There’s been much hype surrounding Lady Gaga’s world tour. Fans, both young and old paid big bucks for their tickets, glammed up in Gaga-esque fashion and fought for a glimpse of her outside hotels. While this is not new to pop stardom, it still makes me wonder what this “lady” is all about and whether she’s really someone we should look up to.
Mia Freedman, (publisher of popular blog Mamamia and former Chief Editor of Cosmo, Cleo & Dolly) highlights Lady Gaga’s message in one of her latest blog entries stating, “she has a great message about acceptance and tolerance.” Freedman praises Gaga’s music and agrees the pop star offers encouragement to people to just be themselves.
“Let me start out with a strong statement: I love Lady Gaga. I love what she stands for. I love her music. I love what she’s done for the lesbian; gay, bi & transgendered community and I love her message about acceptance and tolerance. Love. It. All.”
- Mia Freedman
For young performers she promotes the ‘get out there and do it’ attitude. She presents fearlessness and says not to listen to the cynics and to be strong and confident about your true self.
It seems Gaga uses her fame for good. However, despite Freedman’s positive assessment of Lady Gaga “the pop star”, after seeing her show, Freedman says she “hated” her concert.
Freedman admits her review of Lady Gaga’s concert was definitely not the dominant view and that the audience happily rocked the concert but says she was alone.
“It was just very hard to connect. Her costumes were so OTT, that she was often hidden inside them – prompting me to wonder more than once if it was even her.”
Ok, she’s a little bit wild and a little bit showy but is it simply that she needs to create attention to take her fame to the top level?
Everyone has mixed opinions on what is a good or bad influence on children, so I thought I would highlight some of the positives.
Endorsing creativity is never a bad thing
Lady Gaga is an advocate for the arts and creativity. In a YouTube interview Gaga endorses renowned artist Marina Ambramovic, discussing the ‘limitlessness’ of such an artist and proclaiming the positivitivity in an artists’ ability to be big thinkers and doers. She is also a fashion designer sporting her work and promoting fashion designers as artists in their own right. The creative arts are a nourishing part of child rearing and Gaga does a good job encouraging this.
Girl Power
Gaga is a big time superstar. She has “made it”. She promotes the view that women can achieve their dreams. Young women all over the world are in turn empowered by Gaga’s success. This success is not just driven by the clothes she wears – it’s her music. As a two time Grammy winner, she has proven her worth on the pop music scene.
Love yourself
Gaga’s song “Born This Way” promotes a positive message; “There’s nothing wrong with lovin’ who you are”. There’s no denying this is a message all parents want for their young and kept at a decent volume, many can’t complain if they hear this one blasting from under the bedroom door.
Philanthropy
Just as all the rich and famous should and do, Gaga supports a number of charities including ‘The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) and other organisations representing disadvantaged children in the US. She’s also an advocate for AIDS prevention.
While most of us can’t help but notice and perhaps even judge Lady Gaga’s brash and often scarce fashion choices, we don’t often see ‘tweens’ congregating at the movies on a Saturday night in hot pants, platform shoes and masks trying to emulate her look.
While many are put off by the way she looks and understandably find it difficult to warm to Gaga, we have to recognise and applaud her creative yet eccentric self. She’s a music writer and performer as well as a supporter of young people promoting the power of an open mind.
What do you think?
References
1. http://www.mamamia.com.au/entertainment/lady-gaga-why-i-walked-out-of-her-concert/
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVY4Whayw0s
3. http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1944-lady-gaga
Benita Sullivan – Administration and PR Assistant – NIYPAA
Benita is currently working in the Melbourne office for NIYPAA. Her early back ground in music and performance stretches from musicals, to choir, singing and instrumental training. She has been managing and playing with Melbourne bands for the last eight years. She is a singer song writer, developing her latest band Elliot Friend. She looks forward to a successful career in creative arts administration while persisting in her musical endeavours.
