Born This Way (Bonus Track Version): A Review
Aspect of B
2011/08/06 23:44:37
PREFACE:
So, I was sitting in my car the other day listening to my iPod after about 7 straight hours of biking. I don't know whether it's the ungodly heat, or exhaustion, but I had the crazy idea to...review something. Yeah, I dunno. Anyway, in other news, some of you might have heard word that someone called Gaga or Googoo or something recently released an album. Now, if you haven't been living under a rock the last couple months, you would know that this album has sold a crazy amount of copies since it's release and became one of the most commercially successful albums of the year in less than a week. Yeah, I know. Holy sh*t. And, since the musical theme is supposedly rebirth or something, I thought it would be the perfect way to begin my (probably brief) reviewing stint. So, here's how this is going to work: you, as the reader, will hopefully forget about Gaga's cross-dressing, meat wearing, serial killer/ creator of the universe antics and just concentrate on the music, as that's what I'm going to be doing. So, everybody ready? Let's plunge right into Born This Way, by Lady GaGa.
_____________________________________________________________...
CONSENSUS:
Though some songs might have been better off absent from the album, Born This Way is an eclectic and surprisingly meaningful second major project that is a worthy successor to The Fame Monster.
8.5/10
COVER:
I think my first memory of this album is when I looked it up on Wikipedia one day a couple months ago. Do you know what I saw? A motorcycle/Gaga hybrid staring me in the face. Actually, I remember almost falling off my chair. I hoped it was a fake. But, nope. It's real. Luckily for me, the Bonus Track Version cropped it to only the Gaga part, which, I have to say, is much better. The only bad thing? THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL ON THE BACK. Damn you, Interscope!
SONGS:
-Marry the Night: So, Lady gaga summarized this song as "the musical lovechild of Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen, as conceived by myself and Fernando Garibay". Which I have to say is pretty close to the truth. From the seductive opening to the club beats-driven chorus to the epic bridge, this really is the lovechild of three or four different musicians, and is the perfect bridge between The Fame Monster and Born This Way.
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm gonna marry the dark/ Gonna make love to the stars/ I'm a soldier to my own emptiness/ I am a winner/ I'm gonna marry the night"
-Born This Way: The album's second and title track and probable most famous song, an ode to everything and everyone different, even though the song sounds quite familiar. And yes, I think it sounds like Express Yourself. And I think Gaga's tea, did too, which I guess accounts for the whirlwind production throughout the entire song. Oh well, whatever. Bottom line: While I appreciate the sentiment she is pushing, the song itself is nothing new and is one of my least favourites from the album.
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm beautiful in my way/ Cuz God makes no mistakes/ I'm on the right track baby/ I was born this way!"
-Government Hooker: I'm just gonna say this straight up: Government Hooker is a masterpiece. It may not the be one of Gaga's best songs, and definitely not song of the year, but comes pretty close. The entire song has a feel of rusty machines (it makes sense, don't worry) , and a sort of science fiction aspect. I'd have absolutely no problem seeing a post-apocalyptic themed video come from this. Now, few know this, but this song actually has a meaning, one so subtle it was, until I stumbled upon it, almost unnoticeable: this song is about censorship. With all these contrasts ("I can sex/ Unless you want to hold hands") that point towards one conclusion: Whoever's point of view this is told from does whatever (s)he can to get paid ("screwed"), which is most strongly shown in the line "Put your hands on me/John F. Kennedy/ I'll make you squeal baby/ As long as you pay me"
Memorable lyrics: "I'm gonna drink my tears tonight/I'm gonna drink my tears and cry/ Cuz I know you love me baby/ I know you love me baby"
-Judas: If Bad Romance was a movie, Judas would be the Director's Cut. It's a different song, but in familiar territory, like if you the first Seinfeld episode and then the last. At first you think "WTF" but then you realize that Judas is a pretty good song, which, by the way, is NOT about having sex with Judas, as hyper-religious groups would have you believe. It is a metaphor for a relationship Gaga hates (yes, a "bad romance").
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm just a Holy Fool/ Oh baby he's so cruel/ But I'm still in love with Judas, baby!"
-Americano: So, I'll admit, I thought Americano was just an Alejandro ripoff when I first heard of it. But after actually hearing it I changed my mind. Not a ripoff, not even related. One of her several pro-gay marriage anthems, Americano is quite a nice mariachi (MARIACHI) themed song, maybe not single worthy, but not really filler either.
Memorable Lyrics: "I will fight for/ I have fought for/ How I love you/ I have cried for/ I will die for/ How I care"
-Hair: The prevalent theme throughout the album is accepting who you are and self-empowerment, which is exacted beautifully in Hair. Featuring the late Clerence Clemons on the saxophone, Hair is one of my favourites from the album, with a to-die-for chorus and amazing acoustic opportunities (seriously--search up the acoustic version).
Memorable Lyrics: "I've had enough/ I'm not a freak/ I'm just keep fightin' to stay cool on the streets"
-Scheiße: Scheisse (that's how it's spelled in proper english...I think), is basically just Americano, but instead of Spanish, it's in German, and instead of a pro-gay marriage stance, it's pro-feminism. Not really much else to say here. I could see this becoming a single, but there are others that should have single-time more than this.
-Bloody Mary: Now, THIS is exactly what I was expecting from this album. Slinky, dark, elegant strings with a just as elegant chrorus and bridge. Not much else to say about this, but bravo! The song also has an interesting personality to it, most strongly shown by the line "He can't rewrite the argo of my fury!" The music, immediately after the word fury, rises to an appropriately "angry" and "steamy" pitch, before abruptly ending, like Mary Magdelene (the character portrayed in the song) lost her composure and then corrected herself...I'd be very interested in seeing a video for this one.
Memorable Lyrics: "Love is just a history/ that they may prove/ and when you're gone/ I'll tell them my religion was you/ When punk-tius comes/ to kill the king upon his throne/ I'm ready for their stones"
-Black Jesus † Amen Fashion: Yeah, I don't know how to pronounce that either. A Vogue-esque song about Lady Gaga's journey to fame, New York, and, of course, the runway. As a guy, I have little else to say about this song. But seriously what's with the title?
Memorable Lyrics: "Jesus is the new black" WTF.
-Bad Kids: This is one of the couple songs on the album that really should have been left out. It's a great idea to try to appeal to the "bad kids", but if you're gonna try to do that you can't make the song all cutesy and poppy!
Memorable lyrics: "I'm a nerd/ I chew and smoke in your face/ I'm absurd"
-Fashion of His Love: Originally part of a song called "Earthquake" which didn't make it into the final version of the album, Fashion of His Love is an "in memoriam" of sorts to the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, which also works very well as a "first crush" type song as well. The 80s music works well too.
Memorable lyrics: "I'm seeing all the signs from above/ I'm gonna be the one that he loves/ I was made for lovin' him/ the fashion of his love"
-Highway Unicorn (Road to Love): Okay, I don't know what she's trying to do with this. It's a ridiculous title with a chorus that seems to have nothing at all to do with the verses and simply doesn't make sense. Why did this song make it onto the final version? Sometimes people's judgement just scares me.
Memorable Lyrics: None, really.
-Heavy Metal Lover: You know those people who hate songs based on they're heavy use of synth? Well, they would both love and hate this song. Synth is used to the max; so much, in fact, that Gaga's voice is barely recognizable. But that's a good thing. Her voice is distorted is all the right ways. For reasons I can't really identify, I really like this song, even though it's far from "good". I dunno. It's just one of those songs, I guess.
Memorable Lyrics: None. Weird, isn't it?
-Electric Chapel: This is one of those songs that you just have to love. From the epic opening to the Alejandro-reminiscent "bouncy" chorus (or lack there of, really), this song proves that Lady Gaga doesn't depend on these arena-filling anthems, and can do much more small-scale tunes, as well as unleashing her inner groupie.
Memorable Lyrics: "Follow me/ don't be such a holy fool/ Follow me/ I need something sacred from you/ It's not about sex or champagne/ You holy fool"
-The Queen: A nice addition, not single-worthy, but not filler either, with a bridge that definitely belongs to some anime show. A solid track that you don't love, nor do you hate, it's just your average Gaga self-empowerment tune.
Memorable lyrics: "Starry night, come inside me like never before/ Don't forget when when I come crying to heaven's door/ I will fly on a challenger across the sky/ Like a phoenix so you can remind them of the dream I bore"
-You and I: The lady's future single, You and I is, quite simply, a country song. Some say this is BTW's answer to Speechless, which is kinda true, but You and I just isn't as good as speechless. I think the original version (just Gaga and her piano) is better than the We Will Rock You-inspired anthem. But hey, that's just me. Oh, and Brian May guests as guitar.
Memorable Lyrics: Not really much there--all the lyrics are pretty all the same level of nice.
-The Edge of Glory: This has to be, excluding Speechless and maybe Bad Romance, Lady Gaga's best song to date. With the legendary Clerence Clemons playing a minute (Minute!)-long sax solo, and with uplifting music, epic lyrics, and a movie soundtrack quality, I'm kinda dissapointed it didn't too as well as Born This Way as a single. But, oh well. The album ends the best way it possibly could: on The Edge of Glory. Not the mention the breathtaking acoustic version she performed on Howard Stern. Look it up. You just might cry.
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm on the edge of glory/ And I'm hanging on the moment of truth/ I'm on the Edge of Glory/ And I'm hanging on a moment with you/ I'm on the edge with you!"
So, there you go, my review of Lady Gaga's monster album Born This Way. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll get around to discussing or analyzing Lady gaga's psychology or persona in this, which is something I wanted to do, (and I've been at this for about 2 hours now), but it mostly centered on the question of whether Lady Gaga had become the mask, and Stefanie Germanotta was even present anymore. But, oh well. Good day.
So, I was sitting in my car the other day listening to my iPod after about 7 straight hours of biking. I don't know whether it's the ungodly heat, or exhaustion, but I had the crazy idea to...review something. Yeah, I dunno. Anyway, in other news, some of you might have heard word that someone called Gaga or Googoo or something recently released an album. Now, if you haven't been living under a rock the last couple months, you would know that this album has sold a crazy amount of copies since it's release and became one of the most commercially successful albums of the year in less than a week. Yeah, I know. Holy sh*t. And, since the musical theme is supposedly rebirth or something, I thought it would be the perfect way to begin my (probably brief) reviewing stint. So, here's how this is going to work: you, as the reader, will hopefully forget about Gaga's cross-dressing, meat wearing, serial killer/ creator of the universe antics and just concentrate on the music, as that's what I'm going to be doing. So, everybody ready? Let's plunge right into Born This Way, by Lady GaGa.
_____________________________________________________________...
CONSENSUS:
Though some songs might have been better off absent from the album, Born This Way is an eclectic and surprisingly meaningful second major project that is a worthy successor to The Fame Monster.
8.5/10
COVER:
I think my first memory of this album is when I looked it up on Wikipedia one day a couple months ago. Do you know what I saw? A motorcycle/Gaga hybrid staring me in the face. Actually, I remember almost falling off my chair. I hoped it was a fake. But, nope. It's real. Luckily for me, the Bonus Track Version cropped it to only the Gaga part, which, I have to say, is much better. The only bad thing? THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL ON THE BACK. Damn you, Interscope!
SONGS:
-Marry the Night: So, Lady gaga summarized this song as "the musical lovechild of Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen, as conceived by myself and Fernando Garibay". Which I have to say is pretty close to the truth. From the seductive opening to the club beats-driven chorus to the epic bridge, this really is the lovechild of three or four different musicians, and is the perfect bridge between The Fame Monster and Born This Way.
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm gonna marry the dark/ Gonna make love to the stars/ I'm a soldier to my own emptiness/ I am a winner/ I'm gonna marry the night"
-Born This Way: The album's second and title track and probable most famous song, an ode to everything and everyone different, even though the song sounds quite familiar. And yes, I think it sounds like Express Yourself. And I think Gaga's tea, did too, which I guess accounts for the whirlwind production throughout the entire song. Oh well, whatever. Bottom line: While I appreciate the sentiment she is pushing, the song itself is nothing new and is one of my least favourites from the album.
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm beautiful in my way/ Cuz God makes no mistakes/ I'm on the right track baby/ I was born this way!"
-Government Hooker: I'm just gonna say this straight up: Government Hooker is a masterpiece. It may not the be one of Gaga's best songs, and definitely not song of the year, but comes pretty close. The entire song has a feel of rusty machines (it makes sense, don't worry) , and a sort of science fiction aspect. I'd have absolutely no problem seeing a post-apocalyptic themed video come from this. Now, few know this, but this song actually has a meaning, one so subtle it was, until I stumbled upon it, almost unnoticeable: this song is about censorship. With all these contrasts ("I can sex/ Unless you want to hold hands") that point towards one conclusion: Whoever's point of view this is told from does whatever (s)he can to get paid ("screwed"), which is most strongly shown in the line "Put your hands on me/John F. Kennedy/ I'll make you squeal baby/ As long as you pay me"
Memorable lyrics: "I'm gonna drink my tears tonight/I'm gonna drink my tears and cry/ Cuz I know you love me baby/ I know you love me baby"
-Judas: If Bad Romance was a movie, Judas would be the Director's Cut. It's a different song, but in familiar territory, like if you the first Seinfeld episode and then the last. At first you think "WTF" but then you realize that Judas is a pretty good song, which, by the way, is NOT about having sex with Judas, as hyper-religious groups would have you believe. It is a metaphor for a relationship Gaga hates (yes, a "bad romance").
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm just a Holy Fool/ Oh baby he's so cruel/ But I'm still in love with Judas, baby!"
-Americano: So, I'll admit, I thought Americano was just an Alejandro ripoff when I first heard of it. But after actually hearing it I changed my mind. Not a ripoff, not even related. One of her several pro-gay marriage anthems, Americano is quite a nice mariachi (MARIACHI) themed song, maybe not single worthy, but not really filler either.
Memorable Lyrics: "I will fight for/ I have fought for/ How I love you/ I have cried for/ I will die for/ How I care"
-Hair: The prevalent theme throughout the album is accepting who you are and self-empowerment, which is exacted beautifully in Hair. Featuring the late Clerence Clemons on the saxophone, Hair is one of my favourites from the album, with a to-die-for chorus and amazing acoustic opportunities (seriously--search up the acoustic version).
Memorable Lyrics: "I've had enough/ I'm not a freak/ I'm just keep fightin' to stay cool on the streets"
-Scheiße: Scheisse (that's how it's spelled in proper english...I think), is basically just Americano, but instead of Spanish, it's in German, and instead of a pro-gay marriage stance, it's pro-feminism. Not really much else to say here. I could see this becoming a single, but there are others that should have single-time more than this.
-Bloody Mary: Now, THIS is exactly what I was expecting from this album. Slinky, dark, elegant strings with a just as elegant chrorus and bridge. Not much else to say about this, but bravo! The song also has an interesting personality to it, most strongly shown by the line "He can't rewrite the argo of my fury!" The music, immediately after the word fury, rises to an appropriately "angry" and "steamy" pitch, before abruptly ending, like Mary Magdelene (the character portrayed in the song) lost her composure and then corrected herself...I'd be very interested in seeing a video for this one.
Memorable Lyrics: "Love is just a history/ that they may prove/ and when you're gone/ I'll tell them my religion was you/ When punk-tius comes/ to kill the king upon his throne/ I'm ready for their stones"
-Black Jesus † Amen Fashion: Yeah, I don't know how to pronounce that either. A Vogue-esque song about Lady Gaga's journey to fame, New York, and, of course, the runway. As a guy, I have little else to say about this song. But seriously what's with the title?
Memorable Lyrics: "Jesus is the new black" WTF.
-Bad Kids: This is one of the couple songs on the album that really should have been left out. It's a great idea to try to appeal to the "bad kids", but if you're gonna try to do that you can't make the song all cutesy and poppy!
Memorable lyrics: "I'm a nerd/ I chew and smoke in your face/ I'm absurd"
-Fashion of His Love: Originally part of a song called "Earthquake" which didn't make it into the final version of the album, Fashion of His Love is an "in memoriam" of sorts to the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, which also works very well as a "first crush" type song as well. The 80s music works well too.
Memorable lyrics: "I'm seeing all the signs from above/ I'm gonna be the one that he loves/ I was made for lovin' him/ the fashion of his love"
-Highway Unicorn (Road to Love): Okay, I don't know what she's trying to do with this. It's a ridiculous title with a chorus that seems to have nothing at all to do with the verses and simply doesn't make sense. Why did this song make it onto the final version? Sometimes people's judgement just scares me.
Memorable Lyrics: None, really.
-Heavy Metal Lover: You know those people who hate songs based on they're heavy use of synth? Well, they would both love and hate this song. Synth is used to the max; so much, in fact, that Gaga's voice is barely recognizable. But that's a good thing. Her voice is distorted is all the right ways. For reasons I can't really identify, I really like this song, even though it's far from "good". I dunno. It's just one of those songs, I guess.
Memorable Lyrics: None. Weird, isn't it?
-Electric Chapel: This is one of those songs that you just have to love. From the epic opening to the Alejandro-reminiscent "bouncy" chorus (or lack there of, really), this song proves that Lady Gaga doesn't depend on these arena-filling anthems, and can do much more small-scale tunes, as well as unleashing her inner groupie.
Memorable Lyrics: "Follow me/ don't be such a holy fool/ Follow me/ I need something sacred from you/ It's not about sex or champagne/ You holy fool"
-The Queen: A nice addition, not single-worthy, but not filler either, with a bridge that definitely belongs to some anime show. A solid track that you don't love, nor do you hate, it's just your average Gaga self-empowerment tune.
Memorable lyrics: "Starry night, come inside me like never before/ Don't forget when when I come crying to heaven's door/ I will fly on a challenger across the sky/ Like a phoenix so you can remind them of the dream I bore"
-You and I: The lady's future single, You and I is, quite simply, a country song. Some say this is BTW's answer to Speechless, which is kinda true, but You and I just isn't as good as speechless. I think the original version (just Gaga and her piano) is better than the We Will Rock You-inspired anthem. But hey, that's just me. Oh, and Brian May guests as guitar.
Memorable Lyrics: Not really much there--all the lyrics are pretty all the same level of nice.
-The Edge of Glory: This has to be, excluding Speechless and maybe Bad Romance, Lady Gaga's best song to date. With the legendary Clerence Clemons playing a minute (Minute!)-long sax solo, and with uplifting music, epic lyrics, and a movie soundtrack quality, I'm kinda dissapointed it didn't too as well as Born This Way as a single. But, oh well. The album ends the best way it possibly could: on The Edge of Glory. Not the mention the breathtaking acoustic version she performed on Howard Stern. Look it up. You just might cry.
Memorable Lyrics: "I'm on the edge of glory/ And I'm hanging on the moment of truth/ I'm on the Edge of Glory/ And I'm hanging on a moment with you/ I'm on the edge with you!"
So, there you go, my review of Lady Gaga's monster album Born This Way. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll get around to discussing or analyzing Lady gaga's psychology or persona in this, which is something I wanted to do, (and I've been at this for about 2 hours now), but it mostly centered on the question of whether Lady Gaga had become the mask, and Stefanie Germanotta was even present anymore. But, oh well. Good day.
Anyway, you analysed the songs really well! I'm more partial to Born This Way, but that's my opinion. It's no Where Is The Love, but I love the message and rhythm. I agree n most everything you've said, though I do like The Queen.