Breaking Ground

So last night as I was getting ready to go to my friend's house for New Year's Eve, I decided to go on YouTube and find a playlist of the past decade's music. I found a user named stargirl4ep that had kindly composed a montage entitled "The Most Popular Songs of the 2000s" in 9 parts. Pretty good stuff; I had almost forgotten about the junior high days of "Milkshake" and "Hot in Herre." The playlist made me think of how we use music as a huge factor in defining our decades.

I'm here to talk about the end of the early 2000s and what's coming next. A Renaissance is definitely in the making. Prediction: Gaga/Lambert domination. Largest common denominators: background in theater (as clearly displayed in their performances), and daring to be different. I'm surprised they haven't tag-teamed on a song yet. If Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury and Madonna had a three-way, their love children would be Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert, hands down. David Bowie would be the godfather.

Adam Lambert: Is he the next Michael Jackson or Freddie Mercury (Queen)? Probably not, if anything he's Bowie. Regardless, he definitely is groundbreaking and making efforts to re-shape music and how we think as a society. The glam-rock, high belting notes aren't for everyone, but they really do send chills up and down the spine, and they're higher than anything I've heard in a long time.





We know the music is good, we know that's gonna go somewhere. What's more important about Lambert in terms of revolutionizing society is that he doesn't cater to public reaction. When approached about his sexuality, he stated that his orientation is not important; his music is what got him onto the global stage. Everyone made a huge deal about his 2009 AMA performance and its promiscuity. But Lambert relatiated and made an excellent point in stating that women get away with exploiting their bodies and making out with other women on stage, why should this be any different? Smart man. A little cocky, especially in his interviews, but nevertheless a smart man. What's really great about him is that he's got his feet planted in the 70s and 80s but his eyes looking towards the future. He's looking to add a new spin to music that has worked in the past.

Lady Gaga: Now she's a different animal. Is she the new Madonna? I don't listen to Madonna but I know how groundbreaking she was and is. Gaga tops it. She's definitely bigger than Lambert, but is trying to push alot of the same ideas both musically and politically. She is the only artist in history to have four number one singles off the debut album. The style of music really works, and the best part about her is that she sounds even better live than she does on her recordings. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of her belting voice on future albums; it's a really good tool that she has.





She's a package deal. Yeah, her costumes are scary as hell to some but they can be pretty snazzy. Not only is she a talented musician, performer and singer, but she also has a message that she is passionate about. Lady Gaga stresses that it is ok to be different and unique. She completely overrides social norms, but in a positive way. At the same time, she really is just like any other human with big dreams. Instead of conforming to the Hollywood public eye, as so many have done, she takes a bold step to re-define what is the norm and what is accepted in mainstream society. That is what is groundbreaking. The fact that she is Italian also gives her automatic bonus points.

Both Lambert and Gaga are doing what many celebrities fail to do and have a responsibility to do; redirect their own spotlights on issues or discrepancies in our society that they are passionate about. Their progressive voices (both musically and politically) help to shape Our Now.