I've recently started a new delivery job, which gives me a lot of time to think, and a lot of time to listen to music. This past evening, I was enjoying Madonna's "Celebration" CD (an amazing compilation album that, if you like pop music even a little, you really should own it). I am constantly in awe of all that Madonna has accomplished, as I have been for most of my life.
Much love & respect to all of the women & divas who have come before her, but none of them has achieved what Madonna has. As I see it, she was the first woman to achieve Elvis Presley's level of fame. Certainly no woman could claim Elvis-like stature, & none has been able to maintain that kind of fame for as many decades as Madonna has (I love you Cher, but not even you...though you still have my undying love & admiration).
There is a valid reason why EVERY pop star, male & female, has read Madonna's playbook, whether they were fans or not.
Madonna EARNED the title "The Queen of Pop" (unlike some self titled court jesters, who I will not mention).
That said, there is a new force to be reckoned with, just in case you're a little slow on the uptake, or you weren't around to witness Madonna's climb so perhaps you aren't able to recognize the obvious.
As someone who became a die-hard fan of Madonna from the very first wiggle, & who immediately knew she was going to be a huge force, for a VERY long time. Someone who was also born an Elvis Presley fan & would throw herself in front of a bus for Aretha Franklin... I can recognize music royalty from a chart topper away.
Lady Gaga IS music royalty!
Now, before Iconner's try to flame my comments, hear me out fully. Please, for once, just suspend your thoughts & judgments (& for some of you, your hatred...not a virtue that Madonna likes AT ALL, btw) for the rest of this post & truly be open minded (Oh, & I appologize for the tone I'm about to take, but the only reason I'm writing this is because it's out of control & I've had enough...we all have).
First, you should truly understand that I'm certifiably insane when it comes to Madonna. I am NOT a casual fan whose opinion you can just brush off. I skipped school to attend each movie debute. My walls & ceiling were covered with every picture & poster I could find (married & a breath from 40, it's a little harder to get away with that much, lol). I have multiple Madonna tattoos, my two male cats are named David & Rocco, spent many an overnight waiting in lines for both concerts & appearances, met Donna & Niki...twice, as well as various dancers. I've touched Rocco (on the shoulder, you pervs), have been an arms length from Madonna, & she sang part of "Crazy For You" to ME (obviously a highlight of my life, that still makes me cry). I LOVE Madonna!!!
So when I say that Lady Gaga has IT, I know damn well what I'm talking about. Madonna did what she did & has stayed where she has, because she's SMART. Like it or not, so is Gaga.
And before you all start reaching into your back pockets, trying to come up with some crap about "Gaga copied this" & "Gaga stole that." Sit down!!!
"Good Artists Borrow, Great Artists Steal" - Pablo Picasso
No one knows that better than...
...wait for it...
...Madonna!
That's right, kids. Madonna! Like EVERY OTHER SUCCESSFUL ARTIST, she has "stolen" from other artists. If you're as old as I am & have been a fan from day one, then you know this to be undeniable. So to those who keep digging & searching for reasons to hate Gaga, perhaps because you think it makes you a better Madonna fan, you're going to have to come up with something a little less hypocritical.
I'm SO tired of the petty BS coming from Madonna fans, who feel threatened by Gaga's success. I'm NOT alone, either. A large portion of Madonna's fans are also Lady Gaga fans (aka Little Monsters), and with good reason (though ya'll have made it a bit scary for some fans to admit that. Please, if nothing else, swallow your venom & quit making other Madonna fans feel uncomfortable).
Gaga is freakin' smart, hella talented, INCREDIBLY good to her fans, AND she's a fan of Madonna. Basically, she's just like You & I (pun. Sorry).
Ponder this: If some of you die-hard Madonna fans went into the music business, could you deny her influence on you? Should you?
No & no! You'd be silly to do that, because you'd be denying what & who you are. You'd be denying what & who helped form your thoughts, opinions & tastes. Madonna has been one of the greatest influences & teachers in the history of the business. You'd be an Idiot (capital "I") to throw that away. Thankfully, Gaga is not an idiot.
That, however, does NOT make her a thief, just as it would not make you a thief. It DOES make her smart. JUST like Madonna! If you don't understand that, then...well, fill in the blank.
OK, I'm going to take the heat off of Iconner's for a moment...sort of. They HAVE, most definitely, been the instigators in this growing pissing contest. All that bitching & moaning about Gaga was bound to boil over. So now I'm starting to see defensiveness coming from Little Monsters. I can not blame them, but must now ask that they rise above it. I understand your frustration. You see what I see & want Gaga to be respected, as she should be. But so should Madonna. YES, Gaga is busting down door & blazing trails. You want some kind of a crown for her. I get it. But history books can not be rewritten. They can only be added to.
Elvis was, is & will always be The King. Aretha was, is & will always be The Queen of Soul. Madonna was, IS & will always be The Queen of Pop. It's a done deal. Sorry, chickadees. Game Over. (Though I must also point out that these titles, plus $5, will get them all a cup of coffee at Starbucks. No one should get as worked up about it as people are getting.)
So, since the title has been earned & taken, why can't Little Monsters think outside of the proverbial box? There is no need to get into that pissing match. It will only make you stinky monsters. Madonna is not responsible for the vocal bunch who aren't quite getting it. Just as Gaga isn't responsible for some of the idiot things that "monsters" have done & said (Adele will ring a bell for some of you true monsters).
BTW, I am a verified & tattooed Little Monster! Multiple concerts & multiple tattoos...one of which is where Lady Gaga personally signed me. I traveled from NH to NYC, as I had done so many times for Madonna, to wait overnight for Gaga's "Born This Way" signing, at Best Buy.
(FYI, "fan" is short for "fanatic." I fully acknowledge that & own it. I LOVE music, & when I love someone, I LOVE them.)
Bottom-line, I know of what I speak, from BOTH sides. If I can not get through to some of you older, crankier Iconner's (though that would be spectacular), then hopefully I can still reach some of you younger, more optimistic Little Monsters:
First, respect your elders. Madonna has NOT spoken ill of Gaga. She actually likes Gaga. So she has given you no reason to disrespect her stature & accomplishments. She earned the "title" & earned her place. If you want Mother Monster to be respected, DON'T disrespect others.
Second, you can be more creative than "queen of..." If Gaga can hang herself, rock a pod, grow bones, wear meat..., surely her Little Monsters can dig a little deeper (meat dress = totally gross, btw. As a vegan, I hated it. As a fan & lover of the arts, I got the message. She's not a vegan & wears leather, which truly is no different... as far as cruelty goes. I will not limit my musical tastes to vegan-only artists, just as I will not cut out friends & family who aren't vegan. ...But, Gaga, if you're reading this, maybe cool it with the animal stuff? You talk of love, respect & kindness. Spreading that message & setting that example, to/for ALL living souls, would truly be amazing! *fingers crossed*). Monsters, you can do better!!! Goddess? Fairy? Angel? Demon? Wizard? Warlock? Witch? Boss? CEO? ...MOTHER MONSTER? Why not ask her if she prefers one thing over the other? Or, if she even cares! It's about THE MUSIC.
Third, be strong. Remember these moments & these years. Some Madonna fans have forgotten what it was like to be a Madonna fan when she first came out...& for SO many years that followed. At age 12, 13, 14..., when you're dealing with awkwardness, sexuality, family matters, bullying, growing pains... it totally sucks (to use an 80's expression) to have the icon that your very heart beats for & bleeds for, being put down, slandered & called every name in the book. I can't tell you how many heated debates & arguments I had, defending Madonna. Or how many tears I shed, because "they just don't understand." Ultimately, Madonna rocked it out & I've had the last laugh. You will, too! But someday, like it or not, a new force will come along & stir the pot. Try not to freak-out!
