Let's Have Some Fun, These Beats Are Sick
Lady Gaga’s critically and commercially successful debut
album, The Fame, turned 10 years old on 19 August this year. The album won the Grammy for Best
Electronic/Dance Album as well as the Grammy for Best Dance Recording for Poker
Face, while receiving Best International Album at the 2010 BRIT Awards. It’s
hard to believe that a decade has passed since Gaga told the world that it was
going to be okay if they “just dance”.
In my opinion, the follow-up The Fame Monster (with brilliant new tracks such as Bad Romance, Telephone and Alejandro) is even better but the
original The Fame will remain a seminal work in Gaga’s discography, and one
that is likely to stand the test of time as far as pop masterpieces go. I love early Gaga with her unreadable
“poker face” riding disco sticks in killer heels and leotards but it is also important
for artists to evolve and experiment, which she has certainly done in abundance
since 2008.
In honour of the album’s anniversary, I listened to it from
start to finish (there may have been some dancing in the living room) and I was
reminded of what a brilliant pop album this is.
Here’s a brief look back at the album that gave birth to a generation of
Little Monsters and the genesis of our love affair with Lady Gaga. I have rated each song for on a Paws Up scale of one paw up to five.
Just Dance
This is a song that is guaranteed to turn any event into a
party, a simple instruction to follow when you’ve had enough of adulting
because you will feel like everything is “gonna be okay” when you’re dancing to
this song. The video also features Gaga with the iconic thunderbolt on her
face, plantinum blonde bangs and oversized 80s shades.
LoveGame
LoveGame, a song that explores love, sexuality and fame, was
released as the third single in the US, Canada and some European countries. When
a song opens with “Let's have some fun, this beat is sick / I wanna take a ride
on your disco stick” (which I subsequently found out is a euphemism for a
penis) how could it be anything but a-mazing.
The kickass video flashes between a naked Gaga covered in rhinestones
and glitter to Gaga in a white leotard and chainlink hood with matching glasses
made from a wire fence, glowing disco stick in hand, and then to black leather
and sparkly pantie Gaga frolicking with her dancers in a moving subway car.
Paparazzi
The overriding theme of fame and love on this album continues
in the motifs of Paparazzi. No one loves
an extended metaphor more than me so I am a big fan of this song in which
Gaga’s determination (obsession) to “chase down” a boy until he is hers is
compared to the relentless paparazzi chasing celebrities until they get what
they want, with references to fans, flashing lights and the price of fame. According
to The Fame’s Wikipedia page, “The associated music video for the song was shot
as a mini-movie with Gaga starring as a doomed starlet who is almost killed by
her boyfriend, but in the end takes her revenge and reclaims her fame and
popularity.”
Poker Face
This is my favourite single from the album, though it took
me forever to figure out what the lyrics following “No he can’t read my
pokerface” were (a search revealed that they are in fact “She’s got me like
nobody”). It also includes two of my
favourite and beautifully bizarre Gaga lines: “Cause I'm bluffing with my
muffin / I'm not lying I'm just stunning with my love glue gunnin'”. The second single from the album went on to
do even better than Just Dance.
Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)
This was the third single in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden
and Denmark and fourth in France but it didn’t do as well as any of the others,
probably because it was less of a dance track than its predecessors, and one
that bordered on cheesy girl band pop.
Beautiful, Dirty, Rich
A fantastic dancey look at the vacuous and superficial
nature of fame (under the guise of a “cute life”) and its preoccupation with
appearances and wealth.
The Fame
Following a look at the lifestyle of the “beautiful, dirty,
rich” is a song about the attraction of fame and the temptations it offers: “Fame, doin' it for the fame / Cause we wanna live the life / Of the rich
and famous / Fame, doin' it for the fame / Cause we gotta taste for champagne /
And endless fortune”.
Money Honey
The third song in a row to deal with the topic of money and
all the material riches it can buy – the jag, the jet, the mansion, trips to
the islands, a boat by the beach and fine champagne to name a few. Although in this song she suggests that
kisses and touches are worth more than money…honey.
Starstruck
Starstruck is a synth-pop track that features some autotuned
Gaga but it could have done without the rap half-way through, which makes this
my least favourite track on the album.
Boys Boys Boys
I love this song which feels like an “electronic” and
“glamaphonic” nod to Sabrina’s Boys from the 80s. “Boys boys boys / We love
them! (We love them)” sings Gaga while Sabrina belted out “Boys boys boys / I'm
ready for your love”.
Paper Gangsta
This is the other song on the album that I am likely to skip,
not only because of the poor spelling; Gaga’s slow rap doesn’t quite do it for
me. Still, it’s an innocuous and fairly
catchy song, particularly the wonderfully rhyming chorus, with a dramatic piano
intro and bass line to help it along.
Brown Eyes
The electro dancefloor fervor of the rest of the album (with
one or two exceptions) is set aside in favour of a slow, piano-driven ballad
that gives listeners a glimpse of what Gaga is capable of vocally.
I Like It Rough
A hidden gem towards the end of the album that features a
narrative about a “hard girl” with a “hard life”.
Summerboy
An enjoyable, buoyant way to end an otherwise gritty album and
a track that has a Gwen Stefani feel to it.
Also a fun song to add to your summer playlist.
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