Changing the world one sequin at the time goes our precious worldwide newfound Lady GaGa about herself. And supposedly, her music.
I wanted to write this piece a while back but I kept postponing it because I thought the matter was rather sensitive, with all those GaGa fans out there. However, I have to take this seriously since the threat of a Lady GaGa clothing collection is upon us. (don’t miss the rest of this story and the pictures right after the jump!)
We’re living curious times. In almost every aspect of our existence there’s a stripping-down moment. When it comes to music, it seems there’s no more sound appreciation, but body appreciation lately. (at least where women are concerned)
It’s hard to say who was the first and why, but I tend to believe it was all about audience. And when I talk about numbers, I can’t help but thinking about Madonna. Her Madgesty is an enterprise by herself. Singing, acting, dancing, promoting, she stuck her pretty little head everywhere as long as she was cashing-in.
So that brings us to her famous Dolce & Gabbana tour-outfits. While she was trying to crown Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears, the music industry has spawned more little Madonnas ready to follow her (marketing) success and her spectacular cash-ins.
Years after her Dolce & Gabbana underwear-concert-outfits, Madonna is alone, divorcee, raising her three kids between Kabbalah and Guy Ritchie’s dearest London. I guess bringing your undies in the world’s attention has some negative effects too.
Getting back to the wannabes, I’m having a hard time picking the winners. Without any significant liaison between the music and their shortening their pants and wearing the lingerie out, the new song birds are now engaged in a who-was-first battle forgetting to point out the essential: that they’re following their Madgesty steps.
Whether it’s about Beyonce, Britney, Christina, Lady GaGa, Rihanna, their stage outfits already announced the recession by using less and less fabric. Counting numerous teenagers in the audience, the new found lingerie stage beauties fail to send out a moral message. Instead, the world wonders who was the first showing her undies while singing a happy tune.
Instead of putting “A ring on it”, a coat on it should be more appropriate. Explaining the entire institution of an apparel with its attached functions seems obsolete and vintage now when our teenage daughters and sons only need to watch a music television channel and our logic disappears in smoke!
Who was the first one mistaking her underwear for stage outfit? Who found the shortest way to the top? (that’s gotta be our very controversial Lady GaGa who found herself from the underground dark and anonymous stages to music and fashion superstar in just few months. So she was certainly not the first one!)
As for the old fight Christina Vs GaGa, there must be a clever marketing plan in the background, something that’s taking over the pop scene as we speak and challenge ourselves to find the original underwear singer.
Something’s trying to rewrite our morals and aesthetics and turn them into something only seen in Disturbia. I’m not trying to take sides, I dislike robots, robo-hands, cyber-shades, stage wardrobes issued from sci-fi and sm- movies it’s really not my kind. I’m hardly a pop listener but I do care for morality and sanity.
While everyone is wondering who’s copying who and who’s shock-factor is more elevated, I think about who’s voice is stronger. About who’s songs bear more quality. Now you tell me, does it really matter who was first? Aren’t they trying to change the world one undie at the time? (you can watch Beyonce’s Single Ladies here, Britney’s Circus here, Christina Aguilera’s Keeps Getting’ Better here, Lady GaGa’s Pokerface here, Rihanna’s Disturbia here) (photos via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59 comments
Nina Hagen was the first actually, she wore a bra on stage before all of them did!
I thought it was cher. Do you reember he sheer bodysuits?
I think the ladies in the strip- and sex clubs are the one and only originals. I’m not a prude but this has become soooooo tiresome……
Ellington, is Nina Hagen known in Canada? Nina was original with a lot off things. And without a stylist or a big designer name!!
Since music is for me all about “sound appreciation” I really, really hope marvelous singer [songwriter] Adele shall win every Grammy this weekend she’s nominated for and hopefully she shall not change and stay whom she is!
I know of Nina Hagen because of my eclectic music tastes when I was in high school ( and now). I always liked music and people who were creative in their art form. Like Nina Hagen, Lena Lovitch, Kate Bush, Laurie Anderson, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel,The Talking Heads, U2, The B-52’s, The English Beat, The Cars,The Cult,Radio Head, Everything But the Girl, Robert Palmer,Nirvana,Oasis, The Verve, Duke Ellington,Felonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane to name a few of the groups and people that I listened to and still listen to!
Nina was so uber cool! She did the Blonde bra wearing thing way before Madonna ever did!
Ellington, LOL! I love(d) or like(d) all the names you mentioned! I’ve such a long list too. I’ve a very eclectic music taste. People often don’t understand. The Cult? That’s funny because their drummer Matt Sorum left the band to join Guns n’ Roses in [their best years] when I loved them the most. I liked The Cult too btw. And I was wondering of late what has happened to Everything But The Girl. The male half of the duo has a very strange disease I wanted to google that up coincidentally!
Ja, ja der Nina, sie ist so unbeschreiblich weiblich!
Gosh, I’ve (or we) viewed yesterday a 1,5 hour long documentary about The Dixie Chicks and the stir just one remark about Bush and the Iraq war caused! They were right of course and I love them too. Great voices, great musicians, great artists and great mothers and intelligent. And beautiful women too…..So different than all these lingerie stars!
Sorry but Madge was wearing her underwear as outerwear as early as 1983….. Quit with the cher crap, that was in 1989!! Madonna revolutionised the way women were percieved full stop! She changed things… Ga Ga and the other pop muppets are mere followers from Madonna’s example, none of them will achieve what she has or amount to anything more than die hards, Madonna is in a league of her own. Wannabes from the Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue have been trying to topple her for years, they couldnt and neither will this lot! Madonna will bow out when SHE’S ready to.
madonna is the biggest of all time.and at 50 she still kicking their a*es
Ofcourse Madonna is doing great for herself.
But what is this ‘blogger’ dude’s problem?
There are many reasons why artists wear little leotards on stage.
1. Its pretty hot, moving around – singing your heart out AND dancing.
2. It would be pretty stupid to wear a big coat on stage…
3. Beyonce and Lady Gaga look amazingly hot, (im a woman, so im not being sleazy or anything)
4. Obviously, they all get it for publicity, but hey.
Lady gaga, is an AMAZING songwriter and singer so I dont know what the problem is?
Madonna is the original one. Lady Gaga is just a copy with no talent, Lady Gaga Sucks!!!!
Lady gaga is much better with her fashion and all that. She is a
wacky wild and kind girl. Go on youtube and look for vintage lady gaga! She looked Beautiful
The truth is, all of the “wannabes” mentioned could out sing Madonna any day (with the exception of Britney, who couldn’t sing her way out of a bucket). So, it really doesn’t matter what they wear. Yes, Madonna revolutionized female icons. But why revolutionize something if no one is going to follow in your footsteps? I think they are all beautiful and entitled to make their own success in whichever way they choose.
BEYONCE IS THE GREATEST!!!!!!!
Cher was in 1989??? Cher was wearing practically nothing in the ’60s. You youngsters need to get a clue.
Cher Im with you on Cher. Cher has been doing the no pants pop star trend for ages!!!
I still go for the strippers.
Look at all those “ladies” and Adam Lambert’s performance at the AMA’s was criticised? Rigth!
That’s hypocrite in my view.
P.S. Cher is the most fun of them all! :)
Solo sois unas envidiosas, de que ella tenga fama y no quereis a una mas…egoistas!!!!!!!
Todas sois buenas cantantes, bueno menos beyoncé que no me gusta es muy aburrida. No seais malas, katy perry no seas celosa…
Lady Gaga just does that stuff because she likes to make crazy cool outfits not because she wants to copy anyone.
And if anyone realized how things work, nothing is original anymore. If you took someone and locked them in a room for years and years and told them to think of something original there would still be at least 1 or 100 people who have thought up of the same thing, so stop whining and just enjoy the entertainment.
i love beyonce because in my country haiti i dancing beyonce’s single ladie,get me bodie,up grade u,and beautiful nightmare.
They’re stage outfits and as such, they all look effing ridiculous. Like circus performers in beachwear
(and people laugh at Cher’s sense of style! It’s the same!!!) At least they don’t walk down the street dressed like this :) thank goodness…..
myliu lady gaga!!!! :)
que fea es madonna lo unico lindo de esa mijer son sus canciones
lady y britney las defiendo a muerte
I see many comments from last year saying that all these younger people are followers and copiers and will never beat madonna but a year on and IMO and many others, Lady Gaga is the biggest threat to madonna’s title ever! No one has challenged it like her, britney never had the talent, christina hasnt upheld a successful career seeing as her last album flopped and gwen stefani chose to work with her band than be a solo artist! Lady gaga is now the biggest popstar of the new generation, but isnt copying anything becos her musical style is different to madonnas, she has more musical talent and she is pushing more boundaries than madonna ever did! people wait for her performances at award shows becos they are so renowned! she is the first person in 30 years to challenge madonna to become the new queen of pop (although she will need to be around for a lot longer to really gain it but i see tht happening becos shes so fresh and innovative tht she will never be boring)! LONG LIVE GAGA! :D
gaga cooooollllll………..
LMAO @ patrick: foolish claims as Lady gaga does nothing but copy Madonna and BADLY. her last performance of Poker Face/Speechless @ an awards was a CHEAP SLOPPY version (gaga can’t dance for her life) of Madonna’s opening of the Blond AMbition Tour performed *20 YEARS EARLIER* GAGA isn’t threatening sh!t. for starters she keeps repeating herself (poker face, bad romance sound like a remix of “just Dance” people are already getting tired of that) Madonna had consecutive top 5 for her first albums, she always had multiple #1s from her releases (gaga has only consecutive top 10s and Fame Monster has failed to produce a #1 hit) Madonna outsold Gaga with her 1st 2 studio albums..I can go ON and ON.. besides GAGA will be done in about 5-6 years, mark my words. if u want the next queen of Pop keep looking or wait til Madonna bows out. gaga isn’t IT
lady gaga is amazing!
no1 can beat lady gaga she is the worlds best singer and has the coolest fu*en outfits eva and i envy her sooo much
grace jones will ALWAYS be the original
THE original is very hard to find I think. Glam rock was outrageous too. David Bowie’s early outfits were designed and made by none other than guitarist Slash’ mother. As another example.
I bumped somewhere on a video made by a devoted Christina Aquilera fan. It’s really miraculous what she found out. Watch it she didn’t forgot some other people at the end. And Cher at the start though she didn’t mentioned her but it’s a great job.
Who’s really original these days? I wonder if the fast world make people sort of lazy?
Bravo to this girl. So check this out!
Madonna is the best and as for the rest they have no originality they all get their style from someone else. Lady Gaga stole Rosin Murphy’s style. Britney stole Madonna’s style! And Christina is now coping Gaga! And it’s the same with the male celebs Neyo, Jason Derulo, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown all copy Michael Jackson’s style!
Michael Jackson & Madonna King and Queen of Pop forever! :)
In my opinion, Gaga beats. She is creative and uses picasso in her fashion.
I still love love love Madonna. Madonna is and always will be the queen of pop. Face the cold hard facts, nobody else has even come close to taking her title or success, not kylie, britney, janet, mariah, whitney, beyonce, christina, cher, pink rhianna, katy perry and especially not that dirty drag queen lady blah blah.
Madonna is the queen of pop! Lady Gaga is only a new pop singer.
LOL, lady gaga looks like she is on dope. Just because she puts on a halloween customs and sing out of tunes on stage that makes her better than Madonna. Dream on GAGA.
She is so ugly that’s why she always cover her face and body with weird shxxts! Madonna always has that sex appeal even she is in her 50’s. Gaga in her 20’s and look like a drag queen with a big fat noise. Think of gaga when she in her 50’s, … scary!
Madonna music has changed thru out the years, Gaga on her second album and sound like the left over from the first album, her music doesnt has any subtance! just gugu gaga haha poke me her poke me there!!!!
People just desperate for something new and til Gaga come on the scene! however gaga copies from Madonna, Boy George, Grace jones, David Bowie, Queen, Cher,…. Just sad!
Nina Hagen Prima Diva!!!!!!!
MADONNA & LADY GAGA?
HA HA HA HA …stupid material girl…
The really original woman? She’s the Italian RAFFAELLA CARRA’….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEjP1-b7feQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPAAoSFfFww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwEYFOJ5g-g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlAWHmOInfI
And so much
W RAFFAELLA CARRA’
Gaga rules! She is the reigning queen of pop!
I would like to address all of the people who are saying that Gaga sucks. Just because her music doesn’t fall into the same spectrum of music that you love to listen to doesn’t mean she sucks. To each his own is a good statement here. But also, take the time and look past the beats, past the odd lyrics of some of her songs and look at the lyrics of some of the others. Her more serious songs – like “Speechless” – have meaning. But even past that, you have to admit that she is the best live performer that the pop scene has gotten in a long time. She knows how to carry her own – just like the great Madonna and many great performers – and she knows how to make each performance seem different from the last. She is a great performer even if you don’t like her music. And if nothing else, what would you do without her? You would have no one else to dislike if she didn’t do what she does so bravely.
As for the question of who’s original, it’s obvious that there have been people long before all of the ladies of the pop scene were bearing it all on the stage. Not to say they aren’t original, in their own way they are each bringing something new to an age old tradition on the stage. But at the same time you have to remember that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and whoever started the tradition is one amazing woman. And if a girl has the body and the confidence to bear all like these performers do, more power to them. Girls know that looks like this are meant for the stage not for the street, so don’t expect us to emulate these looks unless we’re going to a club or a costume party.
Actually, Truth US, your facts are inaccurate. Madonna did not have any #1s from her first album (except maybe on the dance chart). Her debut album didn’t even reach #1. Holiday only reached #16, but she had top 10 success after that. Her first #1 single on the pop charts (US is the only country right now I’m speaking for) was “Like A Virgin,” which was from her 2nd album, which was also her first #1 album. It was the success of her 2nd album that got people noticing more the first one.
And to compare sales of Madonna’s debut to those of Gaga’s..well you’re comparing 1983 sales to 2008/9 sales. Huge difference in the way people buy albums these days (if they buy them at all).
I’m not trying to get into a Madonna vs. GaGa argument, because I like them both. But I don’t think either of them are really all that original.
In this morden generation originality dont exist in art ,for this two the basic scene is acting nude in at the stage , so only the firts person to do that was original
MADONNA WAS THE FIRST! GAG IS THE OTHER CHEAP IMITATION WHITE MEAT- END OF STORY PEOPLE!!!
lady gaga is the best…lady gaga is a fashionista.. i love lady gaga.. <3
I don’t care how popular Gaga may be right now. Madonna will always be the best to me. She dedicated nearly 30 years of revolutionizing pop music and opened doors for many female pop entertainers, like Michael Jackson opened doors for male pop entertainers. Lets not forget this is the same woman who made powerhouse albums like Like A Prayer, Erotica, and Ray of Light. Lady Gaga has yet to make an album that is even worthy of standing next to Madonna’s classics. We’ve only known about Gaga for 2 years. It’s way too early to claim she’s better than Madonna who is a legend and has been around for nearly 30 years. That’s ridiculous. That’s like saying Justin Timberlake is better than Michael Jackson. Lady Gaga has potential, but she has yet to show that. Dressing up like a clown every day and making “catchy”, but shallow, generic pop music doesn’t cut it for me. A lot of people are falling for it, but I’m not. Her music, her image, everything about her was created to make you like her.
@Patrick: “She (Gaga) has more musical talented and is pushing more boundaries than Madonna ever did”.
R U Serious with that comment? What “boundaries” has Lady Gaga pushed that Madonna hasn’t? Madonna mixed s*x and religion, burned crosses, and damn near had or**es on stage at her Girlie Show Tour. So that’s complete BS! More musically talented? How? They both have mediocre voices, they both play instruments, they both write, produce, and compose their own music (which Madonna is better at). Actually KNOW your stuff, and do research before you make post comments.
che beyonce es rica mi amor
Lasdy Gaga is a 5minute wonder who only stays in the news as long as she is doing outragouse stuff, probablly told to do it by her managers, maddona was just her self
there should not be a question regarding the originality in clothes atleast…..b’coz they are all glamorous stars, their work and job is to enchant and captivate the audiences to them,obviously they do it by flaunting their bodies to a much extent and therefore, they wear bikinis,bras and costumes which are too revealing and flaunt their bodies all over……..
rather the question should have been regarding the originality in their music…………………….
THE FACT!
MADONNA is the queen of pop,a legendary singer and known for her original style.Lady Gaga is a good singer but i observed that many singer not only L.Gaga copying the style of Madonna.But the mind of people will not change,who is the Queen of pop.Since 80’s until now, Madonna is always in the top.Madonna influence many people to love music,thats why new singers in this generation are developed and lady gaga is one of them.MADONNA IS THE QUEEN OF MUSIC!
Madonna fans-
She can’t write to save her life.
Many of her singles flopped when they were first released.
Gaga, on the other hand, writes AND sings music. And even if you don’t think BTW deserved the hype…it’s still definitely not a flop.
I’m not saying Madonna isn’t one of the Queens of Pop, and the original Queen of Pop, but it’s time to move on.
I mean, come on, even Michael, the TRUE royalty of pop, loved Gaga.
You completely over simplified this. Yes there were people before our generation, but there were also people before them. You can’t simply state that all pop stars are in a massive strip concert. For example, it isn’t as if Gaga is doing it for the stereotypical “sexy” factor, you have taken her complicated and extravagant costumes (that by the way aren’t all undies) and put her and many other popstars in a box that they are clearly trying to break out of. Yes Madonna is/was amazing, but that doesn’t make people like Gaga any less outstanding. If anything Gaga is to be commended on her ability to follow such a great star.
Madonna’s stage costumes are by Jean Paul Gaultier – not D&G!
mya, I’ll have to agree with Frances on that one: I completely oversimplified things. So did you, actually!
I was writing my piece around the time Madonna was intensely collaborating with Dolce and Gabbana (few ads, some accessories she designed) and knowing that they did designed some of the clothes for her tours. However, talking about Madonna’s stage costumes and not mentioning Jean Paul Gaultier, was very gauche from me. Let’s take it one concert at the time:
For her first tour (The Girlie Show), the costumes were designed by Dolce and Gabbana; Jean Paul Gaultier designed exclusively for the Blonde Ambition Tour; The Drowned World Tour brought JP Gaultier, DSquared2, Versace, Dolce&Gabbana and Catherine Malandrino; the Re Invention tour costumes were designed by Christian Lacroix, Lagerfeld (Chanel), Stella McCartney, Arianne Phillips; she got back to JP Gaultier in her Confessions tour, also using Arianne Phillips and Roman Diaz. For her last tour up to date, the Sticky and Sweet tour, she used Arianne Phillips, Tom Ford, YSL (Pilati), Givenchy (Tisci), Michael Schmidt, Miu Miu, Kiki de Montparnasse, Jeremy Scott, Moschino, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli aaaaand…. Dolce & Gabbana ;)
Your knowledge blew my mind!
But I am pretty sure the Blond Ambition Tour is from 1990s & the The Girlie Show is from 1993. But Madonna wore a corset designed by Marlene Stewart for her 1987 tour – Who’s that Girl. I should have clarified that the iconic pictures of Madonna in the conial bras etc are JPG. The girl certainly is a fashionista instead of a clown…
You’re such a sweetheart! I only had vague knowledge of it all, I had a little Google – help ;) to piece the puzzle together!
And you’re right – the Girlie Show is from 1993 and The Blond Ambition from 1990! As far as the tours I left out – the Virgin tour used stage costumes designed by Maripol and Marlene Stewart did the “Who’s That Girl” tour.
There’s no denying Madonna is the master of reinvention, her fashion sense is more chameleon – like than anything I’ve ever seen before or will I ever again!
The way Madonna & Cher use costumes to deepen their music is way beyond anything Lady Gaga tries to evoke. I am still trying to figure out the meat dress???
Although I remember the images of the 80s / 90s like it was yesterday – I had to use google & my little friend wikipedia too! All that money my parent’s wasted on a ritzy school – shame!
Where were we before Google, anyway? wink
I sometimes get the feeling Gaga is just pulling random items out of a hat and then puts them all together pretending it’s fashion. Or style. something. And I cannot, for the life of me, understand the praise and the glory she’s getting from the (fashion) world. Would it be because she’s so ridiculously “enfant terrible”…
Your Madgesty isn’t a trendsetter nor she invented any style nor she was the first one to sing on stage with naked legs. She simply copies styles from original people.
Ah, time runs fast……
NINA HAGEN is the QUEEN! No one either before or after her has done what she did both in her music and in her image.
All the others are bad counterfeits.
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