the fame ball tour wiki

The Fame Ball Tour

The Fame Ball Tour was the debut concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga , in support of her debut studio album The Fame (2008). North American shows began in March, followed by dates in Oceania and a solo trek through Europe. Dates in Asia soon followed, as well as two performances at England's V Festival and two shows in North America that had been postponed from April. Gaga described the tour as a traveling museum show incorporating artist Andy Warhol 's pop-performance art concept. Tickets were distributed for charity also. Alternate versions of the show with minimal variations were planned by Gaga to accommodate different venues.

Concert synopsis

Critical response, opening acts, box office score data, external links.

The show consisted of four segments, with each segment being followed by a video interlude to the next segment, and it ended with an encore. The set list consisted of songs from her debut album, as well as an unreleased track called "Future Love". Gaga's performance involved multiple costume changes, and included an innovative dress made entirely of plastic bubbles. An alternate set list with minor changes were performed after the first North American leg of the tour. The show has received critical acclaim with critics complimenting her vocal clarity and fashion sense as well as her ability to pull off theatrics like a professional artist.

The tour was officially announced on January 12, 2009, through Gaga's official Myspace page. It was her first headlining tour; she has previously served as opening act for New Kids on the Block 's New Kids on the Block: Live tour, as well as The Pussycat Dolls ' Doll Domination Tour . [2] Gaga stated, "I consider what I do to be more of an Andy Warhol concept: pop performance art, multimedia, fashion, technology, video, film. And it's all coming together, and it's going to be traveling museum show." [3] Gaga started planning for the show while on the tour with The Pussycat Dolls. [4] In an interview with MTV News , she described the concert series:

"It's not really a tour, it's more of a traveling party. I want it to be an entire experience from [the] minute you walk in [the] front door to [the] minute I begin to sing. And when it's all over, everyone's going to press rewind and relive it again. [...] It's going to be as if you're walking into New York circa 1974: There's an art installation in the lobby, a DJ spinning your favorite records in the main room, and then the most haunting performance that you've ever seen on the stage. [...] I'm on the phone every minute of every day, talking to people, being creative, planning this Ball, and my tour manager is constantly saying, 'Come on, we have to go, we've got to go right now,' [...] But to me, the Ball is so important. I want so much to make every depression dollar that everyone spends on my show worth it. And, yeah, I'm paying a lot for it   — out of my own pocket. But that's OK. I just don't care about money." [4]

Gaga prepared three versions of her show to cater to different sizes of the venues she played. In an interview with Billboard she said,

"I am so mental and sleepless and excited for this tour, [...] This is so different than anything you've seen from me in the past year. What's fantastic about [the show] was I was able to plan it while I was on another tour that was on a much smaller scale, opening for the Dolls. This is going to be, like, the ultimate creative orgasm for me 'cause I'm ready to move on. I'm not restricted to a certain structure for my show anymore. No limitations. I'm free. [...] I want to have a clear schedule of the dimensions for each venue so that we can properly execute all the technology and visuals. I need to mentally prepare days in advance if things are going to be taken out; otherwise, I won't have a good show...Every show's gonna be an A show by the time I'm done screaming at everyone   – 'Hang it! Hang everything! Find a place to hang it!' That's gonna be my motto." [5]

The set list consisted of songs from her debut album mainly, but some new songs like "Fashion" from the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack were also considered. [5] In May, during an interview with Edmonton Sun , Gaga announced that the tour would continue through European festivals in summer. She also declared plans for a bigger North American tour including Canada. Gaga explained that the show is supposed to be much bigger than the previous version. She said, "Oh, you have no idea, [...] The tour that we're about to announce is such a dream that I have to pinch myself almost every day to remind myself that it's happening." [6]

The show is mainly divided into four parts with the last part being the encore. The main show began with a video introduction called "The Heart" where Gaga appeared as alter-ego Candy Warhol . [7] She was shown dressing up and displayed the symbol of a pink heart on her T-shirt and said "My name is Lady Gaga, and this is my house." [8] The video was projected on a giant screen in front of the stage. As the video approached towards the end, a countdown from ten to one happened, Gaga's face was shown wearing the video sunglasses, and flames engulfed the screen as it dropped. Gaga appeared in the middle of the stage being surrounded by her dancers holding glass encrusted plates which camouflage them. She wore a futuristic black dress in geometric patterns with a triangular piece on her right breast and peplum . DJ Space Cowboy was present at a corner, playing the backing music. [8] Gaga came out in the center as the plates rolled around and started singing " Paparazzi ". [9]

The performance ends with continuous clicking of the camera. Gaga comes to the top of the pillar and sings a combination of "Starstruck" and " LoveGame " as she is joined by her dancers in tracks and jackets and hands Gaga her trademark disco stick. After "LoveGame", she talks a monologue about the year "3009". And says that "The kids came out of New York and shot the paparazzi." followed by saying "It was a thousand years before when the monster first entered the city, vanished for our hearts and for our brains and for our faces (referencing to the three video interludes of the tour)" and "we knew we could co-exist with this monster with our MUSIC!!! With our art and with our fashion. My name is Lady Gaga." and tells the crowd she feels "beautiful and dirty rich" and sang "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich". This leads to the end of the first part wherein a video introduction called "The Brain" starts with Gaga appearing again as Candy Warhol and brushing her hair. [9] After the video ends, Gaga appears on the stage in a black and white leotard with high-pointed "puff" shoulders and lightning shaped symbols, while riding on a similarly colored vespa . [7] She then starts singing "The Fame". This is followed by a speech. Gaga said she's been "travelling the whole world, but when I get back, I can still smell the stench of greed." And then she performs "Money Honey" with the dancers who are wearing backpacks. " Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) " starts immediately, accompanied by hand-waving and Gaga wore a hat made of toppled dominoes . [9]

Gaga then leaves the stage only to appear shortly after in a dress completely made of plastic bubbles. [9] She sits in front of a glass piano and starts singing an acoustic version of " Poker Face ". She sometimes puts her leg on the piano and even plays it with her stilettos. And then, thanks the audience and surprises them by performing an unreleased and new song called "Future Love" whose lyrics referenced far-off galaxies, mechanical hearts and constellations. [10] She was surrounded by a glowing mannequin while singing the song. [11] The stage had a blue setting with mechanical fog. Gaga left for a costume change as the third video interlude titled The Face starts.

After the video ended, she then came on the stage wearing a tutu shaped dress with pointed shoulder pads and peplum. Her dancers were clad in Louis Vuitton Steven Sprouse printed trousers which matched Gaga's shoes. [12] The backdrop changed to show blinking disco lights and Gaga stood in the center wearing her video sunglasses which display the line "Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow". A remix of the intro for " Just Dance " started and Gaga was joined by her dancers on stage. When the song shifts to the bridge, Gaga once again is handed her disco stick and performs the bridge with it. The ending shifts to a remixed version of the song. Then Gaga and the dancers, joined by DJ Space Cowboy or DJ Nicodemus, take a bow in front of the audience. Gaga comes back with her dancers to perform the encore. The encore of the tour consisted of "Boys, Boys, Boys" and the original version of "Poker Face". Gaga was dressed in a khaki leotard embellished with crystals. She wore an admiral's cap and gloves on her hands, both were decorated with the word Gaga on them.

Sheri Linden from Yahoo! gave a positive review of the concert saying "Gaga's first theater tour is a hot ticket   – and the Lady did not disappoint. Borrowing from Madonna , Grace Jones , David Bowie and Daryl Hannah 's Blade Runner replicant , Gaga put on a compelling show revolving around her mysterious persona, a trio of leather-jacketed dancers, multiple costume changes and props and a lone DJ providing musical accompaniment." [13] Christopher Muther from The Boston Globe reviewed the concert in House of Blues and said "The combination of song and spectacle was crowd-pleasing and exhilarating. Her club-ready songs were delivered by a woman who is clearly studied, intelligent, and talented." [14] Lynn Saxberg from the Ottawa Citizen was also positive in her review, which she wrote after the concert at Bronson Centre in Ottawa and said, "Accompanied by a DJ who also played a funky electric guitar, the curvy dynamo (Gaga and Space Cowboy) fronted one of wildest spectacles ever mounted at Bronson Centre, an action-packed circus of sound, lights, video images, fog and choreography. Though heavy on theatrics, there was no skimping on the music." She also commented on Gaga's fashion sense and style in her costumes by saying, "In an hour, Gaga proved her star power by packing in all her hits, displaying influences that ranged from Motown to 80s pop , and exhibiting a fearless fashion sense in several costume changes, none of which covered her bum." [15] Whitney Pastorek of Entertainment Weekly gave a mixed review of the concert, saying, "Her onstage banter was at times a bit silly and the visuals occasionally lacking in coherent theme, but her voice was strong and refreshingly free of overbearing tracking vocals. For all her cocky bluster, perhaps the most undeniable aspect of Gaga's talent is this: The girl can, and does, sing." The show was described to be a "sartorial experimentation that it made Rocky Horror look like cotillion. One presumed the Lady approved   – and somewhere, to be sure, Andy Warhol stirred in his grave." [8]

Andy Downing from Chicago Tribune was impressed by the show at House of Blues and said "The work is paying off. Just weeks into her first nationwide headlining tour, the 22-year-old New Yorker [...] already commands the stage like a seasoned pro." [9] Jill Menze from Billboard also gave a positive review for the performance and complimented songs like "Just Dance", "LoveGame", "Poker Face", "Boys Boys Boys" and the fame obsessed "Paparazzi". The reviewer also said that "[From] her chart success, Lady Gaga has proven herself to be an of-the-moment pop sensation. Dig deeper, and it's clear she's versatile and talented enough to have staying power." [16] Mikel Wood from Rolling Stone also gave a positive review saying "The tongue-in-cheek tabloid-victim shtick that provides some laughs on The Fame grew somewhat tiresome at the Wiltern, especially when the singer started spewing half-baked media-studies nonsense like, 'Some say Lady Gaga is a lie'... Fortunately, this is a woman who knows how to lighten a mood: Within 10 minutes or so, she'd donned a flesh-colored leotard and a bedazzled admiral's cap and was rhyming 'boys in cars' with 'buy us drinks in bars'." [17] Craig Rosen from The Hollywood Reporter said that "Lady Gaga showed she's a serious contender to Madonna's crown [...]. She might be a relative newcomer, but the artist born Stefani Joanne Germanotta commanded the stage with a royal air during her hourlong set, at times even sporting a glowing scepter." [11]

• The White Tie Affair [3] (North America)
• Chester French [3] (North America)
• Cinema Bizarre [18] (North America)
• Gary Go [3] (Great Britain)

This set list was used from March 12 to May 2, 2009. Gaga would later use it again for her concert on June 9.

• " Paparazzi "
• " LoveGame " (contains elements of "Starstruck")
• " Beautiful, Dirty, Rich "
• "Money Honey"
• " Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) "
• " Poker Face " (piano version)
• "Future Love"
• " Just Dance "
• "Boys Boys Boys"
• "Poker Face"

This set list was used from June 26 to August 23, 2009.

• "Paparazzi" (Alvinos Remix)
• "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"
• "Just Dance"
• "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"
• "Brown Eyes"
• On March 13, 2009, during the performance at the Wiltern Theatre, Gaga was presented with a plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America by social blogger Perez Hilton commemorating three million sales of her debut single "Just Dance". [17]
• ↑ This concert was originally scheduled to take place in Avalon.
• ↑ This concert was originally scheduled to take place in Crofoot Ballroom .
• ↑ This concert was a part of the " Dinah Shore Weekend " [21]
• ↑ This concert was a part of the " White Party " [22]
• ↑ This concert was a part of the " SWR3 Party " [23]
• ↑ This concert was a part of Kiss 95.7 's "Summer Kick Off" [25]
• ↑ This concert was a part of the "Grammy Celebration Concert Tour" [26]
• ↑ This concert was a part of the " Second Chance Prom " [27]
• ↑ This concert was a part of Channel 933 's "Summer Kick Off"
• ↑ This concert was a part of " Wango Tango " [28]
• ↑ This concert was a part of 107.9 The End 's "EndFest 2009"
• ↑ This concert was a part of Kia Soul Live at The Chapel . [30]
• ↑ This concert was a part of the " 2009 Glastonbury Festival " [33]
• ↑ This concert was a part of " Live at the Marquee " [34]
• ↑ This concert was a part of " Rock Werchter " [35]
• ↑ This concert was a part of "Isle of MTV" [36]
• ↑ This concert was a part of " T in the Park " [37]
• ↑ This concert was a part of " Oxegen " [38]
• ↑ This concert was a part of " Orange Rockcorps Live Concert Event " [39]
• ↑ This concert was a part of " Storsjöyran " [40]
• 1 2 These concerts were a part of the " Summer Sonic Festival " [41]
• ↑ This concert was a part of "Non-Stop Musix" [42]
• 1 2 These concerts were a part of " V Festival "
• ↑ This concert was originally scheduled to take place on April 3, 2009, in National Theater , but was moved to Landmark Theater and then cancelled.

Related Research Articles

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , known professionally as Lady Gaga , is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and versatility in the entertainment industry. Gaga began performing as a teenager, singing at open mic nights and acting in school plays. She studied at Collaborative Arts Project 21, through the New York University Tisch School of the Arts, before dropping out to pursue a career in music. After Def Jam Recordings canceled her contract, she worked as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing, where she signed a joint deal with Interscope Records and KonLive Distribution, in 2007. Gaga had her breakthrough the following year with her debut studio album, The Fame, and its chart-topping singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face". The album was later reissued to include the extended play The Fame Monster (2009), which yielded the successful singles "Bad Romance", "Telephone", and "Alejandro".

" Just Dance " is the debut single by American singer Lady Gaga. She co-wrote the song with Akon and his producer RedOne. It also features vocals from Colby O'Donis and was released on April 8, 2008, as the lead single from Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame . The song was written by Gaga in 10 minutes as "a happy record". "Just Dance" lyrically speaks about being intoxicated at a club.

" Beautiful, Dirty, Rich " is a song by American singer–songwriter Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released as a promotional single from the album on September 16, 2008. Written by the singer and its producer Rob Fusari in 2006, it is an uptempo dance-pop and disco-funk song that makes heavy use of synthesizers. The lyrics focus on Gaga's experiences as a struggling artist in the Lower East Side.

" Poker Face " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released on September 23, 2008, as the album's second single. It is a synth-pop song in the key of G ♯ minor , following in the footsteps of her previous single "Just Dance", but with a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is bisexuality and was a tribute by Gaga to her rock and roll boyfriends. The song's lyrics feature various sexual innuendos.

The Doll Domination Tour was the second and final concert tour by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls. It was launched in support of their second studio album, Doll Domination (2008). The tour was announced in October 2008 with dates in Europe and Oceania revealed in the following month, the tour contained six legs and 50 shows. It began in Aberdeen, Scotland on January 18, 2009, and concluded in Beirut, Lebanon on July 31, 2009. In-between the first two legs, the group supported the first leg of The Circus Starring Britney Spears in North America. The setlist for the concerts included songs from PCD (2005) and Doll Domination as well a cover of Shirley Bassey's Big Spender. Nineteen shows were submitted to Billboard ' s boxscore grossing $14.3 million, with 231,711 fans attending the performances.

The Fame is the debut studio album by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released on August 19, 2008, by Interscope Records. After joining KonLive Distribution and Cherrytree Records in 2008, Gaga began working on the album with different producers, primarily RedOne, Martin Kierszenbaum, and Rob Fusari. Musically, The Fame is an electropop, synth-pop, and dance-pop record that displays influences from 1980s music. Lyrically, it visualizes Gaga's love of fame in general, while also dealing with subjects such as love, sex, money, drugs, and sexual identity. The album was primarily promoted through The Fame Ball Tour and multiple television appearances, and was reissued as a deluxe edition with The Fame Monster on November 18, 2009.

" Eh, Eh " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga, from her debut album, The Fame (2008). It was released as the third single from the album in Australia, New Zealand and selected European countries, and the fourth single in France. The song is a calypso-styled, mid-tempo ballad, and is about breaking up with one's old partner and finding someone new. The song peaked at number fifteen on the Australian ARIA Charts and at number nine on the RIANZ charts of New Zealand. It proved to be even more successful in Sweden, where it managed to peak at number two on the Sverigetopplistan chart, as well as in the Czech Republic, France, and Hungary, where it reached the top-ten of their respective charts. "Eh, Eh " received Gold certifications for its sales in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, and the United States.

" LoveGame " is a song released by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Produced by RedOne, the track was released as the album's third single in North America and Europe and the fourth single in Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden after "Eh, Eh ". "LoveGame" was also released as the fourth single in the United Kingdom, after "Paparazzi".

" Paparazzi " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released as the album's fifth and final single by Interscope Records. Gaga wrote and produced the song with Rob Fusari. The song portrays Gaga's struggles in her quest for fame, as well as balancing success and love. Musically, it is an uptempo techno-pop and dance-pop ballad whose lyrics describe a stalker following somebody to grab attention and fame.

The Fame Monster is a reissue of American singer Lady Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame (2008), and was released on November 18, 2009, through Interscope Records. Initially planned solely as a deluxe edition reissue of The Fame , Interscope later decided to release the eight new songs as a standalone EP in some territories. The decision was also because Gaga believed the re-release was too expensive and that the albums were conceptually different, describing them as yin and yang. The deluxe edition is a double album featuring the eight new songs on the first disc and The Fame on the second disc. A super deluxe edition was released on December 15, 2009, holding additional merchandise, including a lock from Gaga's wig.

The Monster Ball Tour was the second worldwide concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga. Staged in support of her first EP, The Fame Monster (2009) and comprising a set list of songs mostly from that and her debut studio album, The Fame (2008), the tour visited arenas and stadiums from 2009 through 2011. It is the highest-grossing tour for a debut headlining artist in history. Described as "the first-ever pop electro opera" by Gaga, the tour was announced in October 2009 after an intended joint concert tour with rapper Kanye West was suddenly cancelled. The Monster Ball Tour commenced four days after the release of The Fame Monster in November 2009.

" Bad Romance " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Gaga wrote and produced the song with RedOne. Following an illegal demo leak, Gaga premiered the song's final version during the finale of Alexander McQueen's 2010 Paris Fashion Week show in October 2009 and released it as the lead single from The Fame Monster later that month. Musically, it is an electropop and dance-pop song with a spoken bridge. Inspired by German house and techno, the song was developed as an experimental pop record. Lyrically, Gaga drew from the paranoia she experienced while on tour and wrote about her attraction to unhealthy romantic relationships.

" Telephone " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Featuring American singer Beyoncé, it was released as the EP's second single on January 26, 2010. Gaga and Rodney Jerkins wrote and produced "Telephone", with additional songwriting by LaShawn Daniels, Lazonate Franklin and Beyoncé. Gaga originally wrote the song for Britney Spears, who recorded a demo. "Telephone" conveys Gaga's fear of not finding time for fun given the increasing pressure for her to work harder as an artist. Musically, the song consists of an expanded bridge, verse-rap and a sampled voice of an operator announcing that the phone line is unreachable. Beyoncé appears in the middle of the song, singing the verses in a "rapid-fire" way, accompanied by double beats.

" Alejandro " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Written and produced by Gaga and RedOne, it was released on April 20, 2010, as the third single from the EP. Interscope Records intended the track "Dance in the Dark" to be the EP's third single after "Alejandro" initially received limited airplay, but Gaga insisted on the latter. A synth-pop track with Europop and Latin pop beats, it opens with a sample from the main melody of Vittorio Monti's "Csárdás". The song was inspired by Gaga's fear of men and is about her bidding farewell to her Latino lovers named Alejandro, Roberto and Fernando.

The Born This Way Ball was the third concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga, in support of her second studio album Born This Way (2011). The tour visited every populated continent, and was ranked as the fifth highest-grossing tour of 2012 by Pollstar. The tour grossed $22.5 million in 2013 according to Pollstar's year-end chart from the 18 dates played, bringing the Born This Way Ball Tour's total gross to $183.9 million from 98 dates. The tour was well received by critics who praised the stage design, Gaga's vocal abilities and different expressive messages.

ArtRave: The Artpop Ball was the fourth headlining concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga. Supporting her third studio album Artpop (2013), the tour ran from May 4, 2014, to November 24, 2014. The tour dates included cities where Gaga had canceled shows of her previous Born This Way Ball tour after suffering a hip injury. The ArtRave tour was preceded by a performance at the South by Southwest music festival, which drew controversy due to a segment where an artist vomited on Gaga, and a seven-day residency at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, New York.

The Joanne World Tour was the sixth headlining concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga, in support of her fifth studio album, Joanne (2016). It began on August 1, 2017, in Vancouver, Canada and ended on February 1, 2018, in Birmingham, England. After tickets went on sale, various shows in Europe and North America quickly sold out, prompting additional dates in both continents.

Lady Gaga Enigma + Jazz & Piano is a concert residency by American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga held at the Park Theater in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. The residency consists of two types of shows: Enigma, which focuses on theatricality and includes the singer's biggest hits, and Jazz & Piano, which involves songs from the Great American Songbook and stripped-down versions of Gaga's songs. The Enigma show was built around a loose storyline about "healing and finding yourself", and saw Gaga wearing various sci-fi inspired outfits. For Jazz & Piano, Gaga aimed for "glamour and elegance", with her wardrobe harkening back to the Jazz Age and vintage Vegas. The Enigma shows opened on December 28, 2018, and the Jazz & Piano shows opened on January 20, 2019. After a 21-month long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the residency returned to the theater on October 14, 2021.

The Chromatica Ball was the seventh headlining concert tour by American singer Lady Gaga in support of her sixth studio album, Chromatica (2020). Comprising 20 shows, it began on July 17, 2022, in Düsseldorf and concluded on September 17, 2022, in Miami Gardens. Initially conceived as a six-date-long, limited tour, new dates were added after it was delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (January 13, 2009). "Lady Gaga Gears Up For Pussycat Dolls Tour" . MTV . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved November 4, 2009 .
• 1 2 3 4 "Lady GaGa Announces Dates For 'The Fame Ball' Tour" . Universal Music Group . January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011 . Retrieved February 22, 2009 .
• 1 2 Montgomery, James (February 4, 2009). "Lady Gaga Promises 'Life-Changing Experience' With Fame Ball Tour" . MTV. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016 . Retrieved February 22, 2009 .
• 1 2 Graff, Gary (March 3, 2009). "Lady GaGa Ready To Go For Headlining Tour" . Billboard . Archived from the original on March 4, 2009 . Retrieved March 4, 2009 .
• ↑ Stevenson, Jane (May 27, 2009). "Going Gaga: Pop diva says she's into The Jonas Brothers, the MMVAs and her upcoming tour" . Edmonton Sun . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved May 29, 2009 .
• 1 2 Piccoli, Sean (April 9, 2009). "Lady Gaga's larger-than-life stage show shrinks without a band" . South Florida Sun-Sentinel . Archived from the original on April 13, 2009 . Retrieved April 15, 2009 .
• 1 2 3 Pastorek, Whitney (March 14, 2009). "Lady GaGa live in L.A" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on November 3, 2009 . Retrieved March 16, 2009 .
• 1 2 3 4 5 Downing, Andy (March 26, 2009). "Lady Gaga delights" . Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on July 17, 2011 . Retrieved April 15, 2009 .
• ↑ Deacon, Michael (July 15, 2009). "Lady Gaga at the O2 Academy Brixton, review" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on October 30, 2013 . Retrieved March 10, 2013 .
• 1 2 Rosen, Craig (March 15, 2009). "Concert Review: Lady GaGa" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on July 16, 2011 . Retrieved April 8, 2009 .
• ↑ Guanlao, Nicole; Benta, Whitney (May 4, 2009). "Lady Gaga Brings Out Madonna, Cyndi Lauper For NYC Show" . MTV News . Archived from the original on July 21, 2017 . Retrieved April 16, 2021 .
• ↑ Linden, Sheri (March 15, 2009). "Lady GaGa wows with big beats, bluesy surprises" . Reuters . Yahoo!. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved March 17, 2009 .
• ↑ Muther, Christopher (April 2, 2009). "Lady GaGa shines in song and spectacle" . Boston Globe . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016 . Retrieved April 2, 2009 .
• ↑ Saxberg, Lynn (March 28, 2009). "Concert Review: Lady Gaga's Fame Ball" . Ottawa Citizen . Archived from the original on August 15, 2009 . Retrieved July 21, 2017 .
• ↑ Menze, Jill (May 4, 2009). "Lady Gaga / May 2, 2009 / New York (Terminal 5)" . Billboard . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved May 5, 2009 .
• 1 2 Wood, Mikel (March 16, 2009). "Lady Gaga's 'Fame' Attracts Kanye West, Perez Hilton to L.A. Show" . Rolling Stone . ISSN   0035-791X . Archived from the original on February 3, 2013.
• ↑ Alexiou, Joseph (June 9, 2009). "Goth-Pop Cinema Bizarre Leaves Lady Gaga for Own Tour" . New York Press . Archived from the original on January 31, 2010 . Retrieved January 4, 2010 .
• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Lady Gaga Events: Archives" . LadyGaga.com. Interscope Records . January 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved January 13, 2009 .
• ↑ "Lady Gaga Setlist at House of Blues, Chicago" . setlist.fm . Retrieved March 4, 2023 .
• ↑ "GLAAD TO BE PART OF DINAH-MITE WEEKEND" . GLAAD . February 18, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ Gelt, Jessica (April 3, 2009). "It's White Party time in Palm Springs" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ Gaedt, Tina (April 30, 2009). "Schwaben-Mädle mit Haarschleife wie Lady Gaga" . Bild (in German). Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ "Lady Gaga Setlist at Terminal 5, New York" . setlist.fm . Retrieved March 4, 2023 .
• ↑ Lenker, George (May 29, 2013). "Six Flags New England kicks off summer concerts" . The Republican . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ Cline, Georgette (April 7, 2009). "LEONA LEWIS, ESTELLE, & LADY GAGA TEAM UP FOR T-MOBILE GRAMMY TOUR" . Rap-Up . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ Dudek, Dani (May 7, 2009). "Second Chance Prom with Lady Gaga" . The Digital Texan . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ Ching, Albert (March 23, 2009). "Incoming: Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, More at KIIS-FM Wango Tango" . OC Weekly . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• "Billboard Boxscore: Concert Grosses" . Billboard . Vol.   121, no.   10. July 4, 2009. p.   12. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 19, 2013 .
• "Billboard Boxscore: Concert Grosses" . Billboard . Vol.   121, no.   23. June 13, 2009. p.   26 . Retrieved September 19, 2013 .
• "Billboard Boxscore: Concert Grosses" . Billboard . Vol.   121, no.   28. June 18, 2009. p.   7. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 20, 2013 .
• ↑ "KIA SOUL LIVE AT THE CHAPEL ¿ LADY GAGA Terms and Conditions" . The Daily Telegraph . May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved August 31, 2014 .
• ↑ Stevenson, Jane (June 20, 2009). "Lady Gaga Kool Haus, Toronto, June 19, 2009 review" . Jam! . Canadian Online Explorer . Archived from the original on July 9, 2012 . Retrieved December 10, 2009 . {{ cite news }} : CS1 maint: unfit URL ( link )
• ↑ "Lady Gaga tour" . TourTracker. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 28, 2009 .
• ↑ "Lady GaGa spits fire from her breasts at Glastonbury" . NME . June 26, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ O'Sullivan, Gemma (July 3, 2009). "Review: Lady Gaga" . Irish Independent . Archived from the original on July 14, 2013 . Retrieved July 14, 2013 .
• ↑ "Review: Lady Gaga op Rock Werchter" [ Review: Lady Gaga at Rock Werchter ] . HUMO (in Dutch). Sanoma Oyj . July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ "Lady GaGa For Isle Of MTV" . MTV . April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ Howard, Becky (July 13, 2009). "Katy, Lily And Gaga Have Scots Appeal" . VH1 News . Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ "Oxegen fans go Gaga as raunchy star suffers wardrobe malfunction" . Evening Herald . July 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ "Lady GaGa and N-Dubz sign up for Orange RockCorps!" . Orange . June 3, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ "Lady Gaga spelar på Storsjöyran" [ Lady Gaga plays at Storsjöyran ] . Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Schibsted . April 1, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ "Live Review: Summer Sonic 2009" . NME . August 21, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ Brimm, David (July 6, 2009). "Kaiser Chiefs, Lady Gaga to join Tel Aviv festival" . The Jerusalem Post . Archived from the original on July 18, 2013 . Retrieved July 18, 2013 .
• ↑ "Billboard Boxscore" . Billboard . New York City. May 2, 2009. ISSN   0006-2510 . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 29, 2009 .
• 1 2 "Billboard Boxscore" . Billboard . New York City. April 18, 2009. ISSN   0006-2510 . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 29, 2009 .
• 1 2 "Billboard Boxscore" . Billboard . New York City. April 25, 2009. ISSN   0006-2510 . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 29, 2009 .
• 1 2 "Billboard Boxscore" . Billboard . New York City. May 16, 2009. ISSN   0006-2510 . Archived from the original on January 6, 2009 . Retrieved September 29, 2009 .
• Lady Gaga   : News   : "The Fame Ball" U.S. Tour

The Fame Ball Tour

• Edit source
• View history

The Fame Ball Tour  was the debut concert tour by American singer  Lady Gaga , in support of her debut studio album  The Fame  (2008). North American shows began in March, followed by dates in Oceania and a solo trek through Europe. Dates in Asia soon followed, as well as two performances at England's V Festival and two shows in North America that had been postponed from April. Gaga described the tour as a traveling museum show incorporating artist Andy Warhol's pop-performance art concept. Tickets were distributed for charity also. Alternate versions of the show with minimal variations were planned by Gaga to accommodate different venues.

The show consisted of four segments, with each segment being followed by a video interlude to the next segment, and it ended with an encore. The set list consisted of songs from her debut album only. Gaga appeared on the stage in new costumes including an innovative dress made entirely of bubbles and premiered an unreleased song called "Future Love". An alternate set list with minor changes were performed after the first North American leg of the tour. The show has received critical acclaim with critics complimenting her vocal clarity and fashion sense as well as her ability to pull off theatrics like a professional artist.

• 1 Ayesha Erotica
• 2 RentAmerica
• 3 Melanie Martinez

The Fame (album)

• View history

The Fame is the debut album by Lady Gaga . The album was first released in Canada on August 19, 2008 by Interscope Records . The main theme of the songs is about how anyone can feel famous like a celebrity. On December 2, 2009, The Fame was nominated for six Grammy Awards and won Best Dance Recording for " Poker Face ". The album was nominated for Album of the Year, and won the Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards. On February 26, 2010, The Fame went Diamond (signifying over 10.000.000 million albums sold) selling around 20.000.000 copies worldwide. On February 16, 2010, it won Best International Album at the 2010 BRIT Awards . On July 7th, 2010, The Fame became the best selling album in U.S. digital music history.

• 1.1 Composition
• 3.1 The Fame Turns 10
• 5.1 First Edition (2008)
• 5.2 Second Edition (2009)
• 5.3 Third Edition (2009)
• 6.1 15th Anniversary Capsule Collection
• 7 Booklet and credits

Writing and Development

The writing of the album took around two years and a half and started in 2006. Some of the songs from the album come from her work with various producers ( RedOne , Rob Fusari , KNS Productions ) in 2006-2007 and the other half with her work after being signed to Interscope Records ( Martin Kierszenbaum , RedOne ). The songs are mostly inspired by Gaga's love of fame in general, and deals with the intricacies of a rich and famous lifestyle, visualized by her. Musically, the album drew inspiration from '80s electropop and synthpop while incorporating dance music and clear hooks. In regards to the title and concept of the album, Lady Gaga explained, " The Fame is about how anyone can feel famous. Pop culture is art. It doesn't make you cool to hate pop culture, so I embraced it and you hear it all over The Fame . But, it's a sharable fame. I want to invite you all to the party. I want people to feel a part of this lifestyle."

Composition

Musically, the album drew influences from late 1970s glam rock musicians such as David Bowie and Queen. Gaga incorporated their glam-rock sound while devising catchy pop melodies and hooks to create what she has dubbed, "theatrical pop". Songs like " Poker Face ", " Just Dance " and " LoveGame " are uptempo dance songs, with "Poker Face" carrying a dark sound with clear vocals on the chorus and a pop hook. "Just Dance" is synth-based while "LoveGame" has a more dance-oriented beat, and " Money Honey " has a moderate techno groove. All of them combined synths of clipped marching beats, sawing electronics and contained mild R&B-infused beats. " Paparazzi " carried a sultry beat while " Summerboy " had influences of the music of Blondie". " Eh, Eh " is credited as a ballad compared to the rest of the dance-fueled tracks from The Fame. The song has an eighties synth pop feeling in it while incorporating the "Eh, Eh" hook from Rihanna's single "Umbrella" (2007).

Lyrically, the songs on The Fame talk about being famous and achieving popularity. " Poker Face " is about sexual innuendo and teasing. Gaga explained in an interview with the Daily Star that the lyrics carry a bit of an undertone of confusion about love and sex. " Just Dance " talks about being intoxicated in a party, with lyrics like "What's going on on the floor? / I love this record, baby but I can't see straight anymore". " LoveGame " portrays a message about love, fame and sexuality which is akin to the central theme of album." Paparazzi " portrays a stalker who is following somebody being his or her biggest fan. The lyrics also portray the desire of capturing the attention of the camera as well as achieving fame. In an interview with MTV UK Lady Gaga explained about The Fame :In an interview with MTV Gaga explained about The Fame :

To promote the album, Gaga did several performances worldwide. Her first televised appearance was on Logo's NewNowNext Awards on June 7 , 2008 . She also performed on So You Think You Can Dance , Jimmy Kimmel Live! , The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . She performed in Vietnam for the 57th Miss Universe beauty pageant during the swimsuit competition. On January 31 , 2009 , she performed on television in Ireland on RTÉ One's show Tubridy Tonight . Three songs off The Fame were used in The CW's series Gossip Girl : " Paparazzi " in the episode "Summer, Kind of Wonderful", " Poker Face " in "The Serena Also Rises", and " Money Honey " in "Remains of the J". Gaga also performed " Poker Face " on American Idol on April 1 , 2009. To celebrate the launch of the show Dirty Sexy Money , ABC created a music video of Gaga's song " Beautiful, Dirty, Rich ", directed by Melina Matsoukas . It was initially announced as Gaga's second single, but " Poker Face " was chosen instead. There were two videos released for the song – the first was composed of clips from Dirty Sexy Money , and the second was the actual music video. The song charted on the UK Singles Chart due to digital downloads and peaked at number eighty-three.

The album received further promotion from her first headlining concert tour The Fame Ball Tour , which started on March 12 , 2009 in San Diego, California. It was Gaga's first concert tour with North American shows in March, followed by dates in Oceania and a solo trek through Europe. Dates in Asia soon followed, as well as two performances at England's V Festival and two shows in North America that had been postponed from April. Gaga described the tour as a traveling museum show incorporating artist Andy Warhol's pop-performance art concept. Tickets were distributed for charity also. Alternate versions of the show with minimal variations were planned by Gaga to accommodate different venues. The show consisted of four segments, with each segment being followed by a video interlude to the next segment, and it ended with an encore. The set list consisted of songs from The Fame only. Gaga appeared on the stage in new costumes including an innovative dress made entirely of bubbles and premiered an unreleased song called " Future Love ". An alternate set list with minor changes were performed for European dates. The show has received positive critical appreciation with critics complimenting her vocal clarity and fashion sense as well as her ability to pull off theatrics like a professional artist.

The Fame Turns 10

To mark the 10 years anniversary of the album, Interscope created thefame.ladygaga.com, a time capsule website in August 2018. It includes a mix of photographs from that era with quotes from Gaga and a few select videos: The Fame: Part One , "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" and 46 episodes of GagaVision .

For the occasion, they also released The Fame 10th Anniversary Limited Edition USB on December 14, 2018. This USB edition was based on a similar 2009 USB release.

The official album artwork for "The Fame" features Lady Gaga's face, with her Crystal Glasses and Disco Stick . Gaga has said that she wanted to portray the look of an already established artist, as she had been making music for a long time prior to her album release. The cover has been compared to an old Italian Vogue magazine from the 70s to 80s, and expresses the idea of bringing back the concept of fame. This is suggested by the font used to write "LADY GAGA" which is a didone font similar to those used on the covers of Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar. The nod to the 80s also comes from the font used to write "The Fame" which is similar to the one used on the cover of "Purple Rain" (1984) by Prince. Text on the US version is colored red instead of blue, and the image has a slight red tint.

On September 1 , 2023 , To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the album Apple launched animated artwork on Apple Music.

Track list and release history

The track listing of " The Fame " was intended to have a different song for the eighth track on each different localized version. " Money Honey " appeared on the Canadian version, " Starstruck " appeared on the US version, and the European release included " Vanity ". However, she later released a revised edition with a modified track listing in the US on October 28, 2008 and in some countries where the album had not yet been released. A third version was released in Ireland and the UK on January 9 and 12, 2009, with a few further modifications to the track listing. As an exclusive to the online music store Rhapsody, " Vanity " was included on the third edition as an exclusive download single.

First Edition (2008)

• This version was released in Canada, some European countries, and Australia in 2008.

Second Edition (2009)

• For the US release of the album, the text "LADY GAGA" was colored in red rather than blue and the image had a slight red tint.

Third Edition (2009)

Released in 2009, the third and final edition of The Fame was released in the UK, Ireland, and Japan. This final track listing contains all the tracks from the first and second editions, as well as " Disco Heaven ", which was included on neither. The tracks also are in a significantly different order to that on either of the first two versions. The track listing on this edition up until "Disco Heaven" is identical to the track listing of The Fame  bonus disc in the international deluxe editions of The Fame Monster .

• The UK release of the third edition includes the Space Cowboy remix of " LoveGame " as an enhanced bonus track.
• The Japanese edition included " Retro, Dance, Freak " and no enhanced content.

Merchandise

15th anniversary capsule collection.

Booklet and credits

The gallery below is a digital copy of the "Special Edition" booklet.

• Executive Producer — Vincent Herbert ( Streamline Records )
• Artists and repertoire (A&R) — Vincent Herbert & Martin Kierszenbaum ( Cherrytree Records )
• Co-Executive Producers — Rob Fusari and RedOne for Kon Live
• Management — Troy Carter and Leah Landon for THE CO-OP
• Mastering — Oasis Mastering (Burbank, CA) by Gene Grimaldi
• Production Coordinator — Lisa Einhorn-Gilder
• A&R Coordinator — Andrea Ruffalo and Vicki Boyd
• A&R Admin — Jennifer Paola
• Marketing Director — Dyana Kass
• Photography — Pieter Henket
• Additional photography — Candice Lawler and Warwick Saint
• Design — Liam Ward

I am sitting in a hotel room in Vietnam. Preparing to perform on the first ever American/Vietnamese broadcast since the war . It really is the perfect time to write. There are so many people, places, and things that I need to thank for the success of this project. But before I begin, I need to say that each and every chemical moment of my life, every person I have spoken with, every street I have traveled, every museum, country, city, space or home that I have visited has been a profound instance and is mirrored, whether obviously or in some refracted way, in the work you see today. So if your name is not here, it is purely because this is the distilled version of my “thankyous.”

Mom , Dad , Natali , Grandma Angelina, Grandma Ronnie, Grandpa Paul, Grandpa Joe, Aunt Merle and Uncle Bobby, Aunt Sheri and Uncle Steve, Aunt Carol and Uncle Doug, Laura and Jenny

Thank you for teaching me the importance of family, and showing me the value of always sitting down to dinner together — and never taking a bite till everyone was present. And thank you to all the women in this family, for teaching me how to be one.

Bo , Arianne, and Tania. For being my only true friends.

To my mentor Don Lawrence . You are the greatest and most gifted teacher I have ever had. Thank you for my voice, my work ethic, and my discipline.

Jimmy Iovine , Doug Morris, Vincent Herbert , Martin Kierszenbaum , Troy Carter , Leah “My Leg” Landon * , Jolene Cherry, RedOne , Akon , Rob Fusari , KNS Productions , Laurie-Ann Gibson and Richie , Melina , Devyne Stephens , Shawn Holiday , Johan Lindgren, Dyana Kass , Bobby Campbell , Brenda Romano, Troy Marshall, Steve Berman, David Cohen, Rand Hoffman, Max Hole, Jurgen Grebner, Tony Harlow, Matt LaMotte, Jennie Boddy, Jen Zeller, Jodi Gerson, Tomoko Itoki, Andrea Ruffalo, Erika Savage, Tom Land, Vicki Boyd, Nino Cuccinello, Juan Martinez, Garnett March, Greg Brooks, Guénaël Geay (AKA Lady GG), Thorsten Koenig, Mark Cheatham, Gretchen Anderson, Faith Dillman, Lane Bentley, Jeremy Summers, Irene Silva, Clark Pardee, George Robertson, Space Cowboy , Aaron Bay-Schuck, E-Class, Jen O'Neil, Aimee Nadeau, Josh Feldman, Tamar Braxton, Big Jah, One-Feme aka Efe, Tony Seyler, Kerry Hickey, Staci Yamano, Chris Lopes, Enrique Ongpin, Nathalie Levey, Amina Elshahawi, Dave Tomberlin, Marty Diamond, Sara Ramaker, Nicole Ehrlich , Emma Banks, Angela Ciemny.

Thank you for believing in me, your support means the world to me.

To FlyLife: Carmen, Peter, and my dear Martha, I love you so much. You were the first heartbeat in this project, and your support and brilliance means the world to me. I will always fight for the gay community hand in hand with this incredible team.

To my previous bands: Mackin Pulsifer , SGBand , Lady Gaga & The Starlight Revue .

I would like to thank Andy Warhol, David Bowie, Prince, Madonna, and Chanel .

I would like to thank New York. I would like to thank Fashion.

And I would like to thank You: Haus of Gaga : L.G , L.L., M. "Dada" W. , M. “D”. E , C. “C”. D , R. “Ninja”, Space Cowboy , S. “Kamikazee” M., David “Dark” C., A. “The Ornament" C., L.A.G.

Additional Thanks to: Beyoncé , Rodney Jerkins , Teddy Riley , Fernando Garibay , Ron Fair , Hedi Slimane , Peter Savic , Billy B , Nicola Formichetti , Francis Lawrence , Jonas Åkerlund , Gary Stiffelman, Jeff Gilman, Marvin Oblanca, Wendi, Asiel Hardison , Michael Silas , Ian McKenzie , TJ, Junko, Arleishia, Piers, Jaclyn, Scottie, Jimmy, Eric, Kenny, Marc Geiger, John Marx, Michele Bernstein, David Levy, Solomon Parker, Dave Wirtschafter

A poem for Joanne

For all the words you could not say I promise they’ll be mine, The one you meant to marry J I promise I will find And when your brother calls for me I promise I will come, Cause when I feel that I may break You heart, it makes mine strong”

• 1 List of Unreleased Songs
• 2 Miss Circle

• Latest News

The Best Albums of 1989: 57 Full-Lengths Worth Your Time

‘this is how we do it’: montell jordan’s r&b classic, ‘face dances’: the who deal with life after keith moon, best muddy waters songs: 20 essential tracks, ‘i remember patsy’: loretta lynn’s heartfelt tribute to patsy cline, blues-rock personified: the fiery musicianship of gary moore, hugh masekela: the politics of south africa’s famed trumpeter, glass animals announce ‘i love you so f***ing much,’ share ‘creature in heaven’, taylor swift wins artist of the year at 2024 iheartradio music awards, john lennon and yoko ono share the ‘declaration of nutopia’, heart announces additional ‘royal flush’ 2024 tour dates, dreamer boy announces ‘lonestar,’ shares ‘if you’re not in love’, shania twain shares vevo footnotes for ‘man i feel like a woman’, the smashing pumpkins announce more summer tour dates, ‘the fame’: how lady gaga wrote a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Lady Gaga’s debut album, ‘The Fame,’ remains a masterclass in how to launch a 21st-century pop star, setting the stage for Gaga’s world domination.

Published on

When Lady Gaga unleashed her debut album , The Fame , on August 19, 2008, she had a startling motivation: “I very much want to inject gay culture into the mainstream.”

Gaga told Out magazine at the time: “It’s not an underground tool for me. It’s my whole life. I always joke the real motivation is to just turn the world gay.” For a fledgling artist with conservative America to win over, it was a bold mission-statement, but the soon-to-be LGBTQ icon packed plenty of ballast for the fight. She knew what it was like to feel disenfranchised.

A battle cry for broader acceptance

The battle-cry for broader acceptance hits its stride with the first single and opening track “Just Dance.” Recorded with Akon and RedOne, both then at the peak of their commercial credibility, the song features vocals from Colby O’Donis and was an immediate club-scene smash. But its stuttery synths and insistent disco-drenched melody were too catchy to remain solely a dance hit, and the song’s slow progress up the Billboard Hot 100, starting in August 2008, saw it reach pole position in January the following year; its steady climb to the top incredibly not quite a record-breaker at 27 weeks.

In fact, all of the album’s first five tracks were selected as singles in one market or another. “Poker Face” was the second to be picked, and proved Gaga was no flash in the pan. Its melodic synth-pop groove still worked on the dancefloor but, more importantly, sounded stunning on radio. Darker than the first single and more obviously pop-oriented, it became The Fame ’s biggest hit, especially in the UK and across continental Europe, where it became the biggest-selling song of the year. Gaga was hitting her visual stride with this release too – an OTT video showcasing the track’s edgy sexual tension that was suggestive without ever seeming seedy.

For “Paparazzi,” the video budgets were getting even bigger and Hollywood star Alexander Skarsgård was hired to bring the theatrical narrative to life. Again, dialing down the disco overlay, this was another out-and-out pop song with a take-no-prisoners chorus that proved Gaga could write music that would work across the formats. “Lovegame” and “Eh Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” were lighter fare but maintained the album’s consistent hit steak, with the former making the Billboard Top 5 and the latter performing strongly in European markets, particularly France, where it made the Top 10.

A classic songwriter

So, five songs in and you’ve got five killer singles – an impressive opening salvo for any artist, let alone one at the start of their career. But what do they tell us of Lady Gaga, aka Stefani (Joanne Angelina) Germanotta, who had struggled to get a break in an industry that’s notorious for its conservatism around women? First, it sets her out as a classic songwriter who understands the power of a striking hook. Many writers fail at this first hurdle and, as any pop act of standing will tell you, without those hooks you might as well pack up and head home.

Next, she had the ability to fuse solid melodies with in-your-face styling and imagery. At times, like Madonna in the years before her, this theatricality threatened to swamp her musical reputation, but, with both acts, the power of those songs (the substance behind the style, if you like) won through. Gaga’s look was provocative, but rarely overtly sexual in the way Madonna’s had been. Gaga fused high fashion with pop art: themes that would continue to thread through her later work.

Finally, Gaga had an assured confidence. She embraced the dancefloor, but wanted to use the platform to tell difficult stories and pose questions. The messages of positivity and self-belief were to become more strident in time, but this early awareness of her strength was already infectious. It was a message that teenagers, young women, and the LGBTQ community seized upon, and, as on so many occasions in the past, these groups were to power the singer-songwriter’s platform to the widest of audiences and mighty commercial peaks.

Across the subsequent 10 tracks, you’ll find a mix of cuts. “Boys Boys Boys” is kooky dancefloor exuberance; “Brown Eyes” a lush, introspective ballad that might have emerged from the Elton John -Bernie Taupin songbook; “Summerboy” a throaty 80s-influenced soft-rock shuffler sprinkled with yet more of that dancefloor dust. But nowhere does the focus on great melody weaken. Even on the closing track, “Disco Heaven,” there’s a hook that sounds like Benny and Björn could have flirted with it when they were composing ABBA ’s seminal “Voulez-Vous.”

A masterclass in how to launch a pop star

The pent-up energy of Gaga’s enforced wait for the industry to catch up with her talent exploded in a burst of creativity that saw The Fame repackaged just a year later with a whole new album’s worth of songs as The Fame Monster . But The Fame is, in truth, a standalone project that deserves its own moment in the sun. Despite all the writing, Gaga used her snowballing celebrity to take the songs on road (her The Fame Ball Tour started in the US during Spring 2009 and ended up in Europe in the following months). Away from the four-minute video clip – a medium she had proved in command of from the start – the live arena allowed Gaga’s performances to deepen.

While comparisons with Madonna were inevitable, this was a very different era. The Fame remains a masterclass in how to launch a 21st-century pop career. Gaga too wasn’t afraid to collaborate (RedOne – who did much of the record’s production – was one of the hottest guns for hire at the time) and the then ubiquitous Flo Rida even turns up on album track “Starstruck.” But Gaga’s unique songwriting and fierce creative vision make sure these big names remain resolutely on the sidelines.

She’d waited a long time for this moment and wasn’t about to share it with anyone.

Buy or stream The Fame .

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.