This week the video for “Telephone” by Lady Gaga was released. There are not enough adjectives. It’s inventive, loud, original, and perhaps most importantly, it’s different. The famous quote from the annuls of Apple comments on the crazy ones; that they change things. Love her, or hate her, Lady Gaga is changing pop music as we know it – dragging us with her as she turns the machinery.
She polarises audiences in the same way Madonna did. The major difference this time is perhaps that she is a much better singer, and more driven (who thought that was possible?). Once you read past the popular music press headlines, you find a workaholic who keeps her act up through every waking hour, travelling the world every day, endlessly turning the crank handle of a global marketing machine.
When not in front of the cameras or on stage, she is posting to the social networks – sharing her thoughts with her “Little Monsters“.
The world has never seen this kind of star. If a person is the sum of her parts, you might say she is the first successful composite of all that have come before; there are shades of Blondie, Britney Spears, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and many more.
After a steady decline through yesterday afternoon and evening, I woke this morning with rather more aches and pains than I normally have – the kind that normally accompany some virus or other. Given the advance warning (and the absence of colleagues for the same reason in recent days), I worked from home. Working from home releases me from the silent world of the office and allows a soundtrack for the day. The only question therefore was what to listen to.
I decided – after at least half a minute’s thought – to give Katherine Jenkins another try. She became incredibly famous during the time I worked in London – her face (and body) were emblazoned across billboards all over the city for months. She appeared from time to time on television – singing at New Year, at big football matches, and on various television chat shows. I hated her. Sure, she’s beautiful, but much of the time I thought she sounded like a trumpet rammed up a very large nose.
Perhaps I know nothing about classical music. Perhaps I have no clue what a mezzo-soprano is supposed to sound like ?
This morning I downloaded the “Believe” album, principally because I listened to a sample on Amazon of the track “Bring Me To Life”, and realised that she didn’t always sound like a trumpet jammed up a very large nose. When she sings away from those particular registers, she sounds lovely. Wonderful even.
So – I’m not converted, but I am enjoying the album.
As an insurance policy I also got hold of some Tony Bennett, and confidently predict I’ll be forcing it on the kids later. I’m often aware that the children like any music, so if I can use that opportunity to expose them to some of the great talents, then I will do so.
