Subj : G vs M
To   : Erich B.
From : August Abolins
Date : Sun Sep 12 2021 07:02 pm

Hello Erich B.!

** On Sunday 12.09.21 - 11:03, Erich B. wrote to August Abolins:

 >> No doubt, the Gaga persona is very talented and knows how
 >> to control her voice and stay in key. But most of her
 >> appeal requires the visual theatrical element too to draw
 >> attention (albiet distracting from the strange lyrics at
 >> the same time.) [...]

 EB> She claims to be the next Madonna. Which Madonna wants to
 EB> be like the next Lady Gaga.

I've heard that they were throwing criticisms at each other.  
Primarily, I think it was M that called G a copy-cat or  
unoriginal.

But I think G has greater vocal talent than M.  Whereas M has a  
greater musical talent than G.

I've liked a few earlier tunes of hers, but the last best one  
was on the True Blue album. Live to Tell is a very nicely  
designed ballad, used in the film At Close Range (I fine film -  
albiet dark near the end - as I recall).

I took a little time to audition a couple of M's albums today.  
In her latest album she doesn't sound right. It's as if the  
voice has been altered to sound younger.

These are the only ones that I like across her Rebel Heart and  
Madam X recordings:

https://open.spotify.com/user/6mhrz90aernzucux1fjas12u9/ 
playlist/0eLimsWighgk6M4bvOa5m9

Only 2 songs on Madam X appeal to me.  The rest try too hard to  
be trendy. I feel that she wants to compete with the younger  
singers like Arianna Grande.

Based on the titles of the songs, it looks like M she is  
consumed by "mercy, god, devil, praying, holy water, messiah",  
and political/social messages thrown in.

I think she would fair better if she stuck to ballads and the  
lower range of her voice.   The song "Killers Who Are Partying"  
on Madame X has a nice overall sound.

Rebel Heart is the last album where her voice sounds unaltered.  
 "Inside Out" has a nice low bass underlayer.  "Wash Over Me"  
is easy on the ears. "Ghosttown" is a cool almost-ballad.   
"Devil Pray" gets to the screetchy level, but I can appreciate  
the technical experiments in that one; musically it sounds fun.

--
  ../|ug

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