Musical instruments are the only tools to make music? Interesting, but a flawed comment. I guess you've never heard of acapella, which is entirely voice generated. The same can be said about choir or Gregorian chant, both of which are primarily created by vocal chords. Even scatting in jazz music is a form of mimicking instrumentation through voice.
If you look at the video above of pre-Lady Gaga, you will see she can play the piano quite well. Do a little research and you will discover she is an educated and classically trained musician.
Thought that might stir up a comment. Especially since those words aren't mine. They're Tom Petty's - back in the day of disco.
Good for Lady Gaga for being classically trained. Too bad she turned her back on the music to make pop, in which the backgrounds are computer generated, her voice is modulated, and her every move is choreographed. (We'll all her moves except that one at CitiField, which nearly got her lynched.) Guess there's no money in playing the piano for a living.
I think the real test is this: is the music timeless? Ten years from now will you turn on the radio and hear her music from today? Doubtful. When you look at the music that has come before certain names have stood the test of time. Rock has it's legends. Country music, too. As does jazz. Classical? I could list 'em, but I think you get the idea. What's the common denominator between 'em all? They're great
musicians. The only name to have withstood the test of time in pop is Michael Jackson.
I grew up in an era with the New Kids on the Block. All the girls were (no pun intended) gaga over 'em. Until those girls grew up and realized these kids were handled. Then they stopped buying the records, the group fizzled out, and only one has gone on to make good, and that was as an actor.
I personally grew up on hardcore rap. Names like NWA, Public Enemy. It was fun watching Ice-T put together a heavy metal band. Anthrax and PE teaming up on
Bring the Noise. Run-DMC breaking cross genre barriers with Aerosmith. But rap has always sampled others' work. Remember
Under Pressure? Bowie and Queen: timeless.
Lady Gaga? Sure she's getting rich. She's even got the classic training under her belt. So did the Monkees. But like most modern pop her songs won't be on the playlist of the folks who are listening to her
now ten years down the road. Radio will have moved on. The kids of the future will have something new to sing and she'll be relegated to just another aging pop star.
