Going "Googoo for Gaga"

Ok, by now every fashion blog and entertainment media outlet is done analyzing who was either the best or worst dressed of the evening and how 2010 must be another of Taylor Swift’s victory years from “the biggest night in the music industry,” the Grammys.

But through reading all the articles criticizing whose performance was best (Pink, duh!), one other has stuck in my head. And surprise, surprise! It was none other than the new Lady of Dance Pop who goes by the name of Gaga.

From the moment she strode down the red carpet holding her giant silver star prop while flaunting her lavender spiraling dress and yellow-tinged blonde locks, it was a clear attempt at foreshadowing her lavish stage show which was to come. And of course, as the show’s opener, Ms. Gaga didn’t let us down.

The theatrics began when a man burst on stage dragging what appeared to be a Gaga-wannabe and screaming to the crowd, “I bought a Lady Gaga, but you sold me a fake…The real Gaga comes complete with five number one hit singles…I want the real Gaga.” And just when the chanting for wanting a real Gaga cease and assists, the pop diva herself entered the stage with a glittering green sequined body suit complete with half a glittering pink face mask.

She opened her set singing an operatic rendition to her nominated song, “Poker Face.” And just when the dancing and electronic beat started to kick in, the mysterious man came out again to scare the “real Gaga” away by shouting, “What’s going on? Everyone’s going googoo for Gaga. Her mind controlling pop music is ruining my business! Take her away! She’s a monster! She’s a monster and she’s turning all of you into monsters.”

Now, let’s analyze his dialogue from the beginning, if you will.

1). By telling the world that you just purchased a Gaga, is openly admitting the fact that pop artists can now be bought and sold in the music industry by the highest bidder (which often times results in a “bidding war” by what’s left of the major labels.) Especially, if they have five number one singles on their belt because that means she’ll rake in the cash.

2). Isn’t that what the label wanted in the first place? For the masses to “go googoo for Gaga?” Which would lead to them ultimately spending money on CDs, downloads, merchandise, and concert tickets to pump back into the labe’ls money reserve? And if by saying that her “mind controlling pop” is ruining your business, you actually mean that your ploy to get Lady Gaga’s over-the-top-avant-garde style of pop rebelliousness to be the new norm amongst the industry, getting newbies like Ke$ha to dress like she had just been hit by a truck yet carefully placed her glittering one-eyed makeup on to perfection, all to sell more records and set new trends and get more money, then, yes, she is indeed “ruining” your business (phew!).

3). Finally, clearly calling her a “monster” onstage was to promote her revamped disk, The Fame Monster. Yet it also admitted something else to the world. It lets people be affirmed to know that because she is a monster, thereby turning “us” into monsters, she has shaped the ideology of pop culture to the masses to fit her reigning worldview, and is comfortably standing idle and watching the masses fall into place by listening to her records, one person at a time.


No wonder she needed Elton John for a duet after that proclamation. Sheesh.