Sunday, January 31, 2010

I'm Team Gaga

Watching the Grammy's tonight while Mambo and the little Miss act like static cling.

Lady Gaga opens the show with a genius performance of "Poker Face." It doesn't quite achieve the level of art that she hit last fall with the blood and suicide on the VMA's, but she more than holds her own performing with Sir Elton.

Poor Beyonce has to follow her, thereby spotlighting the glaring difference between art and commerce.

Lady G is for all the weird kids and outcasts. Beyonce plays to the cheerleaders.

Lady Gaga is Dom Perignon. Beyonce is a Bartles and James white wine spritzer.

Lady Gaga is Coney Island. Beyonce is Disneyworld.

Lady Gaga is the White Roses hanging on the wall of the Met. Beyonce is Thomas Kinkade being hawked on HSN.

Lady Gaga is Peter Luger. Beyonce is Hamburger Heaven.

Now understand, I don't hate Beyonce. I like her just fine, the way I like Lays potato chips. I find her perfectly likeable, palatable, and well, easily consumed.

When I watch Lady Gaga I get a slightly queasy, uneasy feeling. I'm being challenged, and I don't know what's challenging me. It's not that her songs are so exceptional, they're you're basic singalongable dance-pop, but damn, her performances kick serious ass.

That's all I have to say about that.

Besides how much I loved that T-Pain joint, with Slash tearing it up with "November Rain" at the end. Sweet.

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