Lady Gaga Video Chronology

By: JA!DEN*FROST

Lady Gaga has become one of the most discussed and controversial pop sensations of our time. Whether it’s negative or positive reviews, she always tends to push the envelope of society’s tolerance to eccentricity. Some actually indulge in her antics and obscure fashion, by interpreting them as implications. At Vigilantcitizen.com.com an article even stated that “Her whole persona (whether its an act or not) is a tribute to mind control, where being vacuous, incoherent and absent minded becomes a fashionable thing.” (vigilantcitizen.com/?p=1676) Even noting that her style stems from various areas of the occult. Whether this has been disputed by Gaga herself, what is sure is that she has become quite notorious for using her music videos to showcase her controversial fashion sense.

Gaga’s shock value doesn’t stop at her clothing. Her music videos tends to overstep the boundaries of conventionalism. Usually utilize the colors of gold and platinum (symbolizing wealth and fame), abnormal choreography and even inter-gender sexual activity. Her bizarre style of cinematography has acquired her Music Station bans, “M” ratings and even various nominations and awards.

“Just Dance” was her first single and music video released. The video shows her obsession with fame and the care free lifestyle she assumed to follow along with it. The video starts with her arriving with her dancers at a small house party which seems to have ended. They start blasting the music throughout the house. The people at the party are sleeping in different areas, and are woken up by the loud music. They all start dancing, while it cuts in and out with Gaga playing with a disco ball or in a small inflatable pool.

“Love Game” was widely controversial. Obtaining the rating “M” for mature audiences in Australia for it’s provocative exploits. Even becoming banned from MTV Arabia for the same reasons as Australia. The video begins with her at a Subway station where she is soon surrounded by what appears to be gang members. She starts to dance provocatively while wielding a scepter. They then begin to dance together, moving onto the subway itself, and then to the parking lot. The police abruptly swarm her and the dancers. Throwing them against cars and arresting them. Gaga then grabs one of the male officers and pushes him into a glass toll booth. While the windows fog, she proceeds to dance against him and kiss him. Occasionally upon cuts the officer becomes a female. The video concludes with them continuing to dance in the parking lot.

“Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” is her third music video. The video takes place in a mansion with Gaga going down a hallway with several people. Whom are either walking behind her, holding an umbrella over her, dancing in front of her, or tossing dollar bills around her. It frequently cuts to her lying seductively on a table covered with money. It occasionally cuts to her lighting money on fire, dancing sensually alone on a grand piano or in an elevator and shoving money into mouth. The artist Space Cowboy is frequently seen through out shots. This was her shortest music video, only being two minutes and forty five seconds.

“Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” is an 1950’s Italian-American inspired music video. It is probably the brightest video she has released. Displaying many bright colors. Leaving the realm of gold and silver. This is also the first video to show her interacting with others outside of dancing. Frequently showing her with her friends inside an Italian Pizza Parlor named “Guidos”. It intercuts frequently to her walking on the sidewalk casually with her friends, her lying in her bed with bright pink high heels on and dancing while doing housework for a muscular man.

“Pokerface” is the fifth installment in the Lady Gaga Videography. It begins at a mansion’s pool. She emerges from the water wearing a reflective masquerade mask and a black full-body leotard. Two harlequin Great Danes stand beside her upon her exit. This video really plays off of cool colors. Usually having a slight blue tint on things. Such as her platinum blond wig and the background and her dancers are shown wearing turquoise leotards. Gaga then is shown in a game of Strip Poker where everyone appears to be losing. The scene cuts back to the pool where we see Gaga wearing her “Pop Music Will Never Be Low Brow”. We also see Gaga laying in her underwear approaching a half naked man seductively then cutting to her being pool side doing the same to one of the Great Danes. Perhaps making a subtle implication between the common referral of a man to a dog.

For the music video for “Paparazzi” she took a different turn from her usual music videos. Taking a more artistic direction. It was almost short film like, with scenes of dead models stand out vibrantly (perhaps showing the death of fashion and beauty). At the beginning her boyfriend is attempting to place her in a scandalous position on their balcony while the paparazzi snaps pictures. Finally he becomes frustrated and pushes her over the side, almost fatally injuring her. She proceeds through the video in a fashionable sequenced neck brace and mobile aids. She later (after recovering) poisons her boyfriend and kills him. Then calling 911, stating “I killed my boyfriend”. She end the video with her placing her dark sunglasses on his face.

“Bad Romance” is her latest music video release. Being the only video released so far from her newest album, THE FAME MONSTER. The “Bad Romance” video is the darkest of all her videos. The concept behind the music video is that she was kidnapped by a group of supermodels who drugged her, and sell her off to the Russian Mafia for sexual favors. Most of the video is set in a fluorescent white bathhouse. She is seen wearing a diamond covered outfit and crown, seductively dancing for a group of men and straddling men while the bid on her. The video ends with Gaga sitting on a bed with a half dressed man. The bed spontaneously combusts with the man still on it. We see Gaga laying beside a charred skeleton on top of the burnt bed with ashes everywhere. The video concludes with her smoking a cigarette, while her pyrotechnic bra sparks.

Her eccentric style however does not go unappreciated. The video for “Paparazzi” was nominated for five VMAs for the 2009 awards in the categories of Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Special Effects, Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.”Poker Face” also received four other nominations. The video won the award for Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects.

Whether what video it is or what album it’s from, Lady Gaga never seems to disappoint critics and fans alike.

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