Quick Rant: Team TayTay

So a lot of people have been hating on Taylor Swift saying that she did not deserve the Grammy Award for 'Album of the Year' last night. Most of those who say this say so because they are Lady Gaga or Beyonce fans who think their "artists" should have won. I am, admittedly, a full Lady Gaga STAN (ONTD-speak for stalker+fan) and I would not say that I am the same for Taylor Swift. However, I do enjoy Taylor Swift's music. Is it country music that technically goes against everything I believe in musically? Yes. But Taylor Swift hits a spot in my heart that Gaga, Britney, and even Kylie can't hit. Her raw, emotional lyrics are something that I can relate to and if I can't, I know someone who could relate to them. In defense of her album, "Fearless," it is one of the most cohesive, sweet, well-written albums that I have listened to in a long time.

While I personally think that Lady Gaga's "The Fame" is one of the best CDs that I own, I do not think it is Grammy-worthy for "album of the year." Gaga's impact on American (and world) culture is something that extends far beyond the music from her debut album. The music is, obviously, a huge part of her success and current reign over the pop universe, but she is much more than that. She extracts everything that Americans wish they could be and projects it directly in front of our faces and has thereby been successful. I don't think, however, that the music on "The Fame" is why she is the phenomenon that she is. Her album is a great dance record and I love nearly every track on the disc, but the song selection, sequencing, and production all scream safety on the part of Gaga's record label. It seems like random tracks were thrown in so that they could appeal to the mass American market, which obviously worked. On this note, I would argue that "The Fame" was not able to express Gaga's true artistic, musical talent because record executives were taking such a big risk by releasing her album.

Now, I am in NO WAY saying that I dislike "The Fame" or think that Gaga lacks talent, because I do not think this. I saw "The Monster Ball" 5 times and consider myself a very big fan of Lady Gaga. When people say that Taylor Swift is lacking talent or that she is a "fake bitch," I think it is insulting to someone, let alone a nineteen year old girl, to say that they didn't deserve their awards. It seems to me that there is no commercial motive, other than the obvious that is felt throughout the entire award show, for giving Taylor Swift a Grammy for album of the year. "Fearless" has done a great deal for the music industry and while Lady Gaga pushes herself to the brink of everything expected, Taylor Swift has remained true to herself and has continued to produce great music and to work hard.

If you think Taylor should not have won, it is understandable but I think to say that she lacks talent or to say that she is undeserving, I would argue against that. Again, I apologize for the lack of fluidity in this post, it is a rant and I hope it makes you see why I think TayTay DID deserve the award! (Although so did Gaga!) hehe

Bubble Dreams

A performance of Speechless by Lady Gaga. I know she does this song frequently but I love the hair/dress combination and I am loving the launch of the new site Vevo. Ironically, I use the YouTube version, but it's only because I don't like the way that Vevo videos embed on this blog. Enjoy!

She Killed It!

Today, being an agnostic Jew on Christmas, I will be doing nothing but eating and laying on the couch and watching season 4 of Dexter. I started season 1 last Friday and will most likely finish season 4 today. Sounds a little insane but this break, I want to do nothing but be re-immersed in pop culture. I hate when school becomes "priority" to what I really love. Hopefully a Coffee Bean is open in the San Fernando Valley because I would really appreciate a vanilla latte right now.

As my gift to you, whomever you may be, I present you with my dream outfit as worn by Lady Gaga. She swapped out the high-waisted pants she'd been wearing for her more traditional pants-less look. I just about died when I saw this on the Lady the other night. You know me, cover anything in mirror squares and I'm a happy camper. Gaga did just that AND added Madonna-esque mirrored cones over her bubbies to really complete the look. This was surely a Christmas present to me so hopefully you will appreciate it as much as I did. Thanks Gaga Clause!

Want Your Bad Romance

Virgin Mobile has been giving Little Monsters who attend Lady Gaga's The Monster Ball the opportunity to take photos inside of Lady Gaga's infamous orbitals. Here is my close-up from the first Los Angeles show at Nokia Theater. I need to get one more photo tomorrow night because they only posted one out of about five photos that we took.

Genius + Genius = Genius

One of my favorite photographers (if not my favorite), David LaChapelle produced a new set of photos of one of my favorite pop divas, Lady Gaga in various different, over the top costumes and settings. Perhaps why I love both of these gay icons is because of their shared aesthetic of nothing being too much and how ridiculously camp they both are. They just make me happy and are so visually stimulating. Kind of loving the King Kong themed photo with Kanye West. It's kind of amazing. AH! Okay, now I will continue to gaze at these beautiful works of art.

Photos via GagaDaily

Put Your Paws Up.

I have spent the past two nights with someone who has become very important to me, and her name is Lady Gaga. Since I missed The Fame Ball last April, this was my first encounter with Gaga at The Monster Ball on December 13 and 14 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. I spent most of both days in line studying for my first, last, and most important final and waiting all day was so worth it. The show was quite amazing. A very dark show with really amazing visuals. The set list was kind of amazing, the opening number was fantastic, the projections (often my favorite part of a concert) were absolutely wonderful. It's cool because she used most of the same music from The Fame Ball (with the addition of the music from The Fame Monster) and was able to create a show that is entirely different from before with a completely different theme, mood, idea. Gaga has come such a long way in such a short amount of time. I will be going to the shows in San Diego and Los Angeles starting on Saturday and I am so excited to see the show 3 (possibly 4) more times. These concerts are the cap on a truly amazing year. I saw Britney, Kylie, and Gaga all in the same year and have been inspired by all three in such different ways. I am trying to think of a permanent way to remember these shows as they all represent something a little different inside of me.

My final went okay. I am super nervous, I wrote about High School Musical and Beyonce for the essay questions. I will remain anxious as the fate of my academic career kind of relies on this exam. I will be returning home to Los Angeles this Thursday, very excited to see my puppies and the sunshine.

Viva GaGa

The new photo featuring Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper for MAC Viva Glam

via GagaDaily

Don't Call Me 'GaGa'

In honor of my upcoming 5 show run of "The Monster Ball" in San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles, I have created two masks! Lots of blood, sweat, and glue went into these. No, actually, they were pretty simple and cheap to make. Kind of time-intensive but not as bad as I thought. Definitely a good distraction from studying for my most important exam of the semester.

Inspired by her mask in the "Poker Face" music video:

Inspired by the promotional photo from The Fame Monster

This is Wild

After seeing this photo of Lady Gaga, I was so inspired by her headpiece. I sought out the fabulous designers of the headpiece and it turns out they are jewelry designers Mouton Collet. Their work is quite amazing and I know it's a little impractical for every day life but I am kind of obsessed and might sacrifice practicality for the sake of these divine pieces of art that are placed on these men's bodies, and on the head of Lady Gaga. Their collection will soon be available on yoox.com.

Photos via GagaDaily and Mouton Collet

GET IN LOSER.

hillarious graphic via ONTD

I need this Issue

I want it bad.

Woke up this morning to the new video for "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga. Words can not describe how wonderful it is. Ahhh! I love her so much.