Lady+GaGa

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Lady GaGa is a popular culture icon, that has become one of the world’s most talked about entertainers. Her avant-garde fashion sense and mega hit music has made her a global phenomenon. She is a multi-talented singer, song writer, and perform. Her birth name is Stefani Joanne-Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady GaGa. Her music is a mix of genres from electric rock to R&B. She has influenced the world with her outrageous fashion, her individuality, and cutting edge music. ======

**Table of Contents:**
Early Life Early Career The Fame and The Fame Monster Born This Way Analysis Works Cited
 * Impact on Society
 * Rebellion
 * Fashion
 * Master of the Art of Fame
 * Feminism

Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986. Lady GaGa, the oldest child in her family, father Joseph Germanotta and mother Cynthia Germanotta. Raised in a Romain Catholic house hold, she began playing the piano at age 4. At the time she only learned classical music. At a young age she listen to Madonna, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, rock and Roll band Queen and Whitney Houston, all of which she gets her musical inspiration. As a little girl she’d practice music in the mirror stating on MTV’s Inside the Outside, “I would stand in the mirror and I was who ever I wanted to be.” Attending a private all girls catholic school Covent of the Sacred Heart at age 11. Lady GaGa went through high school as an insecure outcast bullied for being different. She would try out for school musicals but was never cast because, “I was a brunette...” GaGa stated on MTV’s Inside the Outside,“that is until I got a wig.” She was discovered and began vocal lessons when she was 13 years old. Later deciding to further her skills in music at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts at age 17.
 * Early Life **

Early Career
====Two years after enrolling in NYU, now age 19, Stefani Germanotta dropped out of college to pursue her music career. She worked as a waitress by day and performed at night clubs by night. Then created the group the Stefani Germanotta Band with some of her New York Friends. She then started to use drugs and performing at Neo-Burlesque clubs. Later signed to Def Jam Recordings but her career did not take off. Germanotta’s stage name later became Radio GaGa, borrowed from the rock band Queens song, //“Radio GaGa.”// Lady GaGa went by this name until Rob Fusari accidentally called her Lady GaGa and the name stuck. GaGa found her musical inspiration when she mixed pop with glam rock. She then signed a joint record deal with //Kon// //Live Distribution //and //Interscope-Geffen-A&M.// ====

**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Fame and The Fame Monster **
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lady GaGa's debut album The Fame was representative of the positive side of fame. It sold 14 million copies world wide, receiving #1 in six countries, and the top 5 in Australia, the United States and 15 other countries. Her first single "Just Dance" topped the charts in six countries and brought forth GaGa's first Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording and topped the charts in six countries. "Just Dance" also received No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Poker Face" her second single off of her debut album received a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording at the 52nd Grammy Awards. The Fame was nominated for Album of The Year and received a Grammy Award for Best Electric/Dance Album of the year. Later being nominated for 9 awards at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. All leading to her becomeing the headliner of her own tour. The Fame Ball Tour, which began May 2009 and ended September of that year. ====<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//The Fame Monster//, GaGa's sophomore album dealt with the darker side of fame, which was inspired by her own life experiences. //The Fame Monster// received multiple //Grammy Nominations// and her song "Bad Romance" received a //Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance//. Also making her the first artist in the U.S to have three singles pass four million in digital sells. //The Fame Monster// earned GaGa six Grammy Nominations and a second worldtour named, //The Monster Ball Tour.// GaGa's sophomore album dealt with the darker side of fame, getting her inspiration from life experiences. //The Fame Monster// received multiple //Grammy Nominations// and her song "Bad Romance" received a //Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance//. Also making her the first artist in the U.S to have three singles pass four million in digital sells. //The Fame Monster// earned GaGa six //Grammy Nominations// and a second worldtour named, //The Monster Ball Tour//. ====

====<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Born This Way****﻿** ==== ====<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Born This Way,// Lady GaGa's second Album was released on May 23, 2011. Her two singles, //[|"Judas"]// and //"The Edge of Glory"// are grabbing the attention of the media because they about biblical history. The song "Judas" angered relligious leaders. The song depicted Lady GaGa as Mary Magdalene singing that she's,"In love with Judas." The Catholic League stated in regards to GaGa,"It is a sign of the times that people like Lady GaGa garner so much attention. Their goal of pushing the envelope is so juvenile, thoroughly immature, that it fails to excite anymore." Some compare it to Madonna's,"[|Like A Prayer]" because of it's religious cross over. Despite the lack of acceptance from religious leaders the public loved the album. When released, //Born This Way// sold about 1.1 million copies in it's first week, according to //Billboard Top 100.// ﻿ ====



=**Analysis<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> **=

Impact on Society
Lady GaGa has influenced society tremendously. She has expanded the boundaries of entertainment normality's as well as over thrown the limits of fashion. She has raised the bar of artistry in the entertainment industry. Further more Lady GaGa has become a huge factor in what Forbes’ Judy Martin calls," The Evolution of the Feminine Brand." Lady GaGa pushes through the boundaries of society normalcy and increasing the strength of femininity in society.

//Rebellion//
Lady GaGa’s stray away from normalcy, resembles those of pop icons Elvis and Madonna. Rebellion in American society has been a reoccurring trend through-out American pop culture. Elvis Presley made rebellion mainstream when he thrust his way to the top. Elvis’ sexual rock and roll style was far from the innocent grandma friendly music of previous generations, earning him the name "King of Rock and Roll." Before Elvis Presley pop music was one-sided, it consisted of innocence and appealed to only White-Americans. Presley’s rebellious style revolutionized music by crossing racial boundaries as well as social normals, Presley made rebellion normal in popular culture.

In the 1980’s Madonna expanded the boundaries of popular culture with her sexual lyrical content and music video imagery. She is now known as a pop icon and is Guinness Book of World Records’ world’s top female selling artist of all time. Before Madonna the sexuality of women was slowly expanding to the mainstream. Madonna brought women sexuality to a whole new level with lyrics like, "[|Like a virgin touched for the very first time]," and video images of her kissing a saint. Madonna revolutionized pop culture by crossing the line of religion and sexuality as well as making female sexuality mainstream.

Though Lady GaGa proves to be an innovator in the entertainment industry, she is also known to follow some of the largest and most well known trends in American society. One of them being rebellion, reaching mainstream in 1950's with Elvis Presley, and expanding further with Madonna in the 1980’s. Lady GaGa now takes rebellion to new heights by using the techniques of both Elvis and Madonna. She follows Elvis with her sexual dressing as well as creates a new image for pop culture. She follows Madonna in her decision to cross the religious line and take feminine sexuality to new heights.

With her over the top performance art, combining music, fashion, and stage art, as well as her cutting edge fashion Lady GaGa has influenced the entertainment industry hugely by breaking down the walls of normalcy. One of these walls was of fashion, deploring away from the recycled "mash-up" fashion of the 2000-2009, GaGa creates her own style known by some as "GaGa-ism." She is a style icon that has more influence some of pops most well known artists with her "No pants" trend. At the MTV Europe awards various celebrities such as Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus sported the high waist-under wear look from GaGa. At one point during the show the host Eva Longoria dressed up as a ham, mimicking GaGa’s all "meat dress" worn at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Lady GaGa’s fashion recognition does not end there, in 2010 she received #1 in Vogue Magazines Top 10 Supremely Best Dressed.
 * Fashion**

Feminism
A common trend in American Society has been the fight of women in the feminist movement. The feminine brand consists of how influential women are in society as well their marketing brand. Lady GaGa has expanded the "feminine brand" by topping Forbes Magazines’ Top 100 Most Influential Celebrities in 2011, surpassing Oprah Winfrey and Justin Bieber. Lady GaGa’s is in control of her image in the media, making her influence even more powerful because it is not ran by a man. While others, Lindsay Lohan for example can not control their image in the media. Lindsay Lohan, once a Disney child star, met her career demise when she began partying endlessly in clubs. In doing so she created a brand that was no longer kid friendly. Lady GaGa’s artistry and mystery keep her in control of her marketing brand. Women in the feminist movement of the 1960’s fought for gender equalities for women. Lady GaGa has now broken down the walls of gender roles in the entertainmnt industry. During a time period when women make up over half the work force, and surpass men in the amount of women going into entrepreneurship.

Master of the Art of Fame
With her innovative cutting edge fashion, Lady GaGa considers herself to be the master of the art of fame. GaGa's intent is to grasp the attention of everyone that sees her, with her avant-garde fashion. Deflecting the attention away from her personal life, this allows her the power to keep the mystery of her personal life from the public. Not many artists posses the ability to keep the attention of the public on their artistry, while controlling their image in the public eye. For example, Brittany Spears, once a prominent figure in pop culture met her demise by allowing the media into her relationship with husband Kevin Ferderline on her show Brittany & Kevin: Chaotic. In doing so she took the public focus off of her artistry and on to her relationship. Giving the media fire to create lies, causing her to hit fame rock bottom. Lady GaGa has not only managed to keep the attention of the public on her artistry, she also controls her image in the public eye. Well known for her fashion, she uses it as not only an attention getter but an attention detour away from her personal life. Stating on [|60 minutes with Anderson Cooper],"Part of my mastering of the art of fame is getting people to pay attention to what you want them to pay attention to, rather then what you don't want them to pay attention to." By studying the sociology of fame, Lady GaGa has put herself in control of her image in the media. A trait that many well-known artists do not posses, and end up loosing their career.

Work Cited

Primary Sources

Admin. "The Global Language Monitor » Lady Gaga." //The Global Language Monitor//. Web. 04 June 2011. []>.

Bennett, Samantha. "Why Lady Gaga Has Enormous Fashion Influence | Fashion News @Signature9." //Signature9 | Lifestyle Intelligence//. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

Collins, Hattie. "Lady GaGa: the Future of Pop? - Times Online." //The Times | UK News, World News and Opinion//. 14 Dec. 2008. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

Creed, Ryan. "Lady Gaga: 'Born This Way' Goes Platinum - ABC News." //ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News//. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

Creed, Ryan. "Lady Gaga: 'Born This Way' Goes Platinum - ABC News." //ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News//. Web. 06 June 2011. [].

Daily, Vogue. "And It’s Lady Gaga by a Mile: The Outré Original Wins Best-Dressed of the Year - Vogue Daily - Vogue." //Vogue Fashion, Features, and More on Vogue.com//. 23 Dec. 2010. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

GaGa, Lady. Interview by Anderson Cooper. //Television//. CBS News. New York City, New York, 13 Feb. 2011. Television.

GaGa, Lady. "LadyGaGa: Inside the Outside." Interview. //MTV//. MTV. New York City, New York. Television.

"Lady Gaga Judas Controversy." //New York News | New York Breaking News | News Headlines For NYC//. 18 Apr. 2011. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

Martin, Judy. "Lady Gaga And The Power Of The Feminine Brand - Work in Progress - Career Talk for Women - Forbes." //Forbes//. Web. 04 June 2011. [].

Pomerantz, Dorothy. "Lady Gaga Tops Celebrity 100 List - Forbes.com." //Information for the World's Business Leaders - Forbes.com//. Web. 04 June 2011. [].

Stransky, Tanner. "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Sells 1.1 Million in First Week of Release | The Music Mix | EW.com." //Music News, Reviews, Albums, Concerts, and Downloads | The Music Mix | EW.com//. Web. 04 June 2011. [].

Vena, Jocelyn. "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way': The New Gay Anthem? - Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV." //New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Top Stories | MTV//. Web. 04 June 2011. [].

Secondary

"Biography of Elvis Presley - Life of Elvis Aaron Presley - Elvis Biography." //Elvis Presley Official Web Site - Graceland Mansion - Memphis, Tennessee//. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

"Britney and Kevin: Chaotic on TV.com." //TV.com - Free Full Episodes & Clips, Show Info and TV Listings Guide//. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

"Madonna Biography." //Biography.com//. Web. 02 June 2011. [].

Picture Sources Born This Way Album Cover. Digital image. //Timeinc.net//. Web. 2 June 2011. [].

The Fame and The Fame Monster. Digital image. //GaGanews.com//. Web. 2 June 2011. [].

Lady GaGa at Grammy Awards 2010. Digital image. //Sociallitelife.com//. Web. 2 June 2011. [].

Lady GaGa Born This Way. Digital image. //Freealbumart.com//. Web. 2 June 2011. [].

Lady GaGa Meat Dress. Digital image. //Seattlepi//. Web. 4 June 2011. [].

=﻿By Tiara Arradondo=