Born This Way- On the Edge of Glory.

Music Review- Lady Gaga Born This Way (2011)

Lady Gaga's follow up to smash album The Fame Monster reaches similar highs, but also ventures into new lows. The album starts and finishes with the same strength and fantastic pop that we know and love from Ms. Gaga though Born this Way goes through a disappointing lull in the middle. In the better tracks Gaga manages to create a harmony in the weird and wonderful while never leaning into cringe when preaching her empowerment anthems. She offers a home and respite for the insecure and outcasts in society. However, through her lofty aims she occasionally goes too far and leans into the problematic parts of popstar empowerment. This leads some songs to have cringy lyrics and oversimplified solutions of ''love yourself'' to larger problems. These few tracks that cross the line into problematic are in the minority though and for the most part this is a solid pop album.

Unlike many of her pop contemporaries Gaga is not averse to taking risks as there are a lot of them on this record. Whether it is infusing Latin and Edm on a track that discusses a lesbian love story and immigration, or a clap stomp rock ballad that is ready for arenas, or a feminist anthem that for the majority is sung in fake German, or even the titular track that unifies religion and LGBTQ+ themes in rapturous harmony. Gaga is showing her versatility in lyrical themes and genres. The track list is diverse, but still remains consistent as the themes of love, acceptance and unity run throughout even though she inspects them through different microscopes. In addition, every track has a dance ready production which furthers the consistency across the album, but can make the tracks feel heavy when listening one after each other.

At 14 tracks and an hour in length, the album could do with some pruning back and with some clear tracks that don't hit the mark it would be easy for Gaga to do so. But, there is definitely a perfect album hidden in Born this Way as some of Gaga's best songs to date are on this album. There has clearly been a lot of effort in writing ear worm hooks and lyrics that stand up against problems in society which is both commendable; this is not a run of the mill pop album and should certainly be praised for its high aspirations and attempts to put big ideas into danceable pop songs. Very few artists would dare. However, the songs that go too far, that are found in the middle of the album, add a weight and a bloated sense to the record that prevents it from being the perfect pop haven that Gaga wanted it to be.

Album review: 7/10

Track by Track Breakdown:

Marry the Night- Gaga fighting her insecurities in the only way she knows: by being very Gaga. The heavy chorus is ripped out of everything we know and love about Ms. Gaga: her iconic syllable teases (Ma ma ma Marry, Ra Ra oo la la, P P p Poker Face), a sing along hook that will get stuck in your head and empowering lyrics. The song is perfect for getting ready to go on a night out as its got the fist pump attitude and adrenaline infused breakdown; the song will get you perfectly pumped and ready to tear up the town. Though Gaga's empowerment is infectious, the chorus is a tad too repetitive leading it to be a heavy listen if put on repeat. But, there is a lot to love from this fun track. (8)

Born This Way- On paper this track could have come across very cringy and pandering, but for some reason it works. Opening the track with her mother's words of wisdom, Gaga shows how religion promotes self love and can live in harmony with the LGBTQ+ community. I think it is this harmony between God and LGBTQ+ themes throughout the song that elevates this track from the usual popstar preaching self love into a powerful anthem of unity between two worlds that some see as conflicting. Also, Gaga deserves props for bringing LGBTQ+ themes to the forefront of the song and not making it a subtle undertone or an inference; many a star has tried pandering to the community by only hinting at themes, so the fact Gaga goes full out is very commendable. In addition, the song is undeniably catchy, especially the bridge. (9)

Government Hooker- Opening the track with a leaning on operatic coo, Government Hooker is weird from the beginning. With a chorus that is Gaga screeching HooOooOoker over and over, it is certainly one of her more edgy tracks. References to Presidents and a male voice making provocative demands, there is a clear discussion of power and the roles of domination/subordination in a bedroom setting. But, it is the lines ''I'm gonna drink my tears tonight, I'm gonna drink my tears and cry'' that particularly stick out for being an interesting sense of vulnerability in the mix of the usually highly sexulised lyrics. It is an interesting concoction of a song that leans on the side of weird than wonderful, but certainly one you will remember. (5)

Judas- Bad Romance but on steroids. The song has the same structure and a similar theme to her past hit, falling in love with the darker things in life, but is turned up to eleven. The dance breakdown is electric, the beats hit harder and Gaga's peculiar accent means she chucks lyrical gems at you left right and centre (yes she told you to wear an ear condom and you probably missed it it was so fast). Some of the lyrics are so extra it is funny, but Gaga delivers it in such a wild and crazy manner that you will be swept up in the songs thumping beat. It is an excellent song to dance to and let lose as the chorus is sing at the top of your lungs ready. It is fun, it is catchy, it is the perfect slice of pop. (10)

Americano- A Latin infused lesbian and immigration dance track that is crazy fun in bucket loads. It is a song like this that puts Gaga above her contemporaries, you could not hear Katy Perry or Taylor Swift sing a song like this and it feel natural. It is risky, interesting and oh so memorable. Infusing a Spanish vibe with a dance ready beat in the most beautiful and delicious summer cocktail, the song has energy for days. On any other album, this would be the stand out track. It is a fantastic world-wind, but coming straight after the equally danceable Judas it doesn't hit with the full effect that it could have placed somewhere different. In addition, mixing two dance-centric genres together can leave the track feeling a tad heavy on multiple listens. (9)

Hair- The worst song in Gaga's discography. Never has a Gaga song made me cringe in disgust before; usually she is the master of toeing a perfect line and never stepping into the cringetastic side of pop singer empowerment that comes across a tad manipulative and exceedingly overbearing. It is common for many people to feel ''new hair new me'' and get a sense of empowerment from changing their style and embrace their individuality through their hair, but it comes across in song form as a shallow attempt at a empowerment anthem. What doesn't make it better is the repetition of cringe lines like ''I am my hair'' and large sections of the song just being Gaga repeating ''hair hair hair hair'' like a mantra for the insecure. The only positive of this song is that its inclusion shows people how problematic Born this way the song could have been if handled poorly. (1)

Scheibe- A feminist anthem that matches thumping edm with the wish to no longer have to put up with the crap in the world. It is strong and dance ready, but doesn't hit as well as it should. The beats are very heavy and Gaga's fake German means there is little to sing along to as her unidentifiable notes just add to the heaviness of the beats. Gaga is fighting the good fight with the lyrics and the song feels strong and powerful though kind of overbearing. The message is good and it is always best when a popstar is fighting for something and has something to say, but the song is not one to return to as more than one listen can make the track feel bloated. (6)

Bloody Mary- Gaga's softer coo is in contrast to the production and effects that seem to want the track to be a Halloween anthem. The chorus and pre-chorus are slices of pop perfection, but the extraness of everything around it feels a bit much. The voice effects, the peculiar background noises and the weird robotic/operatic male voices chanting ''Gaga'' in the background, all add to the cooky weirdness of the track that works for a good October song, but leaves you thinking that less is more. If the song was stripped away of some of the more Halloweenified aspects, then a fantastic pop song would be here. (6)

Bad Kids- Though the song is much better than Hair at being empowering and a voice for people that are more insecure, it still leans into the more problematic aspects of pop star empowerment anthems. It just feels a bit much with lines like ''Give me your money or I'll hold my breath'' and ''I chew gum and smoke in your face, I'm absurd, I'm so bad'' it leans too much into a child like sense of bad that again comes across as a tad cringe. This is added to when paired with lines like ''Don't be insecure if your heart is pure'' it feels like an oversimplification and a dumbed down version of empowerment. Though Gaga's delightful coo as she sings the chorus is joyous and shows that with some tweaking there could be a solid song here. (5)

Highway Unicorn- An arena ready anthem that has Gaga growling and singing for love. The drums and synths carry this song into anthem status causing the feeling of riding down a long road feeling amazing. If people are into running, then this is the perfect song to run through the streets with. It is a self love song that makes you feel on top of the world as the chorus swirls into action. If the song was cut down about 40 seconds then it would be another smash for Gaga, but the song out stays its welcome and for that makes it feel rather heavy to listen to. Also, outside of the song, where Gaga's conviction sells it, the lyrics can feel a tiny bit cringe around the chorus. (6)

Heavy Metal Lover- ''I want your whisky mouth all over my blonde south'' Gaga leaves nothing to the imagination from the get go in this raunchy kink anthem. Though on paper the lyrics are exceedingly vulgar, Gaga's delivery never crosses into distasteful. Her cooing Oohs throughout the track carry it into sensual rather than disgusting. But, her Oohs also leave the track without a strong hook to get stuck in a listeners head. The song is decent album filler, but very little else. (5)

Electric Chapel- Electric guitars and a thumping beat, Gaga dips her toe into a rock inspired dance track to surprisingly great effect. Gaga's softer delivery is one to get lost in as the guitars wash over you. The foot tapping beat is not heavy or overbearing, but the perfect level of rock and dance combination. With the guitar taking on a new life as Gaga vibes over it around the three minute mark to glorious effect. This is an understated gem. As Gaga makes the occasional growl she never goes too far and the production stays away from the heavy dance breakdowns of previous songs, the song remains the perfect tempo throughout. When Gaga beacons us to meet her at an electric chapel and then lets the guitar take the stage at the end of every chorus, it is the perfect marriage between instrument and singer as they truly are a one two punch that works in harmony on the track. (8)

You and I- A fantastic rock ballad that causes you to sing along. The guitars are fantastic. The clap stomp beat is fantastic. Gaga's bluesy delivery is, you guessed it, fantastic. She sings for her life and the production gives her the foundations to elevate it to an arena ready anthem. It is the perfect song to imagine a packed arena to all sing a long to. I don't believe it is possible to dislike this song. (10)

The Edge of Glory- Perfect pop. This is Gaga at her commercial best. It is easy listening pop that would get eaten up on Adult radio such as BBC Radio 2. Usually though, easy listening adult pop equates to risk averse and uninteresting, but this is quite the opposite. The saxophone is glorious and certainly not stereotypical pop. The lyrics of living life to the fullest and being the champion of life look on paper to be the usual cheesy lyrics of a pop song, but Gaga gives them a new life and a new sense of vigour that propels them from the standard pop to something that feels more, when Gaga sings them, you believe her unlike other contemporaries of hers when attempting such songs. It is a brilliant album closer. But, Gaga is on the edge of perfection as at five minutes twenty it is a long track, though it doesn't feel as heavy or overbearing as other songs with much shorter lengths, it would improve the song if a little was shaved off and made it a tad more digestible. (9)