Where Gaga's MC score lines up with other female artists

[StrawberryBlond 14,499]

As we know, Gaga just achieved the best Metacritic score of her career, with 84/100, meaning that, for the first time ever, she has an album ranked in the "widespread acclaim" category, for which a score of at least 80 must be achieved. A shame it took her so long to do so (especially when Chromatica was literally one point away) but finally, she's got this bucket list item checked. It made me realise: she was really late to the party with this one considering so many other female artists had done this before, some with their debuts and how Gaga stood out as one of the few big names that hadn't achieved it yet.

So, I decided to scroll through the complete list of MC album scores and write down all the female artists who have achieved a score of 84 or more throughout their career to see where Gaga lines up in comparison. Note that I will only be listing the artist's name, not the album for which their achieved the score and I'm only writing down their sole biggest achievement. Female bands are included but they have to be all-female. Some of them have achieved multiple acclaimed albums but this is based purely on their highest ranked album. The reason some artists haven't got an acclaimed album listed here, like Lauryn Hill, is because MC has only been around since 2001, so only albums from January 2001 onward can be counted (Madonna's Ray of Light just missed it by a few years, otherwise, that would've been her most acclaimed). Is this excessive and pointless? Yes, but I need something to take my mind off hunger on my fast day. 

Without further ado, here we are...

84   (63 artists)

Spoiler

Marika Hackman, Emma-Jean Thackray, Tirzah, Shygirl, Rihannon Giddens, Naima Bock, Karine Polwart, Jenny Hval & Susanna, Katy Kirby, Azealia Banks, The Anchoress, Laura Veirs, Lee Ann Womack, Esperanza Spalding, Jyoti, Spelling, Haiku Salut, Rickie Lee Jones, Blondshell, Kae Tempest, Laurel Halo, Lady Gaga, Kali Malone, Kate NV, Mega Bog, All Girl Summer Fun Band, Allison Moorer, Gwenno, Loraine James, CupcakKe, The Last Dinner Party, Kelly Lee Owens, Cardi B, Juana Molina, Tierra Whack, Soccer Mommy, Keeley Forsyth, Ex Hex, Miya Folick, Maggie Rogers, Lizzo, Anna Meredith, Juliana Hatfield, Eleanor Friedberger, Nadia Reid, Jess Williamson, Clairo, Moor Mother, Rebecca Ferguson, Myriam Gendron, Suzanne Vega, Anna Calvi, Vagabon, Indigo De Souza, Kim Gordon, Tyla, Billie Marten, Saltland, Helen Money, Heather Leigh, Angaleena Presley, Sam Phillips

 

85 (46 artists)

Spoiler

Liv.e, Iris DeMent, Beth Orton, Kate Bush, Mary Lattimore, Nala Sinephro, Jazmine Sullivan, Shannon Lay, Yola, Jane Weaver, Rosali, Remi Wolf, Bedouine, Rumer, Joanna Sternberg, Marie Davidson, Joan Shelley, Lomelda, CMAT, Megan Thee Stallion, Oumou Sangaré, Bettye LaVette, Let's Eat Grandma , Nilüfer Yanya , Jennifer Castle, Jenny Hval,* Lilly Hiatt, Tomberlin, Allie X, Charlotte Adigéry, Gia Margaret , Neko Case, Lucy Dacus, Marnie Stern, Sarah Davachi, Feist, Magdalena Bay, Katie Gately, Phoebe Green, Summer Walker, Nao, Vashti Bunyan, Jenny Lewis, Chappell Roan, Julia Jacklin, Marissa Nadler

* Had a 84-ranked album with another artist named Susanna.

 

86 (28 artists)

Spoiler

Linda Thompson, L'Rain, SOPHIE, Sharon Van Etten, Ariana Grande, Natalie Prass, Kylie Minogue, Grouper, Anaïs Mitchell, Shirley Collins , Angélique Kidjo, Mélissa Laveaux, Mara Carlyle, Poppy, Jill Scott, Miranda Lambert, Kelela, Frazey Ford, Yaeji, Amanda Shires, Mabe Fratti, Loraine James, Dolly Parton, CHAI, Ichiko Aoba, Sofia Kourtesis, Matana Roberts, Tems 

 

87 (25 artists)

Spoiler

Nadine Shah, Lydia Loveless, Brandi Carlile, Susanne Sundfør, Jane Weaver, Alela Diane, Pauline Anna Strom, Cate Le Bon, Kathryn Joseph, Gillian Welch, Adrienne Lenker, Rosanne Cash, Beatrice Dillion, Lucinda Williams, Victoria Monet, Wet Leg, Lana Del Rey, Emmylou Harris, U.S. Girls, Pistol Annies, Jenny Hvai, Rokia Traoré, Patty Griffin, Róisín Murphy, Pom Pom Squad

 

88 (21 artists)

Spoiler

Snail Mail, Dua Lipa, Joanna Newsom, Adele, Lingua Ignota, Julia Holter, Beth Gibbons, Yaya Bey, Cassandra Jenkins, Courtney Barnett, PJ Harvey, Margo Cilker, FKA twigs, Björk, Japanese Breakfast, Brittany Howard, Kali Uchis, Grimes, Yasmin Williams, M.I.A., Marianne Faithfull

 

89 (21 artists)

Spoiler

St. Vincent, Ashley Monroe, Robyn, Jessie Ware, Jamila Woods, Missy Elliot, Rina Sawayama, Aimee Mann, Angel Olsen, Sudan Archives, Kim Deal, Billie Eilish, Valerie June, Kacey Musgraves, Christine and the Queens, Waxahatchee, Solange, Arooj Aftab, Laura Mvula, Nina Nastasia, HAIM 

 

90  (7 artists)

SZA, Sleater-Kinney, Rapsody, Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski, Candi Staton, Jessica Pratt

 

91 (9 artists)

Weyes Blood, Laura Marling, Lorde, Julie Byrne, Taylor Swift, Corinne Bailey Rae, Little Simz, Janelle Monáe, Olivia Rodrigo

 

92 (3 artists)

Nova Twins, Self Esteem, Beyoncé

 

93 (1 artist)

Noname

 

94 (2 artists)

Rosalía, Caroline Polachek

 

95 (3 artists)

Amaarae, Jaimie Branch, Charli XCX 

 

97 (1 artist)

Loretta Lynn 

 

98 (1 artist)

Fiona Apple

 

So, as you can see, Gaga's in very good company. It seems to all highly artistic and respected names here (though I haven't heard of a lot of them, admittedly)! Very few popstars here, by the classic definition, so to rank this high is an honour. Could a score in the 90's be in her future? It could well be, but until then, let's be grateful that she has an album ranked as high as the joint highest score of Azealia Banks, Lizzo, Cardi B and Tyla! 

[Quartz 12,109]

Standards were always higher for Gaga. She's got fierce fans but fierce haters too so I think we've accepted she'll always be polarizing. I'm just happy the album is objectively good regardless of critical opinion.