If that depressed you, let me push a little more to the edge.

Her first EP before the Gaga Tranformation.

No Floods: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiBEv...eature=related

Words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuJPo...eature=related

Wish you were here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_xDA...eature=related

And there are more if you google on youtube (people have been posting her old EP now that she is Gaga.)

Like I said, this is more of an indictment on the Record industry, and pop music, and the fans who eat it up.

Talent doesn't make money.

Entertainment makes the ENTERTAINMENT industry. If she wasn't entertaining as her raw talent, her powers that be should've figured out a way to make her talent and image work.

I think of singers like Alicia Keys (who I don't really like). I respect that she's basically remained true to form. She's basically the same way now as she was when I saw her when she was like 14 years old on BET's Teen Summit. Good for her and her powers that be.

Did I already mention that Rihanna and her transformation annoy me? LOL. I think I did. I like some of her songs but refuse to actually LOOK at her and see her videos. She looks DUMB.

I went through an Ace of Base phase (I had broken up with my long-term bf - "The Sign" was totally my theme song). The first time I heard this song on the radio (I caught only part of it), I thought the AOB had returned.

I guess I don't "get" Lady Gaga. Her gimmick is just a bit too much for me, you know? Maybe it's because I'm old now. :cool:

I am in so much agreement with the entirety of this post.

Don't hate on my sun-kissed skin!
Ditto. :cool:

You suck
You suck
You suck
You suck

LOL

No one made him or Gaga sell out, they chose to value the money and fame more than their credibility as artists. I mostly listen to indie music, and I can't for the life of me understand why people listen to Gaga, Perry, Nickleback, etc.

While I do understand where everyone is coming from, I do still feel like Gaga is a great artist. She's a very talented songwriter, writing for Britney Spears, Michael Bolton, and Adam Lambert, and while her image is quite extreme, that's exactly what has always sold in the music industry. Madonna broke boundaries with her songs and appearance, Britney and Christina did the same in their young careers. Gaga's songs might not always be deep, but they are catchy and top charts because of that. And although she is clearly influenced by these other pop stars, Gaga is a character all her own. She's pushed the boundaries even further than they had been before, but that's what is required in the music industry if you want to really achieve pop stardom. I hope that Gaga does do an album that throws back to her early career, as I do think she has great vocals and amazing skills on the piano, but until then, I'm going to keep listening (and dancing) to her fun, pop hits.

Correct. ;)

As an artist (though not of the musical variety) I can tell you that if someone gives me millions upon millions to paint a certain way, I'll do it. Out of those "indie" bands many will end up "selling out". Why not? My momma told me before my first art class to do what the teacher said to get a good grade-and then I could come home and paint/draw whatever the hell I wanted. Same thing. Make millions by playing the game. Do what you want otherwise. It's a job. Artists aren't better than the rest of the population and aren't required to adhere to some mythical calling just because they're creative...or just simply good at playing an instrument.

That being said, Nickleback can suck it.

Because they SUCK!

If you make millions by playing the game and putting on a persona that's not you, then do a 180 and try to do what really was in your heart, it's unlikely people will accept it. Either they'll think you're a pretentious idiot, or they'll be like "oh, they were so fakey at the beginning of their career - eff them." Christina Aguilera is a RARE exception, but that's because she can sing her ass off - I think she'll be around when she's 60 - and because she started out so young. Not to mention I think her family issues made her less likely to stand up to the record company and tell them to eff off when they were intent on making her BritBrit #2.

I just don't hear anything new or interesting coming out of Lady Gaga. She's got a good voice, but she obviously got signed in the wake of Norah Jones etc and then it became clear that field was saturated/over, so she went (or was encouraged to go) the freak route.