Despite 15 years having passed since her release, her songs are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. The emerging editing style known as Slowed and Reverb is revitalizing her music, propelling her songs to even greater popularity. What was once good has now become even better. In my previous post, I attempted to shed new light on Lady Gaga’s music through a Bloody Mary version.
Before 2009, Eminem and Michael Jackson were more famous than any other artists. It wasn’t until 2009, with the emergence of Lady Gaga, that a female artist achieved significant prominence. Although there were other female artists, Lady Gaga reached new heights of fame.
Let’s take a moment to delve into history. Before 2009, Rap and Hip-hop had already established a formidable presence. The span from 2000 to 2009 could be aptly described as an era defined by artists such as Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, and numerous others who enjoyed widespread international success. Alongside them, rock and heavy metal catered to their own dedicated audience. Then entered Lady Gaga, an individual who would remarkably reshape it all.
The music industry underwent a shift after the passing of Michael Jackson. I was in university at the time, working on completing my Bachelor’s degree. It was during this period that Lady Gaga began appearing on all the music channels, which held a substantial viewership. Additionally, YouTube was emerging as a platform, and I distinctly remember watching the music video for ‘Bad Romance’.
Lady Gaga emerged as an artist with unprecedented success that took everyone by surprise. What set her apart was not only her unique singing style but also the freshness of her songs. Each track carried an irresistibly catchy quality that resonated on a different level. It was reminiscent of that initial encounter with Eminem’s “Stan” or the very first time you heard the solo in “Fade to Black.” Lady Gaga had the incredible ability to ignite a special excitement within the listener. And let’s not forget, her dance moves in the music videos became etched in memory, creating moments that would never fade away.
Then she released the music video for her song “Poker Face.” Her music was so modern that people didn’t fully grasp it then. I still vividly remember that her music video for “Poker Face” came out after “Bad Romance.” The way she dressed in her songs showcased a completely new and unconventional style that defied public opinion. I would describe her outfit choices as embodying an Avant Garde fashion sensibility.
While artists like Pink Floyd were exclusively dedicated to progressive rock and psychedelic rock, Lady Gaga revitalized the pop music scene. Without Lady Gaga’s emergence in 2009, people might still predominantly be tuned into Eminem, Metallica, and similar artists. Prior to Lady Gaga’s impact, the music audience was divided into distinct factions. One group leaned heavily into rap and hip-hop, while another group was deeply entrenched in rock and metal. Meanwhile, others found their musical inclinations in country and jazz genres.
Lady Gaga’s top songs include Bad Romance, Poker Face, Paparazzi, The Edge of Glory, Born This Way, Just Dance, Telephone, Alejandro, Bloody Mary, and many more.
On March 16, 2010, Lady Gaga unveiled the music video for her song “Telephone,” featuring the collaboration of Beyoncé. The song’s distinctiveness shone through, and following the successes of her previous tracks such as “Bad Romance” and “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga embarked on a streak of creating one hit after another. Her fame soared, riding an unbreakable wave of momentum, with each subsequent release showcasing a refreshing uniqueness.
This moment marked the dawn of a new pop era, characterized by Lady Gaga’s alluring dance performances and unrestrained creativity. Her music possessed an enthralling quality, and the visual representation accompanying each song was a canvas filled with Avant-garde imagery. In hindsight, Lady Gaga stood as the embodiment of modernism, a trailblazer who, in my conviction, ignited the spark that would inspire art in the years to come.
In subsequent years, numerous artists found inspiration in both her music and fashion sense. In 2014, artist Viktoria Modesta unveiled a song titled “Prototype,” bearing a distinct resemblance to Lady Gaga’s signature style. Ellie Goulding, Sia, Selena Gomez, Nicki Minaj, and Lana Del Rey similarly began incorporating elements of Lady Gaga’s influence into their music, drawing from her as a source of inspiration. In today’s music scene, contemporary artists like Doja Cat and Dua Lipa carry forward the essence of Lady Gaga in their musical endeavors.
A decade has passed, and in the ever-evolving landscape of music production, a new trend has hit the market: the Slowed and Reverb edit of the song. This trend involves taking popular tracks and applying deliberate slowing and reverb effects, which have found a unique resonance within Lady Gaga’s discography. Known for her daring and innovative approach to music, Lady Gaga’s artistry has been an ideal canvas for experimenting with this trend. One of her best Slowed and Reverb songs is ‘Bloody Mary’.
Today, many users are adding slowed and reverb edits to her songs, and of course, her songs sound more beautiful and unique with this effect. Listening to Lady Gaga’s edited songs feels like a dreamier experience with her otherworldly vocals. While the Slowed and Reverb trend applies to a wide range of contemporary artists, Lady Gaga’s rendition distinguishes itself through its exceptional quality. It’s no surprise that when art is of such high caliber, it garners acclaim across all forms.
Lady Gaga’s songs ignite the imagination of both long-standing fans and newcomers alike. As we delve deeper into the world of Slowed and Reverb within Lady Gaga’s body of work, we uncover a captivating blend of creativity that encourages us to explore her music from an entirely fresh perspective.