Olivia Rodrigo & Lady Gaga: idol ‘beef’

[Mirrion Rizzons 12,884]

I’ve noticed some parallels between Lady Gaga and Olivia Rodrigo, but the one I wanted to talk about today is how both artists have been pitted against their idols, rather than celebrated for being inspired by them. 
 

Obviously for gaga, I’m referring to the beef-not-actual-beef with Madonna, and Olivia Rodrigo’s relationship with Taylor Swift.

What I’ve always found fascinating is that most artists can proudly show how they’ve been influenced by stars who came before them and are met with praise or blessings. Artists can reference older artists, wear similar outfits, do similar concepts and fans and the artist themselves celebrate it. But every so often you have stars like gaga or Olivia, who may or may not have taken inspiration from older artists, but they’re met with harsh criticism and called copycat’s/unoriginal.

 

The Taylor Swift case: as Taylor has become more seasoned in the industry, she has taken artists under her wing and has given them a platform/spotlight. These are her ‘taydaughter’s/Taysons’ (Gracie Abram’s, Sabrina carpenter, Sombr, etc). Back in 2021, Taylor seemed to have welcomed Olivia with open arms but fast forward 5 years and they both don’t acknowledge each other and the fans are in a Cold War with each other. The aforementioned artists are praised for being taydaughters/sons and fans love how they’re inspired by Taylor, but don’t extend the same grace to Olivia because of the whole Déjà vu situation (which to this day, sounds nothing like cruel summer). 
 

The whole dynamic and situation is eerily similar to how fans reacted to the born this way / express yourself fiasco, and the lasting impact it has had on how these artists are perceived together/the constant discourse on what their relationship is (what I’m doing right now).

 

The only answer I have as to why certain artists are criticised for being inspired is because they’re seen as a threat, rather than passive. 
 

I think the silence on the matter then only aggravates the fans even more. While Taylor is one of Olivia’s inspirations, she also looks up to others and has been inspired by them (the cure for instance), gaga with Bowie, prince, NIN, etc. 
 

Olivia is the biggest Gen Z popstar, much like gaga’s reign in the early 2010s, so I think a lot of the animosity just comes from that.

[MadArchitect 1,540]

have been pitted against eachother? this sounds like blame everything on the press and the fandom, they indeed are at fault too, but the truth is most of the blame relies on both Taylor and Madonna themselves, the snowball would have been stop dead on its tracks if they didn't disrespect, shade and in taylor's case sue if denied credits, they feed the beast, that's how you get in this situation.

[Helxig 45,875]

All I can say is that I'm so proud of Gaga for being a kind person and breaking the cycle. She chooses to uplift the next generation with support grace and never jealousy. It's really heartwarming

Edited yesterday at 11:33 AM by Helxig

[VelvetVenus 288]

21 minutes ago, Helxig said:

All I can say is that I'm so proud of Gaga for being a kind person and breaking the cycle. She chooses to uplift the next generation with support grace and never jealousy. It's really heartwarming

This a 100%. It is so easy when you become an icon on the music industry to downgrade others and she chose to be the kindest of them all!!!

My heart warms by watching her reactions on the young generation getting awards, she seems really happy about it and even proud in a way 

This little things make me feel certain about stanning the right artist

[Starmie25 22,912]

1 hour ago, Helxig said:

Gaga for being a kind person and breaking the cycle

Not always unfortuntely.

Remember Zendaya? 😔

[River 129,467]

The Madonna feud was created as a PR stunt behind the scenes by Interscope, they wanted to boost Madonna's new album sales like that. Not only that Madonna knew about Born This Way before, but according to the leaked documents, it's indeed sampling Express Yourself and Madonna is legally credited for it, but to continue the PR stunt, she's not credited on the album but only on paper, this is why she could do the Express Yourself/Born This Way/She's Not Me mash up on her tour and the albums, without giving a single credit to Gaga and the producers (what Gaga couldn't do for DWAS Requiem for example) but like Garibay said.. he still got the money for every time this mash up was performed or listened to 

On the other hand..

Taylor used Olivia when it convenient for her, she supported the new girl with the new hit, showed how good she is.. just to stab in the back later and since then she's leeching on Olivia's song and it's success.

So it's not like Madonna at all.. at the end, Madonna didn't sue Gaga 

 

[RochesterJoannster 4,235]

I thought Olivia Rodrigo’s idol was Avril Lavigne, and they’ve performed together 

[Mirrion Rizzons 12,884]

6 minutes ago, RochesterJoannster said:

I thought Olivia Rodrigo’s idol was Avril Lavigne, and they’ve performed together 

She’s said she was/is a huge fan of Avril, Fiona Apple, Alanis morisette, Taylor, the cure, Lorde, paramore etc 

[Mirrion Rizzons 12,884]

12 minutes ago, River said:

The Madonna feud was created as a PR stunt behind the scenes by Interscope, they wanted to boost Madonna's new album sales like that. Not only that Madonna knew about Born This Way before, but according to the leaked documents, it's indeed sampling Express Yourself and Madonna is legally credited for it, but to continue the PR stunt, she's not credited on the album but only on paper, this is why she could do the Express Yourself/Born This Way/She's Not Me mash up on her tour and the albums, without giving a single credit to Gaga and the producers (what Gaga couldn't do for DWAS Requiem for example) but like Garibay said.. he still got the money for every time this mash up was performed or listened to 

On the other hand..

Taylor used Olivia when it convenient for her, she supported the new girl with the new hit, showed how good she is.. just to stab in the back later and since then she's leeching on Olivia's song and it's success.

So it's not like Madonna at all.. at the end, Madonna didn't sue Gaga 

 

Interesting never knew this! 

[Mirrion Rizzons 12,884]

43 minutes ago, Starmie25 said:

Not always unfortuntely.

Remember Zendaya? 😔

[IllusionLover 7,925]

Do we have proof that Taylor sued Olivia?? I've always thought that feud was all made up by the press. I've always thought about the situation that olivia gave credits to Taylor after Paramore's label and idk who else sued her because of similarities on the other SOUR songs. And I think Olivia hasn't mentioned Taylor much because she got media training after the SOUR era and didn't wanted to create her whole career/persona about her. I think that in the last Grammys they were together Taylor was the only one who stood up during her performance or her acceptance speech.

 

[warhol killah 9,366]

29 minutes ago, River said:

but according to the leaked documents, it's indeed sampling Express Yourself and Madonna is legally credited for it, but to continue the PR stunt, she's not credited on the album but only on paper

I never knew this omg......

[Mirrion Rizzons 12,884]

41 minutes ago, IllusionLover said:

Do we have proof that Taylor sued Olivia?? I've always thought that feud was all made up by the press. I've always thought about the situation that olivia gave credits to Taylor after Paramore's label and idk who else sued her because of similarities on the other SOUR songs. And I think Olivia hasn't mentioned Taylor much because she got media training after the SOUR era and didn't wanted to create her whole career/persona about her. I think that in the last Grammys they were together Taylor was the only one who stood up during her performance or her acceptance speech.

 

Not sued, but it’s likely that Taylor’s team threatened legal action, as Taylor now receives I think 50% of all of the songs royalties 

[IllusionLover 7,925]

17 minutes ago, Mirrion Rizzons said:

Not sued, but it’s likely that Taylor’s team threatened legal action, as Taylor now receives I think 50% of all of the songs royalties 

Could be but it's not like Olivia denied it, she literally said that the song was inspired by cruel summer

[gagzus 26,463]

1 hour ago, River said:

The Madonna feud was created as a PR stunt behind the scenes by Interscope, they wanted to boost Madonna's new album sales like that. Not only that Madonna knew about Born This Way before, but according to the leaked documents, it's indeed sampling Express Yourself and Madonna is legally credited for it, but to continue the PR stunt, she's not credited on the album but only on paper, this is why she could do the Express Yourself/Born This Way/She's Not Me mash up on her tour and the albums, without giving a single credit to Gaga and the producers (what Gaga couldn't do for DWAS Requiem for example) but like Garibay said.. he still got the money for every time this mash up was performed or listened to 

On the other hand..

Taylor used Olivia when it convenient for her, she supported the new girl with the new hit, showed how good she is.. just to stab in the back later and since then she's leeching on Olivia's song and it's success.

So it's not like Madonna at all.. at the end, Madonna didn't sue Gaga 

 

I’ve said for years as someone who has dealt in copyright, Gaga absolutely got money for the mashup on tour but Madonna fans protest she didn’t because she isn’t credited on the tour DVD and it would’ve opened a can of worms for Gaga. But I’ve always argued it wouldn’t and Gaga absolutely got paid behind the scenes. Because it’s a song she wrote and owns the publishing rights to.

Plus, Madonna actually started the feud herself in that one 2012 interview about BTW. She never said anything before that not even in 2011 when she had a whole year to say it. Gaga never said anything negative about her before never once and she never said bad anything about her either, in fact she was very complimentary toward Gaga until that interview.