The Gaga Ick-Factor

[Future Lovers 6,781]

3 hours ago, bpmMonkey said:

nd for a second it took me back to a time where this was widely known and accepted that „Gaga isn't for the masses, shes weird, shes out there, shes for the gays"

This may be a controversial take to some but I really don't think Gaga was ever the kind of artist that some people speak about her like she was. She has always been consumed by the masses and I really don't know where this idea that there was a time she wasn't came from.

She has been a world famous, recognized, and renowned pop star from the very beginning. Yes, her fashion and videos and personality were different and to some weird, but she was never like this underground, alternative pop star. Some people speak about her in the days of BTW like she was this hidden gem that only the gays and the edgy music lovers saw. 

That album sold a million copies first week. 

Even during ARTPOP she was still an extremely famous and notable figure. Maybe that album was not received as warmly by the GP as it was by fans, but that didn't mean she was suddenly this artist with no mass appeal. 

I think fans maybe mythologize her early days a little too much. She's always been a commercial force that has always had a large amount of attention paid to her by the general public. She was and is subversive in many ways, yes, but that has never made her lose mass appeal. 

[Ladle Ghoulash 21,744]

4 minutes ago, Future Lovers said:

This may be a controversial take to some but I really don't think Gaga was ever the kind of artist that some people speak about her like she was. She has always been consumed by the masses and I really don't know where this idea that there was a time she wasn't came from.

She has been a world famous, recognized, and renowned pop star from the very beginning. Yes, her fashion and videos and personality were different and to some weird, but she was never like this underground, alternative pop star. Some people speak about her in the days of BTW like she was this hidden gem that only the gays and the edgy music lovers saw. 

That album sold a million copies first week. 

Even during ARTPOP she was still an extremely famous and notable figure. Maybe that album was not received as warmly by the GP as it was by fans, but that didn't mean she was suddenly this artist with no mass appeal. 

I think fans maybe mythologize her early days a little too much. She's always been a commercial force that has always had a large amount of attention paid to her by the general public. She was and is subversive in many ways, yes, but that has never made her lose mass appeal. 

I don’t think anyone’s saying she wasn’t huge, I think it’s more about how people perceived her core fanbase (not to mention that, in spite of being very popular, that’s not to say that she wasn’t also incredibly controversial). I feel like your depiction is equally flattening, especially when you consider that her being subversive (Judas, much of ARTPOP) significantly changed public attitude toward her. 

[bpmMonkey 5,509]

3 minutes ago, Future Lovers said:

This may be a controversial take to some but I really don't think Gaga was ever the kind of artist that some people speak about her like she was. She has always been consumed by the masses and I really don't know where this idea that there was a time she wasn't came from.

She has been a world famous, recognized, and renowned pop star from the very beginning. Yes, her fashion and videos and personality were different and to some weird, but she was never like this underground, alternative pop star. Some people speak about her in the days of BTW like she was this hidden gem that only the gays and the edgy music lovers saw. 

That album sold a million copies first week. 

 

Mh, I disagree. At least from my experience early Gaga years were quite lonely for a stan. I don't know how old you are but I assume you were also around back then if you're claiming what you say. It might be a regional thing, I live in Germany and grew up in a somewhat small city with a little over 100k people. She was very much niche and underground-ish. People knew of her pretty quickly, sure, but she never was a musician for the Cindys and Johns up until Joanne era. Also, selling a million in the first week is huge, but still, probably easier back then than it is today, since actually buying the record was the way to listen to it. 

[Future Lovers 6,781]

8 minutes ago, Ladle Ghoulash said:

I don’t think anyone’s saying she wasn’t huge, I think it’s more about how people perceived her core fanbase (not to mention that, in spite of being very popular, that’s not to say that she wasn’t also incredibly controversial). I feel like your depiction is equally flattening, especially when you consider that her being subversive (Judas, much of ARTPOP) significantly changed public attitude toward her. 

 

7 minutes ago, bpmMonkey said:

Mh, I disagree. At least from my experience early Gaga years were quite lonely for a stan. I don't know how old you are but I assume you were also around back then if you're claiming what you say. It might be a regional thing, I live in Germany and grew up in a somewhat small city with a little over 100k people. She was very much niche and underground-ish. People knew of her pretty quickly, sure, but she never was a musician for the Cindys and Johns up until Joanne era. Also, selling a million in the first week is huge, but still, probably easier back then than it is today, since actually buying the record was the way to listen to it. 

Speaking about the perception and experiences of her fanbase is a very different conversation than whether or not she herself was for the masses and broadly accepted by the general public. 

I'm sorry, there was just never a time where Lady Gaga was not accepted by the masses for the most part. Like every artist who dares to take risks, there were times like ARTPOP and Judas where there was controversy and at times it may have felt like she was rejected by the mainstream. During the ARTPOP era, it was very easy for us as a fanbase to say that she just wasn't for the masses so we could protect her and ourselves from the struggle of her hitting a bit of a commercial slump.

But that was really never true. 

Now if you want to get into the particulars of her fanbase and how they were viewed by the public then sure. I could go along with the idea that Little Monsters were seen as an underground sort of group and that they were not readily accepted as a result. 

Gaga herself though, no. She has never been underground. She has never been anything less than a very commercially successful and broadly accepted mainstream pop artist, even during her period of slight downturn. Her work has never been that strange and out there enough to face complete rejection from the general public. If she had really gone completely underground, it would not have been so simple for her to pivot herself out of the decline ARTPOP started for her. 

And that's okay! I don't think it erases anything that's special or unique about her. Part of what makes her so fascinating as an artist is the fact that she has been so different while at the same time being so accepted by the general public. 

Edited Thursday at 08:36 AM by Future Lovers

[Monstermilo 4,370]

sure shes not like bjork but shes still far different and more unique than any of her pop peers FOR SURE

[Gorehound 4,649]

As far as the limitations of pop go (especially dance pop) then Gaga is definitely out there ye. That was always the biggest appeal for me and tbh she's really the only pop star I ever listen to, and I often wish she'd go even further into alt. 

But ye it's so typical isn't it. At the absolute height of her Gaga-eccentricity, (BTW...and ARTPOP let's be fair), people hated on her and didn't like it because it was "weird" and "gay" etc. Then when she disappears and goes more conservative and safe, people are like "ugh she used to be so weird and cool I miss that" - like the recent popularity of Bloody Mary and ARTPOP prove that.

It sucks that it basically took a decade for the overall public to realise just how good Lady Gaga was, but I guess sometimes you don't know what a great thing you had until you lose it. We should count ourselves lucky AF that she's made such a great resurgence. 

[bpmMonkey 5,509]

24 minutes ago, Future Lovers said:

 

 

Now if you want to get into the particulars of her fanbase and how they were viewed by the public then sure. I could go along with the idea that Little Monsters were seen as an underground sort of group and that they were not readily accepted as a result. 

 

Ja, maybe my query has more to do with the perception of LMs by the GP than Gaga herself. Who knows 😅 In any case, thanks for your input. 

[lastpopicon 27,875]

There's no ick in Gaga 

[Mirrion Rizzons 10,725]

I think the main difference between now and 2011 is that she has the GP's respect. 

She still isn't FOR the GP, but they 'love' her and think she's great - however, this doesn't really extend into them becoming actual fans, whereas it does for artists like taylor swift. 

I was thinking the same about beyonce, she's 'untouchable', well respected by the GP and most people like her, but her actual diehard fan base is a lot smaller than we think. The GP would say omg I love beyonce or gaga, but they would only know the hits. 

Gaga is still very niche considering she's a main pop girl - I don't think many straight men, or straight women resonate with her theatrics as much as others do, whereas artists such as sabrina carpenter have that 'universal' appeal that even straight men would listen to. She makes relatable music, but the GP cannot fully relate to her in the same way they do for other artists.