Unpopular Opinion: Gaga's Versatility

[imogen2133 376]

So obviously many people (both fans and the general public) frequently praise and highlight Gaga's versatility now, especially because of her Sound Of Music tribute, her jazz albums and her acting. But I recently listened to some 2000s pop albums (Kylie Minogue, Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry) and it got me thinking about how musically diverse and versatile Gaga was even in her earlier years. I mean she had electro/synth pop songs (Just Dance, Lovegame, Paparazzi, Money Honey, Boys Boys Boys, I Like It Rough), euro pop/darkpop (Bad Romance, Alejandro, Dance In The Dark, Teeth), EDM (Applause, Swine, Donatella, Aura), retro/funk/disco (ARTPOP, Beautiful Dirty Rich, Fashion!, Disco Heaven), rock (Electric Chapel, Hair, Highway Unicorn, Speechless, Marry The Night), industrial (Scheibe, Government Hooker, Judas, Bloody Mary) and even within some of these songs they contain elements from different genres added in as well besides the main one. Also song to song on her albums each one contained different genres as well. Even her ballads were not all the same, Brown Eyes was more soft rock, You And I was country/rock and Dope was an electronic ballad. She also showed how her voice suited jazz music and that she could sing it back then as well (The Lady Is A Tramp cover, White Christmas and Orange Coloured Sky renditions, You And I jazz version, Someone To Watch Over Me cover) and we saw how she was able to transform her upbeat dance pop songs into ballads or more stripped down/jazzy versions at the piano (Poker face, Just Dance, Applause, Bad Romance, Telephone, Marry The Night, Paparazzi) whilst altering the melodies and sometimes making up new lyrics on the spot as she played. My point is I don't think Gaga's versatility back then is/was highlighted very often (especially compared to some other pop albums from the 2000s like I mentioned before) and I assume that was because people (especially the GP) couldn't see past Gaga's "crazy outfits" which is a shame but just thought I would share my thought here that I had about that.

[Helxig 44,941]

It's amazing because you can tell she actually had a lot of versatility even during The Fame era, she just chose specifically to make pop songs because she knew it would draw people's attention. She gave us just enough special sauce and extra spice to make it interesting and different, but kept the pop hooks and earworm melodies. Then she dropped TFM immediately after to show everyone surprise, I can do a little more than just bubblegum pop. And knowing she went to metal shows with her heavy metal lover, grew up on classic rock with her dad, and listening to her pre-fame performances you can see she always had it. Every album and between-era has shown us something new she can do! Until 2026 when there is now absolutely no denying that she can do it all. From Sound Of Music to Metallica to Jazz with Tony Bennett and everything in between

[gagzus 20,694]

I think it’s what happens when you grow up as a musician vs a popstar. We forget Gaga is a student of music first and popstardom was her vehicle into becoming a worldwide known figure in music.

She studied the things people loved about popstars and understood the things that sustained a career. Because even if Gaga loses all her massive fame and brand as Gaga — she’ll still come back to performing with a band of her friends and play her piano because that’s who she is.

She’s one of the only popstars you can TELL music is her life, she’s highly regarded in the music industry as well. People sh*t on her for all the tributes she did but I think it’s a testament to who she is as a musician.

I mean who else can go from tributing Carole King to Stevie Wonder to David Bowie to The Carpenters. Literally none of them remotely sound the same or made the same music. 

This is why I always never take anyone seriously when they STILL now compare her to Madonna as if she hasn’t proved that Madonna is a popstar and she is a musician. That’s literally what she was saying in that infamous Joanne Zane Lowe interview that all people seem to be pedantic about.

[Starmie25 22,171]

Despite some might say, Gaga is genuinely a very versatile artist.

The way she can dabble in hiphop, R&B doesn't get talked enough.