It was Gaga: reinvention, power, and freedom

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, globally recognized as Lady Gaga, was born on March 28, 1986, in New York City. The daughter of Italian-American parents, she grew up in a musical family and demonstrated an inclination for the arts from an early age. At four years old, she began her first practical contact with music by studying piano, which led her to write her first song at the age of 13. Her passion for music led her to graduate from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where she began to gain her first spotlights as a singer and songwriter.

ASCENT OF HER CAREER

The big breakthrough for Lady Gaga occurred in 2008 with the release of her debut album, The Fame. The album featured the single “Just Dance,” which quickly became a global hit, followed by “Poker Face.” The electropop sound and striking performances began to define Gaga's career. The Fame not only propelled Gaga to international fame but also inaugurated a cutting-edge pop aesthetic, full of excess, surrealism, and contained irony.

Gaga was not just a pop singer; she was an expressionist artist who used the stage in a visceral way, breaking the norms of the music industry and pop culture in general. Gaga's performances were visual shows, filled with symbolism and often theatrical elements.

And in the musical aspect, when we talk about success — Gaga has been a reference since the beginning. Her portfolio includes revolutionary hits that not only defined her as one of the queens of pop but also left a mark on pop music and the generations that follow. One of the precursors to her rise was the album “The Fame Monster,” which is considered an extension of The Fame, but with a darker and more introspective approach. Released as an EP, The Fame Monster contains some of the biggest hits of Gaga's career, such as “Bad Romance,” “Alejandro,” “Monster,” and “Speechless.” Through this, the artist solidified herself as one of the most disruptive and innovative pop singers of the century, recognized for her fusion of glam, gothic, and the exploration of the shadows of fame.

Born This Way, on the other hand, is a masterpiece of empowerment and identity. The track became an anthem for the LGBTQIAPN+ community and for all who feel they do not fit into traditional molds of society. Gaga did not limit herself to creating only dance music, as much has been seen today; rather, she brought a new social discourse based on art. The album was acclaimed for its boldness in addressing themes such as equality, self-acceptance, and human rights.

Since the beginning of her career, Lady Gaga has always used her platform to advocate for social causes. And there is no doubt that she has become one of the greatest defenders of LGBTQ+ rights and mental health, creating the ‘Born This Way’ foundation, which supports at-risk youth and works for equality and inclusion. She has also firmly positioned herself against bullying and sexual harassment, creating a narrative of resistance. An example, almost theatrical, of how she positions herself through music and fashion is her iconic look with a meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, which was, in part, a form of protest against the objectification of women.

In Artpop, she dives deeper into experimentalism, combining pop, electronic, and visual art in a way never seen before. The Artpop era brought forth the collaboration with artist Jeff Koons for the album cover and a series of multisensory performances that divided critics. Nevertheless, songs like “Applause” and “Do What U Want” proved that the artist was still at the forefront of pop music.

With ‘Joanne,’ Lady Gaga made a turn in her sound, opting for a more country and folk style, breaking the stereotypes that accompanied her. This album was deeply personal, addressing themes of loss, identity, and her family roots. “Million Reasons” is a landmark album that reached ears worldwide, becoming one of the biggest successes of the era and showcasing a more vulnerable and introspective Gaga.

After a musical hiatus, Lady Gaga returned with ‘Chromatica,’ an album that revived the glamour and excess of the early stages of her career. Tracks like “Stupid Love” and “Rain On Me” (with Ariana Grande) showed that Gaga was once again ahead of her time, combining addictive beats with a message of overcoming and emotional healing. The album is also a tribute to dance pop, with references to her musical roots and the desire to bring music back to the clubs after an era of introspection.

Awards

Lady Gaga is not only a successful commercial artist but also an iconic figure recognized by critics. Her career is marked by numerous awards and honors. In 2019, Gaga won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Shallow,” from the soundtrack of ‘A Star Is Born.’ This award solidified her status as a multifaceted artist, capable of transitioning seamlessly between pop music and film.

Throughout her career, Gaga has won 13 Grammy Awards in various categories, from Best Dance Album to Best Pop Solo Performance. The singer is also a constant presence at the MTV VMAs, winning awards for innovative videos and unforgettable performances.

In addition to awards, Gaga has been recognized for her influence on music and pop culture. She transformed the music industry and helped redefine the role of women in music, becoming a central figure of contemporary feminism, especially regarding freedom of expression and inclusion. Lady Gaga has always been known for her collaborations with other artists, which only expanded her influence in music. She collaborated with icons such as Beyoncé on “Video Phone” and “Telephone,” and with Tony Bennett on the album Cheek to Cheek (2014), a jazz effort that showcased her vocal range and her ability to adapt to any musical style.

Her partnership with Bradley Cooper in “A Star Is Born” was also crucial for her growth as an artist, showing that she was not just a pop star but a versatile performer capable of acting and singing at a high level.

RELATIONSHIP WITH FASHION AND PERFORMANCE

The relationship between Gaga and fashion has always been strong, but it reached a new level in 2009 when she began working with French designer Jean Paul Gaultier, among other renowned designers. Each look she wears is a reflection of her multifaceted identity and her ability to constantly reinvent herself.

One of the most controversial and iconic looks of Gaga's career was the meat dress she wore to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. Created by designer Franc Fernandez, the dress was a powerful statement against the objectification of women and the superficiality of the fashion industry. Gaga stated that the dress represented a protest against the lack of rights for women and the way the media treats them as objects. The visual sparked enormous controversy but also solidified her image as an artist willing to make provocative statements through fashion.

During her performance at the 2010 Brit Awards, Lady Gaga wore a hat styled like "Kremlin," a headpiece made by Philip Treacy, the renowned British hat designer. The peculiar look became an extension of her avant-garde aesthetic and caught the attention of an international audience, reinforcing her image as an artist unafraid to break established fashion norms.

Gaga also made history at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when she appeared in an inflatable and transparent dress designed by Gareth Pugh. The “bubble” look was an assertion of her identity as an artist willing to be different. It also aligned with the theme of her first album, The Fame, where the obsession with fame and the 'inflated' and exaggerated aesthetic was explored.

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