JOHN SAVAGE: Obviously, Lady Gaga wanted to say something about her gay audience and what she thought about the position of gay people. Lady Gaga was criticized for imitating Madonna's hit "Express Yourself." She was even accused of exploiting her gay fan base, a charge music writer John Savage dismisses. NEARY: Even though Elton John hailed "Born This Way" as the new gay anthem when it first came out, there was also a backlash against it. LADY GAGA: (Singing) Ooh, there ain't no other way. YOUNG: It's definitely one of those songs that will always be played in every pride stage, and I think that was her intention. Whether at a dance club or a pride parade, Young says people love to belt out those words loud and proud. NEARY: Young, a lesbian, says anyone who has struggled to come to terms with their sexual identity responds to those lyrics - born this way. But Tracy Young, a celebrity DJ who plays at gay parties and Pride events around the country, says that's not the only reason people still love the song. NEARY: The song has a driving beat, making it perfect for dance clubs. I'm beautiful in my way 'cause God makes no mistakes. So hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far. There's nothing wrong with loving who you are, she said, 'cause he made you perfect, babe. She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on in the glass of her boudoir. LADY GAGA: (Singing) My mama told me when I was young, we are all born superstars. And all of a sudden, the idea that you were born this way and can't change who you are isn't just something that you feel it's something the entire world is being forced to understand. And it's in a song - a song that is playing on repeat on the radio, that everyone is talking about.
NEARY: Cox says when "Born This Way" came out, the lyrics felt like a shield against the insecurity he felt about not being accepted.ĬOX: Because you're not the one saying it anymore someone's defending you. In a lot of ways, he says, Lady Gaga saved his life.ĬOX: I have her signature - autographed - tattooed on my arm over a scar from a suicide attempt. They talked to each other via a YouTube channel he set up. Eventually, Cox found a sense of belonging with other Lady Gaga fans. He felt like something was wrong with him and contemplated suicide more than once. He was bullied for being gay before he really understood what that meant. I was hysterical with joy, with emotion - just completely lost myself in the song. The first time he saw Gaga sing "Born This Way" in concert, he was overwhelmed.
Now 26, he's been one of her devoted fans - a Little Monster, as she calls them - since he was 15. LYNN NEARY, BYLINE: Tim Cox understands the excitement that Lady Gaga can generate when she performs live.
NPR's Lynn Neary looks at the origins of "Born This Way" and its legacy in this encore presentation of our American Anthem series. KING: Those lyrics resonated with many of Lady Gaga's fans. No matter black, white or beige, chola or Orient made - right track, baby, I was born to be brave. LADY GAGA: (Singing) No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life - I'm on the right track, baby. She performed a song that had become the unofficial anthem of the LGBTQ community. In 2017, during the Super Bowl halftime show, Lady Gaga did something extraordinary.
0 kommentar(er)
