S. LADY GAGA
sometimes all of this has left me wanting to yell with clenched fists and gritted teeth, “Hey you kids! Get off my diva lawn!” Those of us who lived through Madonna’s heyday clearly remember the collective impact she had on an entire generation that was afraid to face an uncertain future with AIDS looming large on the horizon. Too deep? Too bad! It’s the truth, Ruth. Her safe sex messages in concerts like the “Who’s That Girl” Tour and “The Girlie Show,”
were clear indicators that—while she didn’t always practice what her papa didn’t preach—Madonna was, and is, concerned about our community. Surprisingly she is relatively mum, even with her English accent, about what she has
done for our
community...and she doesn’t Lourdes it over our heads that she has been our champion for these many years.
But what of the Lady?
Goo Goo for Gaga? I’ll have to admit something that will dig me deeper into a hole, gay or not. Hold up, like that’s a bad thing—I mean, I am cementing my fate with the gays. I said ce-men- ting, hee hee. I was late in boarding the Lady Gaga train, but “Paparazzi” made me enjoy the ride to Gay Town that she has offered her fans. So, when she released the single “Born This Way,” and it was said to be an homage,
(cough, rip off) to “Express Yourself”...well, it started this whole thought process. Please, don’t send her any hate
mail...As for me, bring it! Contrary to my laundry list of what I like about Madonna, I do enjoy Gaga for being
herself. And even though all artists do borrow from each other, can you spare a cup of controversy by her trotting out of Madonna’s much-loved stunt of using religion to garner publicity? Yup, Gaga is courting said controversy with her turn as Mary Magda- lene in her new “Judas” video. Oh, go skin a Muppet! Or don’t, as it might give your Little Monsters the wrong idea, like 20-year-old Angelina Barnes who skinned a cat to wear to a recent concert…poor, poor pussycat! Sick! Trust me, my mom wasn’t too thrilled when I borrowed her black bra to dress as a Madonna wannabe, it got stretched out... moving along, Sorry to be a drag or just an “old” queen, but, before I come off as too bitter (little
late?), there are some things I am Gaga about with ole’ Stefani Germanotta. There is the empowerment inherent in her music, I love that she won’t stand for a
“Bad Romance,” and that she introduced taking “a ride on a disco stick” into our collec- tive vernacular, and that she has some of the best videos around...even if you spelled bathhouse wrong in the aforementioned romance gone south. Gaga does have a strong commitment to the gay community and has made it known
in interviews that WE made her what she is today. And in turn, she made us shake our money makers at the drop of a hat. I do have some words of caution about her career trajectory, though. Just be careful on flaming pianos, girl! They burn! Seriously, (no, really) I just worry that Gaga and her meat dresses will shoot their proverbial wads too soon. Fans are lashing out against her as we “speak,” about her new CD cover—what
is she, a Transformer? Well, there is more than meets the eye on this one, as she will undoubtedly skirt any major falling out with fans. She has the (ahem) stones to rise above—much like Madonna. Cut. Print. That’s A Wrap! In a way, I could trot out the old commercial adage of “There’s always room for Jell-O,”
in summarizing why these two can coexist in a modern world. Much like the lime green with pineapple “dessert,” perhaps my affinity for Gaga has to thicken upon standing and congeal. Since I am a die-hard Madonna fan (no, say it ain’t so!), this may have clouded my
potential love affair with the Lady everyone is Gaga for. That’s not to say, I can’t “open my heart to me,” err, to Gaga, and become a “little monster” to the Nth degree. I am practic- ing my rah-rah-rahs right now. Until next time, that’s all of the news that’s fit to print!
MAY 2011 | RAGE monthly 29
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