moe Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 Liz Smith on Gaga: Desperately copying Madonna Lady Gaga's controversial new video, "Alejandro," is controversial only if you’ve never seen ... a Madonna video! (From the Big M's greatest era) S&M ... homoeroticism ... startling religious imagery, etc. Gaga's latest effort calls to mind at least five of Madonna videos, including the black-and-white masterpiece, Vogue. I guess this is Gaga's homage to Madonna. Just as Madonna's Material Girl was an homage to Marilyn Monroe? As for Madonna herself, she says she is "working harder than I have ever worked in my life," to put together the movie she will direct, W.E. Actually, that worries me. One of Madonna's most famous songs is Holiday, but the woman has rarely taken one in 25 years. If she’s working harder than ever now, she is going to have to be hospitalized by the time the movie is finished! (source: WoWoWow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted June 18, 2010 Share Posted June 18, 2010 I was just thinking that the other day when I saw the Kelis video the acapella one or "4th of july" (the one in the desert) ? also, its refreshing to read people's posts here, finally some good sense of humor and no M fans getting attacked by other "fans" for disliking gaga (which seems to be rare these days on other M forums unfortunately) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madaboutyou Posted June 19, 2010 Share Posted June 19, 2010 http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1641089/20100608/lady_gaga.jhtml Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video: A Guide To Its Madonna References Aside from initial 'Vogue' comparisons, there are traces of 'Like a Prayer,' 'Human Nature' and other Material Girl clips. By Kyle Anderson Text Size Decrease Increase When the brief preview for Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" video appeared during the singer's appearance on "Larry King Live" last week, many people immediately noticed the nod to Madonna's "Vogue." It was all there: the sharp black-and-white photography, the muscular dancing, the spartan set, the iconic hairstyle. But as it turns out, the full version of "Alejandro" — which premiered Tuesday (June 8) — is a healthy combination of a number of different references, nods and homages to a bevy of Madonna videos. The "Vogue" references are certainly there, as Gaga spends a large chunk of the video in that same spartan set in black-and-white. But the rest of the clip features Gaga in a number of different costumes — including a red nun's habit and some sort of steampunk headgear — in a handful of different scenarios (some of which involving Nazi imagery). In addition to "Vogue," the opening sequence seems to recall Madonna's "Evita" period (when she made "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" a hit). Gaga is dressed to mourn whomever is in the casket behind her — perhaps the titular Alejandro? — and it would be easy to assume that she's attending a state funeral, which would mean Gaga flipped the gender roles in the original story of the Peróns (in reality, it was Juan who buried Eva). Later, Gaga strips to her underwear and dominates a scantily clad dancer tied to a bed. While Madonna is no stranger to the imagery surrounding bondage and submission, that image most faithfully recalls the Material Girl's "Human Nature," which saw her dressed in black pleather and dancing seductively with the assistance of ropes and a riding crop. But the biggest nod to Madonna's past certainly comes with all the religious imagery. Gaga dresses as a nun, swallows rosary beads and stands in front of a row of crosses at various points during the clip, which brings to mind Madonna's classic video for "Like a Prayer." In fact, there are even video clips of flames in the background of one of the dance scenes in "Alejandro," which could easily have been lifted wholesale from the moment in Madonna's clip when she sings among a field of flaming crosses. There are a number of other cultural references that slip out of "Alejandro" (Gaga clearly enjoys the work of film director Fritz Lang), but even the gun-barrel-sporting bra she wears at the end could be mistaken for that conical top Madonna made famous during the Blonde Ambition Tour. Of course, "Alejandro" director Steven Klein has worked as a photographer for Madonna over the past few years, so it's quite possible that these are merely the influences he has picked up while working with her. But if Gaga really is making an attempt to define herself as a next-gen Madonna who also pays homage to her elders, then there are worse paths to follow. She actually sounds like Madonna in the semi-spoken segment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nothingfails0603 Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 I had a disagreement last night with an old friend from grade school (straight) who worships Gaga but thinks Madonna is an untalented whore. I love Gaga too but the guy seems oblivious to the fact that Gaga has learned everything she knows from M and its funny that someone so biased against Madonna that he's probably never taken the five minutes to watch the Erotica video would say Alejandro is so original while Madonna was an overhyped no-talent. Funny thing is, I remember he hated her in 94, but that was post-Sex when it wasn't "cool" to like her, but that shit was subsided once ROL came out. It's like Madonna has to die like Michael Jackson did for people to get off their trips about her, because I remember he didn't like Michael at all back then but now that he's dead and once it became "acceptable" to like him again he loves him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsaacHarris Posted June 21, 2010 Share Posted June 21, 2010 It's like Madonna has to die like Michael Jackson did for people to get off their trips about her... Yeah, I'm sure that when Madge passes, 'fans' will come out of the woodwork claiming how much they loved her. But fuck those fickle phoneys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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