I wonder if she’s flaming out or if she’ll continue her meteoric climb? She’s fallen to wearing underwear in public and hanging out in mens locker rooms, so it may be that she’s tapped for new ideas. In case you can’t tell, I have a like/dislike opinion of her. What’s more fascinating is how she blew out of obcurity! How does that happen? The fickle finger of fame seems so random at times.

Her success is the unfortunate proof that Disco can be reborn. Those who are too young to remember the past are destined to embrace it as new…and considering all they have had is Rap for 15 years, I really don’t blame them.

As for the look and style, from what Ive seen, she is a untalented mix of Deborah Harry, and Cher.

Does this really surprise anyone? We eat junk food, shop on television (HSN, QVC, etc) for things we don’t need, and know more about American Idol than what’s happening in local government. The media is simply giving us what we want, shallow entertainment for shallow lives.

“How about covering a story that’s newsworthy and has a real impact on peoples lives? Instead, On Point decides to devote a whole program to this mindless garbage.” -informed American

What? Come on, you’re slipping i.A.! Isn’t this another symptom of a failed Obama presidency? What about socialism? Maybe it shows how Obama is controlling the mainstream, liberal-biased media? I mean, something! Man…I’m disappointed…

I confess, I among the mass of young women who adore GaGa and can be found having impromptu dance parties when and wherever one of her songs begins to play. (Apologies to the good people of Target and to others who have suffered similar unsolicited performances.)

The music is pop, but the performance and the persona are compelling. She is certainly a construction and conceit but it is all her own invention. After seeing the Marina Abramovic show at the MoMA this spring, and watching people become equally entranced and appalled, I couldn’t help seeing GaGa picking up on some of the same threads. They both ultimately seem to make the viewer feel self-conscious. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/marinaabramovic/

When people react so strongly to her, I feel like they are missing the point. In my view, she is parodying pop culture and representing it to us in all its ridiculousness. (Her recent Alejandro video seems to mock the Madonna vernacular as much as pay homage to it.) It is interesting that the likes of Britney, Beyonce and others who are equally scantily clad and prone to thrusting, float along without real cultural controversy, while she elicits such strong reactions.

Last year there was a wide spread rumor, industriously circulated by young men, that Gaga was in fact a man. I wonder if your guests might speak to whether her sexuality and persona are particularly threatening to the mainstream, or if this kind of backlash is par for the course for female performers who take the reins—so to speak!

Look forward to hearing the discussion!

Her story is great and more power to her, but they play her songs way too often on the radio. I am so burned out on her music.
There are so many great songs out that should get more air time.
iTunes owes her great thanks, because I search for other new singers and download their songs on my iPhone and listen to that instead.

…and considering all they have had is Rap for 15 years, I really don’t blame them.

Really! 15 years of what I call, “the 3 M’s” – Murder, Misogyny and MF’ing. Anything that’s a step away from Rap (“Short for Crap!” in the words of the redoubtable Greg Allman) is a step in the right direction, even if it is disposable Pop. At least she sings actual songs!

Madonna did it before Lady Gaga, she did it better, and she still looks better. Madonna should be flattered by the blatant but cheap emulation.

Madonna is 20th Century and Lady Gaga is 21st Century

Madonna fashions was from Punk,Marilyn Monroe,Vogue and Evita.

Lady Gaga’s fashion statement is unusual.

Whether you like her or not, she has achieved fame thru hard work not a talent search show with stylist and voice coaches. Lady Gaga actually has talent and can play the piano beautifully. She’ll probably be around for a few years, but she appears intelligent and will have plenty of money to move on nicely. Maybe she’ll become a classical pianist or clothing designer-i’d be interesting.

Not a huge fan, but I can appreciate the theatre involved. She seems like a combination of Laurie Anderson (who I love) and Madonna (who I despise). Consequently, I’m ambivalent.

How did dislike for Lady Gaga open up Rap music as a target? Not that I expected the OP audience to be full of hip hop fans. While there certainly is much crap in rap, I dont’ think it’s fair to dismiss an entire genre as worthless. I don’t listen to a lot of rap, but there’s great stuff out there beyond what you may hear on the radio or see on tv.

Oh, and one Marketing behemoth we should all forget and/or ignore IS Miley Cyrus, EIO.

This is a joke, right?

A public radio show opining about the guru status of an absurdly coiffed, over-sexualized Madison Avenue created starlet who spouts “wisdom” like “BE YOURSELF,” and “GET EMPOWERED!”

This would be pushing credulity if Ryan Seacrest were making the same points on Sunday morning AT40.

I agree with many of the posts above…maybe should have saved this one for a little greater remove from the fund drive, talk about buyer’s remorse!

I much rather listen to Eric Cartman’s version of Poker Face

She strikes me as another Madonna-clone; marginally talented, fairly attractive, loves to shock and supremely good at marketing her ‘brand’. I prefer my young singers with “empowerment” messages to be good singers (Pink comes to mind).
Lady GaGa’s lyrics are laughable and simplistic. I have trouble taking the entire package seriously and am floored that so much press is being wasted on her.

I noticed people don’t like Rap song.

If you love music and if notice Rock and Rap do mix good together.

RUM DMC started mixing rap and rock in the 80′s the first 2 groups that introduced a new Genre of music.

The song Walk This Way was a great hit, it was the beginning of new groups like Linkin Park, Beastie Boys,Living Color,Incubus,POD,Rage Against the Machine, Depeche mode and more.

These Musical bands blend RAP into their songs. Alicia Keys and Jay Z.

As you can see Blacks invented Rock and Roll
“It Is Nothing But A Hound Dog Howling All The Time”

Elvis change that to “It is nothing but a hound dog rockin all the time” the rrst is history

In regard to Lady Gaga’s comments on being a feminist: She is 24 years old, for God’s sake. I am 43 and I’ve never been 100% sure if I’m a feminist. Perhaps she is developing a sense of who she is and what feminism is. The idea that feminism doesn’t even know who it is, is not unheard of.

I think she is highly talented. For me her originality comes from actually being a performer vs. some of these pop artists that don’t even sing live anymore. Although your point about her saying that she is an example that anyone can do anything is true, isn’t that what every successful person stands for?

New dog, old tricks. There is absolutely NOTHING original about Gaga, her lyrics, her vocal style, gesticulations, dress, etc. Madonna, Jackson, Spears, Lil Kim, every shock-sex-commodity-self irony performer of the 1980s and 1990s defined fully the territory and she has very proficiently and effectively taken up the mantle. Gaga is a skilled professional for sure but no innovator. Her messages are not challenging and simply reinforce myopia and individualist self-obsession. Where are the songs against sweatshops, slavery, inequality, oppression, war, corruption, ignorance, existential emptiness?

I just listened to about 15 minutes of this show before turning it off. I did hear one of the commentators mention that she represented the idea that it was OK being a freak or something to that effect. I’m of a generation that grew up with nonconformist such as Frank Zappa, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, to name a fee. I’m also young enough to have been in my late 20′s when punk started to gain momentum and groups such as the Talking Heads were gaining notice.

These musicians were nonconformist, Lady Gaga is not, but who cares. If people like this kind of stuff that’s their problem. It’s manufactured pop/disco using sex to sell it.
How new and original. I do take issue with doing a show on her, I’m not sure why.

The difference between Gaga and the likes of Britney is the perception that Gaga made herself, whereas Britney was made.

Also, I find her hypersexual image to be less alluring and more threatening in terms of traditional notions of (hetero)sexuality, hence the perception of empowerment.

I think it is hilarious that folks get so worked up about whether Lady Gaga is “original” or not. What the in the world IS “original” especially in the history of pop music? When you make those comments you are simply revealing a nostalgia that means something to a few and nothing to most. She is a talented musician/composer and business woman. That she knows how to marshall the zeitgeist is impressive in a culture that has such a short attention span. I don’t care if she makes some long-lasting mark on music/popular culture. Why is that important?

I live near Fenway Park and she is better behaved than the unruly mob that goes to those games.

There has been a humorous fall out from her fame in my family. As is the case with many families, my first grandchild was the one who “named” me. She (and my other granddaughter) call me Ga Ga. I am just waiting for them to give me a cone-shaped bra for Christmas! Lots of teasing about my grandmother “handle.”

More seriously, I find her fame about as silly as most of these idols who are, at best, contrived and the opposite of “real.” She has a good voice… but I am too distracted by how outrageous she looks and acts to appreciate it. I am no conservative prude, but as a feminist, I think this kind of image and sexual stereotyping does more harm than good among our young girls.

Pam
Staunton, VA

I think what people are missing out on is the term “theatrics”. If one considers this, Lady Gaga can be seen as a character, not a “real” person. As a character, she is able to do things and say things that any “normal” person would not be able to (for censorship reasons, inhibitions, etc). The costumes continue to be worn off-stage, which gives us a clue that Lady Gaga continues to personify her alter-ego in everyday life. Comparing her to celebrities that “act-out” in public is not fair.

Marginally talented, a master at marketing her ‘brand’, childish porn-y lyrics. If I wanted to listen to a young woman who sings about “personal empowerment”, I’ll listen to Pink (who has an amazing singing voice-unlike Lady Gaga who is auto-tuned to death). At least her lyrics are becoming more mature (pop is a relative scale, mind you).

She’s epitomizing bland empty titillating crap to simpletons. Obvious repetitive hooks over disco beats. And it’s amazing that the media is falling over over themselves assigning some sort of depth to her product.

I am an over 30 music fan and I think she’s terrific on many fronts.

But understand, not everyone can do what she does. She is actually a talented musician and a song writer. In case you forgot she was on-stage with one of the musical greats, Sir Elton John and she held her own across from him.

The rest IS marketing. Brilliant Marketing.

I am an NPR junkie and am once again amazed at the variety of topics that you cover. I actually have never heard of Lady Ga Ga, interesting show, but of note is the breath of your audience, young, old, across the country. Go figure, I will stop worrying that your appeal will wain as the baby boomers with a slightly liberal leaning die off. YOU GO NPR. THANKS

I can’t believe you’re wasting NPR air time on the no talent gimmick Lady GAG GAG (spelling intended) and with such lofty analysis yet! What’s tomorrows show; comparing The Jersey Shore and Shakespeare? She’d better hope the Hollywood Squares comes back on TV in a few months so she’ll have a place to sit!

Don’t hate her ’cause you ain’t her!

NPR is not all About politics it is about the American community in how we view Politicians, Economics and Social Studies/Music.

Are you not sick and tired of Politics? I am.

A topic about Lady Gaga is not a waste of time. I think talking about politics is a waste of time for ordinary Americans. All the arguement and comments we post here on NPR about how to change the government is just another waste of American time.

Come to think of it Gossip magazines sells a lot more than politics.

People loves to talk about other people’s lives. It is the Human trait.

Alright, she is equipped with basic skills, which has okay voice and okay piano skill, but she knows herself well enough that her “basic skills” won’t make her famous and outstanding. Then her best skill is to borrow here and there and repackage them, like a combo on the fast food menu in a fast food chain. Who doesn’t like a cheap meal that can satisfy their short burst of attention span.

***I do NOT fault her for working hard doing what she wants to do. I never have and never will fault anyone for pursuing their concept of art.*** by Steve

This is how I feel about it too. If all her fans or media don’t put her in the category of “talented” recording/performing artist, I have no problem with her approach and music, I probably just won’t sit there and listen. BUT….. if she’s being praisesd as a “risk taking”, “talented”, “innovated” artist, now I have a HUGE problem. Those are pretty high remarks for truly highly original recording artist, and she by far doesn’t deserve those entitlement yet.

Her voice sounds very forcing when she sings higher pitch, that’s why she wrote songs to fit her voice, all ended up with fake forcing singing technique.

To be fair, there are great rap and hip pop music out there, poetic, great beat, and great lyrics, they are most likely not played on the radio. I would rather listen to those raps than Lady GaGa.

Michael Franti’s early works have more raps/hip pop/R&B, these 2 cds are great, dealing with social injustice and issues.

1994: Home
1997: Chocolate Supa Highway

***This is why she is appealing to both female and male audiences: women want to be empowered, and strong/dominating women are attractive to (most) men**** by Brieanne

Not so true, strength doesn’t always mean dominance, or appear fierce. This is when people mistaken power and dominance as Feminism. The reason Feminism rose is for the same reason because men in old society are given too much power and dominance.

The ultimate goal of Feminism is about equality, not about power and dominance struggle. True Feminism doesn’t stop at sexuality empowerment, which ironically most men probably love to embrace sexual power to women, .

Just a side note, not all men are attracted to aggressive dominant woman, especially outside of U.S. Being aggressive or dominant only when you demand “equality”, if you overuse your empowerment, you become abusive, same things goes to freedom which are often so wrongly interpreted by some people.

I can’t believe this program! The fact that anyone is trying to breath credibility into a typical exploitative pop flash in the pan is hilarious! Why don’t you have Kate Goselin on to discuss the implications of the decision to appoint Gen Patreaus or ask Bristol Palin what she would do about the oil spill. This is a low point in NPR. The fact that you can find some pseudo intellectuals to discuss this topic is a hoot! Do you want to know what is wrong with America? It is an obsessive addiction to trivial non-consequential crap.

Comparisons to Madonna and Michael Jackson make sense in terms of reference to “pop stardom”, but some distinctions should be made. Madonna and Lady Gaga both draw from and play with elements of fashion and pop culture, and have become iconic for this manipulation. Michael Jackson, on the other hand, had a depth of pure artistry in his singing and especially his dancing– an artistry that was separate from all the trappings of pop-star status and fashion.

Oh man! It’s amazing that Gaga stirs such emotion and anger. I think she is wonderful. A true performance artist who has broken through to the mainstream. Really, her lyrics are not so shocking. Have the guests even listened to them? Do you have a sense of humor at all?? 17 year-old Miley Cyrus is much more controversial! Oh and by the way there is footage of her on YouTube speaking up against the war. She has a peace sign tattooed on her wrist, people.

Talk about a true innovative, talented pop vocalist/musician/recording artist — BJORK!

Bjork’s music is one of a kind in her own right. Often times people argue about what originality really means. Originality is not you make something your own out of nothing, it is you make something uniquely your own out of everything, and no one has done it!

I have a problem with people describing Lady GaGa as a risk taker. A true artist, they don’t consider their art as risk taking, they are simply experimenting and exploring their curiosity, unless they are so bound to commercial music industry, all about record selling, their art has to be compromised, like Lady GaGa’s. So don’t make it more than what it is.

And NO, I have no reason to hate Lady GaGa, and YES, I have reason to challenge the high remarks that she wears.

Steve noticed the same thing I did. Maura Johnston was incapable of communicating without saying “sort of” excessively. Agitated me.

I thought this comment on Facebook pretty interesting, LOL!

“Here’s Lady GaGa plan/Strategy:

Step 1: Shock & Awe
Step 2: Change as she goes
Step 3: No exit strategy, might stay for a while whether you like it or not…. See More

Sounds familiar? This type of strategy works on all industries, like military, music and our financial system.”

It really amazes me when the better out of “the worst” got the most credit and glamour, people would find anything positive about her even though she’s not that so. And we have to hit rock bottom to find such a glimmer.

There are sooooo… many truly talented musicians out there that never got the publicity. Now you know why there’s a genre of “pop”, so that we can lower our expectation and give them the free ticket to ride the train of rich and famous, even though they suck. She has to have something to sell, right? After all, this is one of very few commodity America exports today, pop culture.

I can’t wait for her to be forgotten. Give me a break.

***[...] Why So Gaga About Lady Gaga? | WBUR and NPR – On Point with Tom … Posted in Uncategorized [...]

Posted by Why So Gaga About Lady Gaga? | WBUR and NPR – On Point with Tom … | Lady Gaga Planet, on June 25th, 2010 at 8:27 AM***

Our of curiosity, can anyone tell me what this means when On Point posts this on the forum randomly?

When a society starts to degenerate and decay it gives off a stench, this is an example of that stench.

I just started to listen to this show, yeah, Maura Johnston did a lot of “sort of…” & “I mean…”.

I was wondering, is it possible the reason she does this when she talks about a 3rd party, and trying to leave space for not sounding too imposing her own opinion on Lady GaGa?

Undoubtedly talented; the “voice of an age”? I doubt it. Flash in the pan, but a pretty impressive one. An important criterion for good pop music is if it is attractive in the absence of imagery (visuals); here is where Lady Gaga isn’t so successful. She is equal parts music and visual extravaganza, in fact she appears frightened of appearing in the same garb twice.
The is the Madonna of 2010, that seems pretty sure (but might not be the Madonna of 2011); probably too honest and esoteric to outlast Brittany Spears.
Was interesting, incidentally, to read public commentary from the right-wing-nuts after Lady Gaga came out as bisexual: they can’t stand anything resembling tolerance.