Thursday, August 12, 2010

Discography - Albums & Singles

The discography of Lady GaGa consists of two albums, one compilation album, two extended plays, ten singles, three promotional singles and eleven music videos. Her debut Album “The Fame” was released in August 2008 with her second following studio album “The Fame Monster” released in November 2009. To date, “The Fame” has sold more than twelve million copies worldwide.

The Singer’s first remix album “The Remix” was released in March 2010 reaching top five on the charts in Canada and UK. The compilation has sold more than 500, 000 copies worldwide. As of May 2010, Lady Gaga has sold more than forty million singles and fifteen million albums worldwide.


2008 The Fame (Album Details)



* Released: August 19, 2008
* Label: Streamline, Kon Live, Cherrytree, Interscope
* Formats: LP, CD, digital download, USB
* Recorded: January-May 2008
* Genre: Pop, Electronic, Dance
* Length: 50:21
* Producer: RedOne, Rob Fusari, Martin Kierszenbaum, Space Cowboy, Brian Kierulf, Josh Schwartz

(Copies Sold)

* World: 12,000,000
* US: 3,643,000
* CAN: 315,000
* UK: 1,647,000

(Certifications)

* US: 3× Platinum
* AUS: 3× Platinum
* CAN: 3× Platinum
* EU: 4× Platinum
* JPN: 2× Platinum
* UK: 4× Platinum

· (Peak Chart Positions)

· US: 2

· AUS: 3

· AUT: 1

· CAN: 1

· FRA: 2

· GER: 1

· IRE: 1

· SWE 15

· SWI 1

· UK 1


2009 The Fame Monster (Album Details)



* Released: November 18, 2009
* Label: Streamline, Kon Live, Cherrytree, Interscope
* Formats: LP, CD, digital download, USB
* Recorded: 2009
* Genre: Pop, electropop, dance
* Length: 34:09
* Producer: Lady Gaga, Darkchild, Fernando Garibay, RedOne, Ron Fair, Space Cowboy, Teddy Riley

(Copies Sold)

* US: 1,229,000

(Certifications)

* US: Platinum
* AUS: 3× Platinum
* EU: Platinum

(Peak Chart Positions)

US 5

AUS 1

AUT 1

CAN 6

FRA 2

GER 1

IRE 1

SWE 2

SWI 1

UK 1

Singles

Year 2008

"Just Dance" (featuring Colby O'Donis)



(Peak Chart Positions)
US: 1


AUS: 1


AUT: 8


CAN: 1


FRA: 14


GER: 10


IRE: 1


SWE: 3


SWI: 8


UK: 1

(Certifications)
* US: 4× Platinum
* AUS: 3× Platinum
* CAN: 6× Platinum
* UK: Platinum

Album: The Fame


"Poker Face"



( Peak Chart Positions)
US: 1


AUS: 1


AUT: 1


CAN: 1


FRA: 1


GER: 1


IRE: 1


SWE: 1


SWI: 1


UK: 1

(Certifications)
* US: 4× Platinum
* AUS: 6× Platinum
* CAN: 8× Platinum
* UK: Platinum

Album: The Fame

Year 2009


"Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"



(Peak Chart Positions)
US:


AUS: 15


AUT: —


CAN: 68


FRA: 7


GER:


IRE:


SWE: 2


SWI:


UK:

(Certifications)
* AUS: Gold

Album: The Fame

"LoveGame"



( Peak Chart Positions)
US: 5


AUS: 4


AUT: 6


CAN: 2


FRA: 5


GER: 7


IRE: 30


SWE: 12


SWI: 15


UK: 19

(Certifications)
* US: Platinum
* AUS: Platinum
* CAN: 2× Platinum

Album: The Fame

"Paparazzi"



(Peak Chart Positions)
US: 6


AUS: 2


AUT: 3


CAN: 3


FRA: 6


GER: 1


IRE: 4


SWE: 22


SWI: 4


UK: 4

(Certifications)
* US: Platinum
* AUS: 2× Platinum
* UK: Gold

Album: The Fame

"Bad Romance"



(Peak Chart Positions)
US: 2


AUS: 2


AUT: 1


CAN: 1


FRA: 1


GER: 1


IRE: 1


SWE: 1


SWI: 2


UK: 1

(Certifications)
* US: Platinum
* AUS: 3× Platinum
* CAN: 7× Platinum
* UK: Gold

Album: The Fame Monster

Year 2010

"Telephone" (featuring Beyoncé)



(Peak Chart Positions)
US: 3


AUS: 3


AUT: 3


CAN: 3


FRA: 3


GER: 3


IRE: 1


SWE: 2


SWI: 4


UK: 1

(Certifications)
* AUS: 2× Platinum
* CAN: 3× Platinum

Album: The Fame Monster

"Alejandro"



(Peak Chart Positions)
US: 5


AUS: 2


AUT: 2


CAN: 4


FRA: 3


GER: 2


IRE: 3


SWE: 4


SWI: 3


UK: 7

(Certifications)
* AUS: Platinum

Album: The Fame Monster

"Dance in the Dark"



( Peak Chart Positions)
US:


AUS: 43


AUT:


CAN: 88


FRA:


GER:


IRE:


SWE:


SWI:


UK: 89

(Certifications)

Album: The Fame Monster

Promotional singles

Year 2008

"Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"

(Peak Chart Positions)
CAN: —


UK: 83


Album: The Fame

"Christmas Tree" (featuring Space Cowboy)

(Peak Chart Positions)
CAN: 79


UK: —

Album: Non-album Single

Year 2010


"Poker Face / Speechless / Your Song" (featuring Elton John; live from the 52nd Grammy Awards)

(Peak Chart Positions)
CAN: 94


UK: —


Music videos

Year 2008

"Just Dance" (featuring Colby O'Donis)

Director: Melina

"Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"

Director: Melina


"Poker Face"

Director: Ray Kay

Year 2009

"Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"

Director: Joseph Kahn

"LoveGame"

Director: Joseph Kahn

"Chillin" (Wale featuring Lady Gaga)

Director: Chris Robinson

"Paparazzi"

Director: Jonas Åkerlund

"Bad Romance"
Director: Francis Lawrence

"Video Phone" (Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga; extended remix)

Director: Hype Williams

Year 2010


"Telephone" (featuring Beyoncé)

Director: Jonas Åkerlund

"Alejandro"

Director: Steven Klein


Other Charted Songs

2008
-StarStruck (Feat Flo Rida & Space Cowboy) (#111 in US)

-The Fame (#73 in AUS)

2009

-Monster (#68 in CAN, #80 in AUS)

REFERENCE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga_discography

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Audio Files and Music Videos - "The Fame" and "The Fame Monster"

2008 The Fame (Track Listing)
1. Just Dance (Feat Colby O'donis)


2. LoveGame


3. Paparazzi

 4. Poker Face


 5. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)


 6. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich


 7. The Fame


 8. Money Honey


 9. StarStruck (Feat Flo Rida & Space Cowboy


 10. Boys Boys Boys


 11. Paper Gangsta


 12. Brown Eyes


 13. I Like It Rough


 14. Summer Boy


 15. Disco Heaven 



2009 The Fame Monster (Track Listing)

1. Bad Romance


2. Alejandro


3. Monster


4. Speechless


5. Dance In The Dark


6. Telephone (Feat Beyonce


7. So Happy I Could Die


8. Teeth


 Music Videos - In Order


1. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich (2008)

2. Just Dance (Feat Colby O'Donis) (2008)

3. Poker Face (2008)

4. Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) (2009)


5. LoveGame (2009)

6. Chillin (Wale feat Lady GaGa) (2009)


7. Paparazzi (2009)


8. Bad Romance (2009)

9. Video Phone (Beyonce feat Lady GaGa) (2009)



10. Telephone (Feat Beyonce) (2010)

11. Alejandro (2010)

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Music Style and Influences – Song writing –



Lady GaGa has been inspired by many other artists, and has therefore evidently carried these influences out in her work of art, fashion and expression. Being a fan of 70’s glam rock artist’s such as David Bowie and Queen, and pop icons including Madonna, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson, has truly directed the singer where to go, and how she wants to be perceived in the music industry. GaGa even created her name in relation to the song “Radio GaGa” by Queen. "I adored Freddie Mercury and Queen had a hit called 'Radio Gaga'. That's why I love the name... Freddie was unique – one of the biggest personalities in the whole of pop music”, GaGa commented. Madonna had told ‘Rolling Stone’ that she can see herself in Lady GaGa after comparisons were made between the two. Lady GaGa’s ambition is to revolutionise Pop music, and to achieve a positive translation of freedom and art to her young fans, through her music. Lady GaGa is also partially inspired by Elton John, Grace Jones, Blondie and Debbie Harry.


       Britney Spears
                                                 
Gaga’s vocal range is diverse, and has been effectively popular and successful throughout her career, and has delectably pleased her fans suiting her choices and genre of music. It has often been compared to Madonna and Gwen Stefani, and her music bounding or outlining 80’s and 90’s europop. “The Fame”, the singer’s debut album was reviewed as a piece of art, consisting of art, fashion and technology, especially displayed at her live shows. Lady Gaga has made her own place in the pop industry, and is now an iconic face of Pop, referred to as unique and a need for mainstream popular culture. Many critics have labeled Gaga as a dance club and radio breakthrough, with her music played frequently, and seemingly never gets too old. Gaga is known for being somewhat of a “show off”, and having an eccentric vocabulary, or using quirky phrases, particularly when being interviewed. Gaga has identified Fashion as a major influence of her style. She stated that the fashion creates a powerful image, and that it brings everything together to create the real story.



Lady GaGa’s music has also at times been inherently subjective, sparking worldwide attention and controversial disputes. Although Gaga defends her work calling it “beautiful” and “exotic”, and not to mention original. She also refers to her fans as “little monster’s” relative to components of and the love for her music, which is an additional way of making her feel more connected to her fans. GaGa has explained how supportive she is of the gay community, which makes up a large portion of her fan base, and how they have always been there for her, and they truly inspire her work and to continue accomplishing her dreams. She stated that her music video “Alejandro” was a celebration of gay love, and the strength and courage they require to be together. Lady Gaga is focused on what she can achieve, and not of what others expect of her.



Lady Gaga is also a songwriter, and initially began her career writing songs for other artists, including “Quicksand” which was written for Britney Spears for her “Circus” album. The singer began writing songs at a young age, and has since developed her skills revealing them through her song production. Gaga has presented majority of her songs writing them solo, with minimal assistance, mainly only with collaborations or by other means. She has a burning passion for writing, and can compose an entire song in minutes she says, including “Lovegame” which was inspired by her sexual attraction to a guy she met at a night club, claiming she wrote the song in a mere four minutes. Lady Gaga is constantly writing music, even whilst she’s on tour travelling, meeting new people, or simply exploring new places and ideas/topics, and would prefer to work in the studio on new songs than go out drinking and partying she announced. Lady Gaga is inspired to write about certain experiences she has encountered, or particular personal ideas, and then translating them in her songs. For example: Her first studio album “The Fame” was about love, fame and sexuality, while her second studio album “The Fame Monster”, promoted a deeper more personal meaning, describing the singer’s fears.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Lady GaGa - Background - Early days and career beginning


Lady Gaga (born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) is an American singing artist and songwriter, who originated in New York City, USA. She was born on March 28 1986, and is the eldest of two children of lower-class Italian-American parents Joseph Germanotta and Cynthia Bissett. By the age of just four, GaGa had learned how to play the piano by ear, at eleven she sang along to a plastic tape recorder she had received as a gift from her father. She wrote her first piano ballad at thirteen, and started performing at open mic nights at local pubs when she turned fourteen. The artist attended Convent of the Sacred Heart when she was eleven, a private all girl school located in Manhattan. Gaga described her High School life as very “dedicated”, “studious”, “disciplined”, however somewhat “insecure”, which may have been in result of her provocative and outlandish sense of style where she was made fun of and felt that she didn’t “fit in”. She began playing in the rock scenes of New York City’s lower East at the age of 17, as well as enrolling in New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, in which she was one in twenty kids in the World to be granted admission at such a young age. Studying a variety of subjects, such as art, politics and social issues, Gaga also began improving her song writing abilities, composing essays and perfecting her analytic skills, whilst she remained focused on music. During her sophomore years at the school, by the time the second semester had come around, she had dropped out to follow her passion for singing. Her dad offered to lend her money to rent an apartment for a year, in which she eventually found. However, it was conditioned that she’d have to agree that if she was unsuccessful with her music, she would have to return to the school of arts to continue her studies. Quoted by Gaga: "I left my entire family, got the cheapest apartment I could find, and ate shit until somebody would listen" Soon after She was signed to her first record label Def Jam, when she had turned 19. She lasted three months, before being dropped by the label.



Gaga was introduced to song producer RedOne, by her previous record company. It was here where she was able to record her first track “BoysBoysBoys” The next couple of years saw Gaga portraying her musical career, working with different producers and performing in a range of locales, including underneath a liquor store in New Jersey, where she became the face of the lower-east club scene. The Lady was also involved in drug-intake at this time, claiming it was for experimental purposes, where she became a temporary addict, causing a disturbance between her father and herself. There have been countless rumours concerning this matter explaining that she use to take drugs before a show as it would enhance her peformance. Rob Fusari, who had been working with GaGa assisting her with song-writing for earlier songs at the time, recognized her vocal range and compared it to that of Freddie Mercury’s. It was now where Lady Gaga was prompted to find herself a stage name, and in relation to the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga”, she had received a text message from Fusari that unintentionally read “Lady Gaga” due to “autocorrect” in which Radio was somehow changed to GaGa. The name automatically clicked for the singer, and she then demanded to never be referred to as Stefani again, but rather, Lady Gaga. This conception however, was stated incorrect by numerous publicists such as the “New York Post”.


Lady Starlight (Left), Lady GaGa (right)

Throughout the year of 2007, the woman now known as Lady GaGa was resigned to Def Jam recordings, where again nothing worthwhile occurred on her part . Ultimately it was pop-rap star Akon who appreciated her singing ability and style, so therefore signed her to his own label Kon live which was associated with Interscope Records, who then took her under their wing. GaGa was also associated with performance and make-up artist Lady Starlight, where the two collaborated and performed numerous shows together, overall receiving positive reviews from critics.



Additionally signed with Interscope, Gaga was preparing the launch of her solo career, while she was working as a songwriter for other artists as well as herself. In April 2008, her debut single known as “Just Dance” was released to Worldwide radio, gathering momentum generally in the later half of the year, with the help of her full-lengthed album “The Fame” being released. The song charted well in most countries, peaking at “1” in the US, Canada, Australia, UK and Ireland. Following the success of “Just Dance”, Lady GaGa came to be known as a World famous singing sensation, sparking worldwide media attention, and most importantly her career was off to an mind-blowing start.



As of today, Lady GaGa is considered as one of the World's most influential women of all time, and is most definitely a competitor for the "Queen of Pop" title, especially in the 21st Century. She's been thrashing the scene since her debut in early 2008, and has left a sometimes controversial, yet unforgettable mark of diligence and wonder. She really teaches us to just be ourselves, and to not be frightened to indulge in what we love. She is certainly a true inspiration to so many young people, and of course anyone who is still finding their place in the World.

Reference:
http://www.ladygaga.com.au/biography/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3078932/bio
http://www.ladygaga.com/bio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_gaga