Following months of expectation and online buzz, Friday's release of Lady Gaga's new single saw the public explode in a stir of talking about the hypothesis that Gaga had ripped off pop icon Madonna.
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'Born This Way,' Lady Gaga's New Song, Premieres
Critics and fans alike noted that "Born This Way," a bold, fast-paced club song that Gaga has called her "gay anthem," borrows from many of Madonna's older hits, including "Express Yourself," "Ray of Light" and "Vogue."
Caryn Ganz at the Amplifier called the song "overworked, overwrought, noisy, cheesy, and very, very derivative" and cited Gaga's claim that she wrote it in ten minutes as the origin of the problem.
"'Born This Way' follows the draught for an early '90s club hit remarkably carefully: keening strings on the 1st verse, a propulsive four-on-the-foor thump, layers of squelching synths, soulful vocals." Ganz added that the song also has hints of Kelly Rowland and David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over" and TLC's "Waterfalls."
London's Daily Telegraph thought the song's imitative nature would affect perceptions of Gaga's artistry. "Basically it is a reworking of Madonna's 'Express Yourself' with a feeling of Madonna's 'Vogue.' Which is a bit too much Madonna for somebody who is stressful to show her own individuality as the, er, new Madonna."
Twitter was also abuzz with comparisons, so often that "Express Yourself" started trending on Friday. Fans were split over whether the likeness was a right thing, while some celebrities tried to stay objective.
"Just listened to a time of Lady Gaga 'Born This Way' and I gotta say.sounds a lot like 'Express Yourself' from Madonna," musician Chris Daughtry tweeted. "And by the way.I'm not dogging it. Haven't yet heard it all.that was only my first impress."
However, several critics praised Gaga's nod to "Show Yourself," with some even preferring it to the original.
"Lady Gaga has got something to say about 'Express Yourself,' and she`s turned Madonna`s fourth-best one of 1989 into her own instant-classic club anthem," said Rolling Stone. "It`s an event, a statement, the most anticipatrended song in the story of recorded music, or at least since Britney`s 'Hold It Against Me.'"
Others dismissed the babble of similarities all together and simply praised the song.
"Whether its sound comes too near to one or another Madonna song seems beside the point; what current pop hit doesn't go green by recycling something familiar?" said the LA Times' Ann Powers.
She added that comparisons are pointless, since Madonna and Gaga promote different messages in their songs. "'Born This Way' never hints that outsiders should remake the man in their image, instead invoking God and mamma to indicate that society's frameworks need not change, only give their doors a little wider."
Prior to the single's release, the entry of Gaga's black and white album back for "Born This Way" also sparked controversy among fans who view the artist had copied Kylie Minogue's artwork for "2 Hearts." Both covers feature the singers in profile with dramatic eye makeup, dark lipstick and graffiti-inspired font.
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