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Alejandro (song)

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"Alejandro"
Song

"Alejandro" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga. It is present on her second studio album The Fame Monster (2009) and has already been released in Sweden as the third single from the album. The song was co-written and produced by RedOne.[1] Composed as a mid-tempo song, "Alejandro" has an uplifting melody and was inspired by Gaga's "Fear of Sex Monster". Critics noted it to be heavily influenced by ABBA and Ace of Base, but predominantly gave positive reviews for it.

"Alejandro" has charted on the UK Singles Chart prior to its official release, and reached the top-five on the Hungarian Singles Chart due to download sales from the album. Gaga performed the song on both legs of The Monster Ball Tour.

Background

Her record label actually prefered "Dance In The Dark" to be her next single after Telephone. But Gaga went to Twitter and said, "Fuck it sounds so good, we did it little monsters".[2][3] The single will be officially sent to radio on April 20, 2010 in the United States.[4] In an interview with Fuse TV, Gaga said that the inspiration behind "Alejandro" was her "Fear of Sex Monster".[5] "Alejandro" is a mid-tempo song with heavy europop and disco influences, is an apparent homage to ABBA and Ace of Base.[6] The Ace of Base influences are prominent in the beats of the song, the vocals and the melody and lastly, in Gaga's non-English accent while singing the song. The words are slurred in her mouth while consisting of an uplifting melody.[7] It incorporates the melody from the violin show piece "Csárdás" by Italian composer Vittorio Monti.[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 moderate tempo of 80 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of B minor with Gaga's vocal range spanning from F♯3 to G5. The song verse has a basic sequence of Bm–D–F♯m–Bm–D–F♯m as its chord progression.[8] The lyrics talk about Gaga defending herself against a "harem" of Latin men and has a number of ABBA allusions, including a reference to their 1976 song "Fernando", which Gaga cited as one of her influences.[6][9]

Critical reception

"Alejandro"
A 27 second sample of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro", where the chorus is played, backed by synth-beats
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Chris Ryan from MTV described the song as a "lush paean to a love that's 'hot like Mexico'."[9] Bill Lamb from About.com compared it with Madonna's 1987 "classic" song "La Isla Bonita," though with a "contemporary edge."[10] Chava Thomas from The Argonaut gave a negative review, saying that it is "the one low point on The Fame Monster," adding that "[t]he song feels forced, and its Latin beat does not mesh well with Lady Gaga's style."[11] Evan Sawdey from PopMatters said that Gaga's vocals sounded like those of Shakira's, in the chorus of the song.[12] Ben Patashnik from NME called the song light-hearted.[13] Michael Hubbard of MusicOMH complimented the song as "brilliantly catchy, deceptively simple and wonderfully melancholy,"[7] while Sarah Hajibagheri from The Times dismissed it for being a "painful Latino warble [and] a would-be Eurovision reject."[14]

Comparisons with Swedish pop music groups ABBA and Ace of Bace's work were constant in reviews. Paul Lester from BBC felt that "Alejandro" "moves at an Ace of Base pace."[15] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine also made an Ace of Base connection calling the song an homage to them.[6] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic denoted the song as an "updated ABBA revision".[16] Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times called it bubbly and also went to compare with ABBA's style.[17] Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone called it a "loving ABBA spoof".[18] Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork Media noted that although "Alejandro" is a ABBA morph, "it comes off very modern, in part because U.S. pop and hip-hop is currently drawing heavily from Europop, hi-NRG, and dance music."[19]

Chart performance

With the release of The Fame Monster, "Alejandro" charted on the UK Singles Chart at number seventy-five, on November 29, 2009 due to digital sales.[20] On the Mahasz issue dated December 6, 2009, the song debuted at number five on the Hungarian Singles Chart.[21] "Alejandro" debuted at seventy-eight[citation needed] on the Canadian Hot 100 issue dated April 4, 2010, but later climbed to number fifty.[22] On the issue dated April 5, 2010, the song debuted at number forty-nine in Australia on the official ARIA Singles Chart.[23] The song also debuted at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24]

Music video

In January 2010, it was reported that Gaga was holding casting calls for the music video of "Alejandro" and was eager for David Walliams to appear in the video alongside his fiancé Lara Stone. [25][26] On March 23, 2010, Women's Wear Daily reported that photographer Steven Klein will be directing the music video, however it is still unconfirmed as to whether he will indeed be the director.[27][28] While touring Australia with The Monster Ball Tour, Gaga was interviewed by Australian radio station, Melbourne's Nova 100, where she talked about the music video. She said,

"I’m so excited about the ‘Alejandro’ video, [...] Actually, we’re shooting it very soon and I don’t want to say who the director is yet because it’s going to give a lot away. [...] Are you absolutely mad? I would never, ever tell you! [about the concept of the video] I would be more likely to lie through my teeth to you [regarding] what the video’s about so that you could all be surprised. But I will tell you it’s not the sequel to the ‘Telephone’ video."[29]

Live performance

A man faces upwards with his feet on the ground and his knees bent at around 90 degrees, his arms supporting his upper body. A blond woman, wearing a shiny leotard lies on top of him. She has her lower legs kicked up in the air. She looks out with an expression of enjoying the situation. A spotlight highlights the man and women in the foreground. The background is dimly lit with red lights.
Gaga during a sexual innuendo scene from the "Alejandro" performance on The Monster Ball Tour.

Gaga performed "Alejandro" on her 2009-2010 world tour The Monster Ball. It was the fourth song of the set list. The live performance saw her wearing a silver bodysuit and then being carried by her crotch by one of her male dancers and lowered onto another male dancer, engaging in a threesome with them.[30] During the performance at San Diego, California, Gaga incorporated the city's name in the song, later commenting "I am so lucky that San Diego rhymes with 'Fernando' and 'Alejandro'."[31] Ted Shaw of Windsor Star commented that "Songs like 'Alejandro', 'Teeth' and 'Monster' shoved the sex act in your face."[32] T'Cha Dunlevy from The Gazette said that "the song followed in fast order, with not quite enough to set [it] apart. It was one choreographed dance number after the next."[33] Jeremy Adams from Rolling Stone commented that the performance was "[one] of several moments [...] that gave parents in the audience consternation."[34] Jim Harrington from San Jose Mercury News compared Gaga's performance of the song with that of an erotic dancer.[35]

Track listing

  • Digital download
  1. "Alejandro" – 4:34[36]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Chart (2009) Peak
position
Australian Singles Chart[23] 49
Canadian Hot 100[22] 35
Hungarian Singles Chart[21] 5
UK Singles Chart[20] 75
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[24] 72
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)[37] 35

Radio and release history

Region Date Format
Sweden February 15, 2010[36] Digital download
United States April 20, 2010[4] Mainstream radio

References

  1. ^ The Fame Monster (Liner Notes) Interscope Records (2009)
  2. ^ Germanotta, Stefani (2010-04-04). "Twitter - Lady Gaga". Twitter. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  3. ^ "Lady Gaga - Gaga Still Releasing Alejandro In U.S." contactmusic. 4-05-10. Retrieved 2010-04-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Future Releases". FMQB. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  5. ^ "Loaded: Lady Gaga". Fuse TV. Ladygaga.com. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-03-24. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Cinquemani, Sal (2009-11-18). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
  7. ^ a b Hubbard, Michael (2009-11-23). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster, track-by-track". MusicOMH. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  8. ^ a b "Lady Gaga – Alejandro – Sheet Music". 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)
  9. ^ a b Ryans, Chris (2009-10-11). "Song You Need To Know Now: Lady Gaga, 'Alejandro'". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-09. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  10. ^ Lamb, Bill (2009-11-29). "Lady Gaga - 'The Fame Monster'". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-02-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  11. ^ Thomas, Chava (2010-02-03). "You go, Gaga". The Argonaut. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  12. ^ Sawdey, Evan (2009-11-23). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster < Reviews". PopMatters. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  13. ^ Patashnik, Ben (2009-12-03). "Hate all you like, but it's getting harder and harder to deny she's a mistress of her art". NME. Time Inc. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  14. ^ Hajibagheri, Sarah (2009-11-21). "Lady GaGa: The Fame Monster review". The Times. News Corporation. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  15. ^ Lester, Paul (2009-11-20). "Lady Gaga The Fame Monster Review". BBC. BBC Online. Retrieved 2010-02-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  16. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2009-11-29). "allmusic ((( The Fame Monster > Overview )))". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-02-09. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  17. ^ Wood, Mikael (2009-11-23). "Album review: Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  18. ^ Dolan, Jon (2009-11-23). "The Fame Monster : Lady Gaga : Review". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  19. ^ Plagenhoef, Scott (2010-01-13). "Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  20. ^ a b "Lady Gaga – Alejandro – UK Singles Chart". The Official Charts Company. ChartStats. 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2010-02-04. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  21. ^ a b "Hungarian Singles Chart – Top 10 lista". Mahasz. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. 2009-12-06. Retrieved 2010-02-04. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  22. ^ a b "Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Billboard. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  23. ^ a b "Australia Singles Top 50". Australian Recording Industry Association. (acharts.us). April 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  24. ^ a b "Alejandro - Lady Gaga". e5 Global Media. Billboard. Retrieved 2010-04-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  25. ^ Balls, David (2010-01-08). "GaGa 'wants David Walliams for video'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  26. ^ Reporter, Sun (2010-01-08). "Lady GaGa to team up with Boy George". The Sun. News Corporation. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  27. ^ Odell, Amy (2010-03-23). "Can Steven Klein Do Lady Gaga's 'Alejandro' Video Justice?". New York. New York Media LLC. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  28. ^ Axelrod, Nick (2010-03-23). "Steven Klein Said Shooting Lady Gaga Video". Women's Wear Daily. Advance Publications. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  29. ^ Dinh, James (2010-03-24). "Lady Gaga Says 'Alejandro' Video Won't Be 'Telephone' Sequel". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-03-25. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  30. ^ Stevenson, Jane (2009-11-29). "Lady Gaga puts on a Monster show". Toronto Sun. Sun Media Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  31. ^ Montogomery, James (2009-12-20). "Lady Gaga Brings San Diego A Feast For The Eyes And Ears". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2010-02-09. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  32. ^ Shaw, Ted (2010-01-13). "Gaga show attracts the curious, the bizarre and the fun-seekers". Windsor Star. Canwest. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
  33. ^ Dunlevy, T'Cha (2009-11-28). "Concert review: Lady Gaga romances Bell Centre crowd, Nov. 27". The Gazette. Canwest. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  34. ^ Adams, Jeremy (2009-12-02). "Lady Gaga Brings Her Pop Theatricality to Boston in First U.S. "Monster Ball" Show". Roling Stone. Jann Wenner. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  35. ^ Harrington, Jim (2009-12-14). "Lady Gaga thrills S.F. crowd with strange, sexy show". San Jose Mercury News. MediaNews Group. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  36. ^ a b "Swedish download single – "Alejandro"". iTunes Sweden. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-03-04.
  37. ^ "Chart Highlights: Rock, Country, Christian Songs & More". e5 Global Media. Billboard. 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
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