Androgynous bisexual, plastic-surgery nightmare and former Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns recently told Boyz magazine that Gaga “rung the death knell for Madonna” adding, “When I got [Gaga’s] album I couldn’t believe it: Oh my God, that girl’s got talent!… That girl can actually sing and she can write, and if I could work with anyone, there are two people I’d love to work with – Gaga and Beth Ditto.”
Wow, Pete, you’re not implying that Madonna can’t sing or write, are you? What about American Life? Madonna shat a solid-gold basketball with that one. Don’t deny it.
He then gushed on about Ditto saying, “And Beth Ditto’s in the pipeline. God she’s talented. I tend to like only female singers.” So does that mean that Pete Burns disagrees with Sarah Palin’s assertion that everything Gaga does “is just a re-run of Madonna”?
Of course, if Gaga starts looking like Rocky from Mask Burns can claim she’s ripping him off. The “You Spin Me ‘Round” singer sued his plastic surgeon for painfully botched lip surgery, settling out of court for about $737,000. There’s more going on there than just some collagen in the kisser, if you ask us. (Which you didn’t.)
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Elloreigh
We should care what Pete Burns thinks why, exactly?
James
What’s a Pete Burns?
LOL!
Is that why Lady Gaga ripped-off Maddona’s song to make “her” “Born This Way”?
christopher di spirito
Pete Burns looks like a plastic surgery nightmare combining superstar Cher and wrestling diva Chyna Doll with a sprinkling of Saint Angelina Jolie.
SteveC
Gaga’s career is faltering already.
Her 2nd album has sold massively less than her 1st.
Let’se see how Gaga is doing in 25 years shall be?
Aaron
I cant personally fathom considering American Life as Gold, it sold 4m worldwide, which is her most unsuccessful album of all time but one, Hard Candy.
Maybe its not about her career being ruined and more about letting a new artist that whether you love her or hate her can cause a stir and reinvigorate Pop in a way Madonna no longer can, and in reality hasnt since back when she tried her frozen phrase.
Its just odd that this discussion could be raised by Pete Burns?! You knew when to stop, and you didnt. Trying to get a bit of attention on the back of other peoples careers again me thinks.
Daez
@SteveC: That is because much like Britney Spears, Gaga is about shock value not talent. Unfortunately for her, shock value doesn’t make for a very long career.
hudson
don’t you think he looks like Ting Tong from Little Britain?
yikes!
Yeah
@Daez: Especially in a shell-shocked environment. I mean, we’ve seen it all; we’re pretty jaded. Unless she whips out some live penis splitting on stage… I found Gaga boring from the start, insipid and unoriginal. Her look? Um… it’s called the 80s. Her sound? 80s Madonna. Give people a beat and a catchy melody and they just mess themselves don’t they? But when your target audience was born in 1992, it’s likely they 80s are the magical, far away land…
Daez
@Yeah: While I agree with you…you kind of have to admit that the vast majority of pop “musicians” are a rip off of 70s and 80s musicians. There is nothing really new in the pop world right now. I blame Madonna and Michael Jackson for already doing it all!
beerwad
Wow, I never thought I’d agree with Sarah Palin.
pdnoosh
I don’t think Madonna’s career is over. She’ll be in the news and making ass-tons of money for at least another decade with her tours. However, this article-lette wonderfully illustrates two things that I wish *would* be over. First, that habit that talented but sorta-forgotten celebrities have of trying to get media coverage by shitting on people more popular than them. And second, that bitchy smart-ass tone that’s intended to be clever, but ends up sounding like vapid gossip from the cheerleader’s lunch table … actually, scratch that, as I don’t want to unfairly insult bitchy cheerleaders.. What they had to say was always sharper and smarter than anything I read here. Come on Queerty, you’re better than this.
Chip
I refused to take sides between two zillionaire singers, either defending them or denigrating them. They are both laughing all the way to the bank.
CJ
I’ve said from the beginning that Gaga is just a copy of Madonna. I don’t wish anyone ill. But, I really don’t like her music at all. Granted, I don’t like all of Madonna’s music either. But, Madonna is a classic and, like Michael Jackson, created something that was unique in many regards. Will she stand the test of time, who knows? She is, however, advocating for LGBT rights more than just about any other singer. So, we must give her many thanks for her support for equality, even if we may not be amazed by her artistic talents. True, some of her efforts may be self-serving. But, I believe that there IS some sincerity there.
One thing that I really appreciate about Madonna is that she never got caught up into the plastic surgery scene. She’s young at heart, dates young guys and works out. But, she’s not going under the knife as far as I’m aware. If she is, it is for minor things. Bravo for aging with some dignity and living a healthy lifestyle.
CJ
For clarification, my question about “standing the test of time” and comments about her recent advocating for LGBT equality was about Gaga, not Madonna.
gherkin
Madonna rules, Ga Ga fools.
shle896
If I had a dollar for every time someone said Madonna’s career was over, I’d be rich as Madonna. She’s the most successful female recording artist of all time, not just here in the U.S., but all over the globe. Gaga has made like what, seven hit songs, while Madonna has upwards of 70 top 40 hits.
You can start comparing Lady Gaga to Madonna, 25 years from now, in the year 2037 if Gaga is still making hit records and selling out arenas around the world. Until then, this freak of nature should shut the fuck up.
inoits2
The 80s is calling and it wants its old gays back.
I bet everyone of you trashing Gaga is over 40+. Gaga is a talent and very fresh. While some of her sounds do recall the 80s, she has made them her own. Artists do not operate in a vacuum, they are inspired by the past and present. Her music isn’t derivative, it is inspired.
Daez
@shle896: I think you mean freak of medical science! Ain’t nothing natural left!
Daez
@inoits2: 32 here, and Gaga is just a cheap generic clone. I’m betting you are in your early to mid 20s! Grow your tastes a little and listen to some 80s music. Pretty much all pop music currently available is a cheap knock off of 80s music with more shock value thrown in.
Red Meat
@SteveC: The Fame has sold 9million WW in 3 years. Born This Way has sold 5.5million WW in 3 months. Your logic? Oh there is none.
Red Meat
Madonna is, and will always be, a hideous sex selling whore.
shle896
@Red Meat: Of course Born This Way has sold well. Amazon was charging a whopping .99 cents for it on day one.
That’s not to say that Gaga’s numbers and musical contribution aren’t HUGE, but so are Madonna’s. Her Immaculate Collection greatest hits album has sold 25 million, Like a Virgin sold roughly the same and even her two most recent albums have sold well – Confessions On A Dance Floor over 12 million and Hard Candy 5 million. Not bad for an artist 25 years into her career. Her success is unprecedented, in spite of all the “new” Madonna’s who’ve come and gone throughout the years.
tjr101
OMG, is that a real person???
Francisco
What nobody seems to understand here is that there’s a new generation of us growing up, and Madonna was a perfect girl for the old times, but this new age needs someone new. Lady Gaga is not a singer for you, 40 years old guy who lived through 70’s and 80’s. It for us, 20 year old ones who just started life. And you can relate to her if you want, but don’t start arguing that she’s copying everything Madonna did because to start with Madonna isn’t that original at all. Music Industry needs to sell, you can bet that in 30 years will be another woman with the same ideas singing to our sons and gays guys. Just deal with it, please.
gregger
Pete Burns was a second rate Boy George. Now he looks like a fifth rate Cher impersonator. Madonna’s “American Life?” More like she shat a basketball sized turd on that one. I get so sick of filling out a thin voiced singer’s work with processing. I still curse Cher for bringing it to prominence and giving it acceptance.
Pi-Oh-Pah
@Daez: riiiight. And Madonna has never been about shock value… *eye roll*
So Yo
@hudson: Good call! You are so right! Eerie…
shle896
@Chip: LOL, you’re spot-on!
inoits2
@Daez: I am in my mid 40s and ya know what…I love Madonna…but I also recognize talent and don’t worship at the throne of Madonna just because she is Madonna. Say what you want but Gaga knows how to entertain and ultimately that’s what it’s all about. I suppose she is a pop figure for today’s youth but that doesn’t lessen her importance. I was raised on Madonna and frankly I don’t see the connection to Gaga. Yes Gaga may use some 80s technics but I have never really seen anything like her. BTW I love Britney too.
inoits2
I am trying to resist the urge to comment on Petericia’s face. But I failed. Horrors…I bet she is best friends with bride of Wildenstein and Donatella Versace. These poor women probably think they look great.
Irish-boy
Gaga is a musician Madonna is a dancer
Joe
@Francisco: Francisco, I agree with you to a point. Every generation needs their Madonna. But, Madonna was original in her day. NO ONE was doing what she was doing, in the way she was doing it and with the same sense of style that she showed. Being older allows us to know things you don’t; while I don’t hate Gaga like some do, there’s no question that she’s retracing old paths that were opened by Madonna.
Sam
I’m 27 and love Madonna. I don’t understand why age matters to some of us when it should always be about the music. GaGa has some great songs but Madonna is the most iconic female in music history and the standard all others are compared to. There have been better singers, dancers and musicians but Madge’s creativity and vision is unmatched and she is simply the greatest female artist of all time. And let me also say she was a friend to the gay community at the height of the Aids pandemic when gay was seen as toxic by “mainstream” America.
Adman
GaGa is just getting started, you can tell when you listen to her and think about the limits of production tech today vs then, when her influences made their best music. You can also tell she knows this, and is making a career by re-inventing club entertainment and stadium shows all at once. She’s swinging for the fences. I don’t get all the intergen sniping though. Must be those kids (her fans)and their unoriginal jaded stance again. Oh well, customers always were irrelevant to the extent they don’t know what they mean. The kids will learn though, once they become old themselves.
Red Meat
@shle896: Wow brilliant, comparing a pre-digital era artist to a post-digital era artist. Gaga is the Queen of the digital era – this has been accepted by everyone. She is the most downloaded digital artist in HISTORY in just 3 years. Haters are jut gonna keep on hating. Madonna will always be a sex icon over talent.
Marie Cohn
Octomom: Pete Burns is your future!
Zee
Madonna’s name is mentioned and look at all the comments. I don’t see this often on other topics. Madonna isn’t over, she’s still reigning as the Queen.
northtexasronnie
From the pic on the front page I thought it was the Octomom.
Ezzi
Lady Gaga will shit on Madonnas grave
Elloreigh
It’s not an age thing. I’m nearing 50 and I like some of Gaga’s music. I like some of Madonna’s music. I don’t see much point in comparing the two.
A lot of music writing is about taking what is comfortably familiar and adding enough innovation to keep it fresh. In that sense, most of music entails recycling very longstanding elements. Only rarely do we such innovation as to launch a new genre. I would not put Madonna or Lady Gaga at that stature.
Moreover, your enjoyment of music should be determined by what speaks to you on a personal level – not by what someone else says is good or bad. So if you like Madonna, Lady Gaga or both, then enjoy them and ignore the haters.
Cam
The exact same comments were made about Madonna when she was newer….first she was coping other artists, or not giving credit to Public Enemy for a lick in her song, or claiming a writing credit, or she only got where she was by sleeping with people who could get her good songs, or that she was copying Maralyn Monroe’s style…
People are ALWAYS going to bitch about somebody who is having some success.
asyuf
wow wow wow
i remember when madonna was still starting up people were saying she was just copying oher artists before her
one thing that people get wrong is that they say “lady gaga is only famous because of shock value” well so was madonna… madonna was never a good singer – what she had was a good dance background, the presence, and the drive
madonna’s stans are hypocritical when in fact madonna was sued by many artists for copyright infringment
idk if gaga will be around for 25 years but i do know shes a much better singer than madonna ever was … i like madonna but it pisses me off when madonna stans accuse gaga of being a rip off… madonna wasn’t original – nothing on this earth is original because it has all been done before
people are saying that gaga’s music is bad … WHAT ABOUT MADONNA’S LIKE A VIRGIN – madonna has had a lot of bad songs and she used shock value to further her career so madonna stans better not say gaga is style over substance because madonna is the epitome of style over substance
who wrote a book called “sex” just to get attention
who got attention by appearing on a cross in a concert
DONT HATE GAGA BECAUSE SHES BEING COMPARED TO MADONNA
Alex
Doesn’t matter what the topic is, bitter old queens gonna hate.
Seaguy
Who the hell is Pete Burns other than a looser moron who should STFU!
Darolo
In the 80’s Madonna was said to be a ‘flash in the pan’ whereas Cyndi Lauper would go on and on mmmm! In the 90’s they said the Sex bk would kill her career. Remember ‘Ray of Light’ and all those awards for one of the best selling albums of all time mmmm! I can’t begin to state how many times she’s been called a ‘has been’ in the 2000’s and she’s produced some great albums I including ‘Confessions’ another global phenomenon. She holds the record for the highest grossing tour of any female artist ever and that’s in her 50’s with her 8th tour. She has written, co-written and produced hundreds of songs which are classics. Whether you think she can act or not, directors kept coming back for more – she has been in something like 19
movies so for someone who can’t act that’s not bad going. As
Madonna herself has said “I’m like a cockroach I just won’t go
away!!! She’s just finished her major directoral debut and is back
in the studio working on her 12th studio album ( tho if you include
film soundtracks and greatest hits albums it’s a lot more)!!
That’s why Madonna is sooo successful, there just is no stopping
her. She’s the one who’ll go on and on and on ……… ‘You’ll See’ !!
Darolo
@asyuf: You have some very hazy ‘memories’ there. I think you should stop making sweeping statements about Madonna with absolutely no evidence to back them up as far as I can see. You seem to follow Gaga, that’s fine, she has some talent, but beware of turning from a ‘monster’ into a brain- washed sheep!!!!
Darolo
@Red Meat: Anyone can be the most downloaded when Amazon are only charging 99c for an album come on!!
Cranston Cranium
Pete Burns? I thought that was the Octo-Mom (skank).
allyr
Amazon always has a 99 cent promo to get some market share. It has nothing to do with Gaga or anybody else they chose.
evilqueen
OH.
MY.
GOD!
Madonna looks so OLD!
Trevor
I like both Madonna & Gaga. Madonna paved the way for many female artists & she is an icon & legend. she has always been a supporter of the LGBT community.
Dr. J in Dallas
There is enough room for both of them to be famous. If anything, Gaga is a cheap Madonna knock off.
tina95
I don’t understand why Madonna’s fans are so loyal…what has she ever done for them? Remember the fan who gave her flowers that she didn’t like? Did she graciulsy accept them? No, she made it clear she loathed them.
Lady Gaga on the other hand is amazing to her fans. She meets them personally, she constantly thanks them at every opportunity, she’s helped some of her youtube fans and brought them on stage to sing with her.
Did Madonna even bother to thank her fans (in her hoity toity british accent) at the Golden Globes?
Madonna is SO old and So rich that she is completely out of touch with todays youth…which is why she globs on to people like Britney and Justin.
DJ STEPHEN V
Give me a break!! Madonna sells out concerts and breaks records with her tour numbers. Everything else is beneath her and has been done. Haters of Madonna only solidify her continued domination. If you have never been to a Madonna concert more than likely you’re just b!tching because you can’t afford the tickets. The truth will set you free. Chew on that.
PS: AGE MEANS NOTHING. NONE OF YOU ARE GETTING ANY YOUNGER LOL
DJ STEPHEN V
@evilqueen: lol thats the best you could come up with?