The Fame

Lady Gaga is slowly taking over. Do you remember that guy in every single hit video from 1994-2003? The guy milling about in the background of Missy Elliot’s ‘Get your Freak On’, TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’ and Justin Timberlake’s ‘Cry Me A River’? Yes, Timbaland. Essentially, Lady Gaga is pulling a Timbaland. Having already written songs for Pussycat Dolls, Britney, Fergie and Akon, she is a songstress rather than just the face for the songs. All tracks on her debut The Fame have been written by her (with collaborative support, of course) and, unfortunately, are juicypop explosions. Unfortunately, I say, because they are all-consuming and the catchiest, most horribly annoying, lyrically filthy songs since 50 Cent decided that misogyny is sexy.

First track ‘Just Dance’ has already reached the number one spot and is the most obvious hit on the album. In Miss Gaga’s words, it’s ‘about getting so drunk you don’t know what’s going on’. At least she’s relating to her target audience… ‘Love Game’ is a spectacular example of the standard of lyrics Gaga provides for her debut, the first lines of which being ‘Let’s have some fun, this beat is sick, I wanna take a ride on your disco stick’ and, even better, ‘it’s complicated and stupid, got my ass squeezed by sexy cupid’. In many ways the lyrics to a lot of the tracks on this album bother me more than I’ve let on and I’ll tell you why. Despite the drunk brawlers in the club grinding away to these songs, a lot of 11 to 16-year-olds will be buying this album or listening to the songs on MTV and the thought of a 12 year-old ‘hustling’ to ‘Love Game’ or worse, ‘I Like It Rough’ just makes me shudder.

In many respects this album will be a success, not because of its innovation, there’s definitely nothing new here, but because it appeals to generic pop fiends (let’s face it; we’ve all got a little bit of it in us). And besides, she can sing really well, it just seems a bit wasted on the earlier tracks on the album such as ‘Poker Face’ which requires very little singing, instead opting for an interesting white girl rap, why not?… There are some glimmers of hope in this album, ‘Beautiful, Dirty, Rich’ is a typically edgy New York track which has been used on the acclaimed ABC show Dirty, Sexy, Money. Title track The Fame is catchy because it has a good hook and Gaga can really show off her singing skills, not because it overuses computerized bass like ‘Poker Face’. All in all The Fame is such a diverse pop album that you’re bound to find at least two tracks you love, but also two tracks that make you want to shoot Lady Gaga and kidnap her family. Not an educated listen and by no means does it provide any kind of responsible message (but what does?!), think 50 Cent’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin’, add a neurotic, exhibitionist, white New Yorker and you’re pretty much there.