Another Gaga Fan Bites The Dust

Would you hang this on your Christmas tree?

By Petra Starke

I defended her when she wore that dress made of meat.

I rallied against people who claimed she was "just another Madonna clone".

I even applauded when she arrived at the Grammy Awards in an egg and claimed she'd been "incubating" in it for three days.

But after what I saw this week, I just can't take it anymore. I'm officially handing in my Lady Gaga fan club membership. And it's all because of a lollipop.

Let me backtrack a few years. In 2009, just before she became a mega huge pop star, Lady Gaga was the support act for the Pussycat Dolls at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

Back then Gaga only had a couple of hits and I barely knew who she was. I was there to review the Pussycat Dolls, but ended up writing the whole article about her.

I remember watching this platinum-haired pixie storming around the stage in a crazy mirrored frock and go-go boots, belting out these super-glossy, future-pop songs on a piano, only to be followed by the spray-tanned, silicon-enhanced strip show of the Pussycat Dolls.

They looked like they'd stepped out of a cheap men's magazine. She looked like a pop star girls could be inspired by. My admiration for her was instant.

She wasn't just a weirdly-dressed spectacle with catchy tunes; she preached a message of acceptance, empowerment, self-love and positivity. No matter your ethnicity, sexuality or appearance, everyone was welcome at the temple of Gaga.

But this week I saw the true temple of Gaga - "Gaga's Workshop" - and her booming dance music was barely audible over the sound of cash registers ringing.

Gaga's Workshop is a special, limited time only "pop-up boutique" that launched last month in New York department store Barney's. It looks like Adelaide's Magic Cave as designed by Willy Wonka and Andy Warhol, and is filled with every type of Lady Gaga merchandise you can imagine.

And I mean EVERY type. Snow globes, stuffed toys, bath foam, sunglasses, T shirts, key rings, playing cards, candles, yo-yos, handbags, teacups, iPhone stickers, tape measures (yes, really), hair bows made out of real hair and $525 children's leather jackets with "GAGA" emblazoned on the back in glitter. I felt like I'd walked inside a giant Lady Gaga showbag.

But it wasn't until I spied the lollipop painted to look like the star's face that the irony hit me like a studded-glove smack to the face - WE were the suckers.

Here we all were, embracing Lady Gaga's "love thyself" philosophy and celebrating being "born this way", while simultaneously being sold vastly overpriced lipstick and hair pieces. Not to mention bits of plastic manufactured in China for presumably a fraction of Gaga's price tag. I guess it's easier to feel good about the way you're born if it's not into a poor family in Guangzhou.

Things weren't just overpriced, they were ABSURDLY overpriced. A single gingerbread cookie painted with Gaga's face was $18. A plastic Christmas ornament in her likeness was $25.

One pair of plastic goggles clumsily covered in black lace and superglue was $295. I imagined a team of workers sitting in the storeroom with glue guns and bedazzlers, tearing open boxes of cheap crap from China and having a huge laugh.

The whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth - worse than the one I imagine you'd get if you actually tried to eat her $25 "rock candy earrings" - and I left without buying anything.

Gaga has announced that 25 per cent of proceeds from the Workshop will go to her new Born This Way Foundation which, according to its website, is "a movement to build a brave new world where humanity is embraced, individuals are empowered, and intolerance is eliminated". Whatever that might mean.

There's been a lot of press about the foundation focusing on anti-bullying strategies, although there's been no hint of what that might actually involve. Perhaps all will become clear when the organisation is officially launched in 2012. When it does, it certainly won't be lacking in funds.

In the meantime, I'll try to get over my shattered love affair with Lady Gaga. Let's call it a bad romance.

SOURCE 

Thank you Tallulah for sending this to me.

Gaga Voted Billboard's Most Overrated Star

Art

Billboard has spoken and Stefani's been voted 2011's Most Overrated Star, followed by Britney Spears and Justin Bieber.  Stefani came in with 30% of the vote, Spears with 29% and Bieber with 21%.  Stefani didn't "kill it" with a landslide but Spears is overrated as well.  Actually, all three of them are unless you're into that type of music.   It's worth noting that the public voted and it's very indicative of how so many have just become tired of her. 

Stefani's over exposure has been the death knell for her career.  On top of that, dated songs from Born This Way that simply doesn't appeal to anyone who isn't a Gaga stan, unless you find yourself a time machine and travel back to 1989. 

Stefani also made it to No.1 in the Best Fashion category.  Turns out most people can't tell the difference between true fashion and costumes.  Stefani is just one big showcase of Halloween costumes and Tim Gunn, American fashion consultant and television personality agrees. 

Gunn says:

“What I’ve said about her is very matter-of-fact. She doesn’t wear clothes, she wears costumes! So would I ever put her on a best dressed list or list her among fashion icons? Of course not."

Back in August 2011, Stefani accused Gunn of being a "fashion bully" during her appearance on The View, due to previous comments he's made in reference to her "fashion".  Clearly, someone needs to give Stefani a dictionary and look up the word "criticism".  Just because someone doesn't like how you dress doesn't make them a bully. Obviously her fragile ego can't take it.  If Stefani had her way with making bullying a hate crime, we'd all be on trial for something!  

Oh, and the most anticipated album for 2012?  Madonna, with a whopping 42%. 

Critics Picks: 10 Best Albums of 2011

It's in folks.  Billboard released it Critics Best list of the top 10 albums of 2011 and Born This Way is no where to be seen.  Yes, yes monsters, Born This Way is on the Top 200 Albums based on year-end  sales data as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan.  No doubt the 0.99 deal helped boost sales a lot plus the fact that more were shipped than actually bought by the public.  I trust the critics more than the monsters.  Most of them wouldn't know good music if it was shoved inside an RPG and blasted through their house.

Here's the critics best:

10.)  "The Big Roar" by The Joy Formidable

9.)  "James Blake" by James Blake

8.)  "Ceremonials" by Florence + The Machine

7.)  "House of Balloons" by The Weekend

6.)  "David Comes To Life" by Fucked Up

5.)  "Take Care" by Drake

4.)  "Nostalgia, Ultra" by Frank Ocean

3.)  "Watch The Throne" by Jay-Z and Kanye West

2.)  "Bon Iver' by Bon Iver

1.)  "21" by Adele

A thank you to an anonymous commenter for sending me the link to the critics list.

What to do if you come across "Born This Way" CD

                        

Little Monsters Begin "Marry The Night" Campaign

Mark your calendars!  December 20th is "Marry The Night" day, when little monsters will band together and download the single with hopes that it will become a hit.   Marry the Night has been sluggish on the charts despite Stefani's over saturated marketing and promotion.  There's even a Facebook campaign to try to get the song moving.  So far, it's a stalemate.  

Why not just let the song go down it's own path naturally?  If the song was any good or appealing to the masses, people would buy it on their own without the need for any campaign to persuade them.  If I hear a song on the radio by any artist and it doesn't resonate with me, there's nothing anyone can do to make me buy it.  The only people that will buy the single on December 20th are her fans.  Fans who already own the entire album and will cheat to get the song to chart higher; but I guess they've learnt from the best.

Seriously, speaking from a neutral standpoint, Stefani really should just take a break, even for a year.  Give the public a chance to miss her.  If her songs are moving at a snails pace, it's because of the over exposure and the constant need to be in the headlines.  People are getting sick of her or worse, bored of her and the only person to blame is herself.  Stefani's career is on a decline because it's just over kill now.  She hasn't even kicked off her Born This Way Ball Tour and she's already started working on her next album. 

And before little monsters on this blog start saying that there was an Express Yourself Day on March 17th, 2011, bear in mind that Express Yourself was officially released on May 9, 1989 and did really well on the charts.  Madonna already had this one in the bag in 1989.  No doubt the Express Yourself day in March 2011 was organized in protest in response to Stefani's rip off Born This Way.  Makes sense no?

 

Gaga Has Delusions of Grandeur

I don't think so

grandeur [ˈgrændʒə]

n

1. personal greatness, esp when based on dignity, character, or accomplishments

2. magnificence; splendour

3. pretentious or bombastic behaviour

Stefani's histrionic and narcissistic personality disorder have reached a new level of preposterous proportions.  Stefani has now aligned herself with the likes of Princess Diana.  Yes, that's right, it turns out that Stefani thinks she is the 21st century reincarnation of the late Princess.  Stefani has lumped herself into this category because of the delusional self image that she's as important and monumental as Princess Di and because of that, she's thinks she destined to die a tragic death similar to the Princess.

Rumor has it that Stefani's written a song for her next album about Princess Diana and views herself as  "pop music's" answer to Di.

“Diana was the most iconic martyr of fame. She died because of it,” Gaga reportedly has said.

Oh, there goes that annoying pseudo intelligence again.  Lets look at the definition of the word "martyr" why don't we.

1: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion

2: a person who sacrifices something of great value and especially life itself for the sake of principle

 

You see silly Gaga, Diana never voluntarily gave her life for fame.  She didn't want to die for a cause and she didn't want to sacrifice herself as an example so get your facts straight lady.

It's quite offensive and tacky that Stefani thinks of herself on the same level as Diana.  Stefani, did you take your medication today?  You are not Diana nor will you ever be.  You have zero, zilch, nada comparable to her.  Diana was graceful, beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and charming - all qualities you do not have Stefani.  She didn't flash her cooch for the world to see.  She didn't steal or plagiarize and unlike you, she actually had something intelligent to say based on real substance and not shallow emotions and lies. 

Diana also didn't complain that she was bullied because she had nice hair as she told Katie Couric during her nauseating Thanksgiving Special interview.  She also lied about the cafeteria, first stating that she never had a table to sit and then later in the show, pointing out the table she sat at with her friends.

Histrionic Personality Disorder:

People with this disorder are usually able to function at a high level and can be successful socially and at work.

Symptoms include:

• Acting or looking overly seductive
• Being easily influenced by other people
• Being overly concerned with their looks
• Being overly dramatic and emotional
• Being overly sensitive to criticism or disapproval
• Believing that relationships are more intimate than they actually are
• Blaming failure or disappointment on others
• Constantly seeking reassurance or approval
• Having a low tolerance for frustration or delayed gratification
• Needing to be the center of attention (self-centeredness)
• Quickly changing emotions, which may seem shallow to others

 Sounds like Gaga to me. 

Thank you to Umrao for bringing this story to my attention.

Electro Pop Duo Screwed by Former Gaga Producer

LA Based, Brooklyn bred Pop Duo Purple Crush are in a heated legal battle with former Gaga producer Rob Fusari. In addition to being a musical act, Isla Cheadle and Jared Selter of Purple Crush are song writers and were hired by Fusari to write music for Gaga's albums The Fame Monster and Born This Way.
 

Although none of the songs Purple Crush penned for Gaga were used on the album, due payment for the work was never honored by Fusari.
 

According to Purple Crush, their role involved expanding upon song snippets Fusari sent them, before forwarding their work along to artists, such as Gaga, who would add lyrics and melody. Work was done in their L.A. and Brooklyn studios.
 

Purple Crush stopped working with Fusari in the spring of 2010. Once Fusari settled his lawsuit with Gaga, he approached Purple Crush once again. This time he told them that production on her next album Born This Way was part of the settlement deal. Fusari used this apparent settlement deal as a bargaining tool to get Purple Crush to work for him. Plus he dangled a carrot of promises of a record deal which was never followed through.
 

Purple Crush were lead to believe that Gaga did in fact write over their music and feel that some of Gaga's tracks on Born This Way use their sound. In other words ripped off.
 

All in all, Purple Crush were hired to do a job and weren't paid for it; and they should be. The lawsuit has been going on for some time now. Purple Crush attempted to find a lawyer in NJ that would work pro bono, but were rejected by multiple law firms due to conflicts with Lady Gaga. As a result they are representing themselves in the lawsuit.

You can read more about the lawsuit here on Billboard.


Here's a video from Purple Crush – their song Vacation.