If anyone were to ask me who I thought was the most prolific artist of the 2010s, it would without a doubt be Lady Gaga. From meat dresses to her iconic Super Bowl performance, she’s become one of the most talked about artists in recent history.
So when I heard she was rereleasing her second studio album ‘Born This Way’ for its 10th anniversary, I was very excited. Even more exciting, was the promise of a reimagined selection of songs performed by popular queer icons.
10 years on, the album is a celebration of pride, told through the lens of synth-pop/rock joy. Highlights include the anthemic title track, the German ‘schieße’ (translated: shit), the epic ‘Edge of Glory’ (which provided us with an equally epic finale lipsync on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11) and in my opinion, Gaga’s best ballad, ‘Yoü And I’.
My personal favourite always has been and always will be ‘Judas’ though. This song brings the album’s religious undertones to the forefront, all on top of a pounding bassline. The intelligent lyrics and cheeky Biblical allusions make for a powerful subversion of the story of Judas and what it means to be on the outside.
Themes of queerness, otherness and social commentary permeated the album when it first released in 2011. Needless to say, the commentary is still just as sharp and powerful today as it was ten years ago. In a world where people are feeling increasingly isolated from one-another, ‘Born This Way’ is a high-energy celebration of togetherness in the face of oppression.
As for the reimagined singles, Kylie Minogue’s rendition of ‘Marry the Night’ offers up a fun cover of the song, while Big Freedia’s ‘Judas’ provides a bold and booming version, perfect for play in the club. The covers don’t provide too much replay value though – neither hold a candle to the originals. Apart from a very fun time on first listen, I can’t see myself actively listening to these new versions, especially compared to the originals.
The exception to this is Ben Platt’s nuanced piano ballad version of “Yoü And I”. Sparking mental comparisons to the styles of legends Billie Joel and Elton John, Platt beautifully infuses his tenor voice and stunning vibrato with the tender lyrics. I would go so far as to say I prefer this cover to the original – a very high compliment, because I adore Gaga’s rock ballad.
Overall, the tenth anniversary version of ‘Born This Way,’ is definitely worth another listen, especially if you have a nostalgic attachment to the original. More than ever, its themes and commentary offset with the fun underscore make for a poignant conversation of what it means to be queer and to be seen.
The Dawson Journal 