Musto on Madonna's Gaga problem

[FindingNamo]

I think he summarizes it quite nicely and accurately.

Also, it seems Madge flashed a breasticle during her Istanbul (not Constantinople) concert. Considering how mean she was about Janet Jackson doing it that one time, the move seems kind of reductive.

Although I know FOR A FACT that there are people who think even talking about this means Madonna has WON and she's a brilliant businesswoman and her tour is making a googleian dollars so she is laughing all the way to the bank tra la la.

"Things are really different than they were 25 years ago..."

[Jordan Catalano]

In a way, I do feel bad for Madonna. Even though she's got more money than God, is the most famous woman on earth etc etc etc, she's also a woman in her mid 50s who's set in her ways and while she claims to be "up with the kids an down with the dope lingo" really isn't anymore. She's trying so desperately hard to be relevant and I honestly don't know if she knows what that even means.
It seems like she wants to go back to the East Village in 1981 and be that girl again but this time with a punk "Fuck The System" attitude.

She's in need of another makeover but this time to into something appropriate for her age, her stage in life and most importantly to what people actually want from her.

[Playbilly]

I agree Jordan. As a long-time Madonna watcher/smostly fan, it's a bit disturbing and sad seeing her try to be "relevant". Nothing wrong with projecting sensuality and sexuality in mid-50s and beyond, but Madonna is no Tina Turner.

[FindingNamo]

When I said the same exact thing *certain people* called me a hater.

[Jordan Catalano]

Well "certain people" who have complete blind faith and love for people have opinions that don't really add up to much.

[JoeKv99]

What is the point of Madge flashing a nipple? I've seen it so many time it's burned into my memory. I know that nipple better than my mommas and I breast fed till I was 13.

[SonofRobbieJ]

What's ironic is that, if she were simply be a woman in her mid-50's and bring that life experience to bear on whatever project she chooses, she would actually be relevant...showing the world that a woman in autumn is relevant simply by living her experience. By trying to recapture a youth long gone, she loses any claim to relevancy.

[Jordan Catalano]

Exactly. And it's a shame she can't just be that person.

[FindingNamo]

My previous assertions like this have received contradictory responses like, "Why does Madonna HAVE to be relevant?" [she doesn't and isn't], "Just by talking about her you prove that she is relevant!!!" [I guess, sure, okay], and at opposite ends of the exact same sentence, one person educated me by informing me that Madonna has always been relevant because she refuses to look back and that the Girls Gone Wild video and concert staging are retro.

I mean, contradictory impulses are always good, but I guess when you were a fan of hers in the early years you might have been forgiven for assuming her career was not going to stall in a case of arrested development.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

showing the world that a woman in autumn is relevant simply by living her experience.

Maybe her experience IS sounding like she has a slight speech-impediment and singing as though she's practically asleep with boredom.

That's what it sounds like when I hear that commercial that plays her singing that "Ooh la la, you're my superstar" song.

I should add that I generally find Gaga as dull as dirt, music-wise, but I think she's doing the right thing by just ignore ol' Maddie.

[Jordan Catalano]

And why in the world is Grandma trying to pick a fight in the first place? Is it cuz that's what the kids like?

[FindingNamo]

She heard the kids today enjoy a good beef, and I'm grateful she didn't think that mean "curtains."

[Jordan Catalano]

Her next act will be to show people that women in their 70s can still show pink in Penthouse.

[Luscious]

Does anyone seriously believe that there's a feud between Madonna and Gaga? How naive can people be? Madonna is using Gaga's BORN THIS WAY in concert. She had to secure the rights to the song in order to use it. I've been hearing and reading, ad nauseam, how Madonna's career is on the downslide, and how she's no longer relevant, for the past 20 plus years. And the beat goes on... and so does Madonna. LOVE HER! Always have. Always will.

[FindingNamo]

I don't know for sure, but isn't it that as long as a performer doesn't change anything about a song and pays the licensing fee that it can be performed without pre-approval?

Imagine every hotel lounge act having to get approval before creating their set list.

[Gothampc]

"Does anyone seriously believe that there's a feud between Madonna and Gaga?"

I honestly think Madonna has a jealousy of Gaga. The entrance in the egg, the meat dress? You know Madonna's thinking "Why can't I get press like that?"

If I were Lourdes and Rocco, I'd be very nervous.

[FindingNamo]

I do agree with Luscious about 50% of the way. I believe Madonna *thinks* she's playing the media and trying to start a catfight that will be financially beneficial to both of them, but she and her followers are kidding themselves if they think Madonna's secure in who she is and her place in today's pop culture world. She's in the pantheon, yes, but she doesn't matter at this point.

[Playbilly]

When she does an album of standards, then we'll know she's given up.

[FindingNamo]

That won't be for another 15 years. And her album of "standards" will include nothing older than "Imagine."

[SonofRobbieJ]

I would LOVE for her to do something totally Fucked up and put out an entire Bob Merrill album.

[tazber]

Oh that would be rich Robbie.

[Gothampc]

She needs to go the Bob Dylan route and put out a couple of Christian albums.

[tazber]

I thought she was Kaballah now.

Or did that fad pass and I just missed the announcement?

[Jane2]

I'm sorry for Madonna that she thinks she has to keep her whole "thing" going at this point in time. Wasn't being at the top of the game for almost 30 years enough? Hasn't she established herself and "conquered the world" (as she wished to do at the beginning)? Doesn't she have enough money? Hasn't she proved enough? I don't believe she's jealous of lady googoo who can't hold a candle to her.

Perhaps it's impossible for her to retire, enjoy raising her kids, and settle down, but I wish that's what she would do.

[Jordan Catalano]

The thing is though, that there's no reason she can't STILL be at the top of her game. But she needs to realize that she's playing a different game now and most importantly, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

[songanddanceman2]

Her nipple reveal was bloody stupid, the sad thing is the tour is one of her best, she did not need to do that. It's not like she has not got press attention for this tour, she already p****d off the right wing French (which i applaud) and mashed up Express Yourself with Born This Way (if you think that these 2 women dont know exactly what they are doing you are insane). The nipple thing was just not needed.

As for the 'relevant' thing that seems to be Namo's favourite topic in the whole world. She will always be relevant if the world is still talking about her. It's nothing to do with if she is 'relevant', that word is thrown around because she is not performing power ballads in Vegas and is still choosing to do dance music and look great doing it.....something she has done for 30 years, she should she not do that now because she is in her 50s?

If you really want to throw the words 'relevant' and 'age appropriate' around then the truth is the moment she starts singing ballads in Vegas is the moment she becomes irrelevant (Celine Dion.

Madonna has always marched to the beat of her own drum, some love her, some hate her, you can scream and shout and moan and bitch all you want, it won't make any difference, she will do what SHE wants to do, but yes, the nipples need to stay in the bra, no matter how brilliant her body looks. Not because she is too old, just because when she is touring a damn good show then it just is not needed

Jane2
Why an earth should she retire at 53? especially when so many people are still watching her live and listening to her music?
This is a woman who has the industry in her blood.