FTR: I Still Like Lady Gaga A Lot

John Mason once said, “You were born an original, don’t die a copy.” So far in Lady Gaga’s career, she’s been nothing but an original.

From wearing raw meat dresses to award shows, or singing a song that implies she’s thinking of a woman while she’s having sex with a man – or so the rumors say about “Poker Face” – she continues to awe audiences with her originality.

However, it’s been lately that she’s been heavily compared to Britney Spears because of one reason being, they both released their latest singles – Britney with “Hold it Against Me” and Gaga with “Born This Way” within weeks of each other.

Both releases were hyped up in the media, especially via Twitter with #Bornthiswayfriday for the release of “Born This Way” and #FEMMEFATAL being the title of Britney’s soon to be released album, which also happened to be the longest running Trending Topic Twitter has ever seen in the United States alone.

But for some, it is hard to compare Britney and Gaga because of their differences. Britney’s been around for more than a decade so she’s said to have more credibility, more faithful fans, etc. But Gaga’s been called a pioneer because her uniqueness in music, lyrics and not to mention her fashion sense.

Although both ladies’ newest singles were released in the same month, they are not the ones that should be compared to each other right now.

It’s Lady Gaga and Madonna that should be compared.

Madonna has been around longer than Britney, longer than Gaga, and definitely longer than their diehard fans.

When Britney started, it was she who was compared to the Madge herself. It’s true, every generation has its Madonna, its Britney, whatever.

But as soon as “Born This Way” hit the airwaves, a couple things came to mind, but the most controversial issue that came up was it sound way too similar to Madonna’s “Express Yourself.”

“Born This Way” starts off like how most songs of Gaga tend to sound – upbeat, danceable and filled with synthesized beats. However, after a short monologue, the music warps into a poppy, techno sounding song that is similar to what one would hear from the late 80’s or early 90’s.

The first thing similar about this song to “Express Yourself” comes right away – both have a monologue that starts of the song; all Gaga is missing is a cow bell in the background.

But it’s the melodies that are way too similar.

The lyrics “Ooh there ain’t no other way, baby I was born this way, baby I was born this way,” the second “baby I was born this way” not only sounds similar to Madonna’s song, it’s practically note for note from “big strong hand to lift you to your higher ground.”

If that doesn’t do it for people, just speed up the beats per minute in “Express Yourself.” Though “Born This Way” is at 124 bpm, and “Express Yourself” is at 116 bpm, speed it up to match the tempos, and they’re practically the same song with different lyrics.

An artist can have a mentor and they can have someone they look up to, but they can only go so far as to imitate, someone they’re influenced by. Usher and Justin Timberlake have their influences from Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears have Madonna.

But it’s one thing to be inspired by someone, and another thing to copy.

Sorry Gaga, but if copying work that’s already been is what you do because you were born this way, it’s time to find another career – we don’t want you to die a copy.