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Born This Way (song)

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"Born This Way"
Song

"Born This Way" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It is the title track from her forthcoming second studio album Born This Way and was released as its lead single on February 11, 2011.[3] The song was written by Lady Gaga, and it was produced by Gaga, Fernando Garibay, and DJ White Shadow.[4]

Background

While accepting the Video of the Year award (for "Bad Romance") at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Gaga, after tearfully announcing her forthcoming album's title, sang a few lines from the song: "I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes; I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way."[5] Given as a Christmas "gift" to her fans[6] at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day 2011, she announced (via Twitter) that May 23, 2011 and February 13, 2011 would see the release of Born This Way and this song respectively. The song, however, was released on February 11, two days prior to its original release, after revealing this on her Twitter page on February 7.[7] Prior to its release in late January, Gaga (via Twitter) released the full set of lyrics to "Born This Way" onto the Internet.[8]

Artwork

On February 8, 2011, Gaga tweeted the French words "Trois Jours" ("Three Days") along with a picture of the official single artwork (via TwitPic, an online image host).[9] Described by Charlie Amter from The Hollywood Reporter as harkening back to the "classic record covers from the 1980s (think Missing Persons, Roxy Music or Duran Duran) or even the 1970s", a naked Gaga appears on the black-and-white cover art revealing her tattooed back while wearing heavy make-up with sharp edges bulging from her face and shoulder; her hair: air-blown.[9][10][11] Tanner Stransky from Entertainment Weekly gave a postive review of the cover art, saying that "it’s quite the doozy of a photo: Doesn’t Gaga look almost animalistic in this shot? It’s — dare I say the word, especially after Perez used it to describe the art, too — totally and completely fierce. And really, would you expect anything less? Gaga’s hair flows mane-like, and it almost seems like you might find the creature she’s channeling somewhere in the African jungle."[11] However, Archana Ram from the same publication felt that the cover art was too similar with that of Kylie Minogue's cover art for her 2007 single, "2 Hearts".[12] Nicole Eggenberger from OK! felt that "In true Gaga fashion, the singer styles some pointy shoulders, horns and lovely hairdo. If though it’s still on the wild side, it looks like Gaga also kept it glam with the makeup!"[7] Leah Collins from Dose believed that the extreme make-up and tattoos are an ironic play on the title of the song.[13] Bill Lamb from About.com opined that the "emphasis of cheekbones and angular lines in the makeup gives the image an androgynous feel somewhere between male and female. In that way it brings to mind the classic David Bowie Young Americans album cover." He added that a sense of vulnerability was added with the lack of clothes in the image.[14]

Critical reception

"Born This Way"
A 26-second sample of "Born This Way" containing the chorus and the latter part of the bridge which contains the controversial lyrics.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Reviews of the song have been positive, though The Hollywood Reporter summarised the initial reaction as "mixed."[15] Fans and critics alike noticed many similarities to Madonna's "Express Yourself".[16]

The Guardian, wrote that the song "is a thumping, almost disco anthem that stomps along until the chorus crashes in with the weight of a discarded meat dress."[17] Rick Florino of Artistdirect gave the song 5 out of 5 stars, stating that "No one can carry a hook like Lady Gaga, and the chorus on "Born This Way" is nothing short of a monster" while referring to the song as "an immediate pop classic."[18] People added "The club-ready anthem, complete with a few a cappella chants and Italian lyrics, shows off Gaga's powerhouse vocal chords – and knack for powerful songwriting."[19] Additionally, Billboard gave the song a positive review upon its premiere, commenting that the track "is an immediate dancefloor anthem that marries big beats with Gaga's powerful, distinctive vocals and in-your-face lyrics about race and sexuality."[20] Nick Levine of Digital Spy gave the song five out of five stars describing it as a "life-affirming equality anthem, a straight-up club pumper and a flat-out fantastic pop song".[21] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine also gave the song a positive review adding "...there's a sense, listening to the song, that Gaga has tapped into something truly special, maybe even important. The song's message is certainly one that the world's youth needs to hear now more than ever. And I can't think of a better messenger."[22] Fellow musician and friend Elton John also commented on the track, dubbing it "the anthem that's going to obliterate 'I Will Survive'"[23] with Meghan Casserly of Forbes giving the song a positive review commenting "For real, Born This Way had better be the biggest, best anthem every written—it follows the recipe precisely. An anthem that speaks to every person on the planet...".[24] Popjustice also pointed out that the song was influenced by Madonna's "Deeper and Deeper, "Express Yourself" and "Vogue".[25] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone commended the nods to Madonna, giving the song four stars out of five, and commenting that "'Born This Way' sums up all the complex Gaga mythos, all her politics and Catholic angst and smeared lipstick, in one brilliant pop blast. [The song is] an event, a statement, the most anticipatrended song in the history of recorded music, or at least since Britney’s 'Hold It Against Me'."[26]

Amplifier on Yahoo! Music, however, criticized "Born This Way", stating that the song was "overworked, overwrought, noisy, cheesy, and very, very derivative", specifically noting the similarities to "When Love Takes Over", "Waterfalls", and three of Madonna's songs: "Express Yourself", "Ray of Light", and "Vogue".[27] Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph noted that the imitative nature of the song would affect perceptions of Gaga's artistry, commenting that song was "[basically] a reworking of Madonna's 'Express Yourself' with a touch of 'Vogue,' which is a bit too much Madonna for someone who is trying to establish her own identity as the, er, new Madonna."[28] MSN also compared Madonna songs "Express Yourself", "Ray of Light" and "Like a Prayer".[29] Annie Yuan of The Hollywood Reporter labelled the song "a hodge-podge of other pop tunes."[15] Kevin O'Donnell of Spin gave a more mixed review, pointing out lyrical similarities to Michael Jackson's "Black or White" but going on to say "Based on all the hype surrounding the single, you'd think Gaga was releasing a song as epic and instantly classic as the Beatles' "A Day in the Life" or Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." Imagine what she'd come up with if she'd spent more than ten minutes writing [the song]."[30]

After the early release of the lyrics, the song garnered criticism from some Asian[31] and Hispanic communities, including Latino groups MECha and Chicanos Unidos Arizona,[32] claiming that the lyrics' use of the terms "chola," and "orient" to describe Latino and Asian communities is offensive and derogatory.[33] In response to the lyrics, Robert Paul Reyes of Newsblaze.com stated that while he agreed with the lyrics' pro-gay stance, he questioned the use of the term "chola", asking, "Are Latinos supposed to be grateful that a white superstar, born of privilege, included a racist shout out to our community? Not all Latino ladies are 'cholas' in the barrio, some of them are teachers, writers, engineers and nurses and doctors."[33]

Chart performance

According to Billboard, the song could possibly land atop the Hot 100 and is a nominee to become the 1000th number one single in the chart's 52 year history.[34] On 13 February 2011, the song debuted at number three in the United Kingdom, with first week sales of 60,000 copies in 34 hours, only being held off from the top by Jessie J's "Price Tag" and Chipmunk's "Champion."[35]

Music video

The video was shot the weekend of January 22–24, 2011, and is described to be a "profound, so inspiring and so incredibly beautiful" music video.[36] The video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who has previously directed "Paparazzi" and "Telephone", and was shot in New York City.[37] Make up artist Billy Brasfield, who works with Gaga on all of her videos, described the clip as “the most amazing thing ever," and cried upon his first view.[36]

Live performances

Gaga performed "Born This Way" at the 53rd Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011. The singer confirmed the performance via phone call with Ellen DeGeneres on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[38][39] On February 9, 2011, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, DeGeneres alongside singers Justin Bieber and James Blunt performed their own rendition of the song, improvising the music, while singing the chorus from the song.[40]

Track listing

  • Digital download[41]
  1. "Born This Way" – 4:20

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[42] 3

Radio and release history

Country Date Format
United States[43] February 11, 2011 Mainstream and rhythmic radio
Worldwide Digital download
United States[44] March 15, 2011 CD single

References

  1. ^ "Born this Way (Legal Title) BMI Work #12342685 Lady Gaga". BMI Repertoire. (Broadcast Music Incorporated). Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  2. ^ Van Meter, Jonathan (2011-02-10). "Lady Gaga: Our Lady of Pop". Vogue. Vogue. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  3. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2011-02-07). "Lady Gaga To Release 'Born This Way' Early". MTV. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  4. ^ Aswad, Jem (11 February 2011). "Single Review: Lady Gaga, 'Born This Way'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  5. ^ Lee, Joyce (2010-09-13). ""Born This Way:" Lady Gaga's New Album Title". CBS News. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  6. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2010-12-27). "Lady Gaga To Make Born This Way Announcement New Year's Eve". MTV. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  7. ^ a b Eggenberger, Nicole (2011-02-09). "Lady Gaga Displays Her 'Born This Way' Cover Art". OK!. Northern & Shell. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  8. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2011-01-27). "Lady Gaga Releases Full 'Born This Way' Lyrics". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  9. ^ a b Chen, Joyce (2011-02-08). "Lady Gaga gives her 'little monsters' a sneak peak with Twitpic of single cover for 'Born This Way'". New York Daily News. News Corporation. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  10. ^ "Lady Gaga Reveals 'Born This Way' Cover Art, Revisits Apartment On '60 Minutes'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  11. ^ a b Stransky, Tanner (2011-02-08). "Lady Gaga 'Born This Way' Cover Art: It's Fierce". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  12. ^ Ram, Archana (2011-02-09). "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' cover album: A Kylie Minogue rip-off?". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  13. ^ Leah Collins, Dose.caFebruary 8, 2011. "Music Buzz: Lady Gaga, The Strokes, Foo Fighters and More". Dose.ca. Retrieved 2011-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Lamb, Bill (2011-02-08). "Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Cover Art is Sensual, Androgynous, and Vulnerable". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  15. ^ a b Yuan, Annie (2011-02-11). "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Criticized for Similarities to Madonna Songs". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  16. ^ Huffington Post. Twitter Killed the Radio Star: Lady Gaga's "Born This Way". Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  17. ^ Cragg, Michael. "Lady Gaga's Born This Way: first review | Music | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  18. ^ By Rick Florino. "Lady Gaga "Born This Way" Single Review — 5 out of 5 Stars; Album Reviews". artistdirect.com. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  19. ^ Schwartz, Alison. "Lady Gaga New Song Premieres - Born This Way". People.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  20. ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums (2009-09-14). "Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Premieres" (in Template:Pl icon). Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  21. ^ Levine, Nick (11 February 2011). "Music - Singles Review - Lady Gaga: 'Born This Way' - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  22. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/02/single-review-lady-gagas-born-this-way/
  23. ^ By Matthew Perpetua. "Listen: Lady Gaga's New Single 'Born This Way' | Rolling Stone Music". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  24. ^ http://blogs.forbes.com/meghancasserly/2011/02/11/lady-gagas-born-this-way-gay-anthems-and-girl-power/
  25. ^ So, 'Born This Way'
  26. ^ By Rob Sheffield. "Born This Way by Lady Gaga | Rolling Stone Music | Album Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  27. ^ Ganz, Caryn. [Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way': Vogue Yourself http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/amplifier/88460/lady-gagas-born-this-way-vogue-yourself/]. Yahoo! Music. February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  28. ^ McCormick, Neil (2011-02-11). "Is "Born This Way" the gayest song ever?". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  29. ^ [1]
  30. ^ "Hear It: Lady Gaga's Single "Born This Way"". SPIN.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  31. ^ Perez, Miguel (4 February 2011). "Asians join Latinos in condemning Lady Gaga". HispanicallySpeaking.com. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  32. ^ Kennedy, Ed (31 January 2011). "Morning Meme: Jesse Tyler and Justin Mikita Celebrate SAG, Betty White Hangs With "Modern Family," and Superman Is British?". AfterElton. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  33. ^ a b Reyes, Robert Paul (2 February 2011). "Is Lady Gaga a Racist?". Newsblaze.com. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
  34. ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums (2009-09-14). "Will Next Week Bring The Billboard Hot 100's 1000th No. 1?". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  35. ^ "Jessie J wins Champion chart battle as Lady Gaga swoops into Top 3". The Official Charts Company. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  36. ^ a b Montgomery, James (2011-01-25). "Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Video Is 'Profound,' Makeup Artist Says". MTV. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  37. ^ Vena, Jocelyn. "Lady Gaga 'Born This Way' Video Details Emerge - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  38. ^ http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/01/lady_gaga_on_the_telephone_0127.php
  39. ^ "Born This Way Lyrics". January 27, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  40. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (2011-02-09). "Justin Bieber, James Blunt Cover Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' On 'Ellen'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  41. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Born-This-Way/dp/B004NFCBUA/ref=pd_ts_zgc_dmusic_digital_music_track_display_on_website_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&pf_rd_p=1264323062&pf_rd_s=right-4&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=163856011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0A64GCR19WVJEPY81CHR
  42. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  43. ^ http://www.webcitation.org/5wMvGnZnc
  44. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Born-This-Way-Lady-Gaga/dp/B004N62KTG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1297456342&sr=8-3
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