Lady Gaga is really good. Let me say it this way: She knows what works. And it sure sounds to me like she has some talent. Obviously, for either the cynical reason of making money off us, or an unrequited youthful need for love and attention, she's following the Madonna Template. Step 1: Purposely offend faithful Christians and other cautious people, while simultaneously 2: doing moderately interesting, catchy music that's impossible to entirely hate. If you want to know why "they" are winning the culture war, put on a Madonna CD without telling yourself or your prospective listener who it is. I've played this trick at least 4 times, and it works every time. The reason young people get taken in by things is that they expect evil to be totally so, and good to be the reverse. When the putative cultural defenders entirely overreact, denying anything noble or human in the product or the person, it becomes a generational fight instead of a discussion about timeless human values and qualities. And the old folks are gonna lose that every time.
I agree with 99.4% of what I've heard William Donahue of the Catholic League ever say. I'm serious. I could probably write his press releases. That said, sometimes I like it when people make him mad. If I was on the other side of the culture war, I could barely fashion a more perfect foil. Excitable, prone to overstatement, and a smidge prickly. Never mind, I pretty much just described every social conservative leader in the last 30 years. There must be a better way to do this. The fact is, I may not endorse Lady Gaga's views on homosexuality or any other thing, but if I can't acknowledge the appeal, I've already lost. And they're counting on that. "Speechless" is a great song; I loved when 'Glee' slowed down "Poker Face." Heck, "Alejandro" is a good song; it's the video that deserves a pit in hell. (Same thing with Madonna's "Like A Prayer" 22 years ago.) Listen to "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" and tell me you couldn't hear Amy Grant doing the song. They're just messing with us. I think we should start showing up at Lady Gaga's concerts as fans to start a dialogue. That would make her think.
I agree with 99.4% of what I've heard William Donahue of the Catholic League ever say. I'm serious. I could probably write his press releases. That said, sometimes I like it when people make him mad. If I was on the other side of the culture war, I could barely fashion a more perfect foil. Excitable, prone to overstatement, and a smidge prickly. Never mind, I pretty much just described every social conservative leader in the last 30 years. There must be a better way to do this. The fact is, I may not endorse Lady Gaga's views on homosexuality or any other thing, but if I can't acknowledge the appeal, I've already lost. And they're counting on that. "Speechless" is a great song; I loved when 'Glee' slowed down "Poker Face." Heck, "Alejandro" is a good song; it's the video that deserves a pit in hell. (Same thing with Madonna's "Like A Prayer" 22 years ago.) Listen to "Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" and tell me you couldn't hear Amy Grant doing the song. They're just messing with us. I think we should start showing up at Lady Gaga's concerts as fans to start a dialogue. That would make her think.
Comments