Lady GaGa "The Fame Monster" - (Bad Romance!)

[neverduplicated]

Sorry if this has been posted, but I didn't want to read pages upon pages to find this info. Will the Fame Monster include any music videos or anything like that? I'm thinking about buying it and if it comes with Gaga's videos, there's no doubt I'm getting it!

[KingB]

'Telephone'
Waffle: A song about being pestered by someone on the phone when you're trying to have a dance in a nitespot. It's a little bit like Gwen's 'What You Waiting For?' meets Timbaland's 'The Way I Are' meets about fifty other things. "I cannot text you with a drink in my hand," Gaga notes at one point. The structure's quite exciting: quiet harpy intro / "kinda busy, k-kinda busy" bridge as beat kicks in / verse / chorus ("stop calling, stop calling, I don't wanna talk any more") / postchorus bit / 'The Way I Are'-style rap /Beyonce rap ("should have left my phone at home cos this is a disaster") / breakdown verse / "kinda busy" bridge / chorus / another bit / 'The Way I Are' rap bit / extra 'My Humps'-esque (but not really) "my telephone! My telephone!" outro, then "we're sorry, the number you have reached is not in service" operator message. We loveBeyonce insisting that some bellend on the other end of the phone won't make her get her coat any faster. Bonus fact: The guest vocalist on this was going to be someone else, but then the guest vocalist wanted to put the song on her own greatest hits album, so Lady Gaga made alternative arrangements.
Verdict: 7/8

-popjustice

[CammyCan]

PJ review of The Fame Monster:

Right - so we've heard Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster' and it's a pretty astonishing piece of work. Lyrically, sonically, melodically and conceptually it's right up there with its predecessor 'The Fame', with a definite feel of things moving in a new direction.

We know a lot of you are thinking that this is just a cash-in reissue of 'The Fame' with a few tracks chucked on. It's not that at all - this is a collection of songs in its own right. When you buy this you will not be buying 'The Fame' again in order to get at a couple of extra songs - you'll be buying a new album which just so happens to have a copy of 'The Fame' in the same box.

If it helps make sense of things, imagine purchasing 'The Fame Monster' 2-disc set then throwing the 'The Fame' CD away. In fact that is what you should actually do when you get this. Throw 'The Fame' out of the window. 'The Fame Monster' is a real album with its own personality.

In brief:

- Eight tracks.
- Four potential singles.
- No s**t songs.

Here's a track by track.

'Bad Romance'
Waffle: 'Poker Face' reinvented. Can you believe that some people have said that this song sounds too much like 'Poker Face'? As if anything could sound too much like one of the best songs of 2008/09? It would be like saying 'the problem with this restaurant is that the food is too nice and too reasonably priced', or 'the problem with this hat is that it makes me look too attractive'. Now imagine wearing an amazing hat in the world's best restaurant. THAT IS WHAT THIS SONG IS LIKE.
Verdict: 7/8

'Alejandro'
Waffle: It sounds like this.

And by 'this' we mean an amazing romantic post-Italotronic triumph.
Verdict: 7/8

'Monster'
Waffle: Opens with snatches of dialogue ('Don't call me Gaga', 'I've never seen one like that before', 'Don't look at me like that') then launches into a story of Gaga pulling a "wolf in disguise". The chorus is a big chant of "that boy is a monster, that boy is a monster" and there are some 'Just Dance'-isms along the way too. There's a great breakdown for the middle eight: "I wanna just dance but he took me home instead, uh-oh there was a monster in my bed, we French kissed on a subway train, he tore my clothes right off, he ate my heart and then he ate my brain".
Verdict: 6/8

'So Happy I Could Die'
Waffle: A mid-tempo number with some Tiesto-esque ravey bits, some references to The Act Of Masturbation, and a chorus lyric "happy in the club with a bottle of red wine, stars in our eyes 'cos we're having a good time, so happy I could die". Not a single but an important part of the whole 'Fame Monster' thing.
Verdict: 5/8

'Speechless'
Waffle: At one point this was a big piano ballad but since Ron Fair's production has been added it's more along the lines of a 'Starman' or an 'All The Young Dudes'-type affair. This is the track about Gaga's father and it seems to be written from Gaga's mother's point of view. By the time the second verse comes around there seem to be strong hints of booze ("I can't believe how you looked at me with your Johnnie Walker eyes", "raise a glass to mend all the broken hearts" etc) so it seems this is the 'Fear Of Alcohol Monster' Gaga previously mentioned. The chorus is "I'll never talk again, oh boy you've left me speechless / I'll never love again, oh friend you've left me speechless" and one of the best bits finds Gaga singing "after all the boys and the girls that we've been through, would you give it all up if I promised boy to you that I'll never talk again, and I'll never love again, I'll never write a song, or even sing along..." This is a massive, massive ballad which doesn't sound like anything else you've heard from Lady Gaga and could do for her what 'Beautiful' did for Christina Aguilera. At the very least, it's a good lighters-aloft live anthem.
Verdict: 7/8

'Dance In The Dark'
Waffle: The chorus to this is amazing - imagine RedOne to the next level with a massive emotionally-charged synth riff chucked in along the way. Actually the everything to this is amazing, it opens with the words "silicone, saline, poison, inject me" and the arms-aloft, four-to-the-floor chorus is a chant of "baby loves to dance in the dark, cos when he's looking she falls apart." There's another line about "she looks good but her boyfriend says she's a tramp" - it seems to be about women who are marginalised or who are in (mentally?) abusive relationships. We may have totally missed the point of this song, and if so 'apols' in advance.
Best bit: an almost pant-wettingly excellent, 'Vogue'-style rap breakdown in which Gaga lets rip: "Marilyn, Judy, Sylvia, tell them how you feel girls [something we couldn't quite make out] hot like Liberace, find your freedom in the music, find your Jesus, find your cutie, you will never fall apart Diana, you're still in our hearts, never let you fall apart, together we'll dance in the dark". AMAZING.
Verdict: 8/8

'Telephone'
Waffle: A song about being pestered by someone on the phone when you're trying to have a dance in a nitespot. It's a little bit like Gwen's 'What You Waiting For?' meets Timbaland's 'The Way I Are' meets about fifty other things. "I cannot text you with a drink in my hand," Gaga notes at one point. The structure's quite exciting: quiet harpy intro / "kinda busy, k-kinda busy" bridge as beat kicks in / verse / chorus ("stop calling, stop calling, I don't wanna talk any more") / postchorus bit / 'The Way I Are'-style rap / Beyonce rap ("should have left my phone at home cos this is a disaster") / breakdown verse / "kinda busy" bridge / chorus / another bit / 'The Way I Are' rap bit / extra 'My Humps'-esque (but not really) "my telephone! My telephone!" outro, then "we're sorry, the number you have reached is not in service" operator message. We love Beyonce insisting that some bellend on the other end of the phone won't make her get her coat any faster. Bonus fact: The guest vocalist on this was going to be someone else, but then the guest vocalist wanted to put the song on her own greatest hits album, so Lady Gaga made alternative arrangements.
Verdict: 7/8

'Teeth'
Waffle: A wobbly, stompy, bouncy marching song. Opens with a "don't want no money, just want your sex" line, includes lots of chanting of "SHOW ME YOUR TEETH! SHOW ME YOUR TEETH!", and a foray into Black Betty territory
Verdict: 6/8

That's all from one listen - this album has loads more to give up from repeated plays and we can't wait to get stuck in properly. 'Monster' and 'Bad Romance' have elements of 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face' but these seem like knowing nods back in the direction of 'The Fame', while other songs - 'Dance In The Dark', 'Teeth' hint at what lies ahead for the next, third Lady Gaga album.

----------------

SUPER excited.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

Didn't she say she believed Speechless was the best song she has ever written?

[r.enato]

Wow, this got me super excited!

[Carlitoz]

THANK YOU, ONTO AND CAMMY!!!
I can't wait!!!!

[Carlitoz]

Oct 26, 2009 10:57:11 GMT -5 KingB said:

'Telephone'
(...) Bonus fact: The guest vocalist on this was going to be someone else, but then the guest vocalist wanted to put the song on her own greatest hits album, so Lady Gaga made alternative arrangements.
Verdict: 7/8

-popjustice

Hmm... interesting... I wonder if that would've been Britney...
Any other artist with a greatest hits these days? Janet maybe?

[bibliotheque]

It would be Britney or Madonna

but

makes it obvious it was Britney

[Nicolexo]

Oct 26, 2009 11:26:00 GMT -5 Carlitoz said:

Oct 26, 2009 10:57:11 GMT -5 KingB said:

'Telephone'
(...) Bonus fact: The guest vocalist on this was going to be someone else, but then the guest vocalist wanted to put the song on her own greatest hits album, so Lady Gaga made alternative arrangements.
Verdict: 7/8

-popjustice

Hmm... interesting... I wonder if that would've been Britney...
Any other artist with a greatest hits these days? Janet maybe?

Yeah, probably Britney since the song was originally for her.

[bibliotheque]

It wasn't originally for Britney. From an old interview:

You surely earned even more gay fans with the recent announcement that you wrote a track for Britney’s upcoming album. Was that a dream come true?
Yeah. I was working with Rodney Jerkins on Pussycat Dolls, and we wrote this song—I almost slipped and told you the name. Thank God I caught myself; I respect her a lot, so I was to give her control over that. When we were done with the song, I was like, “Oh, I want to sing it,” but my album was already closed. It never even crossed my mind that she was doing a new record. Then Rodney played it for [Britney’s manager] Larry Rudolph, who was in the studio. Rodney called me later and was like, “Britney’s people are freaking out about this song.” Ultimately, she makes the decisions, so when I found out that she loved it and was going to record it, it was amazing. I actually heard it yesterday with her on it for the first time, and I really had chills.

[Filthy Pop]

Telephone, like What You Waiting For?

Can't wait.

[r.enato]

Oct 26, 2009 11:41:25 GMT -5 bibliotheque said:

It wasn't originally for Britney. From an old interview:

You surely earned even more gay fans with the recent announcement that you wrote a track for Britney’s upcoming album. Was that a dream come true?
Yeah. I was working with Rodney Jerkins on Pussycat Dolls, and we wrote this song—I almost slipped and told you the name. Thank God I caught myself; I respect her a lot, so I was to give her control over that. When we were done with the song, I was like, “Oh, I want to sing it,” but my album was already closed. It never even crossed my mind that she was doing a new record. Then Rodney played it for [Britney’s manager] Larry Rudolph, who was in the studio. Rodney called me later and was like, “Britney’s people are freaking out about this song.” Ultimately, she makes the decisions, so when I found out that she loved it and was going to record it, it was amazing. I actually heard it yesterday with her on it for the first time, and I really had chills.

Isn't this about Quicksand?

[bibliotheque]

No, that was done with Fernando Garibay not Rodney.

[r.enato]

So Gaga gave the song and then took back? LOL

[Ivy Leegue™]

I got tix Saturday morning for the 12/1 show at the Wang, LOL. I had to go out in the pouring rain in person because a)Ticketmaster doesn't sell tix for the Wang, b) the Wang's site was down and c) when I called the Wang, the handling fees and what not made it more expensive so I opted to go to the Wang in person. I got an orchestra box seat, which is really nice because you are up front but elevated so no one is blocking your view. I was going to go with a girl from work and her friend who is an obsessive GaGa fan but the tix they got were 220 a piece for orchestra and I am all set with that. My ticket cost $53! YAY!

[bibliotheque]

deleted read above

Oct 26, 2009 11:53:31 GMT -5 r.enato said:

So Gaga gave the song and then took back? LOL

Well Brit's management wanted the song but then decided not to use it on Circus, maybe because it didn't fit.

Then I assume GaGa recorded it to feature Britney for The Fame Monster (says in the interview that GaGa wanted it for herself anyway), but then Britney wanted to use it on The Singles Collection aswell and GaGa said no so took Britney off the track and used Beyonce instead.

[change4change]

Just heard a clip of another Gaga song, "Out of Control". It's so different and and still soo good! It's nothing like Gaga has ever done before! Why is it not on the The Fame Monster?! OMG! She has too many amazing songs! I hope "No Way' and "Out of Control" get released someday, somehow!

[vinyl]

This re-release sounds astonishing. I'm going crazy.

[Gray.]

I'm so excited for the re-release. It looks amazing.

[dehaviland]

I'm geeked up about this album....Can't wait.

[BRhap786]

Getting anxious to hear the new tracks...

[peters]

while i do like popjustice (the "hat in the restaurant" analogy is flat out fantastic. ), have they EVER blasted any song they're reviewing? it seems to me they pretty much like everything pop, no matter how good or bad it is.

well, i remember they did indeed bash pitbull. but then again, that doesn't count. compared to him, any clown is superior.

[nitro]

Looking forward to the re-release... I really like Bad Romance, and if all the other tracks are quality like the post says, I'd be very happy. I'd rather all the re-release tracks be tight than have a garbage track or two. This looks promising.

[Carlitoz]

The original album, I bought it digital.
For this one I'm getting my physical copy for sure and i cannot wait!

[bat1990]

Does anyone know details about the special limited edition Fame Monster on Amazon.com that is $95.98?

[bibliotheque]

I think it's this one ladygaga.shop.bravadousa.com/Product.aspx?cp=14781_25077&pc=BGCDLG03#

[Osaka Sun]

17 LADY GAGA THE FAME 23,776 11 999 23,812 1 11/15/08
52 LADY GAGA THE FAME 11,199 23,776 -53 35,011 2 11/22/08
67 LADY GAGA THE FAME 10,718 11,199 -4 45,729 3 11/29/08
88 LADY GAGA THE FAME 9,276 10,718 10 55,005 4 12/6/2008
83 LADY GAGA THE FAME 13,050 9,276 20 69,633 5 12/13/08
71 LADY GAGA THE FAME 14,920 13,050 14 84,553 6 12/20/08
83 LADY GAGA THE FAME 14,968 14,920 0 99,521 7 12/27/08
83 LADY GAGA THE FAME 20,739 14,968 39 120,260 8 1/3/2009
58 LADY GAGA THE FAME 29,656 20,739 42 149,916 9 1/10/2009
26 LADY GAGA THE FAME 22,747 29,656 -23 172,663 10 1/17/2009
14 LADY GAGA THE FAME 21,225 22,747 -7 193,888 11 1/24/2009
18 LADY GAGA THE FAME 18,799 21,225 -12 212,687 12 1/31/2009
20 LADY GAGA THE FAME 18,195 18,799 1 231,602 13 2/7/2009
19 LADY GAGA THE FAME 18,090 18,195 -4 249,692 14 2/14/2009
16 LADY GAGA THE FAME 24,371 18,090 35 274,063 15 2/21/2009
26 LADY GAGA THE FAME 28,776 24,371 18 302,839 16 2/28/2009
10 LADY GAGA THE FAME 32,055 28,776 11 334,894 17 3/7/2009
7 LADY GAGA THE FAME 32,497 32,055 1 367,391 18 3/14/2009
4 LADY GAGA THE FAME 42,308 32,497 30 409,699 19 3/21/2009
6 LADY GAGA THE FAME 46,506 42,308 10 456,205 20 3/28/2009
5 LADY GAGA THE FAME 50,071 46,506 8 506,276 21 4/4/2009
7 LADY GAGA THE FAME 45,279 50,071 -10 551,555 22 4/11/2009
9 LADY GAGA THE FAME 51,139 45,279 13 602,694 23 4/18/2009
10 LADY GAGA THE FAME 56,048 51,139 10 658,742 24 4/25/2009
8 LADY GAGA THE FAME 36,246 56,048 -35 694,988 25 5/2/2009
7 LADY GAGA THE FAME 39,555 36,246 9 734,543 26 5/9/2009
5 LADY GAGA THE FAME 39,718 39,555 1 774,324 27 5/16/2009
6 LADY GAGA THE FAME 41,328 39,718 4 815,652 28 5/23/2009
4 LADY GAGA THE FAME 41,418 41,328 1 857,070 29 5/30/2009
8 LADY GAGA THE FAME 45,262 41,418 9 902,332 30 6/6/2009
5 LADY GAGA THE FAME 45,321 45,262 1 947,653 31 6/13/2009
8 LADY GAGA THE FAME 46,753 45,321 3 994,406 32 6/20/2009
6 LADY GAGA THE FAME 46,773 46,753 1 1,041,179 33 6/27/2009
6 LADY GAGA THE FAME 47,059 46,773 1 1,088,238 34 7/4/2009
8 LADY GAGA THE FAME 37,450 47,059 -20 1,125,688 35 7/11/2009
10 LADY GAGA THE FAME 36,178 37,450 -3 1,161,866 36 7/18/2009
13 LADY GAGA THE FAME 33,086 36,178 -9 1,194,952 37 7/25/2009
11 LADY GAGA THE FAME 30,523 33,086 -8 1,225,475 38 8/1/2009
10 LADY GAGA THE FAME 27,668 30,523 -9 1,253,143 39 8/8/2009
10 LADY GAGA THE FAME 27,129 27,668 -2 1,280,272 40 8/15/2009
16 LADY GAGA THE FAME 25,000 27,129 -8 1,305,794 41 8/22/2009
16 LADY GAGA THE FAME 23,218 25,000 -8 1,329,012 42 8/29/2009
17 LADY GAGA THE FAME 21,221 23,218 -9 1,350,233 43 9/5/2009
22 LADY GAGA THE FAME 20,201 21,221 -5 1,370,434 44 9/12/2009
25 LADY GAGA THE FAME 18,417 20,201 -9 1,388,851 45 9/19/2009
23 LADY GAGA THE FAME 18,857 18,417 1 1,407,708 46 9/26/2009
12 LADY GAGA THE FAME 33,255 18,857 76 1,440,963 47 10/3/2009
20 LADY GAGA THE FAME 24,967 33,255 -25 1,465,930 48 10/10/2009
24 LADY GAGA THE FAME 26,237 24,967 5 1,492,167 49 10/17/2009
27 LADY GAGA THE FAME 24,472 26,237 -7 1,516,639 50 10/24/2009
19 LADY GAGA THE FAME 21,419 24,472 -13 1,538,464 51 10/31/2009
16 LADY GAGA THE FAME 20,826 21,419 -5 1,559,290 52 11/7/2009

[Legoman]

^
:o thanks a lot for that

[SHOOTER]

Amazing how she's sold 1.5m and her biggest sales week was only 56k!

[d.t.m]

^Yeah, what's even crazier is her debut week! This album has some amazing legs.