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Listen, Gaga, I Love You, But When You Claim To Be An Original, You Just Sound, Well, Dumb

By Joanna Robinson | Posted Under Pajiba Love | Comments (68)

lady-gaga.jpeg

Happy 4/20, my cantankerous cannabisessesess. The following ven diagram (oh how I love them) was likely concocted whilst under the influence of something. The result? Killer Unicorn. (Blame It On The Voices)

The lovely Shonda sent me the following mind-boggling video which I cannot, alas, embed, but I promise it’s worth a click if your overlords haven’t blocked this particular site. Totally SFW but not at all safe if you’ve been smoking. . .um…anything. It will fry your tiny leettle minds. (Soriso Mail)

Speaking of minds that are boggled, if you haven’t checked out the new Hyperbole and a Half yet, please do. It’s the Adventures of Simple Dog! (Hyperbole and a Half)

“Simple” is a nice euphemism, no? Lady Gaga is catching a lot of flack for using the word “retarded” when accused of copying Madonna. I’m less bothered by that and more bothered by the fact that Gaga thinks she is an original in anyway. It makes her sound…simple. (Celebitchy)

Because, let’s face it Gagolytes, it’s not just Madonna she’s been copying. (Fresh Pics)

Also, p.s. Gaga, you are neither the first nor the sexiest lady to wear a crustacean on her head. NSFW. I mean, I think. I dunno, where do you work? (Luke Milton)

Let’s take a left turn at scantily-clad ladies to address the sexy naked elephant in the room. That is, “all that sex” in HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” How much sex? Well, as it turns out, quite a bit. (io9)

And speaking of books (phew, I thought I was stuck in an endless sexy lady spiral, those are the WORST), check out these terribly clever ads for a Lithuanian bookstore. (My Modern Met)

Oh, hey, have you been voting for a particular favorite for that Neil Gaiman audiobook contest? If you don’t have a horse in the race already, you should back Pajiba’s own Intern Rusty. (Book Perk)

Have you seen the film Hanna yet? It’s my favorite film of the year so far. I don’t know why it was marketed the way it was and I don’t know if these posters do a better job of representing the fairy-tale/action mishy-mashyness of it, but they’re worth a looksee. I’ve included my favorite below. (Bleeding Cool)

www.bleedingcool.jpeg

I made my own Hanna poster out of Llama Font. Wanna see it?

hannallama.jpg

That was NOT llame. How rude! Anyway, my last little linky gift for the music nerds to scrap over is this list of 10 Bands that Made Their Best Music After They Sold Out. While that’s a HIGHLY debatable claim, I’m with them on The Decemberists. (Flavorwire)

I’ve had this video in my arsenal since the weekend but I was hoarding it for today, the most whooooaaaa-nderful day of the year. I mean, the description involves the word “cosmic firmament.” How could you watch it on any other day?

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

And, finally, I’ll let the adorable Garfunkal and Oates play us out with their new video for “Weed Card.” Happy 4/20, my dears. Please puff and pass safely and let the snacks come to you.

Joanna Robinson will be passing on the puffing. Retox only goes so far. Email! Twitter!









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Comments

Are you TRYING to make me cry? Those music of the spheres-y videos get me EVERY TIME.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 1:14 PM

Oh, Mrs. J! SORRY!!

Posted by: coveredinbees at April 20, 2011 1:19 PM

LLAMA FONT! You're welcome.

And yes, VOTE FOR RUSTY.

Posted by: Sara H at April 20, 2011 1:27 PM

It was worth it for the apology!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 1:29 PM

I'm still torn up about Lis Sladen. All any of the public stories are simply saying she had been fighting cancer, but this was so sudden. She looked fine in the serials taped early last year.

Posted by: idiosynchronic at April 20, 2011 1:32 PM

Can I address the Lady Gaga nonsense?

Look. I'm kinda old. I'm not her audience, I know that. I was not even Madonna's audience (because she bugs). But has this woman ever seen Bowie in his Glam Rock phase? Has she ever seen Iggy Pop? Has she ever seen Buster Poindexter or the New York Dolls or THE TUBES for chrissakes?

To claim to be an original in light of any of these artists is insane. And how would anyone know if she has a good voice with all the synthy-poppy bull going on in her mediocre songs?

Also, I'm Catholic. Not a particularly good one, but none the less I do wish my church would stop reacting with horror every time some ass with a microphone sing-songs about having sex with JC or Mary or Judas or whomever. It just lends credence to their idiocy. I mean, Catholics have a lot of problems w out commenting on Lady Gaga's latest tantrum, right?

OK. I'm done. Headed into Good Friday. Gotta stock up on the fish sticks and macaroni and cheese. And no beer. Dear God, no beer.

Posted by: klingonfree at April 20, 2011 1:32 PM

Well, I've been joking with my mom about finding her a connection if her glaucoma surgery (today, in about an hour) doesn't take. No weed cards in Pennsyltucky.

Meanwhile, she swears that the film collecting on the inside of the car's windshield isn't from sweet, sweet herb. I remain dubious. So, um, the kids are the last to know?

But come on, Ma, even high school kids know that if the car is your lounge, you detail it once a week. Talk to a pro, ma.

This is weird on so many levels.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at April 20, 2011 1:37 PM

Stupid GaGa decided Weird Al's song wasn't good enough for her, even though it's kind of a compliment. "Here I am, like it or lump it." Doofass.

Posted by: Matt P. at April 20, 2011 1:37 PM

I'm sorry, but Gaga's statements were kinda retarded. OK, OK, my bad. They were mentally challenged.

Posted by: Fredo at April 20, 2011 1:39 PM

Does anyone else see the irony in Lady Gaga defending something called BORN THIS WAY with the word "retarded"?

I do so hate that word.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 1:41 PM

I also reached myy tipping point with the Gaga today.

Not because of your links, but because Weird Al posted on his facebook today that she would NOT ALLOW him to parody her song "Born this Way" on his next album.

I'm sorry, but you do NOT turn down Weird Al. It's instantly labels you as a self-important douche. Plus he has more staying power than Gaga ever will.

(Haven't typed "gaga" that much since I was an infant)

Posted by: meh at April 20, 2011 1:41 PM

Retarded, as a word and defined by the dictionary is not so bad and is not exactly off base. We old folks used to use the word without shame to describe developmentally disabled or Downs Syndrome citizens. I remember some commercial for fund raising efforts with I think Mia Farrow in which she used Retarded. It had dignity because it was used respectfully.

So the word does not bug me so much as the word "REtard" to describe above-mentioned people. When people use that word they just sound retarded. As in "growth delayed or hindered by organic or mechanical forces."

Posted by: klingonfree at April 20, 2011 1:46 PM

Gaga is such a douchebag.

http://alyankovic.wordpress.com/the-gaga-saga/

Link for those of you without a twitter page to the "Gaga Saga". Weird Al parodied her song AND was going to give the proceeds from the song to charity and she still said he could not release the album. Nevertheless, he is releasing the song for free under the Fair Use Doctrine, but this just speaks to what a blowhard she is.

Posted by: BalladofMaxwellDemon at April 20, 2011 1:51 PM

it is rude to say retarded, try instead, the more progressive 'gimpy-minded'

Posted by: idleprimate at April 20, 2011 1:53 PM

Gaga's influences are plain to see and she has listed them a few times I think. (Among them are Queen, Bowie and Madonna.)

'Original' is a rather relative term. No artist works in a vacuum. Everyone is standing on someone else's shoulders. I like Gaga, although I'd hardly call myself a 'fan'. But taking her influences, she has put them together in at least a semi-new-feeling stew, which by now is actually more than most musical artists achieve.

Besides, is anyone claiming that Madonna was an original? All Madonna did was copy other people, especially in the first half of her career. And she sure as hell didn't write her own stuff.

Posted by: Arco at April 20, 2011 1:54 PM

Since no one else has mentioned this, I have just one word for Lady Gaga: CHER.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at April 20, 2011 2:02 PM

She dressed herself in Kermit the Fog stuffed dolls. I wonder if she figured this was easier than just screaming Look At Me SOMEOBODY LOOK AT MEEEE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

I understand she has cited her influences and no one operates in a vacuum. But she blows! She blows in a vacuum of uber suckage wankery. And she's a blowhard who takes herself uber-uber seriously. Plus, she blows. And I love Weird Al. And she blows.

Madonna blows too. And Brittany. (Goin for broke here). And you know who else blows? Justin Timberlake.

Get. Off. My. Lawn.

Posted by: klingonfree at April 20, 2011 2:14 PM

Stupid GaGa decided Weird Al's song wasn't good enough for her, even though it's kind of a compliment.

Now we can add Coolio to her list of influences.

Posted by: branded at April 20, 2011 2:33 PM

Ok, that holographic building video was impressive. Where was that done? Anyone know?

Posted by: BWeaves at April 20, 2011 2:33 PM

Am I the only person who feels a bit sorry for the owner of Simple Dog? Because I have a Simple Cat who, every evening when I get home from work, looks at me as though I'm a stranger that just broke into her house. I love her to death (and she's drop-dead gorgeous), but she's as simple as they come.

Posted by: jimbob at April 20, 2011 2:48 PM

Now we can add Coolio to her list of influences.

Posted by: branded at April 20, 2011 2:33 PM

And Prince.

And Eminem.

And Atlantic Records (representing James Blunt, even if he said it was okay)

Posted by: Kargoyle at April 20, 2011 3:06 PM

Even I have to admit I'm completely exhausted by Gaga now. I just want her to to go away for a little while. Her new song's not even that good.

But...come on, calling her 'unoriginal' is like calling the sky blue or water wet or Charlie Sheen a little bit weird in the head.

Posted by: Figgy at April 20, 2011 3:07 PM

In the year 3015 there will only be four adjectives allowed by law

While I can admire Lady Retard's boldness, she's an idiot and not very entertaining. She's the one who actually said "As you know, I am the most judgment-free human being on the earth". Proving just how stupid and out of touch with anything but her own generational experience, which is even more limited than most her age, it seems. To call herself original - well that's just par for the course for anyone under 25.

Youth has zero perspective. Anything that came before them was lame and tired. These are the same people who voted Oasis the best musical group of ALL TIME a couple of years ago. The same people who think the original Star Wars was cute but dull and the newer prequels, the 'real' Star Wars. The same people that posted lists here of the greatest TV shows of all time and nearly every one listed was made after 2000. The same people who call whiny-voiced girl-boys in skinny jeans singing pop tunes, punk. The same people who think her gender-bending antics are bold and new. The same people who wrote "Lady Gaga’s Meat Suit Voted Most Outrageous Fashion Choice Of All Time"

As some sort of meta-example, when Lady Jesus wore her meat-suit, people were actually asking if she stole it from "Last Top Model".

Seriously, I was born in 1964 but I know where Elvis got his friggin inspiration. He was original only in that he was white and doing what he was doing. Again, get some fucking perspective before you start declaring yourself original or ground-breaking. You're not. You're only breaking through the dense crust of MTV detritus burying your stupid, unformed minds.

- "the meat-as-clothing idea first appeared 23 yeas ago in a controversial 1987 sculpture by Canadian artist Jana Sterbak."

"well-known video work My New York (2002) by Chinese artist Zhang Huan, who wore a meat suit down the streets of the city, "
http://tinyurl.com/4y3v4fo

Mark Ryden - 2009: http://tinyurl.com/3lco6tj

"...an almost identical dress in 1987, when it was exhibited as a sculpture by Canadian artist Jana Sterbak and left to decompose." http://tinyurl.com/3oerz5n

David Bowie, David Byrne, Mott the Hoople, DEVO, Mark Bowen, Gary Glitter - all did it before DuhDuh

Great article on just how unoriginal she is: http://tinyurl.com/3ydp8by

Posted by: Protoguy at April 20, 2011 3:22 PM

Forget Gaga, what is with all of the Yankovic love? He was the funniest guy in his high school and he's been doing the same schtick for 35 years. I'm surprised he's not still wearing the HI-larious fake tuxedo t-shirt you just know he wore to his prom.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 3:23 PM

Sorry, that should have been "Next Top Model". Must have been wishful thinking.

Posted by: Protoguy at April 20, 2011 3:25 PM

I remember the Canadian meat controversy. People were PISSED!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 3:28 PM

I don't understand the Yankovic stuff either. It's not like he was ahead of his time and we're just discovering this "lost" genius". It feels more like when 12 year olds discover Madlibs for the first time. And someone tell the man to cut those curly strings of shit he calls hair. Grrr-oss.

Posted by: Protoguy at April 20, 2011 3:28 PM

Klingonfree:

Today I went from admiring you to worshipping you. I hope this doesn't cause any awkwardness between us.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 3:29 PM

I agree with PaddyDog.

In vain I have struggled Klingonfree. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love
you.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 3:52 PM

ps. pop music, by definition, is neither ground-breaking nor fresh

Her career can be expressed by one ill-advised network ad campaign:

"It's new to me"

Posted by: Protoguy at April 20, 2011 3:53 PM

You started off really well but you know it's all going to fall apart when you start telling her how embarrassing her family is and how her social standing is rather paltry.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 3:56 PM

Disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of her connections?--to congratulate myself on the hope of relations, whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own?

She'll come around in the end.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 4:02 PM

But can you say that without your jaw wobbling?

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 4:22 PM

I think it's sweet when I'm fought over. You're right: I'll come around. I always do. Ask my husband: I'm a sllllllut.

Posted by: klingonfree at April 20, 2011 4:23 PM

And Weird Al is funny 2 me becz he appeals to my immature absurd (Lydia Bennet) side. I also really like Brak and Space Ghost.

Posted by: klingonfree at April 20, 2011 4:27 PM

Damn it PaddyDog! Please refrain from comments containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those complaints which were last post so disgusting to me.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 4:34 PM

You mean in that last post where you decided to egg me on because you couldn't "handle" KBalls and suprasente was "too quick" for you so you decided upon PaddyEasyMarkDog?

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 4:38 PM

Ya, that one.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 4:42 PM

Actually, I just wanted to talk about Matthew Macfadyen. I've been a bit obsessive for the last week as I made my way throuh MI-5, The Way We Live Now, Little Dorrit, Any Human Heart and the reviled Pride and Prejudice.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 4:45 PM

And, let's be honest, I totally can't handle Kballs. He is way too much for me.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 4:46 PM

Are you watching Upstairs Downstairs? You can sit and scream obscenities at Keeley Hawes for having him all to herself in real life.

Alternatively to cure you from your obsession with the mandibularly-challenged, you could catch Season One of Ashes to Ashes where in one episode (about half way through the season) he guest stars as a really unlovable and unattractive Scouser.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 4:50 PM

I'm old now. It'll fizzle out on its own. It's not like I'm 15 and he's Harrison Ford.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 5:01 PM

Forget Gaga, what is with all of the Yankovic love? He was the funniest guy in his high school and he's been doing the same schtick for 35 years. I'm surprised he's not still wearing the HI-larious fake tuxedo t-shirt you just know he wore to his prom.

The man is geeky and innocuously goofy. He makes music as much for kids as adults. He's not someone to whom I go for cutting edge satire by way of polka and accordion, but he still produces the occasional genuinely entertaining song.

I don't think that makes it immature. However, my occasional giggling at the word "duty" certainly may.

Posted by: branded at April 20, 2011 5:04 PM

"It's not like I'm 15 and he's Harrison Ford."

I tried to warn Calista Flockhart, but she wouldn't listen either.

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 5:23 PM

The Mountain was beautiful and awe-inspiring. I've watched it several times.

Posted by: The Wanderer at April 20, 2011 5:26 PM

Honestly, I think Gaga gives the obnoxious answers that she does at this point because she's tired of people asking her the same questions. Her earlier interviews pretty explicitly detailed what exactly it was she was trying to accomplish in the industry.

The whole purpose of Gaga is, and always was, to publicly document how a talented musician goes from being a talented musician who is stuck writing other people's songs to a wildly famous pop star in her own right. That's why her first album is called "The Fame" (because she's chasing it) and the second is called "The Fame Monster" (because that's what she is now that she's famous.) And none of this is an exaggerated reading -- it's been more or less said again and again.

That's why talking about whether she's "original" or whether her music sucks or not completely misses the point. Her outfits, her music, her persona -- all of it IS PURPOSEFULLY DERIVED. She's never done an exact rip-off of anyone, but she references it closely enough that it raises eyebrows. And again, that's the point. Fame is her performance, so of course she's going to mimic what worked for Madonna, or Cher, or Grace Jones.

Posted by: Amanda6 at April 20, 2011 5:30 PM

Doesn't explain things like her new album cover. Derivative or not, it sucks

Posted by: Protoguy at April 20, 2011 5:39 PM

Are people dissing Weird Al Yankovic?

Because I will cut a bitch. I am having a shitty day, and I will not hesitate.

Posted by: MM at April 20, 2011 5:40 PM

BRING IT MM!

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at April 20, 2011 5:48 PM

And there I was thinking the purpose was to make money. How could I have been so deluded?

Posted by: PaddyDog at April 20, 2011 5:49 PM

Llama font is pretty sweet.

Hanna...is one of 3 movies I've seen in the theater this year. It was like all 3 Bourne movies squished into one teenage girl.

Posted by: Sara Tonin at April 20, 2011 5:54 PM

Posted by: Protoguy at April 20, 2011 6:16 PM


Hey MM I want to see this all go down. And yeah, Paddy, I heard her call you the slow wildebeest.

Mrs Julien, your TV/DVD watching habits reflect mine pretty closely EXCEPT for that crappy P&P. I think in all honesty I'd rather watch Olvier's misbegotten version.

Posted by: klingonfree at April 20, 2011 6:37 PM

People hate for the dumbest reasons. If Lady Gaga isn't original than NOTHING is original don't you understand? Everyone copies from something...its the fact that she reinvents what she's copying from.

Posted by: Littlejon2001 at April 20, 2011 11:20 PM

"He's not someone to whom I go for cutting edge satire by way of polka and accordion" --Branded

Well, If Not the Al, who do you turn to for cutting edge satire by way of polka and accordian? I can't off the top of my head think of a more appropriate person to turn to for these sorts of needs.

In fact, if you google "satirical polka musicians" the first hit is Weird Al.

I rest my case. NATURE TRAIL TO HELL

Posted by: idleprimate at April 20, 2011 11:24 PM

Sorry, but that argument is as false as the "both parties are the same anyway" political argument.

Posted by: Protoguy at April 21, 2011 2:21 AM

@idleprimate

your forgot IN 3D!!!!!!

Posted by: JH at April 21, 2011 10:19 AM

All I appreciate is the behind the scenes insight to the vagaries of an market in which art is often sidelined, manipulated and exploited by the priorities of volume sales over artistic integrity.

Posted by: financeboy at April 21, 2011 11:52 AM

I'm so glad Hyperbole and a Half is getting some love!! That blog makes me laugh so hard I pee my pants a little sometimes. Check out her "Best of" entries...hilarious.

Posted by: Becca at April 21, 2011 3:47 PM

Thank you financeboy

Posted by: Protoguy at April 21, 2011 9:42 PM

I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often! Before this, it would be possible for the government to arrest you just based on whatever you were saying, if they didn't like it.

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