in light of the grammy's
Lady Gaga - NYC icon or absolute wannabe? I think her songs are catchy, but her persona's a bit manufactured - she reminds me of a lot of my particularly flamboyant male friends, and she seems to be very much trying to court the stereotypical gay-man-in-a-woman's-body image, but it seems fake precisely because it is so stereotyped. That said, I sing along to "Bad Romance' whenever it comes on the radio...
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42 Comments
hhusted
2yrs+
I looked up Lady Gaga. I also saw her in LA Magazine recently. I think she is just another fad that will be hot for awhile and soon after she will change her image. She may not be forgotten, but she won't be in the limelight after a while. That is just the way celebrities, whether musicians or actors, are treated.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@ajadedidealist did you see her outlandish Grammy fashion which was supposedly designed by Giorgio Armani he of the slick, minimalistic styles .. bizarre to say the least but as you say perhaps she is playing to the galleries and reveling in her 5 minutes of fame ..
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hhusted
2yrs+
Yep, she is trying to enjoy the time in the spotlight now. You know how celebs come and go.
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
I think she'll be around for a while yet. She actually knows how to compose a song, and the persona is so obviously playful. On the Ellen show she gave a nice interview, and seemed like a nice girl who likes to play dress up...
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ajadedidealist
2yrs+
She seems a little weird, but all my friends love her. That said, at least she seems mildly clever and self-aware, not taking herself too seriously "come on - calling herself Lady Gaga, for crying out loud?" I do like this video though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I. She's playing a concert in NYC right now - anybody planning to go or get tickets?
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
I think Lady Gaga has a lot of control over her image, actually, and disagree that she is manufactured. She definitely makes "soulless electronic pop" - her words - but she is awesomely self-aware. She first made a name for herself doing LES club shows, back before the LES became infested with dudes in collared striped shirts and gelled hair.
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hhusted
2yrs+
Actually, Lady Gaga did not come up with that name. It was her producer who did. She was trying to find a good stage name and called her producer (record) for a good name. He texted her back and gave her the name. She liked it and it stuck.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@ajadedidealist I must admit her monster hit -Just Dance is quite infectious...
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
In fashion and gossip columns it seems de rigeur to use adjectives like "atrocious' when describing Lady Gaga's newest weird outfit, but I bet a few years down the road everyone will say what a trailblazer she really was. Which would be somewhat inaccurate since she's so obviously influenced by the Glam-Rock era and its outrageous costuming. This woman knows EXACTLY what she's doing in creating and promoting her persona.
I also happen to think she's a decent musician, though she's obviously made a decision to make the "soulless" stuff that will sell well. Unlike Madonna, she can even kinda sing.
@BroadwayBK Dang, I would have loved to see an early concert of hers in one of those LES clubs.
I also happen to think she's a decent musician, though she's obviously made a decision to make the "soulless" stuff that will sell well. Unlike Madonna, she can even kinda sing.
@BroadwayBK Dang, I would have loved to see an early concert of hers in one of those LES clubs.
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hhusted
2yrs+
Lady Gaga started singing and playing the piano by ear when she was four. She started singing in public at 13.
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
Would have been interesting to see her performing as a teenager, when she was still "unformed."
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
here's some footage from when she was attending Tisch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM51qOpwcIM
it's not high school, but she's pretty "unformed"
it's not high school, but she's pretty "unformed"
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
That was a nice video, BroadwayBK. The woman really can sing. And that second song was a nice beginning to original songwriting..."fame is our felony" is a pretty good line. So this is who comes out of Tisch...not bad!
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
I wonder who else has come out of Tisch....
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
Here's a shortlist of some of the directors who came out of the film program:
Oliver Stone, M. Night Shyamalan, Joel Coen, Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Roman Coppola, Martin Kunert, Nancy Savoca, and more recently, Brett Ratner, Todd Phillips, Marc Forster, and Ryan Fleck.
Actually, here's a list at Wikipedia, and it includes Whoopi Goldberg and Angelina Jolie among the Tisch alumni:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NYU_Tisch_People
Oliver Stone, M. Night Shyamalan, Joel Coen, Ang Lee, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Roman Coppola, Martin Kunert, Nancy Savoca, and more recently, Brett Ratner, Todd Phillips, Marc Forster, and Ryan Fleck.
Actually, here's a list at Wikipedia, and it includes Whoopi Goldberg and Angelina Jolie among the Tisch alumni:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NYU_Tisch_People
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ajadedidealist
2yrs+
She really is talented - I was impressed by the youtube video. I see her more as a David Bowie than a Madonna, but maybe that's the fangirl in me talking. As for Tisch alums - I think my all-time favorite is Julie Delpy, of Before Sunrise/Sunset fame. Actress, director, screenwriter, costume designer, musician - is there anything she doesn't do? Although having famous parents does help, alas...
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
I would not relate Gaga to Madonna - but that's just because I am fan of the former and not the latter. Bowie is a good comparison; it seems like both are/were creating to the beat of their own drum.
I love Julie Delpy as well - had no idea she went to Tisch.
I love Julie Delpy as well - had no idea she went to Tisch.
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hhusted
2yrs+
I think Lady Gaga has more talent than Madonna. Madonna can't really sing. She is just a good marketer.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@hhusted I happen to like Madonna :) ( take a bow, frozen,) but then I love Vintage Bowie as well (Heros, Changes, Let's Dance ,Modern Love)
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hhusted
2yrs+
@Uptowngirl: To each his or her own. My statement is my own preference. You have your likes as well as I. If you like Madonna, enjoy her singing.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@hhusted amen!
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ajadedidealist
2yrs+
I much prefer Gaga to Madonna, although I appreciate Madonna as a pop icon. But her glam rock/inventiveness is consciously subversive and a bit gender-bending, hence my Bowie comparison. What's Bowie up to these days, anyway? Doesn't he live in NYC?
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@ajadedidealist he seems alive and well according to his official website -http://www.davidbowie.com/news/
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hhusted
2yrs+
I'm not a fan of David Bowie. He never appealed to me. I am too much into songs of yesteryear than the new stuff today.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@hhusted I think Bowie would classify as an 'oldie' given that he has been around since the 1970's..:):)
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
I love Bowie. I am utterly guilty of having a giant Aladdin Sane poster in one of my old college living spaces. Does he live in New York? He is totally worth stalking.
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ajadedidealist
2yrs+
He does indeed live in NYC! I went to a fundraiser at the Met (the Dangerous Liaisons one back in 2004 or so) purely in the hopes of meeting him, as he and Iman were on the major donor/sponsor list of the party. Alas, not, although there were plenty of socialites decked out in mock-Versailles gowns (including one very flamboyant man), to celebrate the theme - so it wasn't too much of a loss when it comes to glam rock overdoing it. (might have spotten Iman, actually, but alas, no Bowie...)
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
Agreed! he is totally worth stalking. Sadly, I think NY is only one of his many homes.
I just saw Moon, the debut film by his son, Duncan Jones. Uncomfortable story, but not at all a bad film
I just saw Moon, the debut film by his son, Duncan Jones. Uncomfortable story, but not at all a bad film
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
I think they officially live in NYC and London, both.
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hhusted
2yrs+
There are probably many celebrities who live in NYC part time, especially if they are not traveling a lot. Many of them more than likely have more than one home, and use NYC as a second home when on the road.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
Just this morning I heard a news report about some incident at Alec Baldwin's UWS home and I think even David Duchovny ( of Californication fame)who is a native New Yorker has relocated back to the city. Would be fun to compile a list of all the mainly NYC based celebrities ..
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
It would be impossibly long, uptowngirl! Even the "My favorite New Yorker" list is getting long.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
btw BroadwayBk ages ago I saw this movie which starred Bowie it was called Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and it was great WWII film. He looked absolutely yummy in it..
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
Ha...it's hard to imagine Bowie looking amazing. I guess I just picture his current old bony face :)
I love Alec Baldwin, despite that strange message he left his child. I completely forgot about him. And Tina Fey!
I love Alec Baldwin, despite that strange message he left his child. I completely forgot about him. And Tina Fey!
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hhusted
2yrs+
@Uraniumfish: A list the size of Texas would probably be needed to hold the many names of celebrities who make or made NYC their home. Well maybe not that much space, but you get the idea.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@BroadwayBk have a look at a scene from the movie-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXK6FrhNTos&feature=related
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Uraniumfish
2yrs+
In his best times he looked elfin. He's always had an odd face, though definitely charming...
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BroadwayBK
2yrs+
@uptowngirl That's awesome! And he does look almost sexy there... if only the man had a bit more testosterone.
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@BroadwayBk didn't he call himself the Thin White Duke at some point?
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ajadedidealist
2yrs+
Oh yes he did, @uptowngirl! I dressed as The Thin White Duke (the incarnation from, I believe, his Station to Station years) for a cross-dressing contest/dance one year. I didn't win, though....but I have some great photos!
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uptowngirl
2yrs+
@ajadedidealist Wow! post them to your profile and let us have a looks see will you??
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