The Fame [Import]

Even though 22 year old Joanne Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga) has been singing and performing for more than half of her life, she really stepped into the limelight in April of this year with the release of the incredibly popular number 1 smash hit "Just Dance". Lady Gaga was originally signed to another record label but was dropped after a few months (whoever made that decision would be easy to recognize-they're the person with the red butt-from kicking themselves in it) but she eventually ended up working as a writer and studio support person with some guy named Akon(?) and within a short time her talent shone through like a lighthouse and she became the one in the recording booth. This CD was released this past summer and as hot as "Just Dance" was, the recent release of "Poker Face" blew the top off the charts-again. To her credit, every single song on this album is fantastic. In comparison, I just heard the new Britney Spears album and guess what-it's absolute crap. Britney CANNOT sing, and without 50 layers of vocal effects on her voice she would sound like air passing though the open end of a balloon. Do you know why they called Britney's album "Circus"? Because "As Crazy as a Bag of Hammers" was too long a title! Contrastingly, this album is definitely the strongest pop/dance release from a female artist this year, putting Lady Gaga in the same league as Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. Songs such as "Eh Eh", "Paparazzi" and "Summerboy" show just how multi-dimensional Lady Gaga is. There's a lot of variety and creativity in the tracks on this CD and Lady's musical skills are second to none. The two things that separate this disc from some of the other recent pop releases are 1-substance and 2-quality.
Lady Gaga has paid her dues, playing for years in the New York club scene and working behind the scenes in recording studios on backing tracks, so she knows the ropes and how to play "The Fame" game, good for her-success is hers for the taking. By the way, her stage name was indeed inspired by her love for the dramatic and flashy Freddy Mercury and Queen's "Radio GaGa" song. If it's a great pop album you're looking for, don't waste your time on leftover Girlicious CD's, or God forbid-that Spears girl and her latest dribble-this CD is your best bet. Lady Gaga is awesome.

Back in the 1930s, audiences flocked to movie theatres to watch harmless, fluffy movie musicals featuring startlets like Shirley Temple, who distracted them from the misery of the depression. And now, we've KIND OF come full-circle, only now we have listeners with ipods and MTV, and megastars like Lady Gaga, to remind us to have fun and "Just Dance".

Lady Gaga's debut is stunning fun and also shamelessly excessive; Gaga claims that she's "addicted to a life of material" in the title track; liquor bottles, Cadillacs, models, porn, riches... you name it; all of life's finest things are on display in the song, and it couldn't be more delicious to listen to. The whole album is this way; whether singing about men, partying, dancing, money, or self-display, it is mainstream at its most narcissistic. It almost ventures into the ironic and self-parodic which is what makes the record so ingenious.

So often, dance divas emerge and become big superstars but have little or no talent at all, and love or hate her, you have to always remember that's NOT the case here; Lady Gaga has a TON of talent; she can write a fantastic song and sing it like there's no tomorrow. And if there actually was no tomorrow, I would spend my last night dancing to this record.

Before people question me, I want to let you know beforehand that this CD is not intended on being taken to seriously and is obviously designated for the use in parties or other fun events.
I absolutly love this album! I thought the songs where very enjoyable to listen to despite thier sometimes innapropriate lyrics. Another concept I was impressed with was all the songs where unique in thier own way; and nothing was for filler (unlike a majority of music nowadays)So overall this album is highly recommended! I know many people would disagree; but I think the songs that aren't as popular as the ones Lady Gaga is reconized for are much better than those we are all familiar with. So before you consider purchesing an album only for the hits, think about the other songs on the CD. That is a significant component of Lady Gaga's The Fame. Love it!