sell her soul but she's laughing because she loves the music not the bling. So... what if she did quit? What if her former is dead? What if she's laughing at us awaiting an album from a persona that no longer exists?

After a disappointing era, most artists do take a break but they at least then come back swinging and if they catch any glimpse of their former success, they stick around for more: see Madonna post-Ray of Light; she hasn't topped that album, yet is churning out LP after LP. ARTPOP was merely an underperforming release that had been overhyped by an until-then infallible superstar. It wasn't something after which she had to go into hiding for 5+ years before releasing any type of music under the Lady Gaga brand because of. Yet, 6 years since, we have an LP that she did her damnest to sell as being the product of her dead aunt and a soundtrack she refuses to sing because she is again adamant that those songs are Ally's, not Lady Gaga's. So, we are left with an album filled with jazz covers and a standalone single "The Cure." 

It's more than strange that 3+ years after ARTPOP, she was given the chance to headline the Superbowl and aside from Million Reasons, had nothing newer than Born This Way in her set. It's more than strange that she is settled into a residency in Las Vegas where "Aura" is featured as a standout amongst songs from her first 3 years in the industry. Gaga was 27 at the release of ARTPOP, 28 at the conclusion of the artRAVE. She hadn't been in the industry 10 years when she performed her tribute at the Superbowl filled with songs released when she was 22-25. We are all sitting here waiting for LG6 but aside from getting 'hits' from the applause she gets from these 'greatest hits' gigs and from allowing her vessel (lol; I might check myself into the ward after this... since I'm now getting ideas about why she was so hard on reminding people that she arrived in a vessel, not an egg for BTW at the Grammys) to be used for the art of Joanne and Ally, Lady Gaga has been gone for much longer than we think. 

There is an extremely high probability I am grasping at connecting dots that are not there. But, so many people have recently said that the only conclusion that seems plausible at this point is that she is 'over' being a popstar since any artist that wanted to be relevant and have a future in the industry would have snatched the many opportunities that have been put right in front of her to use as a catalyst for a comeback vs.pushing makeup, messages of 'kindness,' and the same damn songs night-after-night. Being a perfectionist, wanting quality vs. quantity, and all of the other memes thrown out to justify why she hasn't delivered an original LP still are just not holding up anymore. She studied and perfected the trajectory of a pop music supserstar; ARTPOP's underperformance could have either been 1) the best 'flop' ever and one of the easiest to come back from, or 2) the best 'flop' ever and one of the easiest to exit the industry from. 

[tomsches 17,401]

It's not that deep.

[not Chromatica 5,393]

While this is a bit dismissive of Joanne, I do think the main purpose of the entire ARTPOP era was to oversaturate the GP's (but also our) expectations of Lady Gaga so that she could move on and not have those expectations haunt her forever. 

[SeasonOfTheWitch 3,789]

So is your thread about how she lost her character “Lady Gaga” (which would make no sense, since Gaga has always portrayed herself as an ever evolving artist- “once you think you know Lady Gaga...”) or how she stopped dance pop (which also makes no sense, as she’s released dance pop since ARTPOP- and many of her collaborators point to a dance album)?  

[seashellplay 512]

1 hour ago, JustJames said:

Yes, yes. Another day, another ARTPOP thread. But, seriously, this is a LG fan forum and you have to admit, the popstar perhaps formerly known as Lady Gaga gave us a LOT to talk about when times get tough; and, I think we can all admit - maybe for different reasons - that this waiting period is getting pretty tough. So, if you're burnt out on ARTPOP discussion, then that's cool, to quote our girl: "b*tch, don't kill my vibe." Every time I listen to the demos, concepts, album, and quotes from this time period, I find something that I didn't see/hear/think of previously. 

My latest thoughts have been on the first lines of the album, the album's conclusion, and her career afterward. She promoted the album by saying Lady Gaga was over, opened the album by stating she had killed her 'former' (in this episode, I am interpreting this as her saying she killed her former vessel of art: Lady Gaga), told us we were then going to see the girl behind the aura, and concluded the album by sailing away on a jet to live a Gypsy life but hinting that she still needed a 'hit' of applause and fame. She incoherently preached to monsters at artRAVE that they didn't need contracts, managers, or agents to be artists. She tried to tell us in MANiCURE that she was quitting her role of as the princess of pop; in DWUW that her body hurt from all the shows; in ARTPOP that she tried to sell her soul but she's laughing because she loves the music not the bling. So... what if she did quit? What if her former is dead? What if she's laughing at us awaiting an album from a persona that no longer exists?

After a disappointing era, most artists do take a break but they at least then come back swinging and if they catch any glimpse of their former success, they stick around for more: see Madonna post-Ray of Light; she hasn't topped that album, yet is churning out LP after LP. ARTPOP was merely an underperforming release that had been overhyped by an until-then infallible superstar. It wasn't something after which she had to go into hiding for 5+ years before releasing any type of music under the Lady Gaga brand because of. Yet, 6 years since, we have an LP that she did her damnest to sell as being the product of her dead aunt and a soundtrack she refuses to sing because she is again adamant that those songs are Ally's, not Lady Gaga's. So, we are left with an album filled with jazz covers and a standalone single "The Cure." 

It's more than strange that 3+ years after ARTPOP, she was given the chance to headline the Superbowl and aside from Million Reasons, had nothing newer than Born This Way in her set. It's more than strange that she is settled into a residency in Las Vegas where "Aura" is featured as a standout amongst songs from her first 3 years in the industry. Gaga was 27 at the release of ARTPOP, 28 at the conclusion of the artRAVE. She hadn't been in the industry 10 years when she performed her tribute at the Superbowl filled with songs released when she was 22-25. We are all sitting here waiting for LG6 but aside from getting 'hits' from the applause she gets from these 'greatest hits' gigs and from allowing her vessel (lol; I might check myself into the ward after this... since I'm now getting ideas about why she was so hard on reminding people that she arrived in a vessel, not an egg for BTW at the Grammys) to be used for the art of Joanne and Ally, Lady Gaga has been gone for much longer than we think. 

There is an extremely high probability I am grasping at connecting dots that are not there. But, so many people have recently said that the only conclusion that seems plausible at this point is that she is 'over' being a popstar since any artist that wanted to be relevant and have a future in the industry would have snatched the many opportunities that have been put right in front of her to use as a catalyst for a comeback vs.pushing makeup, messages of 'kindness,' and the same damn songs night-after-night. Being a perfectionist, wanting quality vs. quantity, and all of the other memes thrown out to justify why she hasn't delivered an original LP still are just not holding up anymore. She studied and perfected the trajectory of a pop music supserstar; ARTPOP's underperformance could have either been 1) the best 'flop' ever and one of the easiest to come back from, or 2) the best 'flop' ever and one of the easiest to exit the industry from. 

The reason why Aura was on the tracklist because it inspired the entire concept of Enigma 

'Do you wanna see the girl who lives behind the Aura?' 

'Enigma Popstar is fun; she wear burqa for fashion' 

I suppose Aura = Enigma

[Bling 31,437]

1 hour ago, JustJames said:

the popstar perhaps formerly known as Lady Gaga

This is actually a concept (ala Prince). I'm here for it 

[Bling 31,437]

I really enjoyed your commentary and critique. Another thought is what she's said about DWUW and most recently "I don't remember ARTPOP"

When she released her statement about R Kelly / DWUW, it really seemed like she was trying to say that she was going through so much at the time that what she created wasn't a clear representation of her artistry. She was in chronic pain, dealing with the management fallout, revisiting trauma from her past - just look at most any ARTPOP interview and you can tell something is off. I know she has stated she was on a lot of drugs but she was during TFM-BTW too. Something was really wrong during ARTPOP. 

I'm so interested to see and am hopeful she will shed more light on what exactly happened during ARTPOP. DJWS said he may write a book one day. I wonder though if Gaga can't say certain things due to non disclosure agreements related to Troy. I also wonder if anytime she performs material from that era, if it really affects her mental health since it was such a dark time.

Anyways, hoping we get LG6 "soon" as it's been on hell of a wait (ride) and I cannot wait to see what is next. 

[seashellplay 512]

1 hour ago, tomsches said:

It's not that deep.

Bro in ur avi, r u on a train, a boat, a car, an airplane, or in a home... Du de 

[bloody g 31,746]

the only thing i agree with is that her lack of electronic/pop music these past years is alarming. We are approaching 2020, that means Gaga will soon have been stripped down 2014-2020 for more years than her pop self 2008 -2013

[Bling 31,437]

17 minutes ago, Bloody Grammys said:

the only thing i agree with is that her lack of electronic/pop music these past years is alarming. We are approaching 2020, that means Gaga will soon have been stripped down 2014-2020 for more years than her pop self 2008 -2013

EDIT: This literally makes me so sad

[seashellplay 512]

1 hour ago, highlyreductive said:

While this is a bit dismissive of Joanne, I do think the main purpose of the entire ARTPOP era was to oversaturate the GP's (but also our) expectations of Lady Gaga so that she could move on and not have those expectations haunt her forever. 

I don't really think so. This is just evolving into strange theories, this is like assuming 'Born This Way' was meant to manipulate gay fans. She believed LG5 would continue the high concept visuals and the whole commentary thing she had been regularly doing, but alas, that evanesced...

She was very confident in the project and had no idea it would be so controversial and be her 'demise' - she believed people would worship it as this religion and come to some artistic awakening, she believed it was her 'liberation'. 

 

[seashellplay 512]

30 minutes ago, AHippieIsBorn said:

EDIT: This literally makes me so sad

The issue with this, is that during 2008-2014, she had released 4 predominantly electronic records. Later 2014-2020 was 2 records and a soundtrack, and Joanne has electronic elements, it is just more eclectic in design. She still embraced the ARTPOP concept in later 2014/earlier 2015. 

[Bling 31,437]

27 minutes ago, seashellplay said:

The issue with this, is that during 2008-2014, she had released 4 predominantly electronic records. Later 2014-2020 was 2 records and a soundtrack, and Joanne has electronic elements, it is just more eclectic in design. She still embraced the ARTPOP concept in later 2014/earlier 2015. 

Good point. I was reacting to the album release dates tho 

[seashellplay 512]

2 minutes ago, AHippieIsBorn said:

Good point. I was reacting to the album release dates tho 

Oops, sorry

[freemymindARTPOP 2,455]

1 hour ago, AHippieIsBorn said:

EDIT: This literally makes me so sad

me too