What sets Gaga's music apart from others for you

[GrandchildDavid 14]

Oh hey there, first thread in what, 6 years? 

I took a pretty long break from Gaga's music, only having come back somewhat in the recent months. There's one thing I've noticed this time around, however - her music (esp pre-Chromatica) has this special appeal to me that most other pop artists don't... and I think it's got to do with her sense of melody. She's always managed to create some of the most unique/thoughtful melodies in the western pop scenes amongst the female pop stars... imo.

[hELXIG 42,855]

That's what I love about her music too! It doesn't matter the genre, her melodies and hooks are always so good. Most of her lyrics are really good too 

[GagaSine 7,464]

Genuinely i’ve never been much of a pop fan. When Just Dance came out I thought the Bowie reference in her make up was cool but wrote her off as another basic blond pop girl. I never paid a lot of attention to her music though consistently her aesthetics made me take note of her again and again. 

The sparking bra, the paparazzi performance at the VMAs, the blasphemous religious iconography, her colourful wigs and the dark imagery of the BTW era, it all made me appreciate her style but again I just did not care about her music at all because I assumed it was all dumb pop and I hated fun lol 

I loved reading all the Illuminati conspiracy theory articles about her even though I didn’t believe any of it, but that is also how I found out about the beginning of her career (working with Rob Fusari, doing small performances in clubs etc)

I remember always watching her videos when they came out despite not really feeling the songs and remember the messiness of ARTPOP and all the backlash in 2013 and 2014.

2016 I was reading reviews of Joanne because I would always get music magazines and newspapers and a lot of people acknowledging her skills but writing it off as inauthentic or not genuine.

However when I watched Five Foot Two I was very drawn to her as a person and her vulnerability as well as her incredible musical talent. I went down a rabbit hole of YouTube and realized I actually really loved the messages in her songs and her sensibilities in terms of song writing. The energy she brought on the stage and her showmanship. 

Also the more and more digging I did into rare stuff and interviews I realized she is way more interesting (messy, punky, rebellious, alternative, whatever you want to call it) than I had assumed and that made me love her even more.

i love her powerful voice and how she has little interest in singing in a ‘pretty’ way, it’s more about the power & energy of the performance. I really respect that raw edge.

anyway that’s my incoherent story lol. It really is just everything about her and how much of herself she puts in the music & aesthetics that sets it apart.

[stevana229 1,869]

Gaga knows how to make good choruses. That's the most important part of a song for me. She knows how to structure a song with a great prechorus, post chorus, and bridge 

[NewUsername 11,355]

If we talk about the music only, then:
- great pop, without being basic (sound, lyrics)
- layers of meaning
- great melodies (I always notice as well how amazing Gaga is with melodies when she covers other people's song, I often think 'this sounds better', because Gaga ups the melodies)
- her vocal capabilities + her delivery
- her versatility 

 

[Grim 2,219]

I think it's mostly because her strong voice and super catchy hooks

EDIT: And when it comes to Born This Way it's also the production of the songs, much more unique sound than on any other pure pop album

[Chromatica Island 8,517]

I relate to her a lot mentally (self harm, depression and anxiety), she seems like family to me, Chromatica is my favorite album because I relate to it alot, I love her activism for minorities and mental health! I also love how she can do any genres with no f#cks given and slay it, I love that about her! She also seems to care a lot about society and being kind, we need more people like her in this messed up world.