Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 stars207. Born this way again (6th anniversary)
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2017
Today marks the 6th anniversary of Lady Gaga's sophomore. Released on May 23, 2011, "Born this way" features the dance/synthpop style of "The fame/Monster", incorporating a wider range of genres (disco, house, heavy metal, opera, and rock'n'roll), while its lyrical topics include sexuality, religion, freedom, and feminism. It was a much-hyped album, supported by a strategically planned marketing campaign. It all worked perfectly. Gaga's message that "weird is cool" resulted in a loyal army of little monsters who looked up to her, the self-proclaimed Mother Monster. Accordingly, her emphasis on self-empowerment and self-expression became the overarching cultural ethos of a whole generation. Gaga, a bold, sexually ambiguous popstar was proof that anyone could have the world at their feet, as long as they worked hard and stayed true to their vision. The admirable dedication to pursue her goal, combined with the fantastic music she produced, made her millions of fans identify with her profoundly. 5 singles were released off the album: the title-track, an anthem about equality, was instantly embraced by the LGBT community; the Bible-infuenced "Judas" became a worldwide smash; "The edge of glory", an upbeat, bluesy song referring to the death of Gaga's grandfather, remains a fan-favourite; "You & I" was Gaga's foray into the country-pop that last album "Joanne" further explores; finally, "Marry the night", written as a homage to New York City, is one of her most powerful songs and videos to date, an autobiographical epic that will stand the test of time more than some of her more popular singles. "Born this way" is a true modern pop classic.
