Lady Gaga ignores boycott, plays Phoenix concert.

[cbdo2007]

http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/02/lady-gaga-admits-to-using-cocaine-on-occasion/?hpt=T2

Although Gaga did choose to perform a concert in Phoenix Saturday instead of joining a “Sound Strike," she did address the contentious issue.

“Thank you so much for buying a ticket to see my show, Arizona…Tonight, I want you to free yourself. I want you to let go of all of your insecurities. I want you to reject any person or anything or any law that have ever made you feel like you don’t belong," she said over the cheers of the audience.

"I got a phone call from a couple of big rock and rollers, big pop stars, big rappers, and they said, we’d like you to boycott Arizona," she went on. "And I said, ‘you really think that us dumb pop stars are going to collapse the economy in Arizona? I’ll tell you what we have to do about SB1070."

The artist, who had "Stop SB1070" written on her arm, told the audience, "We have to be active. We have to actively protest...I will not cancel my show...I will hold you, and we will hold each other, and we will peaceably protest this state. Do not be afraid. Because if it wasn’t for all of you immigrants this country wouldn’t have .”

[WillParkinson]

1. I am not much of a fan of her music, but...

I do like her sensibilities.

[backscatter712]

2. I've got respect for Lady Gaga.

Granted, I wished she'd join the boycott, but I appreciate her point of view, which is to protest SB1070 with other means.

She's always been on our side on these sorts of issues, and I definitely appreciate that.

[Uncle_Gunnysack]

76. Especially when it means that she can go forward and profit while others

stick to their guns and the boycott.

[WCGreen]

86. Exactly...

Lady Cha Ching....

[PanoramaIsland]

109. Yep! Support the queers and the immigrants, as long as it helps your bottom line.

Don't get me wrong, she gives queer rights a lot of positive media coverage and support, but I often wonder if it isn't at least partly for profit. Queers have certainly been a very attentive and lucrative demographic for her...

[rocktivity]

113. DING DING DING! PanoramaIsland, you're our grand prize winner!

...(S)he gives queer rights a lot of positive media coverage and support, but I often wonder if it isn't at least partly for profit.

A tactic that worked particularly well for her grandmother Madonna, who never got around to mentioning that heteros can get AIDS, too.

:headbang:
rockrivity

[mitchum]

3. $$$$$$

[EFerrari]

7. Yep. n/t

[mitchum]

30. She's just prefabulous!

[superduperfarleft]

25. Noooez, that can't be, she's totally an artist! Just like Pink!

(By the way, I agree)

[mitchum]

29. I really did laugh out loud

That "Just like Pink!" was perfect :)

[cherokeeprogressive]

70. +10

[Berserker]

82. 100% correct

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[mr_liberal]

92. Money??? LOL

She has a bazillion dollars. One concert wouldn't mean anything to her.

She doesnt want to dump 20,000 of her fans who bought tickets, for a "boycott" that its hard to tell if it even exists.

She did the right thing.

[Fearless]

100. +1

[mitchum]

103. The chick who portrays Lady Gaga isn't keeping those bazillion dollars that are rolling in...

that whole enterprise is a corporate entity and she has to spread lots of that money around to the corporate chiefs. That's a fact.
When a dog wins a dog show or a horse wins a race, the animals don't get to keep all of the money.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. I'm all for positive thinking, but that's kind of a goofy rant.

Yes, as someone is being stuck in the back of a squad car, they will close their eyes and reject the reality that 'makes them feel like they don't belong'. Feel those handcuffs just dissolve into thin air!

It's, like, totally quantum physics. I heard it on Oprah.

[Webster Green]

13. She was calling for protests.

Protest has been effective in the past. I'm happy to see her take a political stance.

She's the hottest thing in the music biz. Maybe it will rub off onto her fans.

[MilesColtrane]

88. Protests are for the little monsters.

A boycott (which is a form of protest) is not for divas.

[Webster Green]

118. Is there some point there, or are you just riffing?

I have mixed feelings about boycotts myself. Obviously, they will also impact local folks who think the law is horrible.

I'm guessing you used the term "diva" for it's contemporary connotation (prima donna), which has only recently become a negative label.

I give her props for taking a political stance. I'm a GaGa fan...I admit it. It took me awhile. I watched some old tapes of her grinding it out in NYC clubs before she got big. She's very talented!(IMO). :smoke:

[pinboy3niner]

5. It's nice that she's speaking out, but...

...I'd rather see her JOIN the boycott AND speak out.

For more info on the boycott of Arizona:
http://www.thesoundstrike.net/

[sweetloukillbot]

19. I prefer what these guys are doing...

http://www.vivaarizona.org/

It's musicians against SB1070 here in AZ who are working to register voters and overturn this piece of shit legislation. I have no qualms about Rage and Conor Oberst staging benefit concerts to protest this law, but I'd like to see action happening here in Arizona rather than from afar.

I wasn't at the Gaga show, but I did see Bare Naked Ladies last weekend and they also spoke out against SB1070 to a chorus of cheers.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

52. No kidding. I thought strength came through solidarity. I guess Madonna 2.0 is above that.

[Brickbat]

6. Good for her for addressing it. I've had mixed feelings about the boycott.

[CreekDog]

8. A boycott is a personal decision

let's not get confused over whom to be angry at regarding 1070, AZ's legislators and governor.

[cbdo2007]

11. Good point....and a protest in Hollywood is hardly going to reach the people who

can make change. That sounds more like it's just about $$$ than someone playing Phoenix and speaking out against immigration in the belly of the beast.

I mean, Conor Oberst???? Please...besides RATM, he's the biggest artist they could get? ha ha. Lady Gaga actually playing Phoenix will reach more people than he'll reach in a million years.

[CreekDog]

14. yes and no to that...remember, the boycott of AZ by professional sports b/c of MLK holiday issue

was instrumental in getting the legislature to revisit the decision.

the public shaming worked pretty well, but worked even better was shunning by pro sports in sports crazy Arizona.

if i recall, they only got the Super Bowl after the state made MLK a paid holiday in the early/mid nineties.

although i got MLK as a paid holiday at University of Arizona, i noticed we were open on Presidents' Day.

[blondeatlast]

42. Thank you, thank you, thank you--how quickly we forget. The boycotts DID work

and they will again.

[sweetloukillbot]

21. That was my initial thought as well, but the show in H-Wood is a benefit

They're raising money for voter registration and legal services in AZ. I can support that.

[pinboy3niner]

111. Sound Strike has quite a few prominent artists

More than 300 have joined the boycott, and while many are ones you've probably never heard of, they also include ones like Carlos Santana, Ozomatli, Nine Inch Nails, Cypress Hill, Juanes, Kanye West, Michael Moore, Tenacious D, Sonic Youth, Superchief, Suri and more. Oberst and RATM just headed the bill at the benefit concert at the Palladium.

[WCGreen]

87. How would everyone react if Toby Keith said and did the same thing....

[Deep13]

9. She's still supporting AZ with her $$$. nt

[snot]

10. Howzat? Seems more like she's still accepting $$$ from AZ'ans . . .

[Deep13]

51. Isn't that the same thing?

Unless her audience was mostly Mexican, they're the same folks who insisted on that unconstitutional law.

[PSzymeczek]

73. I have a pasty Swiss-German complexion,

I live in Arizona, and I'm against SB 1070.

Edited to add a thought.

[phleshdef]

17. Pop stars are not freaking obligated to take a political stand on anything.

Not everyone has to be a god damn activist. She is well within her rights to have a concert in any part of the country she wants. Like any famous performer/musician, she has fans there that have bought her album before that was an SB1070. There is no moral imperative that she ignores those fans over political stuff that has nothing to do with her career. All that aside, she ended up standing in front of a bunch of people in Arizona and told them they should protest the bill. Thats actually kind of a brave thing to do IMO.

[EFerrari]

33. Yes, she is free to give her concert and she is free to take criticism for it. n/t

[phleshdef]

34. Criticizing someone over something like that is pretentious, arrogant bullshit.

Its fine to support boycotts. But acting like someone is doing something wrong because they don't want to get involved at that level is idiocy. At that point, you are treating your politics as if its a religion and everyone must convert or be damned.

[EFerrari]

35. Well, no. Criticizing someone for not honoring a boycott

is not idiocy. It's advocacy and has nothing to do with religion at all.

[phleshdef]

40. It might as well be. You are judging someone that didn't do anything wrong to anyone...

...based on the fact that their unharmful actions aren't living up to your moral standards. All you are missing is a magic book to use the so called Words of God to back up your otherwise irrational judgementalism.

Entertainers shouldn't be expected to shaft their fans that support them just because said fans live in a state thats practicing some really crummy politics.

[Kajsa]

46. +1

n/t

[EFerrari]

77. Oh, baloney. Some of the most effective activists on the left

are entertainers. That you can't tell solidarity from a hole in the ground is your problem. :)

[Hannah Bell]

112. that's what politics is about. you don't like it, too bad.

[rpannier]

114. Just curious

You were/would have been okay with the performers who played concerts in South Africa during the Apartheid years

[Deep13]

53. "...a god damn activist."

Huh.

Yeah, and I'm free to point out what I pointed out. How these kinds of comments are always directed at those who have basically no influence? Someone will always point out that those with power and influence have a right to do or say what they want. Where does that leave those of us with no voice, with no access to mass media and without the money of connections to be heard.

People have a wider duty than to their own careers or personal ambitions. Sometimes it is necessary to do what is right. Imagine if we conducted our lives and ran the country by that principle?

[phleshdef]

56. Pop stars do not have a duty to shaft fans because they live in Republican hell.

[fascisthunter]

65. maybe not for you, but many many would disagree

it's why some some business interests have distanced themselves from AZ... because they know it will place them in a bad light publicly. Well, we now know money means more to her than institutionalized state legislative bigotry.

[Johonny]

68. Yah and Queen played Sun city

so what. Queen only played for Mandela's at his 90th birthday party. Queen played Sun city and ended up beloved throughout the country by all races. So you can see things don't always work out like the overly self righteous plan. Oops.

[DaughterOfBilitis]

12. I'm not a big fan of boycotts.

So I'm glad she still went on with her show and was out-spoken about that dreadful bill.

[txlibdem]

15. The boycott was lifted after the court injunction

Perhaps not too many of us DUers heard about this but the Senator that called for the boycott went on Countdown and asked people to end the boycott.

Leading members of Arizona's Latino community meanwhile called for the boycott to be lifted. Raúl Grijalva, a Democratic Senator who was one of the leading voices in favour of the original sanctions, said it was time to reverse the policy.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/i-can-get-my-family-back-immigrants-driven-out-of-arizona-return-home-2039079.html

[upi402]

16. thank you ! n/t

[xultar]

18. ROFFPNMFPLMFAO!

[pinboy3niner]

22. The boycott wasn't 'lifted'

Rep. Grijalva called for that, but Sound Strike continues to boycott and I haven't heard of any other groups that have called it off. That could happen, but most groups seem to be adopting a 'wait and see' attitude for now.

[Bluebear]

28. Actually that is one person that spoke out, the boycott has not been "lifted"

And the law is still on the books.

[EFerrari]

32. No, it was only Raul. The boycott is still one. n/t

[marmar]

37. Raul Grijalva isn't a senator....He's a rep.

nt

[blondeatlast]

43. Grijalva is a Representative. Just sayin'. nt

[Canuckistanian]

81. Boycotts can be "lifted" through court injunctions?

I did not know that.

What is the court going to do, FORCE people to work or go to Arizona?

[Ian David]

20. This is better than Elton John who basically told the pro-Freedom people to fuck themselves. n/t

[Unvanguard]

23. I have no objection to her choice of tactics. She spoke out against it, that's what counts.

As she said, as far as music goes, the boycott is symbolic anyway.

[PBS Poll-435]

24. Alejandro, Alejandro, Alejandro,

Where'd you go?

[Saturday]

26. I'm so glad only R's live in AZ and a boycott only hurts them.

Freedom fries anyone?

[rocktivity]

27. Since the most unconstitutional parts of the law are NOT in effect

prompting an AZ Dem to call for an end to the boycott, she didn't stick her neck out THAT far.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[EFerrari]

31. AZ Dems did not start the boycott. It's unclear whether the Dem leadership

even supported it.

This really isn't about them. They aren't the leaders in this situation.

[blondeatlast]

44. Actually,m they clearly DID NOT support the boycott.

I can't find the video they created and sponsored, but they urged Democrats here to NOT support the boycott. I still support the boycott until the whole goddamned thing vanishes.

[rocktivity]

61. The AZ Dem I mentioned is Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva

And he just told Keith that he agrees with Gaga's stance--he wants the performers back in Arizona!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[EFerrari]

63. Right. He said something right after the verdict.

He's a good guy.

[PSzymeczek]

75. He's been a good guy

for 30-odd years that I know of. Starting when he was on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

[EFerrari]

78. How rare are people like that. Tom Ammiano is like that in San Francisco.

He was on the board and is in the state assembly now. I'd go on teevee for him and I hate teevee. lol

[marmar]

36. Actions speak louder than words, GaGa.....

GaGa oh-la-la, Rahma-Rahmala

[closeupready]

38. She is an entertainer, people! lol She sings and dances as a career.

It just so happens it's a glamorous career which attracts tons of beautiful people, but few have the talent Lady Gaga does. So of course, people envy her and her success.

She spoke out against the law, she's totally liberal and she's in Arizona to make money.

Perhaps she disagrees with boycotts generally?

could be any number of ways to look at this.

[EFerrari]

47. Sure. If you don't support the boycott.

lol

Sean Penn is an entertainer, too. He's also running the most successful refugee camp in Haiti. Could be any number of ways to think about entertainers.

[AtomicKitten]

39. Maybe someone needs to explain to her how a boycott works.

It's not this: "I will hold you, and we will hold each other, and we will peaceably protest this state."

[blondeatlast]

41. "You really think us dumb pop stars are going to collapse the Arizona economy?"

They did back in the Ev Mecham days, you stupid piece of shellac.

[Orsino]

54. I really thik the dumbest pop stars will make weak excuses not to boycott. n/t

[political_Dem]

45. She's blonde, doesn't wear pants, and will not be subjected to SB 1070.

The authorities in Arizona will not pull her over no matter how much she romanticizes prison life in the "Telephone" video.

I'm sorry to say that she can try to smooth it over as much as she likes. However, she's clueless. Does she not understand that a boycott is also a form of protest? She seems to negate her "soliloquy" on stage by ignoring that little point by saying the show must go on. She thrives on controversy. I get that.

(I am quite fond of "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance".)

However, her petulant act to be "different" sort of misses the larger implications here. It only shows that she doesn't care for the dignity and respect of some of her "monsters"--especially if they are a little darker than she is.

If some of her Arizona fans get harassed and incarcerated by Frau Brewer's Brownshirts due to SB 1070, doesn't she realize that's less money for her?

[JonLP24]

48. At least the text shows that she spoke out against this

I was already aware of this and was going to point that out due to the headline. The important thing is she is speaking out.

[cleanhippie]

49. So what? I care as much about gaga as I do about Spears, Lohan, Kardashian.....

or any other "celebrity". Its all about the money and thats all they care about....

[NuttyFluffers]

50. how do you peaceably and actively protest if there is no disobedience, no consequences?

holding each other i guess...

i agree with some of what she says, "you really think that us dumb pop stars are going to collapse the economy in Arizona?" but her alternative accomplishes what?

Gandhi and MLK Jr accomplished things by CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, not by holding hands and sharing their feelings over a good kumbayah. boycotts and strikes and other 'less palatable' forms of protest accomplished such goals, not wearing bracelets, painting each other's faces, and having the prettiest posters.

people need to grow up if they want to deal with the power -- power doesn't care what you do as long as you keep yourself powerless and ignorable.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

55. Hasn't Arizona suffered enough?

[EFerrari]

57. FTW!

lol

[MilesColtrane]

58. Hey, GooGoo

1980's Sun City called.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists_United_Against_Apartheid

They heard you'd play anywhere.

[RetroLounge]

59. Who? Should I know who this person is?

or rather, should I care?

I thought it was musicians who were boycotting. What instrument does this hack play?

RL

[anarch]

66. piano mostly, I think

but that's neither here nor there, really:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM51qOpwcIM

[RetroLounge]

67. Thanks for the link

She sucks.

RL

[anarch]

69. LOL

and I only type that when it happens, btw...ha! :D

[rocktivity]

115. Here's Lady Gag-Up selling out her "serious musician" roots

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2smz_1L2_0&feature=related

and here she is getting pwned by a twelve-year old who now has a record contract of his own (link).

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Behind the Aegis]

71. You tell me.

WillParkinson (1000+ posts) Wed Jul-28-10 09:54 AM
Original message
Lady Gaga offers support to homeless LGBT youth
Lady Gaga offers support to homeless LGBT youth

Together with tour sponsor Virgin Mobile, Lady Gaga has reached out to homeless youth shelters who serve LGBY youth in a national campaign to attract volunteerism to an admirable cause.

The singer targeted organizations in 25 cities with a key focus on homeless LGBT youth. In exchange for an eight hours contribution to one of the selected shelters, some worthy Gaga fans will receive free tickets to her sold-out Monster Ball tour.

A group of diehard fans, kicked off the campaign Tuesday at Hollywood’s Covenant House in Los Angeles. 14 volunteers spent much of the day painting the common room the outreach center.

According to the Advocate, Covenant House is the only program of its kind in the city. The organization provides shelter, counseling medical services and career and financial advice to homeless youth.

http://www.365gay.com/news/lady-gaga-offers-support-to-...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=162671

WillParkinson (1000+ posts) Tue Jul-20-10 03:07 PM
Original message
Tues. Watercooler: Gaga fans clash with anti-gay protestors
Gaga’s “little monsters.” Lady Gaga fans collided with a group of anti-gay protestors Saturday at a concert in St. Louis MO.

Earlier in the day, Lady G wrote a Facebook note to her “little monster fans” warning them that hate group Westboro Baptist Church had planned to protest outside of the concert.

“At the risk of drawing attention to a hateful organization, I would like to make my little monster fans aware of a protest being held outside the Monsterball in St. Louis tonight,” she wrote. ”Their message is of hatred and divisiveness, but inside at the Monsterball we preach love and unity.”

According to MTV.com, about a half-dozen Westboro supporters showed up to protest, but were outnumbered by Gaga fans who countered the protestors’ anti-gay messages with signs of their own. Some fans poked fun at protesters, holding up signs with humorous messages like “God hates Figs,” while other “little monsters” waved rainbow flags.

Although she had advised fans to turn the other cheek, Lady Gaga seemed pleased with the outcome.

“Tonight love and hate met in St. Louis,” she tweeted after the show. “And love outnumbered the hate, in poetic thousands. Hate left. But love stayed. + Together, we sang.”

http://www.365gay.com/news/tues-watercooler-gaga-fans-c...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=162317

Behind the Aegis (1000+ posts) Sat Feb-27-10 01:54 PM
Original message
Lady Gaga Grabs Her Faux Package
Lady Gaga posed on the cover of U.K. magazine Q topless and, in a defiant nod to persistent rumors, with a bulge in her trousers.

"We all know that one of the biggest talking points of the year was that I have a dick,” the pop superstar noted, “so why not give them what they want?


"I want to wear a dick strapped to my vagina,” the fearless “Bad Romance” singer proclaimed.


"I also carry myself onstage in a masculine way and sing in a low register,” she admitted. “This is not out of nowhere, right?”


The “Paparazzi” songstress said the provocative cover suits her response to the rumors to a T. "I want to comment on that in a beautiful, artistic way. How I wanna show it,” she clarified of posing with the strap-on down her pants, resting against her right leg. “And I want to call this piece Lady Gaga Dies Hard."

more...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=156896

Obama I Know That You're Listening! LADY GAGA Gay Rights Rally Washington DC

Stefani Germanotta was born on March 28, 1986, the eldest child of Joseph Germanotta, an Italian American internet entrepreneur, and Cynthia Bissett.<7><8> She learned to play piano from the age of four, went on to write her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open mike nights by age 14.<9> source

[mitchum]

79. That type of activism is because she's a third rate Hag Act...

and she knows where her bread is buttered most.
That's a long ways downhill from Judy Garland or Marlene Dietrich to Gaga.

[Behind the Aegis]

93. I'll take a "thrid rate (fag) Hag" over some of the gay rights "activists" at this site!

Then again, some people are just bitter, souless creatures jealous of others' talents, good fortune, and a host of other things they wish they could be.

[mitchum]

95. That is obvious

By the way...
I suspect that you are not a fan of Riefenstahl, Celine, or Pound.
Is it because you are a bitter, soulless creature jealous of their talent?
Answer carefully.

[Behind the Aegis]

97. Bet you are a raving fan, aren't ya?

Riefenstahl was quite talented! Then again, I am sure you are aware of that and have the t-shirt to boot.

[mitchum]

101. There are t-shirts???!!!

You should be grateful that I am willing to maintain the facade of a villain; it allows you the continued opportunity to maintain your special victimhood(s).
It appears that I am the only one of us who is aware that we are engaged in a farcical production.

[Behind the Aegis]

102. Seems you have over-estimated yourself. How surprising.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[mitchum]

104. Really? It appears that I can almost always bait you.

Think about it.

[Behind the Aegis]

105. And the fact remains, a cigar is sometimes nothing but a cigar.

Delusions of adequacy aside, a simple principle to consider. Think about it. It won't hurt...much.

[mitchum]

107. Stringing cliches together hardly constitutes a riposte...

and this is where you are likely to respond with some variation upon "Well, why are doing it?"

edit: typo

[Behind the Aegis]

108. Cigars are interesting things; in dreams they can represent other things.

But, sometimes, they are nothing more than what they are really are. It is when that is understood, then the mystery is solved and the truth shines free. However, there are those times that some just enjoy smoking a cheap cigar. It is amusing.

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

117. yes, being photographed wearing a strap-on is 'activism'

Jesus, no wonder the movement has so many problems.

[Codeine]

60. Does this mean DU will finally stop trying to convince people

that this person and her hyper-polished, mega-commercialized, pabulum-pop shit are of any artistic value whatsofuckingever?

Oops, looks like her defenders are already out in force. :eyes:

[Webster Green]

119. Her stuff may be too deep for you.

I think her work goes over your head. There's a lot of meaning in her words, and she plays real gud too.

















*Actually, maybe not so much.....however, music and arts are sort of subjective. It's weird to tell someone the music they like sucks.

I love watching someone come from nowhere and rise to the top of the music biz. GaGa fucking rules!

[Withywindle]

62. She didn't ignore it; she addressed it.

She didn't blithely go on as if it weren't there, she acknowledged it to everyone. And she made it clear that she didn't support the law, but she disagreed with that particular method of opposing it.

Of course her decision is open to criticism, but pretending she didn't address the issue or take a stand is dishonest.


Honestly, as someone who grew up as a passionate music fan in a left-wing family in a state that was very backward, racist, and blood red at the time--I kind of like what she did. I seriously doubt that most of the people supporting this abomination of a policy are Lady GaGa fans. I'm too old for her target audience, but from what I gather, her fans tend to be young, diverse, and more GLBT than the population at large. This Gen-Xer says that Generation Y deserves some real props for understanding some issues way better than we older folks give them credit for sometimes.

[JonLP24]

64. That is how I feel about it

She is also very active in support of GLBT so if she made a mistake here I gave her a pass but I credit her for speaking out on the issue as well.

[Withywindle]

72. Yeah!

I don't think I really "got" her until I saw a video of Johnny Weir skating to "Poker Face." :D

Disagreeing with her particular decision on this particular issue is not the same as declaring that her work has no value. I really kind of relate that to the "Disco Sucks" movement of the late 70s--OK, it's one thing to not enjoy the music (I personally prefer to listen to things more on the punk/metal spectrum for recreational purposes) but it's another to have a visceral kneejerk reaction just based on the fact that it's dance music made by someone who wears outrageous costumes and appeals to a young, diverse audience. I mean, you'd have to write off Parliament-Funkadelic in their prime by the same criteria! (Except that they were male, so they get more of a pass from the pop-culture quality police.)

Over the years, there's been a lot written about the undertones of racism, homophobia, and sexism in the "Disco Sucks" movement. I wish that was more read and understood around here sometimes.

Anyway, I'm betting a lot of her biggest fans in AZ are Latino youth. Why punish them further?

[mitchum]

80. Yeah...give me a call when her output equals that of George Clinton

[Withywindle]

83. I never said it does.

Only that the criteria I usually see used to dismiss her is very superficial--much more so than her music.

[mitchum]

85. Rightly pointing out that she is a prefab Auto-Tuned clumsy dancer...

with a "shocking and provocative" presentation that is ragged hand-me-downs (or imitation wine in borrowed bottles)
doesn't seem superficial to me.
Hell, I typed this all by myself without an entourage of handlers and sycophants.

[Withywindle]

90. do you really find her shocking and provocative?

I don't. I'm 41 years old - I've been through many artists more shocking and provocative than her. What is REALLY shocking to me is the idea that anyone would find what she does "shocking" --hello, pop stars have been wearing funky costumes for my entire lifetime! People are still shocked by this? Who? Where?

The important thing is that she makes some really goddamn infectious pop songs -- if you like pop music at all, you can't deny that "Poker Face," "Bad Romance," and "Telephone" are damn good dance songs. And also, from time to time, she goes out on a limb--the video for "Alejandro" means a LOT to the GLBT youth I know.

It's similar to what Madonna used to do a quarter of a century ago. Nothing wrong with that. What Madonna did at the time was seriously pretty revolutionary for a generation of young women and GLBT youth. Hell, I didn't like her music much (again, girl metalhead here, it was boring to me)--but WOW, her videos had power to me back then if I just turned the sound down.

[mitchum]

91. No,of course not, that's why I used scare quotes...

but her machine (and unpaid lackeys) spend lots of time and effort and $$$ trying to convince people that Gaga is "shocking and provocative"
And it has worked on lots of dupes.
Me? I think she is just Radio Disney shit.

My 68 year old mother dismissed her as a "bad Madonna ripoff"
Mom is right.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

98. Yep.

Whatever happened to making real music?

[mitchum]

106. Something has changed; no one ever took Tiffany or Debbie Gibson seriously...

and pretended that they were artistes.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

110. It's sad when mediocrity is elevated.

[L0oniX]

74. Ehh ...she's just another piece of shit from the horses ass music industry.

Maybe she should be hooking up with Teddy boy.

[Rosco T.]

84. Got a simple question... which will draw more attention...

.. her NOT doing the show.

or her doing the show, and her words getting repeated over and over and over.

Just asking.

[MilesColtrane]

89. How about a press conference on the steps of the Arizona capitol in which she explains....

why she is canceling her performance?

Heck she can even use some of the same words she used at her concert, except this time their will be a lot more media than just music reviewers.

There might even be cameras there.

Heck, if she got a sound bite on the news, she would instantly reach more people than she could in a single concert.



Her concert speech was simply lip service to cover for a choice of a payday instead of doing the right thing.

[rollin74]

94. she's right

canceling her concert wouldn't change a damn thing

she is doing more good by having the concert and encouraging people in attendance to get active and protest.

[InvisibleTouch]

96. I like her.

Running away and hiding from the issue won't bring about change. Standing up and speaking out is a far better start!

Oh, and her music isn't bad, either. :)

[snooper2]

99. this became an important thread to some people

:hurts:

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

116. I dont care if I agree or not on this issue: Celebrity Culture Sucks and should be destroyed

Celebrity Culture is by far the most successful mass hypnosis in history. It has destroyed decent politics in the US; hell, there are a myriad of posters here who will spend hours cooing over Michelle Obama's wardrobe and hairstyle or the Clinton wedding.

I don't give a damn what Lady Gaga, RATM, Sean Penn, Miss America, Kermit the Frog or any other pop culture figure has to say about any political issue EVEN when I agree with them. I don't care about weddings, fashion designers or pundits.

It's all bullshit and it's all just another easy to keep people hypnotized.