Lady Gaga, Let's Dance... I Mean Let's Talk

Toronto is aflutter with activities downtown this weekend. Taste of Italy food festival, Luminato arts festival, Much Music Video Awards featuring ... Lady Gaga. I watched Lady Gaga's performance of her new single "Edge of Glory" and as usual, was unamused. What a terrible song. Seriously.

The thing I don't get about Lady Gaga is that her brand of eccentricity is what sells people on her, yet there's nothing eccentric about her. Her music is just stale pop, nothing unique or complex about it. She just masquerades as an eccentric with her crazy make up, hair and costumes.

People seem to identify with her because she is the voice of the weirdo, the alienated teen who nobody understands. But it's just so... contrived. The probable irony is that Lady Gaga's brand is manufactured, or at least pushed constantly, despite little substance or quality to back it up, but her brand is also about fighting against norms and being yourself. Ha!

Look, I like some Lady Gaga songs and I don't have a problem with her fans. I just can't stand people masquerading as something they aren't, especially to make money, perpetuating misunderstandings about what unique artistry is. Just take it for what it is: cheesy pop music with a a flamboyant shell.

I've heard people compare Lady Gaga to Bjork, a true original and a musical genius, and I laugh and puke a little inside.