Bradford Pearson

My Case For: Lady Gaga

Quick: who is the first artist since Christina Aguilera in 2001 to have their first two singles reach number one on the Billboard charts? Amy Winehouse? Justin Timberlake? Susan Boyle?

Okay, I guess the mystery was ruined by the gigantic picture of Lady Gaga.

So, yeah, Gaga’s first two charting singles, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face,” both reached number one, and, to be frank, I don’t ever turn them off when they come on the radio. To go a step further, last week I actually sat in my car and waited for “Poker Face” to end before I went into my apartment. The Indian family that lives next to me enjoyed the little show I was putting on in the driver’s seat, dancing by myself. I think.

But when I sat down to write this, I had trouble pinpointing what it is that I like about Gaga’s songs. It certainly isn’t lyrical depth (despite being hired as a songwriter for Fergie, the Pussycat Dolls, Britney Spears and New Kids on the Block, Gaga’s lyrical sensibilities usually skew towards her calling her lady parts a “muffin”), or her personal style (which she describes as “avant garde”, but which I describe as “homeless Star Trek”).

So it must be her hooks, right? I listened to some instrumental versions of the songs, and nope, not it. Pretty standard electropop.

I started thinking about all the peripheral things that make an artist: hometown (Yonkers! I guess being from New York is a point in her favor), their life before singing (Burlesque dancer. Can’t hold that against her), influences.

And that’s when it hit me. Influences! Her name! Lady Gaga! Radio Ga-Ga! Queen!

For those who don’t know, “Radio Ga-Ga” is the greatest song Queen ever performed. If you doubt me, listen to it here.

Finally, some closure on why I like this seemingly bland pop star has such a hold on me!

So then I threw on some Gaga and realized my whole hypothesis was 100 percent wrong.

Sometimes you don’t need to have a reason to like something, I guess. Sometimes you can just jam out in your car to a lame song while an Indian family watches you. And I guess a Lady Gaga song on a Top 40 station is one of those times.


Poker Face - Lady Gaga

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Posted by Bradford Pearson at 9:38 PM