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Rating: Lady Gaga had the idea, seemingly clever, to re-release her debut album The Fame, adding a juicy bonus disc. It is not a mere reissue, therefore, but a new stuffing of an already fairly valid debut work. Let's skip the description of the old album, just noting that the tracklist has been revised and slightly modified. As for the bonus tracks, aside from Disco Heaven, a delightful mix of 70s disco stereotypes, the bizarre Retro Dance Freak makes its appearance. It's a pity that Again and Again, a touching ballad included in the American edition, hasn't been included.
Moving on to the bonus CD, aptly named The Fame Monster, we note the presence of a whopping 8 tracks, almost a new album considering the creative lack of many contemporary artists. Here Lady Gaga proposes once again the formula that made her famous, namely pop heavily tinged with electronic, with a splash of R&B here and there, and lots of 70s/80s revival. The musical styles she masters are many and varied, as adaptable as her voice. The lyrics, too, are always deliberately frivolous but written with intelligence and wit.
The mini album opens with the launch single Bad Romance, promoted by an excellent video clip. A decidedly dance song, ideal for a club, and in its own way touching and melancholic, if we pay attention to the lyrics. The following song, Alejandro, seems to gather the most hackneyed stereotypes about the Mediterranean spirit, as if Lady Gaga had blended La Isla Bonita by Madonna, Dov'è l'Amore by Cher, and a bit of Ibiza club sound. The result is nevertheless enjoyable. After another dance track, particularly influenced by the 80s, Monster, whose intro recalls Madonna's Sorry, we encounter a pop/rock ballad, Speechless, in which Lady Gaga showcases a raw and rough voice, just to remind us that she is capable of doing without synthesizers when she wants to.
Dance in the Dark, on the other hand, is a song that offers a blend of 80s dance and 90s house. An airy track supported by a less pounding beat compared to the rest of the album. It continues with Telephone, a duet with Beyoncé and the twin song of the more sterile and less successful Phone Call by the African-American singer. A true electronic frenzy accompanied by a very fast and syncopated melody. So Happy I Could Die, similar to the title track, recalls sounds typical of Madonna and her adventures in dance. The album finally concludes with Teeth, an intriguing R&B song enriched with arrangements that are not at all glossy like much contemporary R&B, but rather dirty and retro.
I would like to spend a few words on the packaging as well. The cover and back are completely in black and white, showing us an unprecedented image of Lady Gaga, perhaps more sober, but also more sophisticated. However, for those who preferred the original album cover, they can comfortably flip over the booklet.
In conclusion, we can say that Lady Gaga has relied on the formula that led to her success, emphasizing once again her versatility in pop and beyond. It is, however, a formula that, while elaborate, remains nonetheless frivolous and artificial and in the long run could be tiring. Fortunately, this singer seems to have enough creativity and willingness to dare to change direction and evolve into something new.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bad Romance (04:54)
Ohhh...ohhh...ohhh
caught in a bad romance
Ohhh..ohhh..ohhh
caught in a bad romance
Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, Roma-ma
GaGa, ooh la la
Want your bad romance
Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, Roma-ma
GaGa, ooh la la
Want your bad romance
I want your ugly, I want your disease
I want your everything as long as it's free
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love
I want your drama, the touch of your hand
I want your leather studded kiss in the scene
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love
(Love, love, love, I want your love)
You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want a bad, bad romance
I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover's revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Ohhh....ohhhhh.....oohhh
Caught in a bad romance
ohhh....ohhhhh...oohhh
Caught in a bad romance
Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, Roma-ma
GaGa, ooh la la
Want your bad romance
I want your horror, I want your design
'Cause you're a criminal as long as your mine
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love
I want your psycho, your vertical stick
Want you in my room when your baby is sick
I want your love, love, love, love
I want your love
(Love, love, love, I want your love)
You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
('Cause I'm a free bitch, baby)
I want a bad, bad romance
I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover's revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Caught in a bad romance
Caught in a bad romance
Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, Roma-ma
GaGa, ooh la la
Want your bad romance
Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, Roma-ma
GaGa, ooh la la
Want your bad romance
Walk, walk fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk fashion baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk walk passion baby
Work it, I'm a free bitch baby
I want your love and I want your revenge
I want your love, I don't wanna be friends
Je veux ton amour et je veux ton revenge
Je veux ton amour
I don't want to be friends
(I want your bad romance, I want your bad romance)
I don't wanna be friends
(I want your bad romance, I want your bad romance)
(Caught in a bad romance)
I don't want to be friends
(I want your bad romance, I want your bad romance)
I don't wanna be friends
(I want your bad romance)
(Caught in a bad romance)
I want your bad romance
I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover's revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Want your bad romance
Caught in a bad romance
Want your bad romance
Want your bad romance
Caught in a bad romance
Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, Roma-ma
GaGa, ooh la la
Want your bad romance
02 Alejandro (04:34)
She's got both hands in her pockets
And she won't look at you, won't look at you
She hides true love, en su bolsillo
She's got a halo around her finger around you
You know that I love you, boy
Hot like Mexico, rejoice
At this point I gotta choose
Nothing to lose
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Alejandro
I'm not your babe, I'm not your babe, Fernando
Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch
Just smoke one cigarette and hush
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Roberto
Alejandro, Alejandro
Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro
Alejandro, Alejandro
Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro
Stop please, just let me go
Alejandro, just let me go
She's not broken, she's just a baby
But her boyfriend's like a dad, just like a dad
And all those flames that burned before him
Now he's gonna firefight, got cool the bad
You know that I love you, boy
Hot like Mexico, rejoice
At this point I gotta choose
Nothing to lose
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Alejandro
I'm not your babe, I'm not your babe, Fernando
Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch
Just smoke one cigarette and hush
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Roberto
Alejandro, Alejandro
Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro
Alejandro, Alejandro
Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro
Don't bother me, don't bother me, Alejandro
Don't call my name, don't call my name, bye Fernando
I'm not your babe, I'm not your babe, Alejandro
Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch, Fernando
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Alejandro
I'm not your babe, I'm not your babe, Fernando
Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch
Just smoke one cigarette and hush
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Roberto
Alejandro, Alejandro
Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro
Alejandro, Alejandro
Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Alejandro
(Alejandro, Alejandro)
nI'm not your babe, I'm not your babe, Fernado
(Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro)
Don't wanna kiss, don't wanna touch
(Alejandro, Alejandro)
Just smoke one cigarette and hush
Don't call my name, don't call my name, Roberto
(Ale-Alejandro, Ale-Alejandro)
Alejandro
03 Monster (04:10)
Don't call me GaGa
I've never seen one like that before
Don't look at me like that
You amaze me
He ate my heart
He a-a-ate my heart
(You little monster)
He ate my heart
He a-a-ate my heart out
(You amaze me)
Look at him
Look at me
That boy is bad
And honestly
He's a wolf in disguise
But I can't stop staring in those evil eyes
I asked my girlfriend if she'd seen you round before
She mumbled something while we got down on the floor baby
We might've fucked not really sure, don't quite recall
But something tells me that I've seen him, yeah
That boy is a monster
M-M-M-Monster
That boy is a monster
M-M-M-Monster
That boy is a monster
Er-er-er-er
He ate my heart
(I love that girl)
He ate my heart
(Wanna talk to her, she's hot as hell)
He licked his lips
Said to me
Girl you look good enough to eat
Put his arms around me
Said "Boy now get your paws right off me"
I asked my girlfriend if she'd seen you round before
She mumbled something while we got down on the floor baby
We might've fucked not really sure, don't quite recall
But something tells me that I've seen him, yeah
That boy is a monster
M-M-M-Monster
That boy is a monster
M-M-M-Monster
That boy is a monster
Er-er-er-er
He ate my heart
(I love that girl)
He ate my heart
(Wanna talk to her, she's hot as hell)
He ate my heart
He ate my heart
Instead he's a monster in my bed
I wanna Just Dance
But he took me home instead
Uh oh! There was a monster in my bed
We french kissed on a subway train
He tore my clothes right off
He ate my heart then he ate my brain
Uh oh uh oh
(I love that girl)
(Wanna talk to her, she's hot as hell)
That boy is a monster
M-m-m-monster
(Could I love him?)
That boy is a monster
M-m-m-monster
(Could I love him?)
That boy is a monster
M-m-m-monster
(Could I love him?)
That boy is a monster
Er-er-er-er
04 Speechless (04:31)
I can't believe what you said to me
Last night when we were alone
You threw your hands up
Baby you gave up, you gave up
I can't believe how you looked at me
With your James Dean glossy eyes
In your tight jeans with your long hair
And your cigarette stained lies
Could we fix you if you broke?
And is your punch line just a joke?
I'll never talk again
Oh boy you've left me speechless
You've left me speechless, so speechless
And I'll never love again,
Oh boy you've left me speechless
You've left me speechless, so speechless
I can't believe how you slurred at me
With your half wired broken jaw
You popped my heart seams
On my bubble dreams, bubble dreams
I can't believe how you looked at me
With your Johnnie Walker eyes
He's gonna get you and after he's through
There's gonna be no love left to rye
And I know that it's complicated
But I'm a loser in love
So baby raise a glass to mend
All the broken hearts
Of all my wrecked up friends
I'll never talk again
Oh boy you've left me speechless
You've left me speechless so speechless
I'll never love again,
Oh friend you've left me speechless
You've left me speechless, so speechless
How?
Haaaa-oooo-wow?
H-ooow?
Wow
Haaaa-oooo-wow?
H-ooow?
Wow
And after all the drinks and bars that we've been to
Would you give it all up?
Could I give it all up for you?
And after all the boys and girls that we've been through
Would you give it all up?
Could you give it all up?
If I promise boy to you
That I'll never talk again
And I'll never love again
I'll never write a song
Won't even sing along
I'll never love again
So speechless
You left me speechless, so speechless
Why you so speechless, so speechless?
Will you ever talk again?
Oh boy, why you so speechless?
You've left me speechless so speechless
Some men may follow me
But you choose "death and company"
Why you so speechless? Oh oh oh
07 So Happy I Could Die (03:55)
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Ye-ah,Ye-ah
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Aha-aha
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Ye-ah,Ye-ah
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Aha-aha
I love that lavender blonde
The way she moves
The way she walks
I touch myself can't get enough
And in the silence of the night
Through all the tears
And all the lies
I touch myself and it's alright
Just give in
Don't give up baby
Open up your heart and your mind to me
Just know when
That glass is empty
That the world is gonna bend, yeah
Happy in the club with a bottle of red wine
Stars in our eyes 'cuz we're having a good time
Eh-eh
Eh-eh
So happy I could die
Be your best friend
Yeah I'll love you forever
Up in the clouds
We'll be higher than ever
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
So happy I could die
And it's alright
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Ye-ah,Ye-ah
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Aha-aha
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Ye-ah,Ye-ah
Eh-eh,Eh-eh
Aha-aha
I am as vain as I allow
I do my hair
I gloss my eyes
I touch myself all through the night
And when something fall out of place
I take my time
I put it back
I touch myself
Till I'm on track
Just give in
Don't give up baby
Open up your heart and your mind to me
Just know when
That glass is empty
That the world is gonna bend
Happy in the club with a bottle of red wine
Stars in our eyes 'cuz we're having a good time
So happy I could die
Be your best friend
Yeah I'll love you forever
Up in the clouds
We'll be higher than ever
So happy I could die
And it's alright
Happy in the club with a bottle of red wine
Stars in our eyes 'cuz we're having a good time
So happy I could die
Be your best friend
Yeah I'll love you forever
Up in the clouds
We'll be higher than ever
So happy I could die
And it's alright
08 Teeth (03:41)
Don't be scared
I've done this before
Show me your teeth
Don't want no money (want your money)
That shit's is ugly
Just want your sex (want your sex)
Take a bit of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bite my me
Show me your teeth
Let me see your mean
Got no direction (no direction)
I need direction
Just got my vamp (got my vamp)
Take a bite of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bit of me boy
Show me your teeth
The truth is sexy
Tell me something that'll save me
I need a man who makes me alright (man who makes me alright)
Just tell me when it's alright
Tell me something that'll change me
I'm gonna love you with my hands tied
Show me your teeth
Just tell me when
Show me your teeth
Open your mouth boy
Show me your teeth
Show me whatcha got
Show me your teeth teeth teeth teeth
Got no salvation (no salvation)
Got no salvation
Got nor religion (no religion)
My religion is you
Take a bite of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bit of me boy
Show me your teeth
I'm a tough bitch
Got my addictions (my addictions)
And I love to fix 'em (and I love to fix 'em)
No one's perfect
Take a bite of my bad girl meat (bad girl meat)
Take a bit of me boy
Show me your teeth
I just need a little guidance
Tell me something that'll save me
I need a man who makes me alright (man who makes me alright)
Just tell me when it's alright
Tell me something that'll change me
I'm gonna love you with my hand tied
Show me your teeth
Just tell me when
Show me your teeth
Open your mouth boy
Show me your teeth
Show me whatcha got
Show me your teeth teeth teeth teeth
Show me your teeth
My religion is you
My religion is you
Help need a man
Now show me your fangs (my religion is you)
Help need a man
Now show me your fangs (my religion is you)
Help need a man
Now show me your fangs (my religion is you)
Tell me something that'll save me
I need a man who makes me alright (man who makes me alright)
Just tell me it's alright
Tell me something that'll change me
I'm gonna love you with my hands tied
Show me your teeth
Just tell me when
Show me your teeth
Open your mouth boy
Show me your teeth
Show me whatcha got
Show me your teeth
Teeth teeth teeth
Show me your teeth
It's not how big, it's how mean
Show me your teeth
Open your mouth boy
Show me your teeth
My religion is you
Show me your teeth
I just need a little guidance
Show me your teeth
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