The contrast couldn’t be greater, between the two women currently dominating music– Susan Boyle and Lady Gaga – one a retiring fragile latecomer who epitomizes hope and sympathy performing safe evergreens, the other a vibrant bold pacemaker outrageously imagining something totally unique. Susan Boyle has already shown that fame could crush her. Lady Gaga craves it. Both are an inspiration, but in very different ways.
But why would you buy Susan Boyle’s album? Millions have already of course. We’ve heard most of the songs before. There’s nothing the least innovative about it, nothing new at all. Just HER, and while she’s obviously a more than average singer Boyle’s not THAT talented. She’s filling a NEED. And she’s part of the phenomena of the 2000’s where being famous is all that matters. We don’t particularly want Susan Boyle to entertain us. We want to encourage her fame, while all SHE wants is to sing, at the cost of fame.
Lady Gaga is another matter entirely. Yes she’s grabbed fame with both hands, and everything else, but SHE is also determined to entertain us, challenge us, surprise us. Lady Gaga is more than a singer. If Madonna was a leap forward in entertainment, Lady Gaga is the next leap. She’s the “new” Madonna and suddenly Madonna is yesterday.
Lady Gaga is a phenomena. Every song, every video, every appearance is an event. She’s innovation overload. How is she possibly going to keep up the pace she’s set? It’ll be fun to watch every moment as it unfolds. She’s the best thing to happen to music in years.
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