The Fame’s initial artwork/aesthetic ⚡️

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 28,718]

From the typography of Gaga’s name, to her logo, to the Warwick Saint photoshoot and the “Just Dance” artwork, it seems very clear that The Fame was initially supposed to have a slightly different aesthetic and a different album cover, closer to “Just Dance” than “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich.”

She first did her iconic shoot with Warwick Saint. Later in the process, she turned to Candice Lawler. One of Candice’s pictures actually ended up being printed in the album’s booklet (without Candice being credited btw) in the middle of Peter Henket’s pictures.

What do you think inspired those changes? What picture do you think would’ve been the album cover and why?

Edited 4 hours ago by AVeryGagaHolyDick

[gagzus 17,988]

The Warwick photoshoot always seemed more like it was her inside and performing in a nightclub aesthetically (posing in the booths, the corner, performing onstage etc) which matched her lifestyle but all her iconography is gone, all the fashion and hairstyling and stuff isn’t what you’d associate with her debut. In fact I’d go as far as saying the hair is more late Joanne/ASIB coded now than TF.

The final photoshoot made more sense to me because it’s her iconic aesthetic she adopted for the majority of the era. It focuses on her iconography (the fame glasses, disco stick, her hair and bangs, the hood) and I think her idea of making the final cover being more like a magazine cover that’s faded (to symbolise that the fame has faded, and now she’s bringing it back) is much better

I think the one of her performing with the giant lightning bolt was probably in the running to be the album cover because it’s a very 2000s bold striking album cover style. 
 

However, by 2008 artists started using more minimalistic album covers so I think that was part of the change.

Edited 4 hours ago by gagzus

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 28,718]

10 minutes ago, gagzus said:

The Warwick photoshoot always seemed more like it was her inside and performing in a nightclub aesthetically (posing in the booths, the corner, performing onstage etc) which matched her lifestyle but all her iconography is gone, all the fashion and hairstyling and stuff isn’t what you’d associate with her debut. In fact I’d go as far as saying the hair is more late Joanne/ASIB coded now than TF.

The final photoshoot made more sense to me because it’s her iconic aesthetic she adopted for the majority of the era. It focuses on her iconography (the fame glasses, disco stick, her hair and bangs, the hood) and I think her idea of making the final cover being more like a magazine cover that’s faded (to symbolise that the fame has faded, and now she’s bringing it back) is much better

I think the one of her performing with the giant lightning bolt was probably in the running to be the album cover because it’s a very 2000s bold striking album cover style. 
 

However, by 2008 artists started using more minimalistic album covers so I think that was part of the change.

I do prefer the final aesthetic as well!

But when you say the newest one is closer to The Fame’s overall aesthetic, it is absolutely true — however, isn’t it because she rethought the aesthetic in the process?  Rather than changing the shoot because she wanted it to represent the album more? I don’t know if that makes sense lmao

Your last point is very interesting, the initial photoshoot was very detailed/busy. What about Candice though?

Also, the pic you think would’ve been the album cover reminds me a lot of the one we got with the tracklist 

 

[TheFrenchGuy 3,441]

26 minutes ago, AVeryGagaHolyDick said:

this picture 

[Noah 27,128]

I think the second she found THAT wig with the bangs, she knew it was going to be the visual representation of that era. It was a very striking visual too if you think about it - the platinum blonde bangs, her pale to lightly tanned skin and a nude lip. It felt much more "current" instead of the 80s inspired aesthetic. Like, as much as I love the first shoot, it doesn't really give the essence of the Album we got. I do think a camp-burlesque, glam rock version of The Fame with Panty Party, Heiress, Glitter and Grease and Vanity would've suited that aesthetic. 

[LUCARTPOP 5,939]

If you actually study this entire photoshoot, she kinda was ahead of her time. Minimal budget and yet she was able to look so striking and bold with almost nothing going on. Gorgeous visuals, colors, poses and styling. Minimal but stylish and so effective, and this for your first album.. Come on now! 

[weed 76,656]

made me think of this

always ahead of her time 

[gagacabana 1,763]

1 hour ago, AVeryGagaHolyDick said:

I love this so much more than the final artwork btw, wish the album cover ended up being that just dance poster. I'm glad that at least this is the transmission gagavision poster on letterboxd 

[hamartia 2,194]

I feel like these two looks are reflected in the music, with the first girl making Retro Dance Freak and the second making Poker Face 

I like the proto-Gaga look, and when she still had dark hair, but it feels like she's fitting into a mold that already existed. She's definitely tapping into like a Kim Gordon, Karen O, hot electronica girlie thing that is stylish but very of the time. She's oozing charisma but she could be anyone tbh

The final FameGa look though is so otherworldly and distinct to her by comparison. I remember she's spoken about wanting to be recognisable at the beginning, so having having a few key details that stayed the same, or always using the same silhouette, was a great branding decision that set her apart from all the other artists who looked just like the first woman

She really does look like she's already famous and we should know who she is just by looking at her 

[GagaGame 3,973]

She looked beautiful beauty in this era, it’ll always have a place in my heart 

[InTheCloset 21,189]

ILLUMINATI. SATANS PUPPET. SAVE YOURSELVES. REPENT

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 28,718]

2 hours ago, Noah said:

I think the second she found THAT wig with the bangs, she knew it was going to be the visual representation of that era. It was a very striking visual too if you think about it - the platinum blonde bangs, her pale to lightly tanned skin and a nude lip. It felt much more "current" instead of the 80s inspired aesthetic. Like, as much as I love the first shoot, it doesn't really give the essence of the Album we got. I do think a camp-burlesque, glam rock version of The Fame with Panty Party, Heiress, Glitter and Grease and Vanity would've suited that aesthetic. 

Yeah, you’d think a blonde wig with bangs is basic af and yet it made her instantly recognizable 

[AVeryGagaHolyDick 28,718]

This looks so good 

[Hadrian 1,134]

that blue pic with the bright light will always be SEE. YOU. IN. TEA. dahling

I don't think she changed her mind on the direction of The Fame's artwork or anything, but Gaga seems to go through little mini-eras per each album. She does it to this day with Mayhem (think the white outfit with blond hair, and then she started wearing more black outfits with black hair). It's like she falls in love with a look, does it for a few months, then finds something else she likes.