Lady Gaga's Born This Way - A (kinda) Review

[dedicated to Palah, biggest Little Monster of all time...] 

So finally I decided to write about something fun and youngish. Huh. Since my previous posts seemed quite dull and serious.

I'm reviewing Born This Way - the album. I know - it has been released since forever. But I was only moved to listen to the album two days ago. So you have to forgive me for that. Too much hype and controversies surrounded the release and the lady itself that they kinda repelled me from actually listening to her songs.

 

So I used to be a Gaga's fan - or Little Monster when she released The Fame Monster. Her songs in there were downright amazing and I was instantly hooked to the passion, creativity and drive she sung in every line. However, that was before her whole Gaga-ness exploded in terms of fashion, expression and personality which kinda eclipsed her music. So it bothered me quite a bit when she seemed to be so concerned about being different.

Her music, of course, was still the main priority. People also began talking of her being an anti-Christ, Freemason and all those stuffs. Facebook had these continuous posts on the proofs that she's an Evangelist, anti this, propaganda that etc etc. Whoah, it is kinda suprising that people care so much about her religion. Good for them for being soooo caring... I guess... Putting that aside, Mother Monster makes pretty damn good music.

Gaga before Monster

 Gaga after Monster. What an evolution after a short period of two years...

So. being a Little Monster, my expectation was naturally sky high for Gaga's official second album.. Born This Way the single was finally released. The radio stations began utilizing the fame of Lady Gaga by playing the song non-stop. Soon, the song was everywhere.

Everywhere but my heart. Ouh, how touching... 

Yes, I was disappointed. I didn't like the song. Compared to the anthem-ic oh-so-very-cool Bad Romance, it was a bit blehhh, less intense, not much kick and not as exciting as I expected it would be. She did not stretch her voice much - it was more of a song to the fans rather than an expression of her own feelings. But then, I kept my patience. Who knew the second single would better?

Then, this came out. The HOLY[shit!] cover art for the album.

My first reaction - "What effing arse was Gaga thinking?!!!"

Is it not the fugliest album cover you've ever seen in your entire life? After putting so much art into the cover of The Fame and the Fame Monster, you get that????? I couldn't even begin to say which part of it ruins my whole desire to even listen to the album. Her face had too much make-up, the bike seems so wrongly placed, the colour - fuck, who the hell was responsible for that friggin' design? I mean, couldn't he or she imagine what would a Little Monster feel upon seeing this piece of crap?

I know that's harsh but that was my exact feeling.

So the accumulated disappointments from the first single and the artwork caused me to quit Gaga's fandom earlier than I expected. I gave up around April 2011. Yes, Gaga, you can do whatever you want with your music career  but I'm not going to care anymore. Leave me alone to immerse myself happily and forever in the embrace of the great gloriousness of The Fame Monster.

Too bad. Because shortly after, the second single Judas came out. It was quite good. But I couldn't care less.

So fast forward three months later, my heart was finally moved after seeing Gaga performed Judas live in Youtube. I was so damn impressed. My interest resurfaced. Born This Way indeed came my way in the end. The timing was right. People started talking less and less of her, so the hype cooled down a bit. 

So the final result - is it as good as The Fame and The Fame Monster?

I can't even say. But what I know is that it is one hell of an album. The Fame is more dancey, The Fame Monster is dancey+passion but Born This Way is just way EPIC. Epic in terms of lyrical themes, extreme sounds taken from every possible genre and the overall intensity. Gaga is not holding back. So thank God the lead single that I was so damn disappointed at barely represents the whole album. Or else.... TT

I enjoyed listening to the album very much. And still do now. The songs in the album often talk of risky stuffs - stuffs that are not so openly talked about but frequently thought of by us humans. We are one bunch of hypocrite animals, I tell you. We love to criticize the things that we feel. I wonder why....

But anyway.... 

My favourite songs? Oh so many...

1 - Judas - which I suprisingly disliked at first even though Palah's blog kept playing it like hell! It was too much for me at first with all the dramatic changes in her music. It grew to me overtime and I soon appreciate the theme of betrayal Gaga brought forward. The first verse where she sang "Ohhhh ohhh I'm in love with Judaaaassss" lingers inside my head for a long long time. In plain words - it's addictive.

Favourite line: "I wanna love you, but something;s pulling me away from you. Jesus is my virtue, And Judas is the demon I cling to." 

The way she sang it. Enough said. 

And it doesn't help the fact that Norman Reedus who played Judas in the music video is basically the HOTTEST MAN alive! Ouh, Norman.... *faints"

2 - Heavy Metal Lover - despite its dramatic title where you would expect a hard-rock sounding song, Heavy Metal Lover suprprised me by being...... heartfelt. Gaga sounds melancholy and it's as if she let her feelings took control over her - so it was not Gaga singing, but her heart. Get what I mean, no? Okie dokie...

Favourite line: "I could be your girl, girl, girl, but would you love me if I ruled the world, world, world."

So would you?

3 - Bloody Mary - it sounds a bit sad and melancholy as well, similar to Heavy Metal Lover. Gaga sounds as if she's grieving for the 'you' in the chorus so I guess this is a mourning song? I don't really understand the meaning behind the lyrics but but I love love love the music. 

Favourite line - "Love is just a history that they may prove, and when you're gone, I'll tell them my religion's you." and "Je ne veux pas mourire tout seule" which means I don't want to die all alone. 

Ouh. So sad.  

4 - You & I - so Gaga singing about love..... hmmmm. So Gaga does know how to love? I'm not sure which one seems more alarming - Gaga in love or the fact that she's in love with a man. This particular song manages to humanize the monster personification that Gaga carries these years. Somehow,  beneath that radical art shit she has going on, she is just a simple girl who falls in and outta love. Oh, how sweet...

Favourite line: "There's only three men that I'm certain my whole life, it's my daddy and Nebraska and Jesus Christ."

How true is it for each of us? FYI, Nebraska is a state somewhere in USA. 

So, all in all, Born This Way is indeed an emotionally fulfilling album for me. Not because the music itself seems to revolve in each track but also the lyrical themes behind it which range from self-discovery to sexuality. You want to have a taste in something different, listen to Born This Way. You can feel like a freak but with a great taste in music at the same time. HAHA. 

No one works it like Lady Gaga. 

We are all freaks anyway so who cares? It's just a matter of how willing you are to be open about it. Remember, we are simply a bunch of hypocrites.

Ruby Jusoh is currently obsessed with the hottest guy alive, Norman Reedus to the extent that she's downloading and planning to watch all of his movies just to see his face again and again. Obsession is a scary thing, indeed. But just take a look at those beautiful blue eyes... *meltz* 

Seriously, how could you possibly blame Gaga for choosing THIS over.... over anything?