Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I’ve Been GaGa’d


Over the weekend I watched Lady GaGa’s Monster Ball concert at Madison Square Garden (courtesy of HBO). I honestly could not look away and I don’t even like her music. No matter what your feelings are for her…she is an entertainer. You have to give her that.

It was nice of her to give a shout out to that old TV show The Flying Nun.

I had nightmares about this costume later that night.

Maybe I watched this concert for the same reasons I flip to the Spanish channel every once in a while when I’m bored. It’s fascinating and I have the feeling if I watch it long enough I will somehow be able to understand it.

But I don’t speak GaGa…or Spanish.
Except for what I’ve learned on Dora the Explorer which, let’s face it, is a poor man’s Rosetta Stone.

I believe there is a difference between an artist and an entertainer. Just like there are quite a few people who believe there is a huge difference between being a good writer or a great storyteller.

Hard work and dedication creates good writers in my opinion but I think you may have to be 'Born This Way' to be a great storyteller.

You didn't think I could work that in, did you?
Do you believe there is a difference? And if so which one would you rather people thought of you?

6 comments:

  1. So many of the current best-selling authors get trashed for not being good writers, but people spend money to read what they've written. It's because they tell interesting stories where stuff happens. That's all most people are looking for -- entertainment. And there's nothing wrong with that.

    There is, however, something wrong with that plastic nun outfit of Gaga's. It's like the first draft of a Dan Brown novel.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love Gaga. I do. I get raised eyebrows and grunts when I tell people this, but I just find her so freaking inspiring! She really went for it, you know? And I get that some people are turned off by the packaging and find her too weird, and can't get into her music... but at least it's HER music, which she writes and sings herself. And her message is positive.

    I think I'd rather be thought of as a storyteller, truth be told. Because that's all I'm trying to do, really. I work hard on the craft of writing, but it's the art of telling a story that makes me love it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I will say that she is brave and I do admire her individuality. She also gives me so much to make fun of. I like that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think history will tell you who the artists and the entertainers are.

    Personally, I think it's hard to be both, and what is/isn't art/entertainment is up to the eye of the beholder. True art can bring you to tears, sweep you in with emotion, and make you feel a humanist connection. Entertainment passes time really, really quickly.

    For the most part, it's like pornography. You'll know it when you see it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I completely agree with you. Although I think there are some great storytellers who aren't very good writers. And I don't know, I think it'd be great if people thought I was 'Born This Way' because that implies that you've got a gift, on the other hand, that kind of negates all of the hard work you've put into writing. And I haven't seen that concert but it looks like it was amazing; even thought I'm not one of her 'Little Monsters' I still find myself humming along to her songs when they come on the radio!

    ReplyDelete
  6. She gets on my nerves but I'll never discredit her for being an entertainer and a damn good one. I do like some over her music too though.

    People have given Britney tons of crap about being a bad singer, but I think we need to give her credit for the entertainment factor as well. The girl can put on a show even if she isn't actually singing.

    ReplyDelete

It helps to know I'm not just talking to myself.