GaGa Gets Too Literal with "Born This Way" Video

Lady GaGa was “born this way,” as she so graphically demonstrated in her newest video for the first single off her “Born This Way” album, scheduled to release in May.

As a self-proclaimed “little monster,” I usually love everything “mamma monster” does because she always seems to have a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. While the world saw the “Telephone” music video as an overload of product placements and an array of unrelated visuals, Lady GaGa was making a statement about America’s obsession with consumerism and technology. 

Screenshot from Lady GaGa's "Telephone" music video

Photo: giantbomb.com

During an interview with E! News, Lady GaGa explained her hidden symbolisms. 

“There’s certainly always a hidden message in my music videos. But I would say most predominately, I’m always trying to convolute everyone’s idea of what a pop music video should be.”

While everyone thought Lady GaGa was insane for wearing a dress made of raw meat to the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, she was making a statement about standing up for our beliefs and fighting for what’s right.

So while her work and outlandish antics have not been obviously meaningful or conventional in any way, I never questioned her methods…until now. 

I’m not sure if discomfort was the reaction she was aiming for, but I was definitely feeling uncomfortable watching the “Born This Way” music video. 

Lady GaGa's "Born This Way" music video

Credit: YouTube.com

The video begins with visuals of extraterrestrial-like beings, mystical creatures (including a sparkling unicorn) and figures that made me raise an eyebrow or two. Then, Lady GaGa’s legs appear spread eagle in stirrups with a woman reaching into her womb (thankfully, the images are split in half and mirrored so at least a little bit is left to the imagination) to pull  out a ball of some slimy substance that eventually turns into Lady GaGa herself.

According to Gossip Center, Lady GaGa’s inspiration behind the concept was “the birth of a new race within the race of humanity” that “doesn’t bear any prejudices.” 

All I ask is, why does she have to choose “Born This Way” as the only song she doesn’t represent in some vague and ambiguous way?

Although the scenes were shot in a kaleidoscope-esque way to perhaps mitigate the graphic representation of birth giving, the images are still disturbing beyond belief.

The video continues with her signature dance-in-undergarments, which was probably the only scene that I could watch without cringing. It ends with an extremely random scene of Lady GaGa walking down a dark alley in white gloves, reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” music video. In the end, the video left me confused and disturbed as ever.


However disturbing the video may be, the song itself is accruing instant success as Little Monsters around the world finally get a taste from her much anticipated album.


Popeater.com reports that three days after the song's debut on February 11, it reached all kinds of iTunes sales records and "became the 1,000th song to top the Billboard singles chart. At radio, 'Born This Way' was picked up more than any debuting title in the chart's 18-year history, according to Nielsen BDS, and has gone on to sell over a million digital downloads."

We love you and congratulate you on your success GaGa, but next time, let’s keep the birthing scenes in the delivery room and out of the music industry.