Stefanie Germanotta née Lady Gaga (or the other way around) sat down for an exclusive interview with UK gay mag Attitude in which she addressed the feud between her and the her from 30 years ago, Madonna, as well as her standing in the LGBT community.
Madge teased Gags by including a snippet of “Born This Way” into her performance of “Express Yourself” during her blockbuster MDNA tour last year, probably to point out how “reductive” (look it up) it was. Gaga, however, was basking in all that glorious shade:
I have to be really honest, I was completely kind of floored that Madonna was singing my song on her stage every night! I’m certainly not thinking about anybody but me and my fans when I’m on stage. The fact that I was on her mind at all. I mean, Madonna’s… she’s Madonna. I looked up to her for a long time. I’m not quite sure what her intention was – to do that in the show, but I don’t really care. I think playing into the gossip of the tabloids and, I guess the fodder of the competition, that’s just not what I’m about. She chooses to use her voice the way she chooses to use hers and I choose to use mine the way I use mine. All it meant to me was that Madonna Ciccone was singing my song on her stage and I’m 27! And as a punk-rocker from New York, I’ve basically been hoping that I would become so good that one day I would piss off Madonna!
Mission: accomplished. Still, the Lady doth protest too much over the seeming similarities between the two songs, but she has no burning desire to be the next Madonna:
I truthfully believe that was nothing about those records sounding alike, and everything about this gay icon versus gay icon nonsense. I don’t need to take anybody’s torch. I have no interest in taking anybody’s torch. I am over here and they are over there and if you feel connected to it the door is open for you to come in and enjoy this with us. But this need for competition was everything that “Born This Way” isn’t about!
We gays do love to pit our divas against one another — it comes from a place of extreme love and/or extreme cuntiness — but then again, some don’t feel Lady Gaga has earned her diva stripes. And they’re right. Give the Diva League of Nations a call in 10 years and after a series of comebacks then maybe we can start throwing that label around. But for her LGBT advocacy, and the message of “Born This Way” — which came pre-packaged as a gay anthem — many have called Lady Gaga a gay icon; and of course some have called that label into question as well. Including Lady Gaga:
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But… but… but… but here, where do I say I’m a gay icon? I never said I was a gay icon. When did that happen? Are those lyrics on the album? Absolutely not. I don’t even consider myself… I don’t even know what that word means. That was a label that was invented years ago. I’m a… [Pauses] I’m a gay supporter.
She’s also part a gay herself, whether you choose to believe her or not:
I mean, I am bisexual, I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I don’t need to – I’m sorry if this is a bit vulgar – but I don’t need to eat pussy in front of the whole world for people to take me seriously. You can believe it or not, it’s just here, I’m honest. I’m not saying it to be controversial; there you have it, here I am, take it or leave it. I know I am not just a lesbian – I have a boyfriend – but all of my friends are in this community.
Sure, Gaga says she doesn’t need to take a publicity tour of Cunnilingusberg, USA to prove anything, but considering what a stunt queen (and that’s a compliment) she’s been while promoting ARTPOP, is it that far-fetched to think that she’d do it anyway then call it performance art?
Naturally, it’ll only be a few seconds into said performance before some queen gets up and starts shouting about how Madonna did it first. And with Naomi Campbell. You just can’t please everyone. But you can read the whole interview with Lady Gaga in Attitude, out today in the UK and available via app in the iTunes store.
jimbryant
Oh, so now she says she’s not a gay icon, eh? Pathetic.
Notice also how Lady Gaga says she has a boyfriend but doesn’t mention his sexuality. She’s OK with saying SHE is bisexual but she’s not too keen on mentioning that HE might be bisexual too, is she? Typical double standard from women.
The problem with women like Lady Gaga is that they use female bisexuality as a marketing ploy to titillate straight guys. They are NOT doing it to help the GLBT rights cause. The reason they get away with it is because they use gay men as a cover, uttering platitudes about how they love gay men etc etc…blah, blah, blah.
Do NOT fall for it. Women in popular music who say they are bisexual are NOT saying it to help the GLBT rights cause. They are usually saying it to titillate straight guys who do NOT care about GLBT rights.
At the very minimum, these women exploit a double standard which allows women to be commercially successful while marketing a bisexual image. Note that this allowance is NOT permitted for men. There is a HUGE double standard in the music industry which is based on the homophobia of the bisexual double standard, and women are exploiting it.
QJ201
Madonna Gay Icon my ass. Madge didn’t do shit for the gay community for almost 20 years until she felt threatened by Gaga, then she shoots off her mouth in Russia. Like most f*g hags, once Ms. Ciccone landed some dick she tossed her gays aside.
Kamuriie
@jimbryant: Your post is totally irrational. It’s in an interview about herself–and you don’t know HOW her boyfriend identifies, orientation wise. She didn’t mention it, because it wasn’t RELEVANT, and perhaps she didn’t think he’d appreciate it. She can be bisexual, dating a straight guy. Are you slow in the head?
Some women claim bisexuality to look open-minded (see Katy Perry), but Gaga’s been very committed in her support of the gay community. She risk(ed) a lot more than she could potentially gain by embracing us, and that’s why so many love her. And the more people that come out as LGBT, the better.
And any double standard RE:bisexuality isn’t the fault of Lady Gaga. A ton of gay people are openly hostile to bisexuals/bisexuality in general, and that certainly doesn’t help anyone.
@QJ201:
Maybe you should look up what people generally refer to mean “gay icon,” because if any exist, Madonna is definitely one. She got her start in gay clubs years ago, and just like Gaga, gays especially love her. That makes her a gay icon.
Elloreigh
Can someone define for me exactly what a “gay icon” is?
As for her bisexuality, it’s ultimately a personal matter and she’s correct that she doesn’t have to prove it. That said, it also doesn’t score any points with me. One’s sexuality is not an achievement. It doesn’t make her a better or worse musician.
Regarding Madonna vs. Lady Gaga, I think that’s ridiculous. I enjoy the music of both. I don’t see the point of arguing over who is more original, more deserving, etc. All I care about is whether or not I personally enjoy the music. All this other crap adds nothing to that equation.
alphang
@jimbryant: what is your deal with saying all these female pop stars are trying to use gays to market themselves to attract straight guys? I personally don’t know a single straight man who’s into Lady Gaga’s music, so either she’s failing miserably at this “marketing ploy” you speak of or you’re just talking a whole lot of mess because you don’t like her.
BitterOldQueen
@QJ201: Thank you for saying the obvious but apparently un-sayable. Madonna is a great popsinger (not composer, not musician) with jaw-dropping promotion and business savvy. If she blazed any trails for other women, that was where she did it, by showing how to control your image, market yourself, and rake in the cash. But you’re so right: The gays flocked to her because she was dance-y and outrageous, not because she embraced what at the time was referred to as “gay liberation,” much less marriage equality. A star doesn’t have to score perfect 10s across the board of all possible things to be great; Madonna’s just fine as an excellent pop star. Ditto Gaga (who IS a composer and musician), who really needs to take herself less seriously as an Artiste and revel in the wonder of pop: That’s why Fame/Fame Monster were so great, because that’s what they did, and why BTW and ARTPOP tend to sound, if toe-tappy, a little forced and too much about Being About Things. Everybody lighten up and dance.
getbackjoe94
I would like to say that I highly enjoy both Madonna’s and Gaga’s discography. Gaga’s more so, but I enjoy them both. But I think that some gays often (nowadays) like Madonna because they’ve heard that she’s a gay icon. It doesn’t matter what she’s actually done; it’s how she’s perceived. But you don’t see Madonna singing the national anthem at gay pride rallies. Gaga is very vocal of her support for the LGBT community, a little too much for the comfort of some conservatives or evangelicals. But I think she doesn’t want to be viewed as a “gay icon” because that’s often what those artists are remembered for. It kind of puts a bit of a damper over the rest of their work if they’re remembered as “the gay artist.”
Moreover, that interview certainly doesn’t make it seem like she’s proud of pissing off Madonna. It sounds (to me, anyway) like she’s always wanted to be big enough to be noticed by someone as legendary as Madonna, which she certainly is.
And why would she need to mention her boyfriend’s sexuality to validate her bisexuality? So she’s bi. That’s no one’s business but her own.
Pistolo
I completely despise her. I’ve never seen her as some all-encompassing light of acceptance and change, I’ve never seen her as this savior for gays so many people built her up to be. Lady Gaga has acted like we’re so troubled and disturbed that we need her to shepherd us like some damn televangelist and now she’s not claiming she’s not a gay icon and hasn’t wanted to be one? Such bull. Gay people have given her gimmicky career mileage and I say that with no great pride.
When are people going to finally stop being so naive about Gaga? I don’t know how she doesn’t come of as an overt, raging, entitled, desperate, inauthentic, contrarian, narcissistic asshole.
I prefer Madonna. Also, Gaga’s neglecting to mention that Madonna followed up covering Gaga at her concerts by singing “SHE’S NOT ME” which Gaga neglects to mention.
Pistolo
@getbackjoe94: Madonna totally is an amazing gay rights activist, she’s been exposing people to the LGBT community for decades in a way nobody ever had before. Along with her own overt sexuality, she also was largely influential in exposing people to gay people at a time where they weren’t represented in any other media. She was a HUGE AIDS advocate in the 80’s when it really wasn’t popular to be one and she’s never altered her act when she’s taken it to conservative countries. She also saved those two men in Malawi that were about to be jailed for being gay. This is only the thumbnail version of her accomplishments and all of it, EMPOWERED gays. Not made us seem like boo-hooers who need a popstar mommy.
Kamuriie
@Pistolo: This is totally contradictory and irrational. You hate her for being something, and not being the same thing. She’s a musician–either you like her music, or you don’t. Period. No more of your emotional baggage/drama needed.
tardis
@Pistolo: gaga may be this or that, but she’s got a good heart. That’s always good in this world.
viveutvivas
She was surprised about Madona using snatches of her song? Are we supposed to believe tjis happened without extensive copyright and intelectual property negotiations and money changing hands between the two, or ” their people”? Does. Not. Compute.
Kieran
How refreshing that Lady Gaga doesn’t consider herself a “gay icon” or use tired condescending cliches like “My gays”. In a business where a homophobic shit like Eminem can become a celebrated multimillionaire for encouraging hatred towards gays, Lady Gaga proudly identifies as bisexual. Good for her.
jimbryant
Kieran,
It’s not just that Lady Gaga claims to be bisexual, it’s also that she uses it to get attention from the straight male-dominated media. She’s harming GLBT rights by doing this.
Pistolo
@tardis: I’m not so sure she does, her behavior during her deposition for that suit with the assistant was atrocious. She was talking like a spoiled child, referring to herself as “the queen of the universe” and to her assistant as a “slave” then threw a fit at her assistant for just looking at her (who the hell are her lawyers?). Also, some of the people who helped her write her biggest hits are suing her and she had to have the court documents sealed for fear they would be too damaging.
Speaking gay icons though, has anyone noticed we don’t often refer to actual gay people as gay icons? Don’t get me wrong, I love Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and the like but what about Neil Patrick Harris or Zachary Quinto or Dustin Lance Black or Chris Colfer? They are gay icons for sure.
GymJockTX
I like a lot of the music that both of them have created, and I honestly think that both have at least a few songs that will last the test of time. My gut sense, though, is that GaGa would prolly be more fun to hang with, Madge comes across more and more as way too elitist and cold and hard (maybe it’s what happens naturally after the first few hundred million or so bucks are banked)–which is sort of a contradiction of all that Kabballa-listic stuff she ostensibly follows. Kinda sorta, right?
Truth: a good buddy’s ex-wife was a flight attendant for NetJets, the private jet leasing company (Gulfstream IV’s, V’s, VI’s, Bombardier Global Express, etc.) that Warren Buffett owns. Apparently, sometimes even the Big names who can afford to buy a private jet outright find it more economically sensible to lease, and the wickedly sleek craft are always ready for you, even on call 24/7 if you have the bucks and the right contract. One of “Lisa’s” gal pals was a fellow flight-girl who got assigned to fly with Ms. M. Cicconne. The Flight Prospectus, emailed to her prior to wheels-up, stated, in part, “At no time will you ever make eye contact with Madonna, nor speak directly to her. If you have any questions for M, you will address them to her Personal Assistant, who will handle the issue, and then relay the information and/or answer back to you.” Too funny, right? A translator, from drone-speak to Principessa, and back again. Just in case there’s a language barrier. LOL.
Even funnier: Lisa’s pal had stainless steel cojones, and at one point during that flight, after laying out all the drinks and food trays, squatted down, hands on knees, and got nose to nose and eye to eye with the Material Girl, and ever so sweetly queried,”And how about YOU, Madonna? Everything OK?” Cold hard stare by way of reply.
Ahh, yes, it’s not easy being an evolved Kabballah-ite. But somebody’s gotta do it. 😀
hotshot70
Madonna is becoming the Joan Crawford of pop music. Old, bitter, and washed up (sorry, Joan had talent, Madonna had horrible movies)
GymJockTX
@hotshot70: LOL. “NO EYE CONTACT!!”
Pistolo
@Kamuriie: Hahaha, no sense made from that remark. I’m saying, Gaga has done everything she could to exploit us, she might as well just call herself a gay icon.
tardis
@Pistolo: Well, no one is perfect. Everyone has something going on in their personal lives. I know I do, but I try to do the best that I can, and what she does for others, her charity work, etc, she does what she can, too. No one is perfect. But to each their own. Peace.
shle896
She’s RIDICULOUS and full of herself, that’s what she is.
jimbryant
I have no interest in the Gaga/Madonna rivalry. Both women got far more adulation from gay men than they deserve. Both of them have used us gay men as a cover to sell themselves to straight guys (with nudity and fake lesbianism).
Rockery
@alphang:
She DID try to market herself to straight men and it failed miserably. Look at the beginning of this phase, she did that naked bit in the forest that she released, a series of performances had a sexual context to it. MTV she was basically naked and tried to appeal to straight men. She stayed in her bra & panties for the whole show. This whole “sexy” image did not work so she recently came back to the “odd freak” persona, dressing up as a buck toothed man for her latest performance.
People “just don’t like her”, people who can see trends and smell BS can see she is just trying to get rich and famous and there is no more loyal fan base than us. She is a fraud and a fake, I would prefer for someone to vaguely but GENUINELY care about the LGBT community instead of being like her, faux-pro-gay
halfahomo
My two cents worth……I like Madonna, I like Gaga, I don’t follow the Madge/Gaga rivalry either. I just appreciate both for what they are, great entertainers and just ICONS period! Sexuality, what they are, what they promote, don’t promote, is secondary and really not all that important. Both are going to do/say what they will to make and keep a fan base…that’s the entertainment business.
jimbryant
halfahomo,
An icon is someone who can sing. Madonna and Lady Gaga can’t sing. In fact, they rely heavily on AutoTune or other electronic vocal tricks to sound good on their recordings.
Please don’t call these women icons. They are far from icons.
Brian Crim
AND HOW TF HASN’T SHE EARNED HER “DIVA STRIPES”? GTFOH WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO IS GO HAVE ALL THE SEATS (FRONT, BACK AND SIDE SEATS) AND A COUPLE OF BENCHES TOO! *DROPS MIC AND EXITS STAGE LEFT*