LAD Y GAGABy: Cody Ricks

GROWING UP

Born in Yonkers, New York Born in March 1986 Joined first band at age

nineteen Signed with first

producer, Def Jam Records, at a very young age

RISE TO FAME

Initially built a fan base with Lady Starlight

This lead to the signing with her second producer, Streamline Records

She began working with singer/songwriter Akon

Her work with Akon lead to the opportunity to write music for other artist

THE FAME

Gaga released her first album, The Fame, in 2008

Her top hit song at the time was Just Dance

Just Dance made the Billboard’s Hot 100 list

Subsequently, the album went viral and everybody knew of Lady Gaga

The Fame sold over 12 million copies

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Lady Gaga has been nominated for more than 6 Grammy awards

She has received criticism from conservative groups and popularity from liberal groups

The LGBT community looks to Gaga as a type of icon

BORN THIS WAY

Adopted as an anthem by the LGBT Community

Received record-breaking sales and stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 list longer than any other song

Sold more than one million copies in the first week

Led to the establishment of the Born This Way Foundation

Just Dance

Click here to watch the music video.

• First song to put Lady Gaga on the charts

• Written about her experiences touring gay clubs in the United Kingdom

• Written about tossing aside reservations

• Tries to support the idea we should live in the moment

Alejandro

Click here to watch the music video

• Released in Lady Gaga’s album, the Fame

• Created controversy with conservative groups, such as the Catholic Church

• Tells a story about a woman who falls in love with a gay man

• The music video signifies the Catholic Church’s oppression of the LGBT Community

Born This Way

Click here to watch the music video

• Sold over a million copies the first week of release

• Became the top song at the same time in over 25 countries

• The LGBT Community adopted the song as an anthem

• Empowered other minorities such as women and Latinos

• Led to the establishment of the Born This Way Foundation

WORKS CITED AceShowbiz. (n.d.). Lady GaGa Biography. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from Aceshowbiz.com: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/lady_gaga/biography.htmlBen-Yehuda, A. (2009, April 2). Lady GaGa Scores Hot 100 Milestone With 'Poker Face'. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from billboard.com: http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269058/lady-gaga-scores-hot-100-milestone-with-poker-faceBorn This Way Foundation. (n.d.). Our Mission. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from http://bornthiswayfoundation.org/pages/our-mission/Bradbury, G. (n.d.). Lady Gaga. (IMDB, Producer) Retrieved February 22, 2014, from imdb.com: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3078932/bioAlejandro [Motion Picture].Gaga, L. (Composer). (2011). Born This Way. [L. Gaga, Performer] On Born This Way. Los Angeles, CA, US: F. G. RedOne.Gaga, L. (Composer). (2008). Just Dance. [L. Gaga, Performer] On The Fame. Los Angeles, CA, US: RedOne.Hall, D. (2010, April 12). "Just Dance" and "Telephone" as Two Sides of the Same Coin. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from gagajournal.com: http://gagajournal.blogspot.com/2010/04/just-dance-and-telephone-as-two-sides.htmlPeople Magazine. (n.d.). Lady Gaga. (J. Wang, Ed.) Retrieved February 22, 2014, from People.com: http://www.people.com/people/lady_gaga/biography/Semigran, A. (2011, April 27). 'Glee' Covers 'Born This Way': The Story Behind The Song. Retrieved February 22, 2014, from mtv.com: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662734/glee-lady-gaga-born-this-way.jhtmlThe VigilantCitizen. (2010, June 13). Retrieved February 22, 2014, from thevigilantcitizen.com: http://vigilantcitizen.com/musicbusiness/the-occult-interpretation-of-lady-gagas-alejandro/