Lady Gaga’s new single “Applause” was released today, and some of the feedback and protection you read from a small sector of diehard fans is just scary.
Like many who are fans of Lady Gaga, I was excited when she cleverly announced a “pop emergency” this morning and decided to release her first single off ARTPOP a week earlier than planned. I was staring at Twitter waiting for the link. I kept refreshing the “Lady Gaga Applause” search page so I could get it up on Hypable as quickly as I could.
It hit at 12:32 p.m. eastern. I added the song to my article, posted, then started listening. I listened once. I listened twice. I’ve listened at least ten times now.
And I still don’t like it.
Lady Gaga’s “Applause” has struck me as a safe first single for the singer who’s forthcoming album could not be any more anticipated than it already is. I can’t see it blowing the roof off arenas. I can’t see it being an epic live performance on television. I can’t see it being a big moment at clubs. Is it catchy? Yes. Will I continue listening? Yes, of course.
What I don’t like is the blind, immediate acceptance so many have had for the song. Sure, you can love it all you want, and I won’t judge you like you shouldn’t judge me. But this passionate praise leads some people on the internet to turn down any other person’s opinion as incorrect. They proceed to tell the naysayer – whether it’s an honest opinion or not – that they’re wrong, stupid, creating link bait, etc.
“YOU MUST RETRACT THIS ARTICLE THIS COULD SERIOUSLY HURT MOTHER MONSTER’S FEELINGS OK,” said one comment on an article on Slate where the reviewer said he wasn’t a fan of the song. “SHE SAVED MY LIFE AND SHE WENT THROUGH BULLYING AND NOW YOU SAY HER SONG IS NOT GOOD??”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP SPIN,” said an entirely separate comment. “MOTHER MONSTER IS THE MESSIAH OF MUSIC AND CAME TO DELIVER US FROM SHITTY ARTISTS LIKE MICHAEL JACKSON, THE BEATLES AND MADONNA. SHES ORIGINAL AND MAKING HISTORY. SHES NOT JUST A POP SINGER-SHES A FUCKEN ARTIST. SHE IS GOD. YOU MUST DO HER WILL AND STAND BY HER! RETRACT THIS ARTICLE NOW!!!!!!!!”
What’s with this sector of Lady Gaga fans who act this way? Even those who complain in lower caps that the reviewer is wrong are off their rocker. Mother Monster teaches her followers to accept everyone, so threatening or attacking someone’s opinions is against what Gaga has always preached: Acceptance. Peace. Loving everyone.
Some people on the internet are so wildly insecure about themselves and Gaga (who will be a huge success with or without the negative reviews, by the way) that they turn into monsters to protect an intangible belief.
Chill out and run through your Gaga playlist again – it’s all going to be okay. Not everyone is attacking Gaga if they don’t like her song. It’s not the critic’s fault that it was a basic first single.
Reminder, before I start getting attacked: I’m a Gaga fan. I loved “Burqa” when it leaked last week. I love her already-released albums. I just don’t like “Applause,” and that’s okay.
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