Who he is to judge her? Oh, just one of the greatest songwriters ever. Someone who writes music that is as beautiful as demanding, music that is original and sensitive, music that is authentic and comes from his heart and soul. Music that is timeless art. He has written a classical opera and is commisioned to write a second one. He has put Shakespeare sonnets to music for theatre. Songs from his sixth album have been interpreted by opera singers recently. He is someone who has not sold out.

I appreciate honesty. Of anyone's opinions about music, I'll take his.

Lady Gaga has potential. Her first offerings gained a lot of followers and buzz. But, Rufus is right to prod her. She has talent that she's not using. And on those who don't understand real recording artists and singer-songwriters, I feel sorry for you. The electronic dance music of today is infinitely forgettable. Rufus is a real musical talent, not just a performer, and he's a great performer.

I think you are right, Im not a Gaga fan, but I believe she's a very good singer. I dont like her songs, because they dont appeal to me. I think her best work is going to happen, when she stops caring about being number one. And Rufus was nothing but honest and respectful.

Rufus is spot on, as always. Lady Gaga is this decades Marilyn Manson, really. She's playing the run-of-the-mill dance pop that every other radio pop artist is making. She does her shock bit, doing her "sensational" costumes, making songs called Judas, and saying things like "Thank Lucifer". I don't know, I mean we've seen this all before. If someone has to try to shock you to get your attention, it's not interesting and certainly not what I'd consider artistic. It's just pulling a Tom Green.

I didn't like pop music before I knew Lady Gaga and I used to hate her until I watched her acoustic performances which I found very terrific. She is such a great pianist and she's never lip-synced (she would use a little bit playback for her dance music). I am her Little Monster and I kinda agree with Rufus about Lady Gaga being disingenuous on stage! I do sometimes not like certain things she does. Nobody's perfect, right? I love that MAD woman :) Don't hate me.

Good music isn't measured by record sales. He's being very reasonable and has a point. Lady Gaga can only get so crazy before people stop caring. She should make an album that isn't focused on dance music. It would be a shame to see her fade out now because she is such a great singer, piano player and performer.

I think Lady Gaga should write more slow songs which she's very good at. I find her song , Hair, has very strong messages which really relate to me. Both "Hair" and "Speechless" sound incredibly good when she sings it live or in acoustic version. Everyone has their own taste in music, so have I. All her songs nevertheless are very good to me no matter what genres they are. One more thing, I love her KINDNESS. I don't mind if you want to hate her or judge her. Xx

@buggiemara4902

10 ай бұрын

Wish granted. A Star is Born album was great.

I am a big Gaga fan and I think Rufus was honest and spoke the truth. No need to get defensive. He is focusing on the work, the songs, not really going after who she is. I think he's right. Nice interview.

He's a cool cat.

Rufus' voice Is Amazing! Great Singer and performer! Sweet Gorgeous person Rufus

Just pointing out what I hope is a typo and not a Freudian slip in the video description: "...how 'she' feels she is disingenuous..." ;)

I totally agree with Rufus on his view on lady gaga

You don't get that when you tell someone to "shut up" because you don't like their opinion that is basically the same as calling someone a freak for not being what you want them to be? No wonder you don't get the superficiality and nonsense that is Gaga's "message" and what Rufus is talking about in the above video.

I LOVE YOU RUFUS WAINWRIGHT!!! thank you for finally saying what everyone was thing about lady gaga.

I love Rufus. He is right about Arcade Fire they are amazing.

Rufus has every right to be proud of his music. Sorry for you that you don't get it. Not only most critics, but also fellow musicians and even people from classical music speak highly of his music.

He's right on the money IMO

Well, it's easy to think that, obviously, but it's actually not true. I'm not a Gaga fan. I am a HUGE Rufus fan and have been since his first album. But I've worked with Gaga and I've seen her create and believe me, there's nothing going on there that's not coming out of her head. So like it or hate it (I, personally have never been even slightly moved by it), it is 100% her, not a product of some sort of commercial entity. Although I did think it was before I saw it in person.

Gaga's work on Born This Way album is waaay better then her work on The Fame and The Fame Monster. I think that Rufus didn't give it right opportunity, he, like most of general public, took the superficial approach to it, becouse songs like The Edge of Glory, Marry The Night, Bloody Marry, Heavy Metal Lover and Born This Way are some of her best work yet.

Madonna was original..came up through the New York art scene..Mudd Club..etc...

I agree with Rufus. I would listen to Lady Gaga for dance music and a good time, not a moving piece of music with much of a message. I also think that while she is probably supportive of the gay community and her advocacy is good, that it's just another part of her "image", as if to say, "Look how weird I am, supporting these outcasts!"

He's pretty much on the ball with GaGa, she's such a fucking hypocrite! Rufus is so unique and talented, not that I'd want him to but he would so much more deserve the kind of recognition and fame that GooGoo has!

it's all about the music.

For anyone who says that a flop wouldn't sell a lot of (whey do we call them now, digital downloads? whatever...), there are far too many performers out there who are busy (gathering twitter followers to gain record deals) and because of social media, selling millions, who would make your ears bleed if you had to stand next to their auto-tuned performances on stage. Worse still? The Bieber performances that aren't autotuned. He can't carry a tune.

I get why you thought I meant that because I really wasn't clear. These comments seem to encourage disagreement even among those who agree sometimes ;) But yeah, I love David Bowie and he is the world's greatest marketer, so I guess we shouldn't hold that against her. Then again, I'm with Rufus..the songs just aren't there.

As a pop artist your "style" is important as your music, & for music, it's subjective people have their own taste in music

Lady Gaga takes risk and writes her own song also so its not absurd for her to have that much fans she's a hard working musician its not like she was a famous overnight, she had to work from bottom up as a teen & also living breathing music since she was at the age of 4.

I agree with everything you wrote except the "She's The Beatles". Believe me. I was around when the fab four came to the USA and NOBODY has ever created that much hysteria and hype before or since them. Lady Gaga is controversial and talented. But she will never top the Beatles. They are the only reason Rock N Roll survived. Without them there would be no Madonna's and Lady Gaga's today.

Rufus is a guy who I find fascinating in odd ways..I don't like his music but I like his interviews, yet as much as I like watching him interviews, a part of me, doesn't like the guy...he seems very arrogant..but what we assume/see is not necessarily what is... Kirk..Montreal, Canada

I've had this opinion for a while, I'm glad to see people sharing it.

yes we can have different opinions without fight :D I 'understand' what Wainwright tries to say, but I just disagree with him, that's all ;) for me, Gaga is the best, always be the best, I think she's genuine, really 'means it' when she says/acts something (sometimes, not through words but action, clothes, music) and she is the one who courageously stands up 'against' them (taboos of society, industry ) all.

BTW way to spread Gaga's supposed message "shut up" What's the matter? I am not "freak" enough to be allowed to "be who I want to be"?

its like when the cruiser car was released at a time when BMWs looked like Saturns and everything else. People responded to something different despite that there was just a Neon engine under the hood....quality does not matter when you are starving.

I don't mind GaGa at all. Judas in particular I think is a great pop song with a great chorus. However, she does 'borrow' sounds and images from other artists. Lol. x

i agree

that's great to know

Gian. Take accountability. Say you're sorry. Man up. Then rebuild. You are a talented man.

Case in point: Bjork. She hated being force-fed classical music and actively rebelled against it. Lady Gaga studied classical shapes, but that didn't make her music thrilling. I like a few of her songs, but they don't take me anywhere other than the gym or on a walk.

My mistake. I thought you were saying that she was the brainchild of someone else. I admit I did think that at first myself. I don't get what passes these days either, but I guess that means we're getting old. Either that, or we just have great taste. ;-)

He's far too generous if anything. As a pianist who plays with such finesse, it surprises me that he thinks Gaga is a great pianist. She hits those keys like a mediocre hack with so little grace, I can't believe any player intermediate or above could possibly rate her piano playing. I can see why the laymen would be in awe.

Absolutely -and I'm just expressing my opinion. And my opinion is that Lady Gaga and Madonna are more about branding than music. Lady Gaga has 50.259.525 likes on Facebook in this very minute. Thats absurd -in my opinion. Musicians like Rufus Wainwright has been living and breathing music since he was a kid and writes most of his songs himself -and he takes risks that doesn't necessarily makes him rich.

he doesnt really understand lady gagas message. its not that she believes everyone will be a massive superstar, she believes that one day everyone will be who they want to be and feel free to be who they want to be even if they are a huge freak that no one likes. just like how lady gaga became the popstar she always wanted to be, despite being a freak and being bullied etc.

But Lady Gaga doesn't even say that in her HBO show. :'))

original duo!

that doesnt even make sense.

I agree with Mr. Wainwright. I really don't understand the succes behind Lady Gaga -or Madonna for that matter. Its more about style than good music.

Its all about Pop art. She is the "IN" thing right now. Her and Adele. There is a lot of pressure on Gaga right now. If she doesn't outdo herself, her fan base will dry up as well.

Agree

You are right -I don't want to hear it because there is nothing there: no depth, no good melodies or lyrics. And yes I'm subjective.

First off, she was never a "huge freak nobody liked" . Second, her message is a gimmick and superficial nonsense. Only a shallow person "wants to be" an outfit/hairstyle. To me it seems like she is actually hiding who she really is. Her fans like to pretend because she was "bullied. I think because she wants to make loads of money and is ego challenged. I agree with Rufus that Madonna's message was way "stronger".

Ok. I hear you. I just don't get what passes for "music" in today's pop music world. (Call me curmudgeonly.) But, you know, i never said she wasn't the sole creator of her "product"

Interesting perspective. As a living breathing can't-do-anything-else-but-create-things artist I am automatically suspicious of anyone wants followers. Lady Gaga seems to be more of an entertainer than an "artist" - but let's not get pedantic. Also, I am knocking classical music off the pedestal right now. There is no great reason to hold it to some kind of perfect standard. There is a lot of innocuous wallpaper in that world. "Blah blah did classical so blah blah better blah."

She's pop culture in the flesh. She's show business. She’s Andy Warhol. She's Michael Jackson. She's The Beatles. She's performance art. She's music. She's the illusion of an artist. She's quite fasinating.

But, what does it really mean to sell out? I always find that term to be quite useless because, to be frank, it's always thrown at someone who's gained commercial success. So, if Lady Gaga were buried deep withing the trenches of obscuricty, would we even be having this discussion? Probably not. I don't know, I think people just don't get what she's about.

LOL Aggressive much? Perhaps you'll feel better when you stop feeling sorry for yourself? I guess you WERE in school with her then? I wasn't but her class mates were. And she wasn't bullied or much out of the ordinary according to them.And if you see images of her at 17 ( there's a video up somewhere) she looked very "normal" and she still sang and played without the gimmicks. And sounds very averagely talented.It's not that I don't think it wasn't wise of her to come up with the nonsense.

Born This Way isn't a flop, a flop would not sell 8million album in 5 months and 1 million within a debut week, go research the definition of flop and then use it in a correct manner.

Trying to promote himself by talking about and attempting to belittle the biggest and most iconic person in music. Some may not agree and may not be able to see but lady gaga is the most honest, genuine, and talented person in the music industry. This guy, I don't even know his name is just showing how small he is by trying to put her down. Shame

I don't know what she actually is about, but she is obviously not about music.

She doesn't like to flaunt her wealth so much like some celebs would do. She bought that sports car as a birthday gift for herself. Well, that woman is unpredictable and crazy hahahaha :).

Haters' gonna hate... this tool has a chance to promote his shit on live radio and the best way to do so is by bringing up other artist's names??! seriously?!

@francinegray9383

5 жыл бұрын

He was asked a question, and gave an answer. Yeah, he has the right to talk.

It is funny how a man who's career is all but over can make such statements about somebody who has sold more albums in one year than he sold in his lifetime. Get real Rufas.

honestly wtf? do you get some sort of joy out of insulting people over the internet? how low. and id love to see those videos.

First, mucic is not solely subjective. Second, I don't dislike (or rather disrespect) her because I don't like her terrible music. She's an artificial figure. She hides behind this stupid name, the crazy clothes and antics. She seems to believe that she has the right to speak for all LGBT people and make them look like freaks. Judging by a Guardian article from last year, Rufus is not the only one hurt by this.

Everything you said is subjective opinion. Who says its timeless art? More like pretentious snobbery.

I love Rufus, but Lady Gaga is fucking amazing and has written some songs that his can't even touch.

@dfrancer

8 жыл бұрын

You're serious, right? 😂😂😂😂

@fezmel

8 жыл бұрын

+Donnie Francis Bad Romance says hi.

@dfrancer

8 жыл бұрын

+fezmel Holy And I put that shit straight to voicemail.

@fezmel

8 жыл бұрын

+Donnie Francis You do that, sweetie! That won't change the fact that it's one of the best contemporary pop songs in the last few decades. 6-7 years later, and major music publications and sites are still writing about how great that song is.

@dfrancer

8 жыл бұрын

+fezmel Gaga is Elton's kids' godmother and even he calls Rufus the greatest songwriter on the planet.....I think he knows a thing or two about the craft.

poop.

This guy just works me the wrong way. I find him pretentious and boring. His music doesn't appeal to me at all.

Lady Gaga is a commercial product.

LOL. As if Rufus is in any place to say anything. When was his last hit? Oh yeah, never had one. I get commercial success isn't what it's about, but I do think Lady Gaga and her songs really resonate and inspire her fans. So he's in no place to really judge that.

I think Gagas whole pro-gay stance is a gimmick. Can't stand her...