So you can see what a Lady Gaga might mean to young Japanese women.
“She’s everything to us,” says a twenty-nine-year-old superfan who goes by the name Junko Monster. “We have nothing except for Gaga.” She is standing outside Kobe Kinen Hall with her best friend, Megumi Monster, who is carrying, in her handbag, a laminated board filled with pictures of the girls and Lady Gaga. It goes with her everywhere.
“She said to us [that] we’re precious,” says Megumi Monster.
“You feel her music and her art and energy,” says Junko Monster. “I can’t explain it.”
Two nights later, in Yokohama, Lady Gaga is needier than before. She does her TinkerBell routine, lying across the stage, talking about the way TinkerBell says she will die if you don’t clap for her, and she’s like TinkerBell. “SCREAM FOR ME!!!!!” she exclaims, and she seems to really need it. “Do you think I’m sexy?” is another favorite, and she will goad the crowd till she gets the response she wants.
What’s clear is that—despite having presented herself in deliberate opposition to the traditional manufactured sex bomb of a pop star, a girl who would never trade on her sexuality for fame—she wants to be the beautiful star. She wears a bobbed blond wig, forties-Hollywood-starlet style, liquid black eyeliner, and hot pink lipstick. She is made up to be pretty, though she’ll still put on a white fringed column with an attached headdress that makes her look like Cousin Itt.
Junko Monster and Megumi Monster are at this show, too. Junko is wearing Diet Coke cans in her hair. The other day, she and Megumi wound up taking the same bullet train from Osaka to Yokohama as Lady Gaga—a total coincidence, they say. They are vibrating; they are the girls that Gaga spoke about onstage, who presented her with yet another handmade tribute, who taught her a few key words in Japanese. “ ‘Awesome’ and ‘fuck,’ ” Junko Monster says.
Next to them, after the show, is a boy named Yuki Yoshida. He is tall and twenty-two and is wearing his own homemade version, in black, of Lady Gaga’s famous frothy, two-foot-tall white headpiece and eye mask. “Lady Gaga set me free,” he says, shyly. “What she did—her fashion, performance . . . maybe I could be Lady Gaga. Maybe I could create something. Maybe I have something. To be inspired is important.”
There is a twenty-something woman wearing cigarette glasses. There are gaggles of girls in hair bows, blond wigs, and black bodysuits, neon skirts and slashed stockings. They overtook the nearby train station at two in the afternoon, traveling in packs, to the great bemusement of the middle-aged ticket takers and the young families who are here to go electronics shopping in the mall upstairs. The exuberance with which the Japanese fan digests, deconstructs, and reconstructs a look is unrivaled. “I’m going to miss Japan,” Lady Gaga said from the stage. “Everyone is so well dressed.”
As has been said of Gaga herself, the genius of her show lies in its mix of radicalism and rote, meta and mainstream. Half of the show feels like the most innovative, challenging, arresting pop experience on the planet ever, and half of it feels utterly dated and cheesy, the wanton indulgences of the failed theater geek. There is fog and pyro and her keytar. There is a lead guitarist who looks exactly like Sergio!, the character Jon Hamm so recently did on Saturday Night Live, a shirtless, greased-up muscle freak in tight jeans, long black hair permed and pulled back in the oiliest half-ponytail ever, orgasmically playing and convinced that he’s wanted by everyone in the room. And then there’s the giant “Fame Monster,” a huge stuffed dragon that’s operated by visible stagehands, and the tree and the bench meant to be Central Park, and the fake subway car, and it all works. It’s a genius juxtaposition.
What Gaga said about her stage show in 2007, as a baby artist with big ambition, is manifest in the tour she’s spending millions of dollars on now: “My performance has developed,” she said. “I’m trading in stripper shoes for Jimmy Choos, but the grit and the grind and the hairspray are still there. [It’s] the couture version of my downtown performance. It’s more fierce. I’ve been doing this for years, and fine-tuning it as I go.”
That she has. It’s the on-the-dot end of her show, seamlessy executed, tighter and stronger and even more visually impressive than what she had going on in her debut show in Manchester eight weeks ago. But there is always room for improvement.
“Good night, Japan!” she bellows. This time, it’s not just her bra that explodes. It’s her crotch, too.
Bibliography
ARTICLES
One
Callahan, Maureen, and Sara Stewart. “Who’s That Lady?” New York Post, January 21, 2010.
Interscope press release, “The Fame,” 2008.
Previously unpublished interview, 2008.
Two
“Who’s That Lady?” New York Post, p. 84.
Barton, Laura. “I’ve Felt Famous My Whole Life.” Guardian, January 21, 2009.
Previously unpublished interview, 2008.
Three
“Who’s That Lady?” New York Post, p. 84.
Seabrook, John. “Transformer.” New Yorker, February 1, 2010.
Four
Hattenstone, Simon. “Grace Jones: ‘God I’m Scary. I’m Scaring Myself.’ ” Guardian, April 17, 2010.
Five
Love, Courtney. “Courtney Love Does the Math.” Salon.com, June 14, 2000.
Vena, Jocelyn, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway. “Akon Calls Lady Gaga His ‘Franchise Player.’ ” MTV.com, June 5, 2009.
Six
“Who’s That Lady?” New York Post, p. 85.
Slomowicz, DJ Ron. “Interview with Lady Gaga.” About.com, June 10, 2008.
Kaufman, Gil. “Lady Gaga/Rob Fusari Lawsuit: A Closer Look.” MTV.com, March 19, 2010.
Seven
Thomas, Matt. “Going Gaga.” Fabmagazine.com, December 24, 2008.
Eight
Graff, Gary. “Lady Gaga Ready to Go for Headlining Tour.” Billboard.com, March 3, 2009.
Nine
Staff. “Aussie Shock Jocks Grill Gaga on Penis.” News.ninemsn.au, September 4, 2009.
Ten
Parnes, Amie, and Kiki Ryan. “Obama, Lady Gaga Vie for Limelight.” Politico.com, October 11, 2009.
Spines, Christine. “Lady Gaga Wants You.” Cosmpolitan, April 2010.
Weiner, Juli. “This Is So On: M.I.A. vs. Lady Gaga.” VanityFair.com, April 7, 2010.
Cady, Jennifer. “Lady Gaga on ‘Telephone’ and Its Hidden Meaning.” Eonline.com, March 11, 2010.
Sale, Jennifer. “Johnny Weir Worships at the Altar of Lady Gaga.” Examiner.com, February 15, 2010.
Corsello, Andrew. “The Biggest Little Man in the World.” GQ, April 2010.
Hampp, Andrew, and Emily Bryson York. “How Miracle Whip, Plenty of Fish Tapped Lady Gaga’s ‘Telephone.’ ” AdAge.com, March 13, 2010.
BOOKS
Herbert, Emily. Lady Gaga: Queen of Pop. London: John Blake Publishing Ltd., 2010.
Phoenix, Helia. Lady Gaga: “Just Dance” The Biography. London: Orion Books, 2010.
Index
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.
ABC No Rio, 40
Abramovi´c, Marina, 220
Ad Age, 212, 214
Adams, Ryan, 104
Aguilera, Christina, 16, 68–69, 104, 200, 202
Åkerlund, B., 173
Åkerlund, Jonas, 172, 199, 209, 210, 214
Akon, 103–4, 109–10
“Alejandro,” 171
video for, 207
Alleged Gallery, 40
Allen, Lily, 106, 188, 201
American Idol, 117, 171, 220
Amos, Tori, 38
Apple, Fiona, 5, 25, 38
Arlene’s Grocery, 58
Armani, Giorgio, 203
B., Mel, 145
B-52s, 158
Backstreet Boys, 38, 69, 104
“Bad Romance,” 12, 41, 171, 19
8, 199, 208
video for, 84, 199–200, 201, 209, 211
Balazs, Andre, 121
Banksy, 206
Barney, Matthew, 52, 86
Barney, Tamra, 208
Basquiat, Jean-Michel, 40
Beatles, 38
“Beautiful, Dirty, Rich,” 34, 57, 67, 72, 91, 92, 143, 150
Beauty Bar, 51
Beck, 41
Belverio, Glenn, 62
Bennett, Roy, 154
Besencon, Laurent, 67, 69, 74, 104, 106, 108
Beyoncé, 91, 186, 200, 209, 211, 213
Bieber, Justin, 82
BigChampagne.com, 70, 118
Billboard, 149, 198
Billboard.com, 163
Bitter End, 15–16, 20, 33, 35, 36, 58, 59, 75, 102
Björk, 86–87
Black Eyed Peas, 13
Blender, 84–85, 88
Blow, Isabella, 87
Blue, Alektra, 210–11
“Blueberry Kisses,” 37, 60
Bluewater, 207
Boiling Points, 14
Bongiovanni, Gary, 187
Bordello, 123
Bowery, Leigh, 6, 83, 84, 86,
87
Bowery Ballroom, 41
Bowie, David, 6, 17–18, 42, 63, 68, 83, 84, 89, 206, 208
Box, 41
Boy George, 83, 86
Boyle, Susan, 82, 117–18
“Boys Boys Boys,” 34, 79, 94–95, 109–10
Bozzio, Dale, 6, 86, 187
Branch, Michelle, 38
Britain’s Got Talent, 117
Brit Awards, 166
Bronfman, Edgar, Jr., 202
“Brown Eyes,” 37, 57, 60
Brüno, 6
Buzzcocks, 3
Candy Warhol Films, The,
151–52
Caramanica, Jon, 80
Carl, Lüc, 44–47, 63, 93–96, 99, 102, 103, 113, 159, 180–81, 221
Carnegie Hall, 220–21
Carter, Aaron, 69
Carter, Troy, 123, 154, 157, 161, 174, 214
Casablancas, Julian, 25
Cazwell, 120, 132–33, 138, 182
CBGB’s, 40
Chalayan, Hussein, 90, 171
Chance, Grayson, 118
Cherrytree, 101
Cho, Ben, 175–76
Ciemny, Angela, 150, 159–61, 164–65, 173, 174, 180, 183, 185, 194–95
Ciemny, David, 126, 131,
133–34, 139, 144, 149, 150, 156–61, 163, 164–66, 173, 174, 179–81, 183–86,
188–89, 196
Cirque du Soleil, 6
Clarkson, Kelly, 38
Clockwork Orange, A, 89
Club Skirts, 172
CNN, 213
Coachella, 105
Coalition Media Group, 122
Columbia Records, 23
Confessions from the Velvet Ropes (Belverio), 62
Convent of the Sacred Heart, 14–15
Cooper, Alice, 87
Corbijn, Anton, 6
Cordele, Natasha, 222
Cosmopolitan, 140
Cowell, Simon, 82, 117
Crevette Films, The, 151–52
Cutrone, Kelly, 139
Cutting Room, 25
D., Justine, 61
Da Family, 101
Daft Punk, 163, 199
Daily Mail, 188, 207
Dalí, Salvador, 87
Dancing with the Stars, 162, 179
Danger Mouse, 206
Daniel, Tom, 221
Dean, Will, 188
Dee, Julia, 58
DeGeneres, Ellen, 118, 179
Dell, Gavin, 4
Destiny’s Child, 73
Diana, Princess, 167
Diddy, P., 197
Diener, James, 119, 134
Dinah Shore Weekend, 172
Dior, 199
DiSanto, Tony, 81–83, 135–36, 205
“Disco Heaven,” 34, 92
Donahue, Quinn, 107
Don Hill’s, 51
Drake, Jessica, 210, 213
Dylan, Bob, 37
East Village, 40
electroclash, 6, 64, 65
Elizabeth, Queen, 201
Elle, 35, 201
Ellen DeGeneres Show, The, 118, 179
Emin, Tracey, 6
E! Network, 214
Entertainment Weekly, 149
E! Online, 213
Esquire, 112
EW.com, 171, 213, 214
Facebook, 12, 13, 82, 118, 134
Fairey, Shepard, 206
“Fame, The,” 101, 110
Fame, The, 13, 34, 57, 80, 89, 94, 149, 157–58, 167, 203
Fame Ball tour, 163, 170–71
Fame Kills tour, 186–87
Fame Monster, The, 167, 199
Famous Music Publishing,
23–24, 70
Farrell, Perry, 104, 105
Felix Da Housecat, 64
Fergie, 200
Field, Sally, 6
Fischerspooner, 6
Flying Nun, The, 6
FlyLife, 120, 132, 140–41
Fonda, Jane, 219
Forbes, 12
Formichetti, Nicola, 193–96
Frere-Jones, Sasha, 89–90
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, 166–67
Frock ’n’ Roll, 52
Fun Gallery, 40
Furtado, Nelly, 37
Fusari, Rob, 11, 22, 24–28,
31–34, 37–40, 45, 51,
53–57, 60, 63, 66–67, 71, 73–74, 81, 91–93, 101, 104, 105, 107–8, 111, 125
lawsuit of, 126–28
Fuse, 86
Gabriel, Peter, 86
Gaga, Lady:
as bisexual, 131, 180
burlesque act of, 52–54
cultural influences of, 6, 7, 84–89, 173
gender rumors about, 166–67, 189, 209–10
hospital visits of, 184–85
influence of, 200–201
name change of, 11, 16, 23, 35, 55
recording contracts of, see Interscope Records; Island Def Jam
teacup carried by, 166,
167–68
teen years of, 14–16, 42, 43, 84, 131
Garland, Eric, 70, 118
Garland, Judy, 87
Gateley, Liz, 81–83, 89, 197
Gaultier, Jean-Paul, 200
Gawker, 213
gay community, 6, 7, 79–80, 87, 88, 119–20, 122, 131–33, 135–36, 140–41
Gehry, Frank, 199
Germanotta, Cynthia (mother), 14, 21, 22, 28, 35, 60, 69, 113, 159, 164, 212
Germanotta, Joseph (father), 13, 20–22, 27–28, 34–36, 39, 53, 69, 73, 99–100, 113, 123, 128, 155, 159, 197
Germanotta, Natali (sister), 22, 28, 164, 221
Gibson, Laurie Ann, 174
Glastonbury Festival, 166,
187–88
Glee, 208
Goldberg, Danny, 71
Goldfrapp, 39
Goodman, William, 214
Gorka, Kenny, 36
Gossip Girl, 41
Grady, Christina, 198
Grammy Awards, 203
Greenfield, Jeff, 212
Grier, Josh, 104, 128
Guardian, 80, 86, 149, 188
Guerinot, Jim, 73
Guns ’N Roses, 173
Habacker, James, 53, 54
Hagen, Nina, 86
Hanson, Mariah, 172
Haring, Keith, 40
Harvilla, Rob, 203
Haus of Gaga, 152, 163, 195
Herbert, Vincent, 101, 103, 108, 110
Highline Ballroom, 143, 181
Hills, The, 81, 139
Hilton, Nicky, 15
Hilton, Paris, 15, 205, 206
Hilton, Perez, 70, 133–34, 141, 155, 173
Hirsh, Erin, 159, 174, 180, 195
Hirst, Damien, 6, 75, 199
“Hollywood,” 33
How to Make It in America, 208
Human Rights Campaign National Equality Dinner, 198–99
HX, 131
Internet, 12–14, 17, 70, 82, 85, 100, 117–19, 133–35
Interpol, 26, 41
Interscope Records, 42, 101–4, 108–12, 119, 120, 122–24, 133, 136–37, 139, 142,
150–55, 162
Iovine, Jimmy, 108–10, 112, 120, 121, 162
Island Def Jam, 16, 68, 71–74, 91–93, 99–101, 110
iTunes, 13
Jackson, Janet, 207
Jackson, Michael, 5, 166, 173, 188–89, 207, 214
Jacobs, Marc, 200
Japan, 139, 217–18, 221–25
Japan Times, 222
Jersey Shore, 135, 194
Jimmy Kimmel Live, 165
Jingle Ball, 164
Joel, Billy, 4, 6, 20, 38
John, Elton, 6, 203, 208
Johnston, Levi, 141–42
Jolie, Angelina, 199
Jonathan Fire*Eater, 41
Jones, Grace, 6, 84, 86, 136,
202
Jones, Norah, 38
Joy Division, 3
“Just Dance,” 110–11, 112, 125, 132, 136, 139–43, 145, 150, 162, 163, 166, 170
video for, 120, 122, 134
Kafafian, Tommy, 32, 37,
54–58
Kallen, Seth, 13, 20, 23
Kennedy, Caroline, 15
Ke$ha, 70, 172, 200, 208
Kierszenbaum, Martin, 101
Killers, 26, 94, 95
King Kong, 6
Klein, Steven, 207
Kluger, Adam, 211–12
Kobe World Kinen Hall, 217–18, 222–23
Koh, Terence, 220
Kon Live, 101, 110
Kors, Michael, 200
Krelenstein, Greg, 65
Kubrick, Stanley, 89
Kubwa, Toto, 207
Kwak, Karen, 71–72
LaChapelle, David, 179, 180, 182, 186
Ladyfag, 79–80
Lagerfeld, Karl, 41, 158,
200–201
Lam, Derek, 200
Lambert, Adam, 16
La Roux, 92
L.A. Times, 198, 205
Lauper, Cyndi, 7, 204, 208
Lavigne, Avril, 38
Law, Jude, 41
Lawrence, Don, 68–69
Lepore, Amanda, 132, 182
Lewitinn, Sarah, 68
Lezark, Leigh, 65–66
Lil Wayne, 208–9
Logo, 136–38, 145, 166
Lohan, Lindsay, 20
Lollapalooza, 59, 104–8, 187
Long Island City, 52
Lopera, Frank “Speedy,” 180, 181–82, 186
Lord-Alge, Tom, 91
Love, Courtney, 100
“LoveGame,” 142, 143, 150, 183, 188
Lower East Side, 11, 28, 40–47, 51, 52, 54, 58, 61, 64–66, 95–96, 111, 175
Luke & Leroy’s, 51
Lush Life (Price), 41
Lyonne, Natasha, 175