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== Track listing and formats ==
== Track listing and formats ==
*'''Remix EP'''<ref name="Remix EP">{{cite web|url=https://www.masterbeat.com/#release/602527352626|title=Remix EP single|publisher=Masterbeat|accessdate=2010-02-26}}</ref>
*'''Remix EP'''<ref name="Remix EP">{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Telephone/dp/B00397B52S/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1267246374&sr=8-10|title=Remix EP single|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=2010-02-26}}</ref>
#"Telephone" (Alphabeat Extended Remix) – 6:41
#"Telephone" (Alphabeat Extended Remix) – 6:41
#"Telephone" (Crookers Vocal Remix) – 4:50
#"Telephone" (Crookers Vocal Remix) – 4:50
Line 81: Line 81:
#"Telephone" (Dr. Rosen Main Remix) – 6:25
#"Telephone" (Dr. Rosen Main Remix) – 6:25
#"Telephone" (Electrolightz Remix) – 4:26
#"Telephone" (Electrolightz Remix) – 4:26
#"Telephone" (Kaskade Extended Remix) – 5:25
#"Telephone" (Kaskade Extended Remix) – 5:24
#"Telephone" (Ming Extended Remix) – 4:31
#"Telephone" (Ming Extended Remix) – 4:31
#"Telephone" (Passion Pit Remix) – 5:13
#"Telephone" (Tom Neville's Ear Ringer Remix) – 7:14


== Live performance ==
== Live performance ==

Revision as of 04:57, 27 February 2010


"Telephone"
Song

"Telephone" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga from her second studio album The Fame Monster, featuring American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. Gaga originally wrote "Telephone" for Britney Spears, however plans did not go through, and Gaga recorded the song herself, with Beyoncé as the featured vocalist.

The main inspiration behind the song, was Gaga's fear of suffocation. The lyrics portray the singer as preferring the dance floor, rather than answer her lover's phone calls. Gaga explained that the telephone addressed in the lyrics of the song, is in reality a person telling her to continue working harder. Musically, the song consists of an expanded bridge, verse-rap and an epilogue where the line is apparently disconnected. Knowles appears in the middle of the song with the verses being sung in a rapid-fire way, accompanied by double beats.

"Telephone" was appreciated by contemporary critics who frequently noted it as a stand-out track from The Fame Monster. Released as the second official single from the album, the song charted in a number of countries due to digital sales, following the album's release, namely in United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Hungary and the United Kingdom. Gaga explained that the music video will be a continuation of the video for "Paparazzi", and is also shot as a short film. She performed an acoustic rendition of "Telephone" mixed with "Dance In The Dark" at the 2010 BRIT Awards in memory of Alexander McQueen.

Background

Gaga originally wrote "Telephone" for Britney Spears' 2008 studio album, Circus. However, after it failed to make the album's final track listing, Gaga recorded the song as a collaboration with Beyonce Knowles for The Fame Monster.[1] Gaga said, "I wrote it for her a long time ago and she just didn't use it for her album. It's fine because I love the song and I get to perform it now."[2] Additionally, the guest vocalist was originally going to be Spears, but for an unknown reason, Gaga made Knowles the featured vocalist instead.[3][4] The main inspiration behind the song was Gaga's fear of suffocation as she felt that she seldom found time to just letting it go loose and have fun. She further clarified,

"Fear of suffocation—something that I have or fear is never being able to enjoy myself, [...] 'Cause I love my work so much, I find it really hard to go out and have a good time. [...] "I don't go to nightclubs, [...] You don't see pictures of me falling out of a club drunk. I don't go—and that's because I usually go and then, you know, a whiskey and a half into it, I got to get back to work."[5]

The cover art for the single was released on February 20, 2010, and featured a photo of Gaga wearing a hat made from a telephone and a picture of Beyoncé, in her Sasha Fierce avatar.[6]

Composition

"Telephone" is written by Lady Gaga, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Lazonate Franklin and Beyoncé.[7] Although constructed as a duet, the song features Knowles, first appearing in the middle verse and singing her lyrics through a brief interlude, and backs the chorus during the rest of the song. Essentially, Gaga's in a club and her boyfriend keeps ringing, but she can't talk right now because she's drinking and dancing to her favourite song. The chorus runs as follows: "Stop calling, stop calling, I don't want to talk anymore." The song consists of an expanded bridge, verse-rap and an epilogue where the line is found to be disconnected.[8] According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the song is set in the time signature of common time, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute. Gaga's vocals range from the low-note of F3 to the high-note of C5. It is set in the key of F minor and has a basic sequence of Fm–A♭–B♭–Fm as its chord progression.[9]

The lyrics of "Telephone", talk about the singer preferring the dance floor rather than answer her lover's call. The verses are sung in a rapid-fire way, accompanied by double beats.[10] According to Gaga, the phone addressed in the lyrics of the song is not a physical phone, but a person in her head telling her to keep working harder and harder. Gaga explained, "That's my fear—that the phone's ringing and my head's ringing, [...] Whether it's a telephone or it's just the thoughts in your head, that's another fear."[5]

Critical reception

Michael Hubbard from MusicOMH said that the song was "probably the best thing here [on The Fame Monster]." He also complimented the "brilliant bridge" and the ending of the song where the caller gets through to her voicemail.[8] Popjustice gave the song a positive review: "It's a little bit like Gwen's 'What You Waiting For?' meets Timbaland's 'The Way I Are' meets about fifty other things....The structure's quite exciting [...] there is something tumultuously brilliant about Beyonce's contribution that makes everything seem fine and as if it was the plan all along."[3] Evan Sawdey from PopMatters said that "The much talked-about Beyoncé collaboration 'Telephone', which—with its double-time beat and rapid-fire verses—proves to be one of the most adrenaline-pumped songs that Gaga has yet crafted, the whole thing feeling like it's about to veer of [sic] the tracks at any moment simply due to the giddy excitement shared between the two divas, easily turning it into the unquestioned highlight of The Fame Monster".[11]

Bill Lamb from About.com listed it among the top tracks on the album and said: "The Beyonce assisted 'Telephone' is a club stomper that will draw in R&B and Hip Hop fans as well on the radio."[12] Mikael Woods from Los Angeles Times felt that "Telephone" is " a carefully considered meditation on how annoying it is when a dude keeps calling you while you're throwing down at the club."[13] Nicki Escuerdo from Phoenix New Times listed "Telephone" as a stand-out track from the album.[14] Sarah Hajhbagheri from The Times was not impressed with the song and said "The appearance of Beyoncé’s vocal alongside ringtones on Telephone adds to the sense of utter chaos."[15]

Chart performance

In November 2009 due to strong digital sales, the song charted in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom, debuting at numbers twenty-six, twenty-nine, and thirty respectively.[16] The song became the top debut on the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 issue dated December 12, 2009, at number thirty, due to digital sales.[17] After a few weeks fluctuating down the charts, "Telephone" reached a peak of fourteen on the chart.[18] The song peaked at number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart on the issue dated February 27, 2010.[19] It debuted at fourteen on the Canadian Hot 100[16] and moved to a peak of eight.[18]

In Australia, the song has reached a peak of thirteen.[20] "Telephone" was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment of 35,000 copies of the single.[21] In New Zealand, the song debuted at thirty-one, becoming the highest debut of that week.[22] On January 18, 2010, the song reached a peak of twenty-one on the chart.[23] It also debuted at thirty-three on the Swedish charts,[16] thirty-five on the Dutch charts[16] and in the top-ten at number three on the Hungarian charts.[24]

Music video

The music video was filmed January 28, 2010 by director Jonas Åkerlund.[25][26] New York magazine reported that the concept of the video involved Beyoncé bailing Gaga out of jail. Published photos from the set portrayed Gaga and Beyoncé shooting for scenes of the video in the truck that Uma Thurman's character drove in Quentin Tarantino's 2003–2004 film Kill Bill, called the "Pussy Wagon". The video was shot outside Los Angeles on January 28, 2010 in Lancaster, California.[27] Other concepts of the video involves scenes at a diner, a cameo from singer Tyrese Gibson, and a prison shower scene. Gaga and Beyoncé will wear "destroyed denim pieces" by designers Frank Fernández and Oscar Olima.[28]

On February 5, 2010, Gaga had an interview on KIIS-FM with Ryan Seacrest. She explained that the video is a continuation of the video for "Paparazzi", and like "Paparazzi", it will be a short film. The video picks up where "Paparazzi" left off; she's in jail for killing her boyfriend, but she's actually having a good time behind bars and doesn't want to leave. She is constantly getting phone calls, but refuses to take any until she gets the call she wants.[29] She further commented on the video saying, "I feel so bad for the ‘Bad Romance’ video ’cause the ‘Telephone’ video’s so much better. What I like about it is it’s a real true pop event, and when I was younger, I was always excited when there was a big giant event happening in pop music and that’s what I wanted this to be."[30] Semi Precious Weapons confirmed to MTV news that they have a cameo in the music video. They also revealed that in the video they die. The band's frontman, Justin Tranter announced, "Yeah, we are in the 'Telephone' video and we die in it, [...] And I think that's probably all I'm allowed to tell ... And, I think, what people have already talked about: It's very Tarantino-inspired, sort of like violent melodrama glamour."[31]

On February 15, 2010, three film stills from the music video were posted on Gaga's website. The stills depict Gaga in three separate scenes: a kitchen scene where she wears a plastic chef's hat and a telephone made entirely of hair on her head, a scene in a diner with her dancers where she is seen wearing a bikini and bandanna made from an American flag, and a black and white photo of Gaga wearing a hat made from multiple triangles, and corded telephones.[32] According to Ryan Seacrest, the video is scheduled to be released on the last weekend of February.[33][34]

Track listing and formats

  1. "Telephone" (Alphabeat Extended Remix) – 6:41
  2. "Telephone" (Crookers Vocal Remix) – 4:50
  3. "Telephone" (DJ Dan Extended Vocal Remix) – 5:59
  4. "Telephone" (DJ Dan Vocal Remix) – 3:28
  5. "Telephone" (Dr. Rosen Main Remix) – 6:25
  6. "Telephone" (Electrolightz Remix) – 4:26
  7. "Telephone" (Kaskade Extended Remix) – 5:24
  8. "Telephone" (Ming Extended Remix) – 4:31
  9. "Telephone" (Passion Pit Remix) – 5:13
  10. "Telephone" (Tom Neville's Ear Ringer Remix) – 7:14

Live performance

Gaga performed "Telephone" at the BRIT Awards on February 16, 2010, at Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The performance was inspired by the recent death of her friend, fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Initially she had planned a different version of the performance, but changed the concept at the last minute, since she wanted to pay tribute to McQueen.[36] Hence she chose acoustic versions of the song "Telephone" and "Dance in the Dark". Before the show, she posted a message on her Twitter account: "Tonight's performance is inspired by our friend. Mask by Phillip Treacy, Sculpture by Nick Knight, Music by Lady Gaga. We miss you."[37] She started the performance by announcing "This is for Alexander McQueen." Gaga was dressed in a complete white outfit with a huge Marie-Antoinette style wig.[38] The whole performance was low-key compared to her previous ones.[36] She added the song in the setlist of The Monster Ball Tour, for the European leg. It was performed in the second act, titled "Subway".[39]

Credits and personnel

Source [7]

Charts and certifcations

Preceded by U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs number-one single
February 27, 2010 		Succeeded by
"Hard" by Rihanna featuring Jeezy

Release history

Region Date(future dates subject to change) Format
France February 15, 2010[47] Digital download
United States March 2, 2010[48] Digital download - The Remixes
United Kingdom March 15, 2010[49][50] CD single, 7" [50][51]
Germany March 26, 2010[52] CD single

References

  1. ^ Greenblatt, Leah (2009-11-16). "New Lady Gaga, 'Telephone': Stream It Here". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  2. ^ India, Press Trust (2009-11-26). "Pop princess Britney Spears snubbed Lady Gaga". Zee News. Zee Entertainment Enterprises. Retrieved 2009-12-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ a b Staff Reporter (2009-10-26). "Lady Gaga's 'Fame Monster' - it's a proper album (and a very good one at that)". Popjustice. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  4. ^ Staff Reporter (2010-01-09). "Lady Gaga - Telephone". Popjustice. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  5. ^ a b Vena, Jocelyn; Calloway, Sway (2009-11-25). "Lady Gaga Explains Inspiration Behind Beyonce Collabo, 'Telephone'". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2009-12-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2010-02-23). "Beyonce Gets 'Crazy' With Lady Gaga In 'Telephone' Video". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-23. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ a b The Fame Monster (Liner Notes) Interscope Records (2009)
  8. ^ a b Hubbard, Michael (2009-11-23). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster, track-by-track". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  9. ^ "Digital Sheet Music - Lady Gaga - Telephone". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  10. ^ Cinquemani, Sal (2009-11-18). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  11. ^ Sawdey, Evan (2009-11-23). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster < Reviews". PopMatters. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  12. ^ Lamb, Bill (2009-11-23). "A Real Work of Pop Art - Not a Stopgap Release". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2009-11-23. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  13. ^ Wood, Mikael (2009-11-23). "Album review: Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  14. ^ Escuerdo, Nicki (2009-11-30). "Lady Gaga Sexy, Vulnerable on 'The Fame Monster'". Phoenix New Times. Village Voice Media. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  15. ^ Hajibagheri, Sarah (2009-11-21). "Lady GaGa: The Fame Monster". The Times. News Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Lady Gaga and Beyoncé – Telephone – Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  17. ^ Pietrolungo, Silvio (2009-12-03). "Jay-Z And Alicia Keys' 'Empire' Stays Put On Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Billboard - Telephone - Lady Gaga Song Information". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  19. ^ a b Trust, Gary (2010-02-15). "Chart Highlights: Jazz, Christian Songs & More". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  20. ^ a b "Australia Singles Top 50". Australian Recording Industry Association. acharts.us. 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-01-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ a b "ARIA Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  22. ^ "Chart# 1701 - Top 40 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. RIANZ.org.nz. 2009-12-28. Retrieved 2009-12-30. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  23. ^ a b "Chart# 1704 - Top 40 Singles Chart". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. RIANZ.org.nz. 2010-01-18. Retrieved 2010-01-19. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  24. ^ a b "Single (track) Top 10 lista – 2009. 52. hét". Mahasz (in Hungarian). Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. 2009-12-27. Retrieved 2010-02-03. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  25. ^ Em (2010-01-25). "Parceria com Alicia Keys e Lady GaGa: Beyoncé grava dois clipes nessa semana". MTV (in Spanish). MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-01-27. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  26. ^ Kaufman, Gil (2010-01-27). "Lady Gaga Says She Raised $500,000 For Haiti Relief". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-01-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  27. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2010-02-01). "Beyonce, Lady Gaga 'Telephone' Video Pics Revealed". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-02. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  28. ^ Odell, Amy (2010-02-02). "Beyoncé Will Reportedly Rescue Lady Gaga in 'Telephone' Video". New York. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  29. ^ "On Air with Ryan Seacrest - Lady Gaga". On Air with Ryan Seacrest. KISS-FM. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  30. ^ Taylor, J.R. (2010-02-08). "Lady Gaga Says 'Telephone' Video Will Top 'Bad Romance'". Rap-Up. Devin Lazerine. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  31. ^ Vena, Jocelyn; Montalto, Daniel (2010-02-12). "Beyonce, Lady Gaga Are 'Magical' In 'Telephone' Video, Semi Precious Weapons Say". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-15. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  32. ^ "Lady Gaga: Telephone Video pics". Ladygaga.com. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-15. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  33. ^ Shawhan, Jason (2010-02-17). "Lady Gaga gets on the Telephone for new music video‎". Metro. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
  34. ^ Farber, Jim (2010-02-18). "Lady Gaga phones it in with hair sculpted into giant telephone receiver for new video". Daily News. News Corporation. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  35. ^ "Remix EP single". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  36. ^ a b WSJ Staff (2010-02-16). "Lady Gaga Performs "Telephone," "Dance in the Dark" As Tribute to Alexander McQueen at Brit Awards". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  37. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2010-02-16). "Lady Gaga Pays Tribute To Alexander McQueen At Brit Awards". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-17. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  38. ^ Johnson, Chris; Cable, Simon (2010-02-17). "Brit Awards 2010: Lily Allen finally wins her first Brit as emotional Lady Gaga cleans up with three gongs". Daily Mail. Associated Newspapers. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  39. ^ Savage, Mark (2010-02-19). "Lady Gaga: The Monster Ball meets Manchester". BBC. BBC Online. Retrieved 2010-02-22. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  40. ^ "RADIO TOP100 Oficiální Czech Republic". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (in Czech). Retrieved 2010-02-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  41. ^ "Dutch Top 40". MegaCharts. Radio 538. Week 7 - 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  42. ^ "French Download Single Top 50 - 20/02/2010" (in French). Lescharts. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  43. ^ "Discography Lady Gaga - Ireland". Irish Recorded Music Association Hung Medien. 2008–2010. Retrieved 2010-02-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  44. ^ http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/
  45. ^ "RADIO TOP100 Oficiálna Slovak Republic". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (in Slovak). Retrieved 2010-02-10. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  46. ^ "Lady Gaga – Telephone – UK Singles Chart". The Official Charts Company. ChartStats. 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2010-02-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  47. ^ "Telephone (feat. Beyoncé) - Single Lady GaGa - France digital release". iTunes. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  48. ^ "(Digital) Remixes for Lady Gaga ft Beyonce - Telephone". Facebook. February 16, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  49. ^ Levine, Nick (2010-01-25). "Music - Single Reviews". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  50. ^ a b "Lady Gaga - Telephone (Feat Beyonce) - CD Single". HMV website. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  51. ^ "Lady Gaga - Telephone (Feat Beyonce)-(2010)". HMV website. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  52. ^ "Lady Gaga - Product details - Telephone feat. Beyoncé". Official Lady Gaga German website. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
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