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“The Edge of Glory”: Thoughts?

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Ajibike Lapite Student Contributor, Princeton
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Princeton chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I’d be over-exaggerating if I labeled myself as a little monster. My self-indentification as an obsessive-Lady-Gaga-fan is more accurate and socially acceptable. Nonetheless, I am finding the comments about Lady Gaga’s recent video “The Edge of Glory” to be in either total support of Lady Gaga’s (out of character?) simplicity or insulted by what Ravlo from (Gaga Daily) described: “

I’m her biggest little monster and I feel utterly betrayed by this. I’d let it go and not say anything but she’s been sucking horrendously lately visually and performance wise.” I won’t point out how oxymoronic the phrase “biggest little monster” is–oh wait I just did. I won’t even bring up the fact that a huge (yet little) fan would not say that Gaga has been “sucking horrendously”–just couldn’t help myself! Nonetheless, my point has been made. Not everyone is a fan of Lady Gaga’s newest video.

Isn’t that the point? When did Lady Gaga ever make music to please everyone else?

(Note: pro-Gaga rant to follow)

Lady Gaga embodies the idea of a real artist. Few of us remember that she is classically trained in piano and has taken voice lessons for years. Her live performances show us her musical strenghts, maybe better than we can tell from her radio hits. Her acoustic performances are divine, and it is inspiring to see a legitimately talented musician. These artists are so few and far between (some examples: Lady Gaga, Usher Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber–we don’t want to admit it but he is fantastic; let’s at least give him his deserved props). Lady Gaga’s songs are not “autotuned pieces of crap.” They are skillfun yet catchy. Fun yet insightful (“Born This Way” anyone?)

While Gaga haters have been around for some time, they are having a field day with the new video that does not reach the “crazy standards” of much Little Monsters. Is Lady Gaga simply returning to basics? Her music video is quite simple, but in a beautiful way. Definitely edgier than “Just Dance” and “Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)” but still distinctively Lady Gaga.

The music video above should definitely quell the comments that Lady Gaga is ugly (ridiculous!). So maybe my fanaticism of Lady Gaga has changed–just slightly. I don’t want to dress like her anymore because I simply can’t pull of the vessel (read: the egg), but I still find her music to be a comfort in the land of Ke$has and Rebecca Blacks. 

How can we turn against the few with talent? Lady Gaga is not only an intellectual but a true artist. Take a look at the video and collegiettes™ let me know what you think below.

Total props to Lady Gaga in regard to her fashion taste (Versace: love!) and her debut (correct me if I’m wrong) role in directing a music video.

Ajibike Lapite is a member of Princeton University’s Class of 2014. When not studying, Ajibike tutors at the Young Scholar’s Institute in Trenton, NJ; serves as the President  of the Princeton Premedical Society; is the Editor-in-Chief of Her Campus Princeton; currently holds the title of Most Stylish Undergraduate (from Stylitics). Ajibike is a  molecular biology major with a certificate in global health & policy. She enjoys consumption of vanilla ice cream and sweet tea, watching games of criquet, exploring libraries, lusting after Blair Waldorf’s wardrobe, watching far too much television, editing her novel, staying watch at the mailbox, playing tennis and golf in imitation of the pros, hanging out with the best friends she’s ever had, baking cookies that aren’t always awesome, being Novak Djokovic’s fan girl, and sleeping—whenever and wherever she can.