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The Fame

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Untitled

The Fame is the debut album by American pop singer-songwriter Lady GaGa. It was released in August, 2008 by Interscope Records in Canada and some European countries. A revised edition with new tracks and different track-listing was released in Australia on November 15, 2008, in the US on October 28, 2008 and in Ireland and the UK on January 9, 2009 and January 12, 2009.

Background

After years of writing hit songs for other musical acts, including Britney Spears and Pussycat Dolls, while simultaneously establishing herself as an artist and working her way up through the New York underground club scene, Lady GaGa emerged into the mainstream with her debut studio album, The Fame.[6] The album was first released overseas in August of 2008, however, to compensate for GaGa's gradually growing international popularity, the album came to be re-released repeatedly with various versions. Unlike many of her pop music peers, Lady GaGa is credited for writing all the lyrics and melodies on record. An accomplished pianist since the age of four, she also peformed most of the synth work herself. 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."[4]

In an interview with MTV UK Lady GaGa stated:

"I just feel like this record is really different- you’ve got club bangers to more 70s glam to more singer-songwriter records to rock music. What I really love about the UK is that I’m not the first electro-pop artists to come around! The Fame is not about who you are- it’s about how everybody wants to know who you are! Buy it and listen to it before you go out or in the car. I’ve been writing it for 2 and a half years. I wrote half of the album in one week last January. I think you’ve really got to allow artists’ creativity to marinate. It took me a while but really delving into myself I finally got it.I couldn’t be more proud of it. It’s not just a record it’s a whole pop art movement It’s not just about one song."[7]

GaGa worked mainly with producers RedOne, Martin Kierszenbaum and Rob Fusari. It was closely preceded by her debut single, "Just Dance".[8]

Music

Musical style

Though essentially a pop album, The Fame sees the polymerization of various different genres, including dance-pop, electro-pop, disco, hip-hop and rock music. Lady GaGa draws her influences primarily from late 1970s glam rock musicians such as David Bowie and Queen, retroactively incorporating their ostentatious sound with catchy pop melodies and hooks to create what she has dubbed, "theatrical pop."[3][4] Her sharp lyrical talents, as well as the presence of two guest rappers on her album, have also garnered GaGa a certain amount of recognition from members within the hip-hop community. The synth-beats present throughout the album are also characteristic of synth-pop, most popular from the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. GaGa describes her own music as future pop.[9]


In an interview with Billboard magazine GaGa describes her album:

"I marry a lot of different genres, from Def Leppard drums and handclaps to metal drums on urban tracks...It's very 70's, with early 80's Prince-like guitars and 80's synths. It's a bit retro, a bit glamorous, and you can dance to it. It's very futuristic, very fresh, and very dramatic, sort of like theatrical pop."[10]

Lyrical content

Influenced by her experiences growing up around the Lower East Side club scene, The Fame focuses primarily on GaGa's desirous observations on fame and vanity and using keen, self-aware lyrics. Backed by relentless, heavy dance beats, songs such as "Just Dance" and "Beautiful Dirty Rich" unapologetically describe her hedonistic aspirations of living a glamorous lifestyle of wealth, drinking and partying. Tracks like "LoveGame" and "I Like Rough" provide acute detail of her sexual desires. She also expresses a perchant for softer, love songs on "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)," a simplistic pop song about breaking up with an old boyfriend and finding someone new, as well as the piano-laden ballad, "Brown Eyes" which she describes as her most vunerable song.[4]

Reception

Critical

The album received generally favorable reviews, with a score of 71 from Metacritic.[11]

Entertainment Weekly magazine gave "The Fame" a B-, saying that "She's on tour with the reunited New Kids on the Block, but Lady GaGa is no squeaky-clean teen singer: This naughty New Yorker got her start on the Lower East Side's sex-soaked club scene, and on her dance-pop debut she offers up barely there metaphors like I wanna take a ride on your disco stick. The Fame is remarkably (and exhaustingly) pure in its vision of a world in which nothing trumps being beautiful, dirty, and rich. In this economy, though, her high-times escapism has its charms".[12]

The Times gave a negative review, writing: "The songs on The Fame fizz about with their europop choruses, autotuned vocals and ditzy, hedonistic lyrics, but they don't feel joyous at all. Instead the likes of Eh, Eh and Boys Boys Boys are clunky and laboured (“We like boys in cars/ Buy us drinks in bars”). Even the trio of songs that provides the core of the album's celebrity theme (Paparazzi, Beautiful Dirty Rich and the title track) don't ruminate on the addictive inanity of fame, choosing instead to observe passively. The whole exercise seems shallow". The magazine gave it two stars out of five.

Commercial

In the United States, it debuted at #17 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 24,000 before falling down the chart the following week.[13] Its highest peak so far was the third week of January 2009, at #14 with 21,000 units sold.[14] Also in the United States, the album is being a top success on the Top Electronic Albums chart, on which the album debuted and has been in the #1 for twelve consecutive weeks until Billboard issue dated January 31, 2009, when the soundtrack for the movie Slumdog Millionaire displaced it for two weeks, before reclaiming the top spot on the chart.[15]

The album made its debut at number six and has so far peaked at number two in New Zealand and has been certified platinum.[16] In Australia after twenty weeks since being released the album peaked at number four,[17] while in Canada it has peaked at number one.[18] In France it debuted and peaked at number 73.

"The Fame" made its debut in the United Kingdom at number 3 on the official albums chart on January 18, 2009.[19] In Ireland, the album entered the charts at number eight, and later climbed to number 1.[20]

Promotion

To promote the album, Lady GaGa has done several performances worldwide. Her first televised appearance was on Logo's NewNowNext Awards on June 7, 2008. [21] She also performed on So You Think You Can Dance.[22] She then went on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on December 2 [23], she was also on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October 23.[24] She performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 8.[25] She was also the opening act for New Kids on the Block: Live tour.[26] She is serving as the opening act for the Pussycat Dolls' World Domination Tour in selected European and Oceanic venues.[27] She performed in Vietnam for the 57th Miss Universe beauty pageant during the swimsuit competition.[28] In Australia, she performed on the talk show Rove on September 28, and Sunrise.[29] In the UK she performed on morning show GMTV, comedy show Sunday Night Project, talk show T4 and performed at G-A-Y in London. On 31 January 2009, she performed on the Irish TV show Tubridy Tonight.[30] She also made various appearances on radio worldwide. The track "The Fame" is currently being used in ads promoting the 12th Season of America's Next Top Model.

Tour

Main article: The Fame Ball Tour

Lady GaGa will embark on her first headlining tour, "The Fame Ball Tour" on March 12, 2009 in San Diego, California after serving as opening act for the New Kids on the Block reunion tour and the Pussycat Dolls' World Domination Tour.

Singles

  • "Poker Face" is the album's second single and was released on September 29, replacing "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" which was supposed to be the second single. The song has peaked at number one on the Australian Singles Chart, Canadian Hot 100 and on the New Zealand Singles Chart.[36] The song has also begun to go up on the Billboard Hot 100 currently standing at number 12. "Poker Face" also debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number 8 the same week "Just Dance" hit the number 1 spot. The song charted despite not being released as a single in Ireland and not receiving any video or radio airplay. It has since reached number 2, being outsold by GaGa herself with debut single "Just Dance". On January 18 the song entered the UK singles chart at 30 this was also without video and airplay and has so far peaked at 22.
  • "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" is GaGa's third Australian and New Zealand single. It premiered on Australian radio on December 13, 2008.[37] It premiered on New Zealand radio on January 8, 2009. Charting solely on digital downloads, "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)" peaked at number 24 in New Zealand[38] and 19 in Australia ARIA Singles Chart.[39] The single was physically released in Australia on January 31, 2009 from Australian music retail and online music outlets on February 3, 2009. It will be released as the fourth single in North America and Europe after "LoveGame". Although the song was meant to be the fourth single in North America, it charted in Canada before it's actual release and peaked at number 68.

Track listing

There are three versions of The Fame, the original version was released in Canada, some European countries and Australia. Please see below for other versions.

Original Release

No.TitleComposersLength
1."Just Dance (featuring Colby O'Donis)"Lady GaGa, RedOne, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam4:04
2."LoveGame"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:33
3."Paparazzi"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari, V Korh3:30
4."Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari2:54
5."Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum2:56
6."Poker Face"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:58
7."The Fame"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum3:44
8."Money Honey"Lady GaGa, RedOne, Bilal Hajji3:08
9."Again Again"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari3:06
10."Boys Boys Boys"Lady GaGa, RedOne,3:22
11."Brown Eyes"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari4:05
12."Summerboy"Lady GaGa, Brian Keirulf and Joshua M. Schwartz for KNS productions4:16
Canadian iTunes, Australian, Colombian and Alternative European Edition Bonus Tracks
No.TitleComposersLength
13."I Like It Rough"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum3:22

US Edition

The new version includes an altered track-listing and some minor artwork changes; the text "Lady GaGa" on the front cover is colored red on this version. The tracks "LoveGame" & "Money Honey" have been slightly remixed. The track "Again, Again" is removed, while "Starstruck", "Paper Gangsta" and "I Like It Rough" are added. When the original release version has sold out, this version will replace it in the countries it was originally released.[citation needed] In some South American editions "Starstruck" is replaced with "Again Again".

All tracks composed by Lady GaGa and RedOne except where indicated:

No.TitleComposersLength
1."Just Dance (featuring Colby O'Donis)"Lady GaGa, RedOne, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam4:04
2."LoveGame"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:33
3."Paparazzi"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari, V Korh3:30
4."Poker Face"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari2:54
5."Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum2:56
6."Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:58
7."The Fame"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum3:44
8."Money Honey"Lady GaGa, RedOne, Bilal Hajji3:08
9."Starstruck (featuring Flo Rida and Space Cowboy)"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum, Nick Dresti, Tramar Dillard3:37
10."Boys Boys Boys"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:22
11."Paper Gangsta"Lady GaGa, RedOne4:23
12."Brown Eyes"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari4:05
13."I Like It Rough"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum3:22
14."Summerboy"Lady GaGa, Brian Keirulf and Joshua M. Schwartz for KNS productions4:16
US iTunes Bonus Track
No.TitleComposersLength
15."Disco Heaven"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari, Tom Kafafian3:42

UK & Ireland Edition (2009)

The UK and Ireland version contains all tracks from the revised edition and the original release: it includes all three tracks added in the revised edition, and includes "Again, Again" which had been removed from the revised edition, as well as "Disco Heaven" which was included on neither. The tracks are also in a significantly different order to either of the other versions. HMV.com UK will be selling the album with an exclusive slipcase with a completely different cover photograph.[40]

All tracks composed by Lady GaGa and RedOne except where indicated:

No.TitleComposersLength
1."Just Dance (featuring Colby O'Donis)"Lady GaGa, RedOne, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam4:04
2."LoveGame"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:33
3."Paparazzi"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari, V Korh3:30
4."Poker Face"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:59
5."I Like It Rough"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum3:22
6."Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum2:56
7."Starstruck (featuring Flo Rida and Space Cowboy)"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum, Nick Dresti, Tramar Dillard3:37
8."Beautiful, Dirty, Rich"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari2:54
9."The Fame"Lady GaGa, Martin Kierszenbaum3:44
10."Money Honey"Lady GaGa, RedOne, Bilal Hajji3:22
11."Boys Boys Boys"Lady GaGa, RedOne3:08
12."Paper Gangsta"Lady GaGa, RedOne4:23
13."Brown Eyes"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari4:05
14."Summerboy"Lady GaGa, Brian Keirulf and Joshua M. Schwartz for KNS productions4:16
Bonus Tracks
No.TitleComposersLength
15."Disco Heaven"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari, Tom Kafafian3:42
16."Again Again"Lady GaGa, Rob Fusari3:08
17."LoveGame" (Space Cowboy Remix)"Lady Gaga, Space Cowboy3:07

Release history

Region Date Format Distributor
Canada August 19, 2008 CD, digital download Interscope
Europe August 29, 2008 CD, digital download Universal Music Group
Australia September 6, 2008 CD, digital download
November 15, 2008
Germany September 19, 2008 CD, digital download
France October 13, 2008 CD, digital download
United States October 28, 2008 CD, LP, digital download Interscope
Italy October 31, 2008 CD, digital download Universal Music Group
January 30, 2009[41] CD, digital download (new version)
Ireland January 9, 2009 CD, digital download Polydor
United Kingdom January 12, 2009
Brazil March, 2009[42] CD Universal Music Group

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[43] 4
Belgian Albums Charts (Flanders) 22
Canadian Albums Chart[44] 1
Danish Albums Chart[34] 30
Dutch Albums Chart[34] 73
Finnish Albums Chart[45] 10
French Albums Chart[34] 57
Greek International Albums Chart[46] 41
Irish Albums Chart[47] 1
Italian Albums Chart[48] 58
Polish Albums Chart[49] 6
New Zealand Albums Chart[34] 2
Norway Albums Chart[50] 4
Swedish Albums Chart[51] 36
Switzerland Albums Chart[34] 40
UK Albums Chart[52] 3
U.S. Billboard 200[53] 14
U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums[54] 1

Sales and certifications

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Australia 2x Platinum[55] 140,000+
New Zealand Platinum[56] 15,000+
United States   274,063+[57][58]
Poland Gold 10,000+
United Kingdom Gold 103,000+
Canada 2x Platinum 130,000+[59]

Chart procession and succession

Preceded by U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums number-one album (first-run)
November 6, 2008 - January 24, 2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Canadian Albums Chart number-one album
January 14, 2009 - January 29, 2009 		Succeeded by
"Dark Horse" by Nickelback
Preceded by
"Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack"
 U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums number-one album (second-run)
February 14, 2009 - 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by Irish Albums Chart number-one album
February 12, 2009 -

References

  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Lady GaGa: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
  2. ^ Nick Levine (2008-12-31). "Ones To Watch In 2009: Lady GaGa". Digital Spy. Digital Spy.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  3. ^ a b Adrian Thrills (2009-01-09). "Why The World Is Going Gaga For Electro-pop Diva Stefani". Daily Mail. Mail Online. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  4. ^ a b c d "Bio". LadyGaga.com. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  5. ^ Lady GaGa discographyBillboardRetrieved on 2009-02-04
  6. ^ "Lady GaGa: the future of pop?". Sunday Times. Times Online. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  7. ^ Lady GaGa interviewMTVRetrieved on 2009-02-07
  8. ^ Amazon.com Producers on The Fame
  9. ^ http://neonlimelight.com/2008/11/04/neon-limelight-interviews-lady-gaga/
  10. ^ Mariel Concepcion (2008-9-12). "Why The World Is Going Gaga For Electro-pop Diva Stefani". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-9-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  11. ^ Metacritic review of The Fame
  12. ^ Entertainment Weekly review of The Fame
  13. ^ Billboard 200 debut of The Fame
  14. ^ Taylor Swift Tops Album Chart For Sixth Week Retrieved on 2009-01-14
  15. ^ Billboard Top Electronic Albums
  16. ^ New Zealand RIANZ albums
  17. ^ The Fame debuts in Canada and Australia
  18. ^ 'Lady GaGa's 'Fame' rises to No. 1
  19. ^ The Fame debuts at number 3 in UK
  20. ^ The Fame debuts in Ireland at number 8
  21. ^ Lady Gaga performs "Just Dance"
  22. ^ Lady GaGa performs Just Dance
  23. ^ Lady GaGa performs on Ellen
  24. ^ Jummy Kimmel Live: Lady GaGa
  25. ^ The Tonight Show: Lady Gaga
  26. ^ New Kids on the block: Lady GaGa
  27. ^ Lady GaGa the opening act for Pussycat dolls
  28. ^ Miss Universe 2008
  29. ^ Lady GaGa performs on the Sunrise
  30. ^ http://www.rte.ie/tv/tubridytonight/20090131.html
  31. ^ iTunes release of Just Dance
  32. ^ Beyonce starts 2009 atop the Hot 100
  33. ^ Lady GaGa dances to the top of Hot 100
  34. ^ a b c d e f g Just Dance worldwideacharts.us Cite error: The named reference "acharts" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  35. ^ RIANZ singles chart: Just Dance
  36. ^ Poker Face on world charts
  37. ^ [1]
  38. ^ RIANZ Singles chart: Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)
  39. ^ http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_singles.asp?chart=1U50 Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say) peak position ]
  40. ^ Different cover photograph for The Fame
  41. ^ Italy release
  42. ^ http://www.ladygaga.com.br/lady-gaga-esta-pronta-para-invadir-o-brasil/
  43. ^ Top 50 Albums Chart . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on September 14, 2008.
  44. ^ Canadian Album chart. Retrieved on January 10, 2009.
  45. ^ Suomen virallinen lista
  46. ^ http://www.ifpi.gr/chart01.htm
  47. ^ Irish Albums Chart
  48. ^ http://www.fimi.it/classifiche_artisti.php
  49. ^ Polish Albums Chart
  50. ^ Norway Albums Chart
  51. ^ Swedish Albums Chart
  52. ^ UK Albums Chart
  53. ^ The Billboard 200
  54. ^ Billboard Top Electronic albums
  55. ^ Australia The Fame certification
  56. ^ RIANZ The Fame certification
  57. ^ America goes on a downloading binge
  58. ^ Billboard Biz charts
  59. ^ Lady GaGa remains at No. 1
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