Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” was released today, so I immediately listened to it on YouTube and then downloaded it from iTunes. As I’ve written before, I think Gaga is a genius:
I’ve already been reading that people are comparing it to Madonna’s “Express Yourself.” I can hear a few slight similarities, but overall it seems entirely different to me. In particular, Madonna’s never explicitly acknowledged anything but heterosexuality in her lyrics. For this song’s political and social message alone, I think it’s revolutionary. Maybe I’ll teach Gaga in my GLBT lit course next year!
But it’s also just a fun dance track!
Here are the lyrics:
It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
‘Cause you were born this way, baby
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
“There’s nothin’ wrong with lovin’ who you are”
She said, “‘Cause He made you perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up, girl and you you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”
I’m beautiful in my way,
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Ooo, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooo, there ain’t other way
Baby, I was born this way
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be!
Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey, hey, hey)
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah
I’m beautiful in my way,
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Ooo, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooo, there ain’t other way
Baby, I was born this way
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Don’t be!
Don’t be drag, just be a queen
Whether you’re broke or evergreen
You’re black, white, beige, chola descent
You’re lebanese, you’re orient
Whether life’s disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
‘Cause baby, you were born this way
No matter gay, straight or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Ooo, there ain’t no other way
Baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooo, there ain’t other way
Baby, I was born
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
I was born this way, hey!
I was born this wayy, hey!
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way, hey!
I was born this way, hey!
I was born this way, hey!
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way, hey!
![IMG_8341[1]](https://live.staticflickr.com/8644/27753735444_2ca20d29d0_s.jpg "IMG_8341[1]")
This Gaudy Gilded Stage 
For sure this lyric and the vibe are galvanizing for the GLBT community, but I’m honestly not terribly jazzed by this musically. Lady Gaga has the same kind of marketing saavy that Madonna had and I wouldn’t turn up my nose at the chance to dance to this good dance tune. I was never terribly into female pop divas, but have to admit one of the most inspiring experiences I had was when Cyndi Lauper sang “True Colors” at the Gay Games closing ceremony and a stadium full of GLBT people sang along with her. Brought tears to my eyes. So I guess these socially significant songs do have a solid place in our culture.
I’d say “genius” is really stretching it. I saw her performance yesterday at the Grammys, three times!. My partner adores her. I was underwhelmed by the whole thing, the latex costumes, the shoulder implants, the egg/cocoon and every celebrity saying that she is so “creative”. Such an elaborate effort seems to contradict the essence of her message( if you are born this way, I still have no idea which way that is) and keep the headlines coming.