An original article by Andy Lim:
Whether you're into today's pop music or otherwise, #Lady Gaga doesn't need any introduction. Her very name invites discussion and her chameleon-like changes of face, hairstyle, costume, has made her an enigma, even today. Many seniors who love 60's music may have heard of her but do not know her music.
She has the vocal range of a contralto, the lowest female voice type, that is, soprano, mezzo-soprano and contralto. And her songs like Just Dance, Bad Romance, Poker Face, Paparazzi, Edge of Glory, Born This Way and Telephone are some of her hits. She is considered to be one of the best selling musicians of all time.
Born in the mid 80's she grew up listening to the music of The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Pink Floyd, Mariah Carey, Led Zeppelin, Elton John and others.
So why is she appearing on a 60's music blog?
I've been watching her on YouTube (not live when she was here a few years ago) and appreciate some of her current hits but when I saw her perform again at half-time during the Super Bowl 2017 a few days ago, with her super-league championship display of vocal, musical and acrobatic talents, I realise she must be introduced to Singapore Seniors.
Whenever I asked some music friends to listen to her, the first usual comment would be their demolition of her strange name. And they are not impressed.
"Or Natalie Cole," another senior would remark.
"Yes and Connie Francis," said a third.
Now, why would a current pop singer with about 175 million albums and singles sold be interested in recording old jazz classics?
Here's the story. In 2011, after listening to Lady Gaga sing Nat Cole's Orange Colored Sky, Tony Bennett invited her to record Lady is a Tramp with him on Duet II, an album of jazz hits that included Michael Buble, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin and Sheryl Crow among other greats.
Who Can I Turn To, The Way You Look Tonight, Stranger In Paradise and On The Sunny Side of the Street were some of the songs recorded.
Standards included those composed by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern. It was Lady Gaga's wish to introduce these songs to a younger generation of listeners as the songs are evergreens and have universal appeal.
In mid-2014, she started promoting the album. Her performances were either with or without Tony Bennett. At the same time, she decided to have another tattoo, a Miles Davies trumpet and proclaimed, "Its jazz time, world!"
Cheek To Cheek, Nature Boy, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Sophisticated Lady and Goody Goody are just some of the songs I am familiar with.
Bridge the generation gap with her jazz goldies and like Christina Aguilar (*read my posting of her with Cher), I appreciate Lady Gaga just as much.
So senior readers here is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. Don't go gaga watching her. Listen to her sing...
Disclaimer: This post does not promote any album by any artiste.
Read Cher and Christina Aguilar:
* http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2014/04/when-roaring-20s-meets-rambunctious-21st.html
Images: Google.
Her many faces taken from:
https://www.360nobs.com/2011/11/poker-face-the-many-faces-of-lady-gaga/
YouTube: Lady Is A Tramp (tonybennettVIVO) and Cheek To Cheek (Ruben Christian)
November: 2018
#Lady Gaga and the latest about her:
She's in a movie that's drawing the world to see it and the fourth interpretation of the classic called, A Star Is Born (2018). Let's hope she wins the Academy Award. Bradley Cooper is in it too.
Lady Gaga, except for the costly stage lighting and presentation, I really do not see any other thing that is of interest, even her song though she does have a good voice. This is just my opinion. Anyway thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLady Gaga - Super Bowl 2017 half time show. That's how you do it. Production, performance and a real vocalist.
ReplyDeleteLady Gaga is a great singer! Yes, I echo withyou on her splendid performance!! Super talented singer/entertainer!! Love her jazz numbers with Tony Bennett.
ReplyDeleteSo amazing !! What a special pair made in heaven ! Gaga will be carrying the torch some day, just watch and see this is her true start and it's now a limitless journey.
ReplyDeleteJazz is what she has always done best. When I've seen her live... she always sings best when she is singing her slower songs or covers from other artists when is just her sat at the piano. The woman can really sing and people just don't realise it because most of her songs are pop/typical chart music.
ReplyDeleteShock rocker Alice Cooper has revealed that he warned Lady Gaga about the dangers of letting her over-the-top stage persona infiltrate and take over her life. He encouraged her to keep some semblance of Stefani Gemanotta on the surface, especially when she is offstage. Since Cooper is a legend in the rock world, he’s certainly worth taking advice from.
ReplyDeletehttp://popcrush.com/lady-gaga-stage-persona-rocker-alice-cooper/?trackback=tsmclip
WANDER AROUND OTHER POSTINGS, BUT DO COME BACK TO THIS BLOG :-)
I'm not a huge fan... but GaGa's halftime show at superbowl 51 was the best in history...
ReplyDeleteThe girl can sing... deal with it!
Will Xavier (MR X)
HI Andy
ReplyDeleteWithout a doubt, she has got a good voice with a high pitch and to sing it together with a world renowned personality like Tony Bennett does makes a good combination. The choice of Lady is a Trump, a jazz classic favorite gives her instant recognition in this genre.
Cheers - Rickie
Anything goes
ReplyDeleteTimes have changed and we've often rewound the clock
Since the Puritans got a shock when they landed on Plymouth Rock.
If today any shock they should try to stem
'Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock would land on them.
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking.
But now, God knows, anything goes.
Good authors too who once knew better words
Now only use four-letter words writing prose. Anything goes.
If driving fast cars you like, If low bars you like, If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like, If Mae West you like, Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose.
When ev'ry night the set that's smart is intruding in nudist parties in Studios.
Anything goes.
When Missus Ned McLean (God bless her) can get Russian reds to "yes" her, Then I suppose
Anything goes.
When Rockefeller still can hoard enough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows, Anything goes.
The world has gone mad today And good's bad today, And black's white today,
And day's night today, And that gent today You gave a cent today
Once had several chateaux.
When folks who still can ride in jitneys find out Vanderbilts and Whitneys
Lack baby clo'es, Anything goes.
When Sam Goldwyn can with great conviction instruct Anna Sten in diction,
Then Anna shows Anything goes.
When you hear that Lady Mendl standing up
Now turns a handspring landing upon On her toes, Anything goes.
Just think of those shocks you've got And those knocks you've got
And those blues you've got From that news you've got
And those pains you've got (If any brains you've got)
From those little radios.
So Missus R., with all her trimmin's, Can broadcast a bed from Simmons
'Cause Franklin knows, ANYTHING GOES
thank you all for the comments. I sent this to some friends and readers.
ReplyDeleteHi Guys,
Give her a break. She's very good. Especially with her jazz standards singing with Tony Bennett.
Don't bother with her name; listen to her sing.
Check her out.
Cheers
andy
It was by chance that I caught this performance which was telecast by MediaCorp sometime back. To begin with, I'm no fan of Lady Gaga. I don't know any of the songs made popular by her and wouldn't even attend her performance if I was given free tickets.
ReplyDeleteHowever, watching her performance with Tony Bennett dispelled all my negative impressions of her. What a classy performance and her vocal range is awesome.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
Thanks for sharing. I heard of this song sometime last year.
ReplyDeleteYup. it's an interesting mix.
True there are a few good singers around. They are like gems in an ocean of artists.
I want to do ALL the Gaga looks!! Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteHi Andy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these articles; I had just read your write-up on Lady Gaga (wow, I didn't know she can sing jazz! Your recording on 'Lady Is A Tramp' is amazing! I personally thought she is a great role model - tolerant, innovative, individualistic, with professional work ethic).
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
ReplyDeleteI think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home
a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog.
A fantastic read. I'll certainly be back.
Thank you very much, ANONYMOUS. That's one of the most complimentary comments for this posting. Hopefully, you will visit this blog again.
ReplyDeleteI have put up your comment on the FRONT RIGHT BAR.
THE ABOVE POST HAS BEEN REJUVENATED.
ReplyDelete'A Star Is Born' soundtrack has 'La Vie En Rose'. Thanks to Horace Wee who reminded me to get the album and all of you who reacted to this post. Appreciate the 'new' generation of 60's Seniors. :-) Ah Stephen and Jimmy Appudurai-chua, love your comments and others who LIKE it.
Comments are featured below.
I watched it last MTH!
ReplyDeleteit's a bit slow moving at half way thru the movie I dozed off...cos I had a bad cough n took cough mixture... got a bit drowsy....but lucky just for 10 mins
I am ok now...other than the short 10 mins break...the show is nice...I give it 4 popcorns!
Lady Gaga has a nice duet with Tony Bennett in a CD
ReplyDeleteI always liked her.. Out of the box... She knows how to say no more. Quite an amazing lady
ReplyDelete'A Star Is Born' soundtrack has 'La Vie En Rose'. Thanks to Horace Wee who reminded me to get the album and all of you who reacted to this post.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the 'new' generation of 60's Seniors. :-) Ah Stephen and Jimmy Appudurai-chua, love your comments and others who LIKE it.
The delightful spontaneous chemistry between Lady Gaga & Cooper. Both talents are God's gift to us.
ReplyDeleteHi Alphonso,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting response. They seemed to have hit it from the beginning.
She's grateful that they could do a movie together.
And the whole shows loaded with songs.
Hi Andy,
ReplyDeleteI was busy with some things for a while. To me Gaga or Gabor or Gaga Gabor, she is a top class extremely talented singer and hearing her sing this classic La Vie En Rose just affirms she is.
I have always said if you are talented you got it otherwise you don't.
Cheerio
Hi Michael,
ReplyDeleteI always appreciate your comments about pop music.
Yes, La Vie... absolutely in a class of its own.
(Thanks to all the above who wrote in to discuss Lady Gaga.
Thanks so much.)