Lady Gaga’s Cinderella Story
Posted: March 16, 2015, 10:51 a.m.
by Kaitlin Goins.
Lady Gaga may have been born this way, but I can’t read her poker face. After her Oscars performance, she’s on the edge of glory with plenty of applause.
Props to whoever dreamed up the Lady Gaga rendition of “The Sound of Music” for the 2015 Academy Awards. According to The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard, Lady Gaga may owe her career to this fairy godmother.
“The Sound of Music,” which debuted a half century ago, is the most popular movie musical of all time. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the movie, Lady Gaga nailed “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “My Favorite Things” and “Edelweiss” in one fell swoop that left the audience cheering for more.
Twitter freaked out over Lady Gaga’s performance last Sunday. Business Insider reported Gaga’s performance received the most tweets per minute during the entire show. Between her normal appearance and her amazing voice — that made me double-take to see if Julie Andrews’ had suddenly appeared on stage with her old singing voice — Lady Gaga has made a complete 180, and I have whiplash.
Where did this come from?
Though Lady Gaga’s norm is far from normal, her outfit of choice for the red carpet was every bit elegant and classic. She blended in with the other actors and actresses walking the red carpet, with her most daring accessory being her red gloves. Three hours later she shocked viewers again taking the stage in yet another normal, elegant gown. No egg to break through, no blood and guts, not even a risqué outfit.
Just six years ago, Lady Gaga was “the biggest pop star in the world” according to Vogue, with six Grammys, two number-one albums and more records sold than Beyonce, Nirvana, Aretha Franklin and Bob Marley – only seven years into her career. In 2011, Lady Gaga had sold 23 million albums worldwide and 66 million singles. With “The Fame Ball Tour” grossing at $227.4 million, her brand was not hurting.
So why does this seem like the birth of a vocalist? Perhaps it’s just a rebirth . . .
Rather than being known for her voice, this side of Lady Gaga has remained hidden, only to be seen by fans who see her live performances, where she “sit[s] behind a piano and strip[s] down her artistry.”
So here’s the question: Have Lady Gaga’s unorthodox costumes and performances distracted us from her extraordinary talent? Absolutely. The elaborate costumes, outrageous props and detailed choreography detract from the amazing voice directing every movement.
The white-dressed, Cinderella-like star who captivated the audience Sunday night did not at all remind me of the star who walked into the 2010 MTV awards dressed in meat, in a bird costume for the 2009 MTV awards or in the white-tiered gown that was stripped down to a sheer-lace jumpsuit for her on-stage acceptance for the 2010 Brit Awards.
If you ask me, her fairy Gaga-mother has a PR degree and noted Gaga’s audiences were losing interest in her old ways. Much like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga has transformed overnight: Swift from a weak, heartbroken teenager to a strong, independent woman and Lady Gaga from a flamboyant performer to an extraordinary vocalist.
Maybe it was her PR person, maybe it was the ring weighing on her left hand, or perhaps Lady Gaga finally decided it was time to show the world her real voice. Either way, public relations professionals and students can learn from Lady Gaga: While outrageous stunts may entertain for a while, eventually the audience will want substance. And substance Lady Gaga gave.
