N.O.A

In the past few weeks Lady Gaga, Adele and Beyonce have been in every magazine and newspaper about being the top three artists of the moment; ruling the music industry. Ok so it may be true, but I wanted to have a think about the men in the industry. Where did they go? Is this phenomenon of women being at the top is just that, a phenomenon? And also, are there three male stars running not far behind?

When looking at the past you could say it was always the men who ruled and women just came up short. If you take the 80′s as an example, the three big names that come to mind are Michael Jackson, Prince, then Madonna – although in my mind it might look a little differently. Could this shift in gender really be a big change, something to pave the way for new generations? Or is it just a marketing ploy? Sex sells. Everyone knows this, so is the fact the three big players are women just a cleverly thought out plan. I mean, when you really think about it, music artists aren’t solo players, they are affected and manipulated by their producers, managers and so on. I can’t confirm that all the people surrounding these three women are men, but I’m sure some of them are. Don’t for a minute think that I’m some woman hater, who is looking for a reason to shoot these talented ladies down. Anyone who knows me knows I am a Little Monster and I also rate Beyonce and Adele. I’m just trying to understand where this change has come from, and also why it is making big news. I’ve read articles about this very subject in publications such as The Observer, Grazia and even The New Yorker. Part of me thinks “hell yeah, we rule this world!” while the other part is a little more sceptical.

So if we just accept this fact and say that women are ruling this moment in music, where did the men go? Are all male acts just bad in comparison? Possibly it’s not that the men are shit, maybe they just can’t keep up. Yeah, I think we can agree on that, no? Before I go into the whole band thing, the first male artist that springs to mind is Kanye West. However much I think he is a massive dick, I can’t deny the boy makes good music. And yes he likes to brand himself as this big artist, who’s genius is so new and different than anything else that it is amazing and blah blah blah, but you got to hand it to him My Twisted Dark Fantasy was probably one of the best albums of 2010. Bringing R n B and Hip Hop together along with some sick appearances from Miss Nicky Minaj (in ‘Monster’ she raps the hell out of Jay Z. Seriously!) and others like Rhianna and M.I.A. But the big difference between Kanye and our three women is that people actually like Gaga, Beyonce and Adele, they look up to them as role models. The only role model Kanye is is a role model for lil shits out there that steal peoples thunder and think they rule the world. Well Beyonce certainly thinks you don’t.

The other man that seems to be having a bit of a ‘thing’ lately also featured on Kayne’s album last year. Bon Iver is a folky, haunting kind of a band, fronted by Justin Vernon. A guy that locks himself in a cabin for a month to get over a break up and decides to write an album. Although a band, most tend to focus on Justin himself, which is why I have mentioned him here. The new self titled album was not written in the Wisconsin cabin, but a studio, and not surprisingly it is still as compelling and dreamy as the first. I’ve also noticed that all the bands that are doing rather well over here, on our side of the pond are male-orientated. Friendly Fires seem to be dancing along to their own beat and last year Two Door Cinema Club where every where I looked, every direction my ears pointed.

The other place in which to find the men in music, I mentioned earlier. A producer used to be a forgotten, silent and hidden puppeteer, but more and more so, they are being recognised and also starting to do their own thing. This can be said about the man behind Tinie Tempah’s number 1 hit ‘Pass Out’. His name is Labrinth and I’m intrigued to hear what he comes out with.

This brings me to my conclusion that most of the ‘good’ men in music are either in bands or are producers and thus get a little less attention, standing in the shadows controlling the over made up puppets. Don’t you just love a good puppet?!

So, Lady Gaga.  Where the FUCK do you start?!?!

Ok, I know that people seem to love her or they think – WTF! But when it comes to Gaga she has a voice, and now she has this platform and she’s gonna fucking kick it! She was that loser in school; didn’t have many friends, just her music and so she’s giving all the Little Monsters out there a voice. Hair, from the new album, at first glance may seem silly or immature, but it’s not. Almost regressing a little, Gaga is just a girl, insecure and beautiful, like us all. Bad Kid may also have been written either for the younger Little Monsters or for a younger Gaga. “I’m not that typical baby/ I’m a bad kid/ the way mum and dad made me!” Oh and don’t forget, she’s as free as her hair!

“I just wanna be free/I just wanna be me”

“Don’t be insecure, if your heart is pure”

There is always going to be controversy surrounding her. Whether its misguided Christians, slagging off a video they have not even seen yet; the oh so boring, and expected Madonna comparisions; or even gasps at her choice of wardrobe. Gaga will always have people talking about her … Lets take a minute to discuss the Madonna thing. Madonna has influenced a lot of Pop Stars since the 80′s. I almost remember dancing to lucky star in a very literal way – constantly looking up and falling on my bottom, in a nappy might I add. I grew up around her music. I even did the whole dressing up like 80′s Madonna in my teens, even if I was 20 years later than the rest. Madonna was huge and she had a massive impact on culture. Fast-forward 25 years, Madonna is still doing her thing, but there are new Pop Princesses around. And Gaga, well she is the Mother of them all. She is doing what Madonna did then, now. I think the help from soical media and the many, many more forms of connectivity has made Gaga a bigger force then Madge ever was. So comparisions will always be made.

If you look at the music, its very different. It may have similar melodys. So what!?! The whole Born This Way/Express yourself thing is utter bullshit! If you really wanted to make a comparision, what about Alejandro and Isla Bonita? Like Gaga said in the interview with NME Magazine, “I’m a songwriter. I’ve written loads of music. Why would I try to put out a song and think I’m getting one over on everybody? That’s retarded … I will look you in your eyes and tell you I am not  dumb enough or moronic enough to think that you are dumb or moronic enough not to see that I would have stolen a melody  … the only similarities are the chord progression.”

Back to the hype. Lady Gaga has recently been voted The Times Online’s 5th most powerful person in the world and Google’s most downloaded person, ever! The girl is definately doing something right.

“As long as I’m your hooker/I’ll make you squeal baby/As long as you pay me”

Judas is genius! Those confused people who believe they are doing God’s bidding, need to look beyond the literal. It’s a metaphor. A stunning one at that. The song itself was desperately awaited by fans and leaked on to youtube 3 days before its release. So what did she do? Gaga released it on Itunes hours later! She’s not only extremely creative, she’s business minded and very well connected to her fans. The ultimate pop star.  Judas was number one on Heat Magazine UK weekly track list, before the entertainment team had even heard it, people are just so sure, so obsessed, they will love a song before knowing the lyrics, the melody and in the case of my brother, the choreography. (You wanna know how to dance to any of her songs, get in touch with him)

Last Wednesday Metro.co.uk allowed people to listen to the whole album for free, before its release date. Something artists, in this illegal download age, are against. But she is all too clever. This free stream of the album in it’s entirety, has held me off trying to find out if anyone has leaked songs to YouTube every couple minutes. Clever, clever Gaga! You can tell that the songs Gaga has released so far are ones that stand on their own. I am not saying that the other song’s are not strong enough to be released on thier own, quite the opposite. They all have a fluidity throughout, undertones of similar messages that I think work so well as a collective. However much I love to dance to Hair, I think that it is not as strong as songs like Scheiße, another big dance anthum.

“If your a strong a woman/ You don’t need permission!”

The Edge of Glory might just be my favourite song from the album. It is different from the rest; has a different sort of story to tell. Gaga wrote this song with her father, at a piano and a bottle of whiskey. The song is about her late grandfather. Although she wrote it in his memory, the song has a strong message; what ever chapter in your life you are passing through, you are strong enough to get through it. And do it with a shot! The song has a strong 80′s influence and the saxaphone makes it a ballad to be reconed with. She originally released the song two weeks ago as a taster. She had no idea that it would make it to number one around the world.

“Another shot before we kiss the other side/ I’m on the edge of glory!”

She first burst onto the scene like this and now she is releasing her second album. Most pop stars metomorphasise for each album; Gaga changes her look for each song.

Not only does she inspire and create pop music, Lady Gaga is highly involved in the fashion world. Creative Director Nicola Formichetti and Fashion Film Director Nick Knight are in constant creative whirls around her. The Haus of Gaga is her team of creatives that follow her everywhere. The question now poses, where will the world follow her next?

The highly anticipated album Born This Way is finally released today. It is Gaga’s answer to what every journalist, who has ever interviewed her tried to ask – Who is Lady Gaga? Technically her second album – The Fame, her first, The Fame Monster, an extention of that and The (Un)Fame is a collection of songs she wrote before she was Lady Gaga. The Monster Ball has only just stopped, she was touring the world for longer than two years straight, along with writing and releasing these albums, campaigning for Gay Rights, supporting LGBT teens, walking catwalks and now even acting as contributing fashion editor of V Magazine and directing her own videos! (Gaga walked The Mugler Show in March, photograph above) I wrote a review of The Monster Ball Tour @ Maddison Square Garden written for WG News & Arts. Click here to read it.

“I want your whiskey mouth all over my blonde mouth”

Lady Gaga is who she is. She is beautiful, she is crazy, in her own way, and she is an inspiration. She is not to be understood, in the literal sence. Not to be poked at. She will continue to raise questions throughout her career. And what a career it will be.

‘Have I ever been in therapy? Not yet. But I should be’