A Pop Geek Has A Geekgasm At The Birth Of The New Madonna…Lady Gaga

Way back in the day at the very first MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna instantly became an overnight sensation when she strutted around in a boustier wearing crucifixes, rolling around the floor to Like A Virgin like a cat in heat. America was shocked and outraged, and my Catholic mother walked out of the room disgusted. 25 years later, almost to the day, Lady Gaga performed her hit Paparazzi at the same Awards show, also in white lace, this time culminating in her bleeding body hanging from the rafters. By happenstance (and yet another Michael Jackson memorial number) I happened to watch the VMA’s this year with my mom again, who had the exact same reaction to GaGa’s performance as she did to Madonna’s when I was a kid. Considering Madonna went on to become a household name after that night, I can only hope that my mom’s horrified reaction is a sign of good things to come for the House of Gaga. Because I actually believe that Lady GaGa IS the new Madonna. There, I said it.

As a lifelong Madonna fanatic, I know it should make me gag having to admit that anyone is the “New Madonna”, but the truth is I’ve been waiting to say that about someone, anyone, for over a decade now. When Britney Spears and Christina Aguliera first burst onto the pop music scene a decade ago, the media christened them as Madonna’s successors. I scoffed at this notion. First off, nether Brit Brit not Christina were self created pop divas; everything from their music, their dance moves, and their clothing was decided upon by committee. From an early age, their pushy stage mothers arranged for them to be on Star Search, then Disney Channel fame, then finally record deals with songs that surely would have gone to someone else had they never been born. Their entire look isn’t exactly pop star worthy in my book either. Looking like you have an amazing expense account at Forever 21 at the local mall is not creating a new fashion sense, all it is is wearing what everyone else is already wearing. Yawn. When both Britney and Christina dressed up as Madonna at the MTV Awards a few years back to honor her 20th Anniversary performance, all I could think was “really, are they the best we can do?” *

Well, finally someone has stepped up to the plate. I believe Lady GaGa IS that new pop Diva. Of course, only time will really tell If GaGa can have anything close to the longevity that Madonna has had, but I think she has a better shot than anyone up till now.  I’ve heard all the same things before: “She’s a flash in the pan, no one will remember who is she is a year from now”, but in my opinion, Lady GaGa is not going anywhere kids. The girl has the will, the determination, the style, the theatricality, and yes, the potty mouth of Madonna. Of course, the media has noticed the similarity between the two, and even brought it up to GaGa in interviews. “Well, we’re  both blonde, we’re both Italian, and we both started our careers in New York City, and we both like to take our clothes off in public” says Lady GaGa. But there are more similarities than just those.

Both Are Self Created

By GaGa’s own admission, she “makes pop music they way rock stars make rock music, I worked my way up the club circuit and the underground burlesque shows for a long time and did my own thing”  Like Madonna, she earned her stripes in the pop world.  Disney didn’t hand it out like they did for Britney and Christina, and she didn’t get famous on American Idol singing other people’s old hits. She did it the old fashioned way.

Neither Are Runway Models

Unlike the American Idol chicks (any of them, take your pic) or even early Brit/Christina, neither Madonna nor GaGa are what one would call “classic beauties”. Madge was cute when she was a young pop tart, but nothing special. And GaGa has that giant honkin’ nose. But both worked extra hard at being the sexiest bitches around, proving you don’t have to be perfect to get the girls to want to be you and the guys to want to fuck you.

Both GaGa and Madonna Are Smart Cookies

Sure, all of the songs on GaGa’s debut album “The Fame” are about being sexy, fabulous, partying, and doing hot boys. But then, so were all the songs on Madonna’s debut album.  But neither of these girls are just dumb tarts. They know their music history. GaGa is no Avril Lavigne, who mispronounces David Bowie’s name and then later says she didn’t even know who that was. GaGa wears her 70’s glam and 80’s New Wave influences on her sleeve, just like Madonna channeled Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich back in the day. GaGa is also a work horse like Madge.  Whether or not she’s the same work horse at age 50 remains to be seen, but I could see it happening.

Play To Your Core Gay Audience, And They’ll Never Abandon You

Both GaGa and Madonna are, essentially, female drag queens. And us gays love us our drag queens. Dressing up in overly theatrical get ups, working WAY too much make up and wigs, and harboring aggressive sexual dance moves, both are essentially gay men in women’s bodies. GaGa is, of course, very aware of how important her gay fanbase is to be sure – “The turning point for me was the gay community, I’ve got so many gay fans and they’re so loyal to me and they really lifted me up. They’ll always stand by me and I’ll always stand by them. It’s not an easy thing to create a fanbase. … Being invited to play [the San Francisco Pride rally], that was a real turning point for me as an artist.” The lesson here – don’t forget us and we won’t forget about you. When she won her VMA Award for Best New Artist, she said “This one’s for God, and for the Gays” (We love you to ghurl)

Of course, it is possible that I’m wrong about all of this, and Miss GaGa disappears in a year or two, but I really don’t think so. Just like I told naysayers about Madonna all those years ago, you all better get used to her, or get used to hating her, ‘cuz bitch ain’t going anywhere anytime soon.