I am absolutely worn out and sick of all the bickering between all the current female pop star 'super fans.' All the Britney fans are sick of Gaga fans for labeling her Madonna's protege and stating that Britney is quite simply...over. Gaga fans are pissed because everyone "keeps copying Gaga." This artist is better than another artist. This artist stole that artist's idea.
Current example: Christina Aguilera's latest video for "Not Myself Tonight." Everyone jumps on the Christina stole Gaga's thunder blah blah blah bullshit -- yes, I'm pointing my finger at you Perez Hilton. I'll admit that "Not Myself Tonight" is truly a take-notice video. It makes me feel like I have to bathe in bleach after watching it.
But what her new video brings to mind is NOT Gaga, but the TRUE Queen of Pop herself...MADONNA.
For real. Think about it. If Britney (whom we all know I absolutely adore), Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera are copying ANYONE, it's clearly Madonna. "Not Myself Tonight" has visions of early Madonna videos, NOT Gaga.
And I'm not the only one seeing it. EW.com put it best by stating: "Truly, though, there’s another pop-diva influence clearly going on in this video, and her name starts with M. Could it be…Madonna? Yes, of course. Aguilera’s dominatrix outfit seems to be a clear nod to Madge in “Human Nature.” And those times where we see Aguilera amid mist at the top of those stairs, dressed as a German schoolmaster are reminiscent of Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” no?"
They continue to make an ever BETTER point, stating: "The retort to this whole line of criticism, however, includes two arguments: 1) When it comes to Madonna, nearly every pop star has taken pieces of her performances/styling/etc. So there’s that. And then 2) With the Gaga argument, can we really fault Christina for taking from Gaga, when Gaga herself has so ripped from a variety of other artists?" Um...Gaga ripping off artists like Roisin Murphy, anyone??
EW also makes a FANTASTIC point that Christina was always the one artist zigging when every other artist was zagging. And that's true. Christina was the artist who was constantly re-inventing herself. Her biggest issue is that she takes SO long to put out new album. She used to be able to give the pop world the jolt it most needed to work it in a different direction...but maybe this time she's too late.
But none of that is neither here nor there...or the point that I'm trying to make.
Which to boil it down and drag it truly home...what people need to get is that...
NO ONE IS TRULY ORIGINAL IN POP MUSIC ANYMORE.
That's why it's POP music.
The brilliant thing about music is that someone brings something new to the table that reinvigorates an oversaturated genre...others take from THAT and mold it in their own ways to make it interesting. It's become a neverending cycle of evolution.
Let's face it. Without Madonna, there would be no Britney. Without Britney stealing the music thunder from female singer/songwriters in the late 90's, pop music wouldn't have gotten its wake up call and gotten its Christina or...SHOCK...Lady Gaga (who has admitted COUNTLESS times that Britney is a HUGE influence...she did, after all, stand outside TRL whenever Britney was a guest. If that's not dedication or admiration, then what the hell is?).
These artists all have one another to thank, not one another to blame. It keeps the music scene interesting and relevent and exciting. It makes them all strive to be better and way more relevant.
So get off your high horses and get the hell over it. It's not going to change and bickering only makes you look like assholes. I'm not saying you have to love everyone as an artist, but the least you can do is respect them.
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