Brief Biographical Detail

• Born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on 28th March 1986 in New York City.

• Attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart alongside Paris Hilton.

• Wrote songs for Britney Spears, New Kids On The Block, Fergie, The Pussycat Dolls and Akon.

• Primarily techno/dance/pop/synthesizer genre of music.

Debut Album: The Fame

• Released in 2008• Influences from glam rock 70’s artists

such as David Bowie and Queen.• This album is a representation of

what life is like being famous e.g. The song Paparazzi which hosts a stalker plot.

First ever music video• ‘Just Dance’ from her first album The Fame

was Lady Gaga’s first music video...• Released in 2008.• Lady Gaga has simple straight hair, simple

makeup and she is wearing party clothes.• This music video is a piece of performance art

to represent being drunk at a house party and is quite light-hearted and shallow.

• Nudity is a feature in this video with the dress but nothing compared to Lady Gaga now...

Simple straight hair

Sexy but not too revealing clothes

Only piece of dramatic make-up (Tribute to David Bowie, Lady Gaga’s Idol)

Unusual clothing but is plausible that someone could wear something like this, unlike any of Lady Gaga’s recent outfits.

Lyrics to ‘Just Dance’

• The lyrics are light-hearted and fun• Representing being drunk at a party

with...• “Where are my keys? I lost my

phone.”• “Just dance, gonna be okay.”• “I love this record baby, but I can’t

see straight anymore.”

Just Dance CD Cover

Tribute/iconography to David Bowie

Bold font in blue to match outfit and makeup

Unusual clothing

Seductive pose; indication of her character and style of music

Lady Gaga Early AppearancesConsistent hair-styleSame style

of makeup

Consistent level of skin exposure

Second studio album: The Fame Monster

• Seen as a sequel to her first album

• More aggressive and dark demeanour to her lyrics.

• Based around the evils of the music/fame industry and the desire to be part of it.

• The most aggressive songs on the album would be Teeth, Bad Romance, Monster and Alejandro.

Music video from the Fame Monster: Alejandro

Androgynous feel to video

Low level lighting; gives a eerie feel

Harsher makeup, dramatic hair style

Extreme nudity, lingerie.

Alejandro• Beginning of religious references• Extreme nudity• Sexual references are constant

especially in dance routines and shots.

• Dark mood is set in the music video• Dominatrix atmosphere• Shows a much more socially

unacceptable Lady Gaga• Criticised for being too sexy; bad

role-model for young fans• Criticised for being blasphemous.

Pained expression on face

Unusual headwear

Black and white colours represent dark mood

Lady Gaga Appearances

More unusual outfitsMore nudity

Different, varied hairstyles

Third Studio Album: Born This Way

• Released on 23rd May 2011

• Represents a shining beacon of hope to ‘misfits’ and ‘outcasts’.

• Wants to convey self-appreciation and begin the end to prejudice.

Born This Way Music Video

• Starts off with a monologue from Lady Gaga explaining that a ‘perfect’ race, free from prejudice and equipped with boundless freedom was born at the same time as an evil race which could destroy the perfect race.

• Extreme nudity again in this video but with a different message. Lady Gaga is predominantly nude to show she was ‘born this way’.

Born This Way Single Cover

Prosthetic bonesComplete nudity

Text is similar to a thunderbolt pattern; which is features in her Just Dance video

Dramatic, dark makeup

Born This Way Lyrics• “I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakesI'm on the right track, babyI was born this way”

• Don't be a drag, just be a queenWhether you're broke or evergreenYou're black, white, beige, chola descentYou're Lebanese, you're orientWhether life's disabilitiesLeft you outcast, bullied, or teasedRejoice and love yourself today'cause baby you were born this way

More serious lyrics; less about partying and carelessness but more about self-appreciation

Array of races dancing together in a routine; showing equality

Extremely bizarre dress and dramatic makeup

Lady Gaga AppearancesExtremely unusual outfits

Different hairstyles

Lady Gaga Appearances

Lady Gaga’s most prominent appearance change is the prosthetic bones on her body and face.She gained a lot of criticism for this enhancement as it could represent a link to anorexia and suffering.

Conclusion• In her 6 active years as a recording

artist/singer/songwriter, Lady Gaga’s star image has developed incredibly. She started out as a pop-princess concerned with partying and getting drunk to progressing into conveying the evils of the music industry and now showing a development of self-appreciation in her new album ‘Born This Way’. However, the way she has conveyed this in her style of music has stayed the same; in a techno/dance/synthesizer style of music. This consistency has made her extremely successful as people can sing along and it can feature in nightclubs.