Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Gaga's Commentary for BTW Tracks

Courtesy of Gaga's Facebook:


"I wrote MARRY THE NIGHT about having a good time in NY with my friends, and how I would never be a Hollywood girl."


"AMERICANO is what the American dream means to me. #LipstickRevolution"


"I wrote HAIR about how my parents used to get pissed at my outfits and my hair when I was a kid."


"I started writing BORN THIS WAY in Manchester + Liverpool. I knew it had to be the first single. It still gets me every time."


"GOVERNMENT HOOKER was inspired by Marilyn Monroe + political mistresses. I wonder what they were privy to + what they affected."


"I went to a dirty party in Berlin, and wrote SHEIßE the next day. It's about wanting to be bad without permission. Shit."


"BLOODY MARY is about living halfway between reality and fantasy."


"BLACK JESUS was Justin Timberlake's favorite. Its about how putting on a new spirit is as easy as putting on fashion. Amen."



Thursday, May 26, 2011

What Born This Way Means to Me

So I'm hoping you've heard the "Born This Way" (Deluxe Edition) album by Lady Gaga by now.  She said it was going to be the "album of the decade" and while I was sure I would love it, I thought she might be acting a little cocky.  Now that I've heard it however, I think she's right.


Lady Gaga manages to incorporate all music styles (rock, jazz, pop, country, latin) into her new album and ties them together with a dance theme.  Listening to it once won't do the trick.  There are so many sounds and emotions in each of her songs, that you need to listen to them multiple times to absorb.  But once you start to catch on, you are hooked.  Every song has a meaning.  She said she wrote this album for her Little Monsters...that she knew what we wanted to hear.  The Lady was right.
Here is a run-down of my favorite songs at the moment.  I'll tell you why and what they mean to me.


Americano
Gaga describes this song as "a big mariachi techno-house record, where I am singing about immigration law and gay marriage and all sorts of things that have to do with disenfranchised communities in America."
I've studied a lot of Spanish culture, so I love the Latino attitude of the song.  If you love me we can marry on the west coast.  On a Wednesday, en el verano, en agusto.  I love the romance of running away with your lover, no matter what other people think about it.  We don't speak Americano, we speak our own language.


Favorite verse: Mis canciones son de la re-revolución. Mi corazón me duele por mi generación. Translated: my songs are of the revolution. My heart aches for my generation. I love how poetic that sounds.

Scheiße

This is a german dance beat about female empowerment.  After saying "I don't speak German but I can if you'd like," Gaga proceeds to sing only in Deutsch for the next 40 seconds.  Although I am not sure what she is saying, it sounds really freaking cool.  It also makes me feel more in touch with my German heritage...which I otherwise know nothing about.

Gaga is saying she needs the approval of others to make herself feel better, like many of us do.  This is what I think the "scheiße" (shit) is that she is referring to.  I wish I could dance on a single prayer.  I wish I could be strong without somebody there.  I wish I could dance on a single prayer.  I wish I could be strong without the Scheiße yeah.

She is encouraging us to be independent--to be able to stand on our own.  She is also saying we don't need to be concerned with the shit in our lives that make us feel bad.

Favorite Verse: When I'm on a mission, I rebuke my condition.  If you're a strong female, you don't need permission.

Fashion of His Love

I never was the kind of girl who's naturally sure when it comes to love, oh no.  I was insecure.  But when it comes to you and me, I can't deny this feeling inside.  I've never felt like this before.  I can definitely relate to this because I'm borderline relationship-phobic.  I'm always second-guessing myself and the person I am seeing.  However, I do know one person where all the insecurities were thrown out the window and I feel like I can be totally myself around him.

Gaga is using her status as a fashion icon as a metaphor of her love (for Luc Carl, I assume).  If you are a little monster, you inevitably appreciate fashion.

Favorite Verse: You know I'd never cheat on a man cuz I'm not like that.  I'm physically crafted to be as fitting as McQueen.  (Bonus points for discouraging cheating and also doing a shout-out to the late great designer.)

Bad Kids

This song is definitely for the little monsters.  A lot of her fans feel like bad kids sometimes, myself included.  You may feel that way because you're an outcast, gay, make alternative decisions, or whatever.  Don't be insecure if your heart is pure.  You're still good to me.  You're a bad kid baby.  Gaga is telling you that if you're still a good person, don't feel bad about yourself. 

Favorite Verse:  I'm a twit.  Degenerate young rebel and I'm proud of it.  Pump your fists if you'd rather mess up than put up with this.  I'm a nerd.  I chew gum and smoke in your face.  I'm absurd.

You and I

Although she released an acoustic version of this song long before the album came out, I was pleased that she added an electric feel to the record.  Critics seem to think this is the best song on the album.  I absolutely love it, and sometimes fantasize about getting back together with an old lover and having it be magical like this.  

Gaga wrote this song about Luc Carl, her bartender boyfriend from New York who she broke up with when she was pursuing her fame.  She came back to him however, and it seems like they are going strong.  There were rumors that they broke up recently, but judging by his tweets to her, I'm thinking they are still in love.

Favorite Verse:  It's been two years since I let you go.  Couldn't listen to a joke or rock n roll.  And muscle cars drove a truck right through my heart.  On my birthday, you sang me "A Heart of Gold" with the guitar hummin and no clothes.  This time I'm not leaving without you.

Honorable Mentions (actually, I'm just tired of writing)

Government Hooker
Favorite Verse:  I can be good if you just want to be bad.  I can be cool if you just want to be mad.  I can be anything, I'll be your everything.  Just touch me baby...I don't want to be sad.

Judas
Favorite Verse:  In the most biblical sense I am beyond repetence.  Fame hooker, prostitute, wench vomits her mind.  But in a cultural sense, I just speak in future tense.  Judas kiss me if offensed or wear an ear condom next time.

Heavy Metal Lover
Favorite Verse:  I want your whiskey mouth all over my blonde south.

The Queen
Favorite Verse:  Come inside me like never before.  Don't forget me when I'm crying at heaven's door.  I will fly like a challenger in the sky.  Like a phoenix, so I can be reminded of the dreams I once bore.

Bloody Mary
Favorite Verse:  We are not just art for Michaelangelo to carve.  He can't rewrite the agro of my furied heart. I'll wait on mountaintops in Paris cold.  
Je ne veux pas mourrir toute seule.

Electric Chapel
Favorite Verse:  
You want me bad. I think you're cool. But I'm not sure. Follow me, don't be such a holy fool. Follow me, I need something more from you. It's not about sex or champagne, you holy fool. If you want me baby meet me at Electric Chapel.

Ok...I really could go on and on forever but I have other things I have to do.  I know I left out Born This Way, Edge of Glory, Highway Unicorn, and Marry the Night. But thanks for reading.  Now I want to know....

What are your favorite songs from Born This Way?  Why?  Are there any songs on the album you don't care for?  Little Monsters, I want to know!!



Monday, May 23, 2011

Recap of the Billboard Awards

I love awards shows.  My favorites are the Academy Awards, Grammys, and VMA's of course.  But I can't seem to stop myself from watching the other ones too.  The AMA's, People's Choice, and Golden Globes are relatively trivial awards that no one cares about.  Yet I watch anyways.

Going into the Billboard Awards, I didn't have much of an interest.  However, my friend Jean happened to be attending the event (jealous!!), so I watched.  I was pleasantly surprised by some of the performances I saw...including one that was awesomely bad.  Here are the highlights:

Beyonce gave one of the best performances of ALL TIME!! Seriously.  I loved the backdrop and her outfit was fierce.  She received an honorary award and was given tributes by Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, and Stevie Wonder.  It was also sweet that she thanked the original members of Destiny's Child (the other two besides Kelly and Michelle).  Check out her performance soon.


Cee-Lo's performance was awesome too.  A levitating piano.  How does it hold him up?  My friends and I tried to figure it out...thought it was a piece of glass.  Then the whole piano, with Cee-Lo attached, rotated in a 360 degree angle, going totally upside down!  After that, we had no idea how it was done.  Must have been magic.



Justin Bieber kissed Selena Gomez when he won the award for "Best New Artist."  Selena looked amazing and Bieber deserved the award after being defeated at the Grammys to someone I'd never heard of.  My friend was upset that Nicki Minaj didn't win, but after her performance last night, I wasn't convinced.

And finally...Britney Spears totally sucked!!! I missed the beginning performance with Rihanna but I was unimpressed with Brit's ability to walk and lip sync.  She didn't even dance.  And it was the most anticipated performance of the night?  Puh-leaze.  Also, Nicki Minaj's part wasn't any better.  I secretly think Britney told her to under-perform so she didn't look bad. Also, her boyfriend, Jason Trawick, looked like an old man.  And she only had one expression on her face the whole time: fake smile.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Best of Cannes Film Festival

Winner: Gwen Stefani!! She always looks beautiful, but especially so this time.  And the glittery jumpsuit is so current, yet fashion forward.

































Runner Up: Penelope Cruz
Also loving the futuristic look.  Can you believe she just had a baby recently???


Honorable Mention: Mila Jovovich
Because let's face it.  She looks sexy in anything.

Suri Cruise: Cutest, Best Dressed Little Girl Ever!!

I am loving this outfit.  She's probably going to be batshit crazy when she gets older...but for now she's just adorable.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Some of my Faves from the MET Gala!!!

Jennifer Hudson looks flawless!!  She has come a long way from being a heavy girl with a big voice.  She is now gorgeous by anyone's standards.
Giselle in McQueen! Nothing wrong about that


Perez thought Gwenyth's dress was boring, but I think it's gorgeous!


Kristin Stewart doesn't always kill it in fashion, but this time she did!! Well done girl.

This one is my FAVORITE!! I love the ballerina look with the white lace and taffeta asymmetrical look.  Topped off with the shoes which are to-die-for.