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Alien outer space births, DMT trip sequences, facial spikes, and unicorns what will she (err Capital S-H-E) think of next? When Lady Gaga released her latest single, "Born This Way," a few weeks back the undisputed reigning Queen of Pop caught a bit of flack for its corny lyrics (that she apparently wrote in 10 minutes) and its countless similarities to Madonna hits like "Express Yourself" and "Vogue." On Monday, "Mother Monster" released the video to her LGBT anthem. As the over seven minute video played, I found myself repeating the same thing over and over again it wasn't any of the track's catchy lyrics, but rather a series of WTFs.
I watched, jaw and eyes open wide, as I was transported to a "government owned alien territory in space" where Gaga (complete with spikes on her face and third eye on her chin) gives birth to a race of infinite dismembered heads who are allegedly free of prejudice. This grotesque, abstract, kaleidoscopic birth scene is pretty hard to stomach as the "Eternal Mother's" servants help remove these goo-drenched craniums from Gaga's punanny. Meanwhile, elsewhere in space, a parallel evil Gaga pulls out a huge machine gun from her snatch and fires into the sky, a cue that drops the beat and brings the song in. I know, WTF?
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| culturemap.com |
It wouldn't be a Gaga video without her prancing around in leather underwear and bondage attire and "Born This Way" is no outcast to this formula. The songstress is seen in a variety of costumes and situations ranging from a vast production plant of the previously mentioned heads to a scene with a zombified Gaga dancing around a seemingly apathetic male zombie counterpart. It has quick action cuts, abstract shapes, colors and designs, and enough slimy residue to put Alien to shame. To put a cherry on top and end the video, Gaga struts into a dark alley in almost "Billie Jean" fashion only to ride off on a glittering unicorn. Yea, don't worry about reading that last sentence again, you read it right. WTF.
All of this space oddity makes you wonder if Gaga has lost her mind or if she is just from another planet altogether. People are sure to question what this video is about and be disturbed with it and its contents. People will say WTF. But upon further reflection, maybe that's what the video is all about. "Born This Way" is a song about being comfortable with who and what you are and it encourages people not to "be a drag" but to "just be a queen." While the lyrics may be corny, and some may argue elementary, the song message is an important one: That you can and should do whatever you want, create whatever you want, and be whoever you want regardless of how ridiculous it may be and despite what the mainstream has to say about it. So you want to be a strange alien queen that gives birth to a utopian society in space? So be it, go right ahead. And if the norm doesn't find you appealing, who cares? At least you have you and your individuality. One thing is certain, this bizarre video, like it or not, will generate tons of buzz and will get Gaga lots of press (here's an example of that right here). Lady Gaga won't change because people find her weird, in fact she runs with it and uses it to create a mystique around her. She doesn't just want all those WTFs, she thrives on them. She wants people to follow her lead and be over-the-top ridiculous, no matter how strange, disturbing, or rebellious that may be to society. Maybe that's why she is a true artist in an age where pop music is terribly lacking in creativity. Or maybe she is just an alien from another dimension. Only the "Mother Monster" knows that for sure. Paws up Lil'
I Stopped reading and scrolled back here when I read "gaga undisputed queen of pop" that's MADONNA's title. so whatever this "reviewer" has to say has no credibility or relevance.
Even after viewing the video and the unavoidable knowledge on the Gaga persona, listening to music is akin to a full frontal lobotomy. It's incredible lazy, rehashed pop. Her music is about as compelling listening as Two and Half Men is compelling television. Paint by numbers slush.
He used the word "reigning", not "all time". Madonna has had three albums in 8 years, not exactly the influence of the day. If you think by saying so he has no credibility then you are living in the year 2000 at best (Music). It's a shame you stopped reading, it's a good review. I watched this video with friends last night. It was... interesting. No it wasn't, it was annoyingly pretentious for a shitty, boring song that is a total rip-off anyway.
"you can and should do whatever you want, create whatever you want, and be whoever you want regardless of how ridiculous it may be and despite what the mainstream has to say about it. So you want to be a strange alien queen that gives birth to a utopian society in space? So be it, go right ahead. And if the norm doesn't find you appealing, who cares? At least you have you and your individuality." - love it great review!
Yeah it really was :) anad I thought the vid was great.
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| TheRomanticMovie.com |
| A still from The Romantic. |
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| Heneghan |
I LAUGHED. I CRIED. I LAUGHED AGAIN. THEN I CRIED SOME MORE. THEN LAUGHED ONE LAST TIME. THEN SMILED.
Oh, to be a teen again — when you think every relationship and interaction has a cosmic significance worthy of grandiose metaphors. From their new album, Vices and Virtues, Panic! At The Disco's heartbreak song "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" brings all of that annoying magical thinking back. In it, they bemoan a woman who, um, has a hard-to-read facial expression and, according to her her painstaking manicure, is apparently a hooker. The music video, which makes the Halloween-came-early joke too easy, stars frontman Brendon Urie as a corpse and avenging spirit (in Wild West times, no less) who sings in the tavern and flaunts scary eye makeup and top hats. His assumed murderer/widow goes around sinisterly preparing the joint for his funeral, while no one suspects a thing . Then Urie's ghost appears to a little girl, who reaches into the corpse's pocket and holds up a note saying, "Mary did it." After this incontrovertible evidence is revealed, Mary almost gets away, but is stopped by an old-time net. Killah ending. How exactly does the note get there when they show the body being washed and dressed for the casket? And where did that flame reflected in Brendon Urie's eye come from? The band's videos are generally emo extravaganzas that aren't about anything, but the one for "Nine In the Afternoon" was incredibly sweet and at least didn't try to make sense. But for "Mona Lisa," I can't imagine anyone over 15 taking this seriously.
I suspect that you need to be over 20 or 25 to appreciate the steampunk aesthetic and get the implications of the old traditions and rituals of mourning and funeral rites. The steampunk genre has a presence in music, art, fiction, and tv and film. I think it was a visually entertaining approach for The Ballad of Mona song's video, and was also a good fit for the supernatural aspects of a funeral wake depicted. I quite enjoyed it. And I loved that steampunk net gun!
Starring Carrie Brownstein.
The Thermals are performing in NYC on 10/13 at Irving Plaza! Tickets are available at http://www.livenation.com/event/000044FBA1477A77?artistid=923542&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=60. Hope to see you there!
There are so many awesome female comedians out there right now and it's sickening to see them NOT get their fair share of the attention. I'd even go as far as saying that the current batch of female comics is BETTER than the male. Here's the 4 TOP CURRENT COMEDIENNES: http://www.digitallizardproductions.com/daily-fournication-08.16.10--top-4-current-comediennes.html
Since 1968, the Henri David Ball has been the most fab Halloween party in town, hosted by the now 63-year-old Henri David and attended by Philly notables like Gov. Ed Rendell and ' the Snuggie Twins (see above). Our associate Web editor Neal Santos attended the freak show, shot this video and some photos, and came back relatively unscathed.
If you're curious about the man behind the ball, this Philly Mag piece really breaks it down ' dude lost his virginity at 12, is BFFs with John Waters and makes jewelry for Stevie Nicks. Jealous?
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