Previous Entry: Songs 20-11
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10) PAPARAZZI (The Fame)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: The poster-child for Gagas general commentary on fame and its demons. Not only does it stand with Born This Way as the songs most consistent with Gagas purpose, but its also a song that I consider to be technically perfect in structure and sound. The Fame is the most uneven of Gagas albums, and understandably so, but Paparazzi stands tall as one of her most iconic, brilliant pop moments.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
The sweetly brutal chorus thats scathingly sharp and absolutely perfect.
9) SPEECHLESS (The Fame Monster)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: The most honest song that Gagas ever recorded. It has a certain wisdom and charm thats hard to find in the rest of Gagas discography, and its the best showcase of Gagas ability to wreck a rock n roll ballad like no other in modern pop.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
One of the most stunning verses that Lady Gaga has ever written. So powerful.
8) AMERICANO (Born This Way)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: If Americanos production didnt hold it back as much as it did, this song could have single-handedly elevated Lady Gaga to new artistic heights. To put it simply, Americano is one of the greatest missed opportunities that Ive ever seen in pop music. The lyrics are powerful and transcendent. The chord progressions are timeless and iconic. If only Gaga stuck with the the goth-mariachi hybrid style that she delivered at the Monster Ball in Mexico, Americano would be number one on this list. But alas, its consolation prize is being one of her best songs, and one of the best pop records of the last five years.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
Instead of choosing one portion of the studio version, Id rather defer you to the entirety of the avant-garde acoustic epic.
7) MARRY THE NIGHT (Born This Way)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: A timeless anthem that, if originally sung by Springsteen or Houston, would be considered a monster classic. Unforgettable from start to finish, Gaga crafted a song that smoothly transitions from tender self-assurance to an epic, white-knuckled thrill ride. This is Gagas Born To Run, her Dont Stop Believing. Blasting this in your car during a midnight drive on the highway is a thrill that no other pop song has come close to giving me. Ever.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
The songs epic closer charges full-speed like a seizure set to song. Can you keep up?
6) SCHEIßE (Born This Way)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: A pop song that only Lady Gaga can make, and a fully-realized entity from beginning to end. There arent many things in the world that are quite as fierce as Gagas faux-German haikus, and everything just works so energetically well in this song. The chord progressions in the verses and chorus makes us wonder how no one has crafted them before, and the post-chorus hook is an absolute monster. One of the strangest Gaga songs, and thus, one of the most important footnotes in her future legacy.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
A ferocious sledge-hammer of a hook, and the best part is that its complete gibberish.
5) POKER FACE (The Fame)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: Cool, sexy, fresh, and an absolutely glorious introduction to the world of Gaga. Not much more can be said about a song thats received every possible piece of praise from the mainstream, except the fact that I listened to this song many many months before Just Dance emerged on the scene, and I remember thinking that the singer was a drag queen because of her name. I had no idea who Gaga was at that point (or what gender she was) but I had an overwhelming feeling that the world was going to very soon.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
I havent been giving Gagas verses much credit in this list, but everything about Poker Faces first verse is epic. Once again, nobody delivers monotone hooks like our Lady.
4) YOU AND I (Born This Way)
WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE: You and I is a perfect song. Whether or not the song resonates with any certain listener is irrelevant to the fact that this is a perfectly written, perfectly sung, perfectly executed record that will stand as one of Gagas most important songs in career hindsight. This is the one she will sing at her Lifetime Achievement Award performance (as it stands now) in 40 years, after all the dance songs, outrageous outfits, and controversial moments have come and gone. At the end of the day an artist is valued most for the substantial music they create; the songs that can resonate cohesively with as many varied types of listeners as possible. As far as I know, nothing out of Gagas discography is as accessible, friendly, or easy to love as You and I. A future fan favorite.
MOST EPIC MOMENT:
The best chorus Lady Gaga has ever written. This will be hard to top.
SONG #3 COMING IN A FEW SHORT MINUTES. CAN YOU GUESS THE TOP 3?
