# Will Lady Gaga be "relevant" a year from now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006 "2010-09-16T19:36:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/121 "2010-09-18T07:36:45Z")
Oh, I actually don’t disagree with anything you’re saying, **multimediac17**. I was just making the point that it seems like she certainly _does_ wish to market herself, at least in some degree, as a pianist. Or a penist, if we’re going back a few pages. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/122 "2010-09-18T08:33:28Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I think what may be leading to confusion is that her _singles_ have not been piano songs. That I’d certainly agree with, though I have to wonder how much of that is her and how much is the record company dictating what should be a single. Over and over in interviews she’s talked about wanting Speechless to be a single, but it never happened— she still performed it all over TV though. Let’s use the passive voice, then. “She is not marketed as a pianist.” In theory, shouldn’t singles should be representative of an artist’s work? And this makes sense, of course. How bizarre would it be if cellist recorded an album, but all his singles were rap songs? Now sometimes people will surprise you with their versatility or talent when you dig deeper into their music, performances and interviews. But I would never even watch an interview with someone (outside of those times when I’ve been too lazy to change the channel away from what I was watching on TV) unless a song I heard piqued my interest in the first place. The way she and/or her handlers seek to pique interest is something. Typically (I believe), when one comes across a new artist whose song he likes, he wants to hear more, then runs off to the internets or whatever to see what else they’re doing. If it’s good, buy the album; if not, keep on truckin’. But what Gags, it doesn’t seem to me anyone is saying, “Here is a piano player and songwriter. If you would like to see more, go to her concerts and buy her album.” It seems to me they are saying, “Here is a person who looks fancy and weird. If you would like to see more, go to her concerts and buy her album.” Now I don’t want to pretend that I believe she is some sooper secret mega talent who tricks people into buying her albums with make up. I’m sure it’s obvious that I’m not a big fan, and have only been exposed to the singles and their music videos. Still, assuming her acoustic piano performances are on the high range of her abilities, if I took the time to listen to her entire catalogue of music, I’d say I’d rank her anywhere from “annoying and bad” to “she’s not bad, I guess.” So let’s pretend someone cared enough about my opinion, particularly those on Lady Gaga, to ask me questions. Q: Is Lady Gaga talented? A: More so than her singles would lead you to believe. Q: Does she market herself as a talented musician? A: I believe my answer to the previous implies my answer here. If not, the answer is no. Q: Will she be relevant in a year? A: Probably. I’d say three years from now is the official expiration date, but then again, I’ve been wrong about this kind of thing in the past. To each their own, and all of that. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/123 "2010-09-18T16:13:51Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@devilsknew](#): > > > > I didn’t notice any of the other artists at the VMA awards thanking Fashion designers/houses for their awards the other night > > Well, considering she considered Alexander McQueen a good friend and she was wearing a piece from his final collection (yanno, before his suicide this year), it makes sense she’d point out that she was wearing one of his pieces as a tribute to her friend. > > If you’re talking about the Armani dress–well, again, if you are as well versed on pop culture and trendiness as you claim to be, then you’d know if Georgio Armani makes you a custom dress, designed specifically for you, you thank him. I would. > > Go ahead and provide me a cite for your previous claim. It shouldn’t be hard, what with your vast pop culture and hip fashion knowledge. Hey, at least that bitch didn’t **show up wearing Bermuda shorts** , amirite? Oh my god, I forgot that this guy was the same poster who was totally delusional about daisy dukes being Bermuda shorts! And not only was he steadfast in saying he was right when dozens greatly pointed out his error, he kept lashing out at everyone. :: points and laughs :: now I know I can safely just smile blandly and pat him on the head. Good boy, you go on raging about musical simpletons and how horrific pop music is today. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/124 "2010-09-18T21:25:16Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Oh my god, I forgot that this guy was the same poster who was totally delusional about daisy dukes being Bermuda shorts! And not only was he steadfast in saying he was right when dozens greatly pointed out his error, he kept lashing out at everyone. > > :: points and laughs :: now I know I can safely just smile blandly and pat him on the head. Good boy, you go on raging about musical simpletons and how horrific pop music is today. I said that’s what Daisy Dukes used to be called in the seventies before the coinage, just like “Gaga” used to be called Ziggy Stardust in the 70’s, Madonna in the 80’s, and Marilyn Manson in the nineties. Gaga is just another pair of bermudas waitin’ to come and go in fashion and terminology. She’ll have her waterloo and Dukes of Hazard before long. These kind of artists are just the latest pop whore. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/125 "2010-09-18T21:53:28Z")
… And just comparing talent… she sure as hell ain’t no David Bowie. She might be slightly more musically inclined than Madonna, and well, at least Marilyn can turn a lyric, write his own songs, and rock hard. She’s somewhere between madonna and marilyn in talent, and well, to be honest, that ain’t saying much. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/126 "2010-09-19T05:48:20Z")
You know who are better Musicians/Vocalists/Showomen and have overall better production than Gaga? Gwen Stefani and Pink… that’s better pop in a verse than anything Gaga has put out. Gaga is Pop babyfood, she’s a sparkly vampire. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/127 "2010-09-19T09:56:15Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > > > Oh my god, I forgot that this guy was the same poster who was totally delusional about daisy dukes being Bermuda shorts! And not only was he steadfast in saying he was right when dozens greatly pointed out his error, he kept lashing out at everyone. > > > > :: points and laughs :: now I know I can safely just smile blandly and pat him on the head. Good boy, you go on raging about musical simpletons and how horrific pop music is today. > > I said that’s what Daisy Dukes used to be called in the seventies before the coinage, just like “Gaga” used to be called Ziggy Stardust in the 70’s, Madonna in the 80’s, and Marilyn Manson in the nineties. Gaga is just another pair of bermudas waitin’ to come and go in fashion and terminology. She’ll have her waterloo and Dukes of Hazard before long. These kind of artists are just the latest pop whore. You young punks with your hip phrases stick in my craw.“_Waterloo_” indeed. Back in my day, we’d say “_Battle of Salamis_” and like it. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/128 "2010-09-19T15:22:39Z")
I think you guys are giving Madonna’s music and lyrics far too much credit. Bob Dylan she isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/129 "2010-09-19T17:32:05Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Yes. > > You might not be a fan but you should actually listen to her music before declaring that she’ll be forgotten a year from now. There are only two kinds of music in the world; good music and bad music and her music is good. I expect that by this time next year she’ll have another huge hit out. I’ve listened to her music, and I still think she’s an irrelevant attention whore. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/130 "2010-09-19T17:43:45Z")
In case anyone doubts me here is scientific evidence: [Why It's Time to Stop Paying Attention to Lady Gaga | Cracked.com](http://www.cracked.com/blog/why-its-time-to-stop-paying-attention-to-lady-gaga/) ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/131 "2010-09-19T19:05:06Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I doubt she’ll have the staying power of Madonna…more likely, her career will be like Cher’s. Just the staying power of Cher – who’s had a top ten hit in each of the last five decades. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/132 "2010-09-19T19:23:27Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > Yes. > > > > You might not be a fan but you should actually listen to her music before declaring that she’ll be forgotten a year from now. There are only two kinds of music in the world; good music and bad music and her music is good. I expect that by this time next year she’ll have another huge hit out. > > I’ve listened to her music, and I still think she’s an irrelevant attention whore. Actually, this is where popularity _does_ matter. The number of fans she has is directly proportional to how relevant she is. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/133 "2010-09-19T21:13:33Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > > > I’ve listened to her music, and I still think she’s an irrelevant attention whore. > > Actually, this is where popularity _does_ matter. The number of fans she has is directly proportional to how relevant she is. Contemporary popularity has nothing to do with long-term relevancy. How’s the campaign for free coinage of silver going, by the way? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/134 "2010-09-19T21:40:33Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > Actually, this is where popularity _does_ matter. The number of fans she has is directly proportional to how relevant she is. > > Contemporary popularity has nothing to do with long-term relevancy. No, but it has to do with how relevant she is right now. If she’s as popular tomorrow as she is today, she’ll still be relevant. Sort of like how Britney Spears used to be relevant and now she really isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/135 "2010-09-19T22:02:07Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > > > Contemporary popularity has nothing to do with long-term relevancy. > > No, but it has to do with how relevant she is right now. If she’s as popular tomorrow as she is today, she’ll still be relevant. Sort of like how Britney Spears used to be relevant and now she really isn’t. If if **IF** _ **IF!** _ If wishes were horses, beggars would cover the rich in falling horse flop. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/136 "2010-09-19T22:23:14Z")
> [@multimediac17](#): > > > [@msmith537](#): > > > > As a comparison, I don’t think Ke$ha will be around in a year or so. She’s pretty much a one hit wonder. > > Ke$ha has had six (count 'em) top ten hits and a number one album. So, not a one-hit wonder at all. I stand corrected. Although I only counted 4 (“Tik Tok”, “Blah Blah Blah”, “Your Love is My Drug”, “Take It Off”) plus contributions on three top ten singles by Flo Rider, Taio Cruz and 3OH!3. I don’t she has the musical range that Gaga has though. Gaga can at least probably sing ballads while Ke$ha only seems to be able to make catchy auto-tuned electro-pop dance tunes. I’m curious to see her follow up album. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/137 "2010-09-19T22:39:25Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > No, but it has to do with how relevant she is right now. If she’s as popular tomorrow as she is today, she’ll still be relevant. Sort of like how Britney Spears used to be relevant and now she really isn’t. > > If if **IF** _ **IF!** _ > > If wishes were horses, beggars would cover the rich in falling horse flop. Yes, if. You feelin’ OK? You said she’s irrelevant now and I pointed out that that’s clearly not the case. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/138 "2010-09-19T23:48:10Z")
I didn’t say she’s irrelevant _now_, I said she’s irrelevant _period_, the implication being that modern tastes are fickle and that she’ll almost certainly be forgotten just like that one group that had that annoying hit in 1997. Meanwhile, by your standards, Octomom is relevant. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/139 "2010-09-20T00:19:59Z")
> [@Michael\_Ellis](#): > > I didn’t say she’s irrelevant _now_, I said she’s irrelevant _period_, the implication being that modern tastes are fickle and that she’ll almost certainly be forgotten Whether or not she’ll be forgotten 13 years from now has very little to do with how relevant she is now. > [@Michael](#): > > Meanwhile, by your standards, Octomom is relevant. You’re acting as if that by saying something is relevant I’m giving it an endorsement. Octomom isn’t nearly as well known as Lady Gaga. That you’d think they’re even in the same league of fame is bewildering. Lady Gaga, far more so than Octomom, has become a household name. So yes, she’s relevant. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006/140 "2010-09-20T00:36:16Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > You’re acting as if that by saying something is relevant I’m giving it an endorsement. Octomom isn’t nearly as well known as Lady Gaga. That you’d think they’re even in the same league of fame is bewildering. Lady Gaga, far more so than Octomom, has become a household name. So yes, she’s relevant. I am not so sure this is true—Octomom was national (international?) news for a while there; I would bet there are significantly more Americans who could tell you a bit about Octomom than who have a clue who/what Lady Gaga is… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-lady-gaga-be-relevant-a-year-from-now/554006.md?page=8)