Customer Reviews

Born This Way

5 star:		(781)
4 star:		(160)
3 star:		(103)
2 star:		(77)
1 star:		(225)

 

 

From the outside Lady Gaga would appear to be a farce, a fantasy. A pop creation so skilled and pure it took record companies decades of hard work in a lab to fabricate. With all the perfect ingredients added into the star maker machine to create and puppeteer the every move of this impeccable artist. But in truth. Gaga is the complete polar opposite of that, her vision and her artistic integrity is all her own. It's as genuine as it is incredible. Her ability to lace Music, Art and Fashion into one powerful cohesive arrangement is astonishing! Before Lady Gaga pop music seemed like it was destined for doom, with a nasty reputation of lip syncing broads and talentless hot bods riding on the coat tails of other people's music and vision. Lady Gaga has single handedly flipped the music industry upside down and has made Pop matter again, and you can tell by the huge amounts of hate she receives. Since when have people devoted so much of their time to see the demise of someone?? Eyeing their every move for that one glimmer of a chance that they will falter. Tearing to shreds everything she does. Yup, whether the attention is good or bad, Lady Gaga has got the whole world looking at her, and has made this once grand genre fascinating again!

So many of us wish THE FAME MONSTER would have been a full length album instead of an 8 track EP. It was a completely brilliant direction Lady Gaga had taken. It was dark, it was personal, it was haunting, and it was edgy. It was everything we had never heard before in Pop music and it showed us just how far she can grow in such a ridiculously short amount of time. Now she returns with her Second studio album BORN THIS WAY and she's created an amazing sound. She blended Anthemic rock and the ambience of Heavy metal into Electronic music. The result is an incandescent Pop Masterpiece! The whole thing sounds like something you'd hear in a very exclusive underground club in Russia where only the most VIP of guests are allowed inside. The music here isn't very commercial at all, but Lady Gaga is a genius so I'm sure she will find an innovative way to make it appeal to the masses without tarnishing and compromising the dignity of these magnificent songs. BORN THIS WAY is grittier, edgier, and heavier than any of her previous work. It goes against everything Pop music has been for the past 20 years if not more. Like rubbing salt on a wound, it is so contradictory in it's aesthetic. BORN THIS WAY will be Legendary. It's very passionate and honest and the songs on here are remarkably relatable.


1) MARRY THE NIGHT - A dark beautiful feel-good song that starts out slow and builds into a powerful crescendo of soaring vocals and undeniable magic. She sings about escaping into the night and forgetting all your troubles and cares while letting the love that you have for the place that you grew up in overtake you. Very powerful stuff. 10/10

2) BORN THIS WAY - Ever since the beginning of Pop Divas, gays have always had a natural gravitation towards them, and most of these Pop Divas capitalized their success from the elevation and adoration from their massive gay fan bases, but very few of them if not any of them have ever taken a stance for gay purposes as Lady Gaga has. She's supported LGBT causes right from the beginning in all aspects. Artistically, musically, and politically. A risky and ballsy move knowing how young her career still is and how taboo the LBGT subject still is in America and around the world. I applaud her for that. This song I can truthfully see being performed and played in gay clubs 50 years from now. It's extremely catchy and fun to sing along to. We all know Born This Way is an anthem of acceptance and self-love, but what I love the most about it is the underlying message of rebirth. How it's never too late to reinvent and renew yourself as many times as you need in order to discover the person you're most comfortable being and find the person you're born to be. 8/10

3) GOVERNMENT HOOKER - It's Sleazy, it's filthy, it's trashy. I could go on and on with the debauchery monikers in order to describe this grungy song. Yes, it is all those things, but most of all, it's PHENOMENAL! Gaga fuses Opera and Underground techno and the result is an explosive one! I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it. Truly one of a kind. 10/10

4) JUDAS - A metaphorical song to describe being torn apart by the decision of staying with a man who's good to you, or returning to the backstabber from your past that you still cling to and love. How they deceive you and sill you forgive them and keep going back for more. I recently had someone betray me for a second time so I can greatly identify with this song on a very intense parallel. I was thinking about taking them back and somwhow trying things again, and this song reminds you just how stupid you have to be in order to take someone back who's wronged you more than once in the past. Just because you forgive what they did, it doesn't mean it's an open invitation to let them back into your life, cause it also makes you kinda think about the sayings "Once a cheater, always a cheater" or "If he hits you once, he'll hit you again" and how true they can be. "Judas" is set around a ruthless pounding dance beat and Gaga sounds wrathful and spited in the verses but vulnerable and pleading in the chorus which perfectly adds to the emotion and subject matter of the song. The lyrics are a combination of biblical references, poetry, and humor.

" Prostitute wench vomits her mind... Judas kiss me if offenced, or wear ear condom next time"

There are some men out there who despise it when women speak their mind, but Gaga is saying Listen to what I have to say! If you don't like it make sure your ears are protected cause I'm still gonna speak the truth!

I also love the line that says "I've learned Love is like a brick, you can build a house or sink a dead body"

Meaning that you can either set the foundation and build a home with that brick, or... you can do the latter.
Overall this song is incredible! 10/10

5) AMERICANO - A gay love story between Gaga and another woman, the backdrop is some of the political issues in the US today... such as gay marriage. When I heard Gaga was recording some songs in Italy I immediately flew off the wall hoping and anticipating that she would incorporate some of that same epic and romantic atmosphere that makes Italian songs so special into her music. And boy did she ever!! This song is balls to the wall excitement and one of the absolute standouts of the album! You have never heard anything like this before. Not only is the song a mixture of Mexican mariachi & New York underground techno, but also brings a wide array of other influences from all across Western Europe as well. You can hear her beautifully channeling France's Edith Piaf in the vocals, the instrumentation slightly flirts with the Spanish flamenco, and of course, that ever so grand Italian aura! Most importantly the song still remains utter Gaga. I can't picture anyone else but her singing this insane, unusual and one of a kind song. 10/10

6) HAIR - Whenever Lady Gaga was young and she would get ready for school, her parents would send her back upstairs to change something with her appearance, and I think most of us have been in that situation. Where our parents or someone tries to change and control the way we express ourselves. Well with that inspiration, Gaga made a song, And it's truly one of the most beautiful and magical from the album.

"I've had enough, this is my prayer, that I'll die living just as free as my hair" She sings in the chorus.

I can totally relate to this song wonderfully. My hair is one of the biggest ways I like to express myself and very few things come close to the feeling of at last having the liberty to do whatever you want with your hair and with your look. With your hair there are endless ways to individualize yourself and decide who you want to be or who you feel you are at the time. So I too hope that I die living just as free as my hair, Free as it blows in the wind. Free to be whoever i want to be... 10/10

7) Sheiße - Womankind rejoice! In the biggest dance track of the album Gaga declares herself a "Blonde high-heeled feminist" enlisting femmes for an all-out club banging rave of female empowerment. If Gloria Steinem had an anthem to aid her in the feminist movement of the 70's, I'm sure she would choose this song, Cause hey, who's to say you can't fight for female rights and have fun doing it! And even though this song has girl power written all over it, I can't help but think this is the song men will enjoy the most from the album. It has this absolutely sick industrial dance beat and the part where she sings in pseudo German is absolutely genius! Sheiße is gonna send the radio into a spinning frenzy, especially in Europe where I can definitely see it spread like wildfire. 10/10

8) BLOODY MARY - Just like "Teeth" did for THE FAME MONSTER this song is gonna hit you out of nowhere as something that you weren't expecting at all. Gaga starts to sing and you're hypnotized from the very beginning, and although sonically it sounds like a ballad, It has resilient Elecrtonica and Trance influences that are completely addicting. Bloody Mary is the most poetic song of the album. Not only because of the elegantly dramatized lyrics

"We are not just art for Michelangelo
He can't rewrite the agro of my furied heart,
I'll wait on mountain tops in Paris cold
Je ne veux pas mourir toute Seule"
(I don't want to die all alone)

But also because of the beautiful melancholic mood as well. Bloody Mary is pure magic! 10/10

9) BAD KIDS - It's songs like this that remind you and let you know just how Lady Gaga came to acquire such a massive fan base. Her ability to connect with those who feel like outcasts and out of place is authentic and true, and the love and relationship she shares with her fans is as genuine as anyone has ever witnessed in this industry. This rebel song had to grow on me but I really appreciate and like it now. It has a really catchy chorus and I love the lyrics. 8/10

10) HIGHWAY UNICORN (ROAD TO LOVE)
"Get your Hot Rods ready to rumble!! Cause we're gonna fall in love tonight!"

A very anthemic song with big sounds and a big chorus, it's subtle at times but the feeling of grandiosity is there. I'm absolutely in love with this song, The lyrics are very inspirational to anyone who loves the Road, Falling In Love, & Taking Chances. 10/10

11) HEAVY METAL LOVER - Another one of those sexy filthy songs you won't be able to get enough of, The sluggish synthesizers are so loud and brass you can practically feel them grinding up against your body. Here Lady Gaga sings about her dirty Heavy Metal Lover and getting with his buddies as well for some group love.

Even though this is a full blown Heavy Electronic song, the vibe and the lyrics are very early Hair Metal. In one of the verses she sings

"Dirty Pony I can't wait to hose you down, You've got to earn your leather in this part of town"

This song is incredible. It's one of my favorites from the album 10/10

12) ELECTRIC CHAPEL - 6 words. 80's Italian Epic Pop/Rock Masterpiece!! This is a gorgeous track and not only is it a favorite of mine from BORN THIS WAY but also of Lady Gaga's career. Vocally she's romantic, ferocious, grand, fierce, and the intensity in her singing greatly compliments the stunning lyrics. I love the line that says

"Confess to me where you have been next to the bar,
Pray for your sins right under the glass disco ball"

Such a phenomenal and unique song! 10/10

13) YOÜ AND I - A song of a love lost and wanting to recapture it again. It has this Stadium rock feel that just begs to be performed in front of thousands. It's a completely different direction from the acoustic version we've all heard at THE MONSTER BALL, so I can't wait to see this one being excecuted and performed live at her upcoming tour, She's gonna tear it up in an even bigger way than she did the piano version! Yoü and I is probably the most passionate song on the album, It's vocally charged of energy and outbursts of pure and raw emotion. 10/10

14)THE EDGE OF GLORY - A beautiful glorious love song that was inspired by the death of Gaga's grandfather and the loving gaze he gave her grandmother moments right before his passing. The look was one of "I did it, I was a champion at life!" I can only ever hope to find a love this grand and magnificent as described in this gorgeous track. The Edge of Glory is a Pop Magnum Opus of majestic proportions. I Love it!! 10/10

Out of the bonus tracks, "THE QUEEN" is my absolute favorite. I can honestly admit I've fallen quite hard in love over this song. The lyrics are very grand & elegant and the guitar solo at the end is so romantic and soulful. Quite truly one of the most beautiful songs of Gaga's career. "BLACK JESUS - AMEN FASHION" sounds like a song you'd hear at a fashion show and "FASHION OF HIS LOVE" is a fun love sort of reminiscent of "The Fame" era. The vibe is very 80's music going on 90's and overall it's quite catchy.

Just like most of these fabricated pop starlets and radio junkies went into the Electronic genre after "The Fame" exploded in 2008 they'll probably try and duplicate the sound and spirit of BORN THIS WAY as well, but the fact of the matter is that they won't even come close. For once they'll likely sell out in the process of making the music in order to commercialize it and appeal to their mainstream fans, and secondly they just don't have the talent and creative aptitude like Gaga to create this type of musical achievement. They can gather their troops and armies of the best song writers and producers in the business if they want, but they still won't even come close to scraping the edge. I've listened to the radio and heard the harvest of what the best producers in the business are capable of, and all i hear is generic and unimaginative music for the clubs. Music without soul.

So if you're looking for something to chew on, you better keep looking elsewhere cause you won't find any bubblegum here. Lady Gaga has never been that type of artist. What you'll discover within is a raw bitter pill that'll go down deep and hard, but once it does you'll come to the realization that you've just reached a destination of pure pop euphoria. This is sincerely one of the best albums of the past 10 years. I can't wait to see what Lady Gaga will do next, cause I can already tell she's gonna completely demolish this decade. Complete Gaga domination I forsee. Believe in capital H-E-R


MY TOP 5
1. Electric Chapel
2. Hair
3. Government Hooker
4. Heavy Metal Lover
5. Yoü And I

If you come into Born This Way and expect to hear the exact same type of dance-pop that laced The Fame and, to a lesser extent, The Fame Monster, you will likely be a bit disappointed with this album. It isn't bubblegum.

Have you ever looked up videos of a young Gaga on YouTube? Have you watched stripped down performances of her dance-pop singles? If you have then you should realize that at her heart Lady Gaga is a rocker chick who has an instinctive ability to break these songs down to a pop enough core that they connect with a broader audience. However, in Born This Way, Gaga didn't feel the need to break the songs down as far as she did previously.

I think this is smart as it keeps her about 30 paces ahead of the Gaga mimickers who have sprung up during the past two years and the established stars who have transitioned to trying to claim a piece of her thunder (Katy Perry, I love your music too, but your public persona has become more and more Gaga in the past 18 months.)

Gaga really shows off her voice in Born This Way - in a much more clear and resonant manner than she was able to with The Fame. "Marry the Night," "Electric Chapel," "Edge of Glory" and "You and I" are show pieces from this perspective. Electric Chapel and Marry the Night are superb fun to listen to.

In reference to comments in a prior review about "Judas" and "Bloody Mary." The in-your-face parallels in songs like Judas and Bloody Mary are poetic in their power while not getting too broken down in the details of a bad relationship. Judas without the name of Judas as the song would become another cliche about loving someone who always betrays that love. By using the name Judas, it is given from the start that this is betrayal at its most extreme and the song can operate more freely within its dance beat without having to explain this fact throughout 2 verses and an extended bridge cycle. I, personally, don't really understand people who freak out about her writing a song with the name Judas as the title. It was probably chosen simply because Benedict Arnold didn't fit the rhythm as well.

Sorry for the ranting, but really, read some poetry and come back to the imagery in Lady Gaga's songs and let us know if it's still complicated. I'm thinking it will not be.

I think if you are looking for a different but well-crafted Gaga sound, you will find it in Born This Way. The sounds are powerful, the lyrics cleverly crafted and the voice stunning. (Stunning because Gaga lets her songs lead her voice instead of constantly having to show off how well she sings.) If you want pure pop, you will not find it here.

ETA: The bonus tracks definitely add a spark to the CD. I like the dance-esque remixes for work-outs. If you can grab Born This Way for a cheap price the first week of release, do that and then download the special edition tracks separately. After the sale prices end, just splurge on the Special Edition.

I just finished speaking with an Amazon MP3 Customer Service Agent, and she explained it to me clearly that their server is having technical difficulties due to the overwhelming amounts of downloads of Lady Gaga's new album. She reassured me that their technical teams are working diligently to solve the problem.

Also, she mentioned not downloading any other songs or albums until they fix the backlog, since any more songs added to your cloud player might be placed on queue. Therefore, preventing you from being able to download the songs to your iTunes or other music player.

So, please be patient little monsters because I know we have all been waiting for her album for quite some time now. You still cannot beat the price of this album compared to other music stores out there.

Just keep checking your cloud player until all of the songs get downloaded. I hope this review gives people a piece of mind that the album will eventually be downloaded.


UPDATE:

It is now 11:55, and all the songs are finally downloaded to my Amazon Cloud Player.

Check your Amazon Cloud Player now, and see if you have all the songs downloaded.

Thank you Amazon. I can finally put my PAWS up in the air! >_<


UPDATE: (May 28, 2011)

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying Lady Gaga's new album, Born This Way, because I know I am. She is a complete inspiration to me, and her new album was worth the wait.

I know we had some difficulties downloading her album the day it was released to the public. I was able to download all the songs by the end of the day on May 23rd. However, I think some of you are still missing some songs or even the whole album. Amazon sent me this e-mail today showing what to do if you had chosen to save the songs directly to your computer instead of the cloud player. Here is part of the e-mail:

If you saved your purchase to your computer, please follow these instructions to re-download your music:

1. Launch the Amazon MP3 Downloader. Here's how to locate the Downloader application on your operating system:

-Windows: All Programs - Amazon - Amazon MP3 Downloader
-Mac: Select "Amazon MP3 Downloader" from your Applications folder.
-Linux: The application is installed as /usr/bin/amazonmp3 and an icon appears in the "Applications" menu in the "Internet" submenu.

2. If you have failed downloads in your MP3 Downloader download queue, click the "Clear Completed" button at the top center of the Amazon MP3 Downloader window.

3. After you have cleared the download queue, go to: <...>

4. Find the order(s) that were placed on May 23 and click View Order.

5. Select "Click here to redownload all the tracks listed below".

I hope this helps you find the songs you are missing. Good luck!

After seeing the deal, previewing the music, and reading the reviews with problems, I've come to two conclusions:

1) The new album is definitely different, and I while I don't think it's quite as strong of a showing, it's still solid - especially for $0.99!

2) Amazon needs to moderate comments/ratings when there are known technical issues on their end!
People should not be allowed to give 1 star ratings on a product simply because of issues on Amazon's end; That does not contribute to the product rating in any way.

*EDIT* 5/23/11
1 PM EST I should also clarify that I have purchased the album, and have so far only received 6 items as well.
6 PM EST - Just received order confirmation receipt email, so things are slowly moving ahead, just have patience people.
5/24/11
Have received all files, as expected. Will updated with further album review once I can listen all the way thru.

5/25/11 - Full Album Review
After listening thru the whole album, I have to say I like it better than I did from just listening to the samples. Overall it comes across as another successful adventure in new sounds and song styles, and has a distinct sound that separates it from The Fame/Fame Monster. There don't seem to be as many stand-out songs at first pass, but it may grow on me the more I listen. I will revise my review if I change my mind along the way.

The album has a very 'big' sound, is somewhat whimsical at times, and covers a whole range of styles:
Upbeat club/pop; Driving, darker electro beats; 80's synth-pop; Even a Ballad thrown into the mix (You and I) - This one almost has a country sound to it

I am keeping my original star rating for the album, as I feel that artistically it deserves 5 stars.

Sadly, the record is censored. I don't think many small children will be purchasing and playing vinyl like this, at least not without the help of their parents.

The cover and sleeves were nicely designed, and aside from the censorship, the records are fine.

Unlike many others, I had no problem buying the album today. I had debated it, because I haven't been amazingly impressed with the early music from it (Born This Way, Judas) and I just didn't know if I wanted to try it. But, for .99, I figured what the heck.

It's okay. That's it. Every song sounds the same. There is nothing spectacular differentiating each song from another. Aside from the oft played Born This Way and the also oft played Judas, there is nothing particularly different-sounding or ground-breaking about the music (though I didn't have any complaints about any one particular song, and "Highway Unicorn" and "The Edge of Glory" were kinda catchy at times. Granted, I am not a Lady Gaga fanboy, but I really enjoyed The Fame Monster. I thought the songs were unique, and her talent showed very well.

This, however, feels like she's trying too hard. Okay, I get that she support gays, heterosexuals, transvestites, et. al. I think that's a great message. I get that she has issues with God. I get that she wants everyone to do what's right, and she feels their suffering, and on, and on, and on. But at some point, it feels more like she's saying it for the sake of saying it, because she, in her strange, do-what-you-want way, is trying to be cool for the sake of being cool. Which just makes it come across as trying too hard-which is exactly what she purports to abhor.

Overall, it's not bad. But sorry Little Monsters, it's not great either, and I'm glad I only spent .99 on it.

I would like to explain why I'm disappointed in Lady Gaga's latest release.
I grew up in the 1980s. I can remember an interview with Freddie Mercury in which he was asked about Queen's formerly outrageous get ups. In the 1970s Queen needed something that would get them noticed, and wild costumes and makeup accomplished the task. However, behind the costumes and makeup was an immensely talented band. Queen delivered the goods time after time, and eventually what the band looked like did not matter. Freddie stated that he knew he and his band mates looked ridiculous, but their ability to create music could win people over. This was the case with many talented artists of the 1970s and 1980s. Prince, Grace Jones, Cyndi Lauper, and Michael Jackson all had an element of "strangeness" to them, yet their talent was able to overshadow that element (expect for later in MJ's career).

Sadly, what Lady Gaga has delivered in Born this Way is style over substance. When Gaga debuted The Fame she delivered a style of popular music, which had not been seen since the 1980s. It was catchy, one could dance to it, and Gaga did something most singers cannot do any more-- she sang! Not only did she sing on the album, but also she dared to sing live in concert and did it well. Each track on The Fame seemed to be its own creation. So well planned and construed the artist's talent could not be over looked. Lady Gaga ruled the charts in 2008, and she continued her reign the following year with the release of The Fame Monster. "Bad Romance" is easily one of the greatest dance/pop songs recorded by any artist, and the album was filled with another batch of great songs. Clearly her image was a marketing ploy, yet Gaga had proven herself worthy of being called a star. Yet, the focus and talent Gaga delivered on her previous efforts is missing on Born this Way.

The album starts off well enough with "Marry the Night", which is an all right song if one is into the club scene and doesn't care to appreciate an artist's singing abilities. The title track is a given and I admit I'm quite fond of it. However, after that the album goes down hill at a rate I could not have anticipated. The endless thumping on every single track was overwhelming to say the least, and the ballads were so lack luster I'm not sure what purpose they served. In short, this is not the type of album I would expect a proven artist to deliver so early in her career. Born this Way seems to be more about the artist's ego than anything else... It seems Lady Gaga's fame (i.e. being strange) is more important to her than showcasing her musical abilities.

Sincerely,
A Former Little Monster

You try so hard to like this CD because there is so much in there to love! But ultimately you accept that you don't want to play it any more. All the elements of greatness are there, but not enough to weave them together in a way that feels musically unique and fun.

PROS:
Message is strong, inspiring, and brave. She has guts and is on the side of justice. The arrangements are complex, layered, and bring in musical cultural influences from all over the map. Lyrics are fun, clever, and artistic. She can play the piano and sing to beat the band.

CONS:
But while this record might work as the set list for a mega-show in a mega-arena it manages to overwhelm itself within a few minutes on CD and get really boring in a hurry. Suddenly you find yourself listening to all the other sounds you hate, from people who came before Lady Gaga but were not nearly as original, revolutionary, or talented. The rhythms and melodies start to lose their identity and in the process you lose interest because it feels like you're listening to a smash-up of 80s top hits all crunched into one heavy track after another that has got everything in it including the kitchen sink.

CONCLUSION: The songs get weighted down not lifted up, and that special je ne se quais that makes Lady Gaga phenomenal is lost in the jumble of mega production around melodies that aren't strong enough to keep the core robust. Like there is no air to breathe and the muscle and effort in this one CD could have expressed itself better in five albums, not one. Or at least it would have been more fun to listen to. But this CD seems to choke itself out pretty fast and once the air leaves the room the party's dull.

I have called Amazon and they said the $.99 is for the ENTIRE album (all 14 songs). They are having a slight problem with the links to that album and are in the process of fixing it. I hope this helps you.

The album itself is great and at a great price.

I absolutley love Gaga and this album! But, there is one small problem. A few of the songs are edited to bleep out curse words. Nowhere does it say that the album is edited so I was extremly dissapointed to turn it on and hear beeps!!! So, buyer beware!!!!