VIDEO PREMIERE: LADY GAGA - MARRY THE NIGHT

Still from Marry the Night

Hmm. Reviews have been mixed for Lady Gaga's err... how do you say... self-indulgent new Video for Single, Marry the Night. Clocking-in at 13:51, the Short Film/Music Video  directed by Gaga herself, documents her loathe of Reality; her cure being Fashion and her Art as she reflects back on painful moment in her life. And she pulls out all the stops including pouring Cheerios allover herself. Some are saying that she is recalling the feeling of her Dreams fading away as she was dropped by her first Record Label (Island/Def Jam).

Finally after much rambling (i.e. "Mint will be very big in Fashion next Spring"), the Video takes flight at the 8:00 mark and we see her writhing about nude in a Bath Tub and also amidst some flames atop a Car, inter-spliced with some high-impact Dancing.

Watch the Video in full below:

LADY GAGA - YOÜ AND I VIDEO PREMIERE

Yoü and I Video Still

Despite it being yanked from YouTube/Vevo already, the new Lady Gaga Video for Yoü and I has leaked fully and Perez Hilton had his hands on it first. Gaga Tweeted earlier in three separate Tweets, "Fuck", "Thurs" and "Day" consecutively, originally planning to premiere the Video on Thursday.  By 3:00 PM EST, the Video resurfaced again on YouTube/Vevo.

Beautifully shot in Springfield, Nebraska, the Video sees her in a Mermaid outfit in a couple passionate moments, in Drag as her Alter-ego Jo Calderone, that Platinum wig she wore in her Vanity Fair shoot, lots of embracing and kissing and running around in greenery.  All strange, all good.

See it in full below:


(Photo/video credit: Universal Music)

LADY GAGA UNVEILS "YOÜ AND I" SINGLE COVERS - DRESSED IN DRAG

Gaga channels her inner Al Pacino and perhaps a bit of Bob Dylan in these just-Tweeted Cover Shots for new single You and I, stylized as Yoü and I.  Gaga first unveiled her Drag King persona Jo Calderone last August, but goes all the way with it here for the Single to be released to Radio on August 23, 2011.  Clocking in at a self-indulgent 5:07, the Mutt Lange-produced track likely will be shortened for a Radio Edit.

Inspired by Nebraska-born Author/Rocker Boyfriend Lüc Carl, the Video for the Track was filmed in Nebraska also. Gaga will be premiering the Video on her 1,000th Tweet.  She currently sits at 992 Tweets.  Carl better appreciate all this effort!

(Photo credit: Universal Music)

LADY GAGA ON "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE" | PERFORMS "YOU AND I"

Lady Gaga in Jimmy Kimmel Live

After having toured the world of late in support of Born this Way, Christina Aguilera Donatella Versace Lady Gaga visited Jimmy Kimmel Live last night and flat-out told him, “I actually don’t even like you.”. Jokingly, I think? Gaga made that remark after Kimmel (jokingly) asked her, “What if one of your Children grew up not to be Gay, would you love that Child?” to which she replied abruptly, “No.” with a deadpan face: one-part irritated/one-part kidding.

Gaga also confirmed that the fourth single off of Born this Way will be Mutt Lange-produced You and I, performing that Track along with Edge of Glory to ecstatic reaction.

Check out Gaga’s performance of You and I below:

LADY GAGA GREETS FANS IN JAPAN

Lady Gaga in Chiba - June 2011

Following her Toronto visit for the MuchMusic Video Awards last week, Lady Gaga caused a stir out in Tokyo in her visit to performing at MTV Video Music Aid Japan (held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba), lending her support to ongoing Disaster Relief. Despite rocking a variety of green Wigs during her Toronto stay which she wore upon arrival in Japan, she opted for a much shorter Blonde Do with trimmed bangs for her performance. She also painted on a pair of Anime-like eyes on her eyelids, giving the illusion that her eyes were open while they were actually shut.

Our Friends in Japan spotted her out in the artsy Rappongi district where she was coached by a Translator on how to tell Fans she loved them in Japanese and it would appear she’s finally mastered the term “Aishiteru”. Gaga appeared really to have been enjoyed her Shabu Shabu Meal (thinly sliced Beef cooked in a broth) that she is said to have returned again to the Restaurant later in the week before leaving, for a second helping.

Between greeting hoards of Fans, Rehearsals and a Press Conferences for MTV, Gaga also managed to slip-in some time for some affordably-priced Sushi and of course Shopping in the fashionable Shibuya district. She even visited a Pet Store near her Hotel to pass some time.

LADY GAGA NABS TWO WINS AT MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

Lady Gaga in Toronto for MuchMusic Video Awards

Despite it being Father's Day and also having received the unfortunate news of her Friend Clarence Clemons' passing last night, Lady Gaga demonstrated her consummate professionalism, soldiering through two Rehearsals today for the MuchMusic Video Awards, after skipping last evening's Run-through.

Gaga dazzled not only in one, but a total two Performances this evening both opening and closing the Awards.  She kicked-off the evening with a Medley of The Edge of Glory (ft. Clemons) and Government Hooker, appearing in a leather-studded Bodysuit and a Turquoise Bob Wig, performing from a maze of Ladders.  Watch it here. 

She closed-out the Festivities by returning to the Stage in a Cocoon for Born this Way. Donning a long turquoise Wig and high-shouldered feathery Get-up seen prior on her The Monster Ball Tour, later removed to reveal a yellow Leopard-print Blazer.  Gaga wound-up smearing blood upon herself, including her Wig by the end of it all.  Watch it here.

LADY GAGA REHEARSES FOR 2011 MUCHMUSIC VIDEO AWARDS

Lady Gaga preps 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards Performance

Lady Gaga, often nicknamed Lately Gaga for her lack of punctuality, ran a couple hours behind schedule today for her MuchMusic Video Awards Soundcheck.  In her Rehearsal, she gave Onlookers at Queen x John St. a street a taste of what's to come for her big performance on Sunday night.

Elaborating on her obsession with the concept of Birth, Gaga emerged from a Cocoon for her Medley of Born this Way/Edge of Glory with her Band and team of Dancers with the assistance of Toronto-based Choreographer Laurieann Gibson.   Unfortunately, it was learned later in the day that her Good Friend and Edge of Glory Saxophonist Clarence Clemons had passed away due to complications from a Stroke.  Although a second Rehearsal had been slated, an Insider confirmed to me that only the Dancers and her Band would be attending.  Thankfully, it does not appear at this time that World's hottest Pop Star will be canceling her MuchMusic Video Awards Performance though.

Gaga spent a bit of time greeting Fans at her Hotel earlier in the day and at MuchMusic, taking Photos with some lucky Fans and signing Autographs.  Unfortunately for a record tenth time, I just missed-out yet again. Literally, I was inches away from her. Congratulations to those Fans who did get their moment!

See a Clip of Gaga greeting Fans below:

VIDEO PREMIERE: LADY GAGA - EDGE OF GLORY

Still from Edge of Glory

Premiering at an inopportune time, the Video for Lady Gaga's latest Single Edge of Glory debuted earlier tonight on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance?  As we learned earlier this week, Saxophonist Clarence Clemons featured on the Track, had only recently suffered a Stroke with Gaga having her little Monsters send out well wishes to him via a collaborative Video.

This early-'80s inspired Video sees Gaga climbing ladders and walking the smoky Streets of New York City all alone - simplistic and drawing focus only to her and her Choreography.  No Dancers, Special Effects, CGI or outrageous Costume Changes.  Just Gaga.

Although some will find it underwhelming, I think this Video was necessary, one for budgeting constraints seeing the lackluster performance of prior Single Judas and its mega-spectacle of a Video.  In fact, credited as Director solely are the Haus of Gaga - the People whom she trusts most. Secondly, Gaga has been under scrutiny for using Gimmicks to draw attention to herself and here she delivers a Product free of that.  I love it!  And I love that we see Clemons doing what he loves most, reminding us of his greatness despite the hardships he is facing right now.

I'll admit I was expecting Mermaid Costumes, Underwater Sequences and all that.  But this will more than suffice.

Watch the Video in full below:

LADY GAGA TO DEBUT AT NUMBER ONE

Lady Gaga

Congratulations, Gaga!  In what is the biggest sales week for since 2005, Lady Gaga's Born This Way tallies in at 1.1 million Albums sold according to Nielsen Soundscan.  Although early figures predicted that she'd push between the 500 to 700k mark, clearly Mother Monster has exceeded all expectations.  Needless to say she is expected to debut at the top of this week's Billboard Hot 200 Album Chart. 

We're all so proud of you, Gaga.  Revolutionizing the Music Business Model, one Monster at a time.

In case you haven't read my Review of Born This Way, click here to read more.


(Photo credit: Universal Music)

LADY GAGA ZIP-LINES HER WAY TO "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" CONCERT

Lady Gaga zip-lines her way to Good Morning America Concert

What an entrance! Lady Gaga kicked off ABC's Good Morning America Summer Concert Series earlier today at Central Park in New York City, performing a selection of hits for the Crowd which included some Fans who lined-up two days in advance to see her.  Gaga zip-lined her way to the stage from a cage, before breaking into a performance of Bad Romance, later telling Hosts Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos that performing on Good Morning America is a "dream come true" for her.  

She revealed  being a true New Yorker, that she only grew-up five blocks from the site of the Concert, playing in the Fields of the Park much as a Child.  Commenting on her dramatic entrance, Gaga professed "I live half-way between Reality and Theatre at all times," before adding in her tagline "And I was Born this Way!".

Watch this ABC News Clip below recapping the appearance:

"BORN THIS WAY" EXPECTED TO SELL BETWEEN 500-700K COPIES IN DEBUT

Lady Gaga

Many of us are wondering how exactly it is that Lady Gaga can get away with charging $0.99 for her new Disc Born this Way digitally on Amazon.com - a move which caused disruptions to the online retailer's servers on release day, Monday.

Gaga's Manager Troy Carter tells the Associated Press, "I am more concerned about Piracy and people stealing the music. If you can get somebody to experience the music at that sort of price for one day only, I think it gets a lot of attention for the album".  Despite sounding somewhat defeatist, this is a realistic picture of what Music Buyers are thinking these days and if you can't change how they think, why not adapt?  Gaga's Team has adapted and are being rewarded for their responsiveness.

Gaga is a prime example of how an Artist can thrive in this Digital Age of Music through more than just about selling albums - we have to look at Artists overall and the various channels they can exchange their influence for monetary gain.  This can mean Fan Merchandise, Concert Ticket Sales and Business Deals with Companies, which help draw attention to the fact that the Artist has a new Album out.

Carter predicts that Born this Way will sell between 500-700k copies by the end of the sales week, which seems somewhat deflated compared to a decade ago when artists like N Sync could push 2.4 million copies of their CD in its first week of release. 

LADY GAGA AT BEST BUY UNION SQUARE SIGNING

Best Buy Union Square

Lady Gaga's New York City Monsters were treated to Quality Time with their Mother Monster yesterday as she stayed a full five-plus hours to meet and greet Fans at the Best Buy Union Square Store. Celebrating the release of her new Disc Born this Way, some waited at least 30 hours for her and it paid-off as they not only got their CDs signed by her, but they also got to take Photos with her with as an in-house Photographer was readily snapping away. I am so envious of you, New York!

On behalf of Gaga's Toronto Fans, I took to Twitter, questioning Universal Music Canada on whether or not Toronto Fans can expect the same type of treatment when Gaga arrives in town for the MuchMusic Video Awards on June 19, 2011. A Label Representative tells me: "We'll see about arranging one (a Meet & Greet) in Canada in the future!". This could be wonderful, Monsters!

In the meantime, watch this Clip of Gaga and her New York City Monsters yesterday below:

LADY GAGA ON JUNE 2011 ISSUE OF "ROLLING STONE"

Lady Gaga on June 2011 issue of Rolling Stone

After giving Born this Way a stellar four-star review, Rolling Stone Magazine features Lady Gaga on the Cover of their June issue. The Interview has yet to surface but in the meantime, what do you think of this return of her Hair Bow sorta?  This actually is a bit more subdued than some of her crazier recent looks.  Gone are the Facial Horns and Facial Illustrations.

Read Robert Sheffield's review of Born this Way here.

(Photo credit: Rolling Stone)

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & LADY GAGA ON "SNL" | "IT'S NOT GAY WHEN IT'S IN A THREE-WAY"

Justin Timberlake hosts Saturday Night Live

Although it's sad to see another season of Saturday Night Live end, at least last night's Finale was a memorable one.  Host Justin Timberlake was joined not only by Lady Gaga as a Musical Guest, but also appeared alongside her on three Sketches.  And how about that Cameo from our favourite Sex Symbol Bradley Cooper, who I interviewed last week here.

Timberlake fully combined his talents to bring out the laughs whether it be dancing in a Beer costume in  a Drink-off against Kristen Wiig in a Tea Bag get-up, or singing with Andy Samberg in a continuation of their Mother Lover Digital Short series.  In the latter Musical Clip, both Timberlake and Samberg together with Gaga, sang about the sexy joys of a Threesome.  "It's not Gay when it's in a three-way", they proclaim - at one point parodying two Jacks and one Chrissy in an homage to Three's Company!

And despite promising not to sing, so to let Gaga have her moment, he still went into song and dance during his introduction, at one point serenading a lucky Woman in the audience on bended knee.

You absolutely must watch Gaga, Samberg and Timberlake's Digital Short below.  So hot!

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR "BORN THIS WAY" REVEALED

Lady Gaga by Nick Knight

Genius! The Album Art for Lady Gaga's Born this Way album have just been revealed and you need to check out some of the gorgeous work by Nick Knight in the Booklet. Absolutely stunning.  Of course, mad acclaim to Nicola Formichetti and the Haus of Gaga for their  incomparable styling also.

You have one last chance to enter this Contest to win a copy of Gaga's Born this Way, in stores on Monday, May 23, 2011.  Get it!

Read my glowing Review of it here.

See more Photos below:

ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF LADY GAGA'S "BORN THIS WAY" - LAST CHANCE!

Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven is thrilled to be partnering with Universal Music Canada in offering two lucky Readers a copy of the eagerly-awaited second full-length Album from Lady Gaga, Born this Way!

Available in Standard and Deluxe Editions, the Album features the U.S. and Canada Billboard Hot 100 Chart-topping Born this Way and upcoming second Single Judas.  And how can we forget the one Track inspired by her late Grandfather, Edge of Glory, featuring a rare appearance from E Street Band's Clarence Clemons?  Gaga promises "Avant-Garde Techno-Rock" on this exciting new Collection of 14 new Songs.

In addition to having a hand in writing each Track on the Disc, Gaga teams with Producers RedOne (Bad Romance, Just Dance) and Fernando Garibay (Born this Way).  Together they will be defining the Sound of 2011.

So tell me, who wants to witness Mother Monster birth a new Race? If so, leave a Comment before May  25, 2011 with the name of the one Track you look forward to hearing most on Born this Way. Contest is open to Canadian Readers only. Good luck, Mavenati/Monsters!

Read my Review of Born this Way here.

LADY GAGA - BORN THIS WAY REVIEW

At long last we are gifted with the eagerly-awaited return from The Mother of Pop herself, Lady Gaga - not that she ever really was away.  Born this Way is a 14-track Opus, equally Runway-inspired as it is made for the Dance Floor.  And over the course of the past three years those of us who were early supporters of hers have been rewarded handsomely by our investment of faith, seeing no other star shine as brightly as hers.  Make no mistake about it, Lady Gaga is a Phenomenon and an Icon in all senses of the word.

Born This Way shows an astonishing amount of growth from Gaga's 2008 debut The Fame.  Gone are the days of singing about "riding on Disco Sticks" and "doin' it for the Fame". By golly, she's famous.  She's really famous.  Musically, vocally and lyrically, Gaga has progressed as an Artist, striking that fine balance between Pop Art and a level of accessibility which even your ten-year old Niece gets.  A now-Gaga is '90s-obsessed and fixated on Biblical metaphors, in addition to the concepts of Social Justice and Self Acceptance.

This hour-long Set starts off on a brilliant note - a first Techno-Rock contribution from Fernando Garibay complete with Bongos and Organs.  Marry the Night takes you to the Chapel in high gear before fully taking flight late with a Pat Benatar-like Breakdown and Vamp which elevates the listener into a higher state of consciousness  - the Album's Title Track, yet another Garibay production.    

Government Hooker is a dark, edgy romp which sounds like something played over a Video Montage  between costume changes on her The Monster Ball Tour.  Industrial, New Wave and with a Hook which melodically takes a cue from Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love, this number definitely is among the Cream of the Crop on the Disc.  Myself not having gone "gaga" (yes her name can be used as a verb also) over RedOne production Judas, its context is understood better after hearing the Album fully.  It serves as a part of a recurring motif - dark, bitter Verses set against the sweet fluffiness of fun Choruses.

Americano with its Flamenco flare delivers more of that passione we heard on prior Single Alejandro, although much more festive and in the spirit of Boney M. and Santa Esmerelda. An ode to Gay Rights, musically it seems out-of-context from the rest of Born this Way, although we will need to see this Garibay production set to stage in all its visual glory to see where Gaga is going with this. 

LADY GAGA VISITS "METRO" AS GUEST EDITOR

Lady Gaga at Metro's London Office

Lady Gaga gets philosophical on today's issue of Metro, visiting their London offices to serve as Guest Editor for a day. Gaga speaks to Anti-Bullying and Equality, telling readers "So, if we were to analyze this basic formula, we could quite simply say we were born not only from each other, but we were additionally made of each other, and designed to grow together. Love is the magic ingredient, of course, to the giant petri dish of life.".

Click here to read Gaga's letter to Metro readers and also an interview with the Publication here.

(Photo credit: Metro)

NEW MUSIC: LADY GAGA - HAIR

Lady Gaga has unleashed yet another bit of Gem with her just-released Hair, released at 4:00 PM EST today. The RedOne track is made in the same vein as Judas – edgier, dark Verses, but sugar-sweet Choruses.

Clarence Clemons surfaces again on the Saxophone here providing aural pleasure to her Kingdom of Monsters as did does on the outstanding The Edge of Glory.  Like that Track, Hair clocks in at over five minutes also.

“I'm as free as my hair...I am my hair”, exclaims Gaga, a Mistress of Self-Expression.  

Hair is now available on iTunes.  Just one more week til Born this Way hits stores!  Have you entered to win your copy yet?  Click here to do so!

Preview Hair in full below:

LADY GAGA POSTS FAN VIDEO | PERFORMS ON "THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW"

Lady Gaga on The Graham Norton Show

Even when I was a kid, I wasn't this obsessed with Madonna and believe me, I was obsessed with Madonna!

Lady Gaga has outdone herself yet again! After finishing a successful Promotional Tour in the UK, which included spot-on performances on BBC's The Graham Norton Show, she made this Video for her Monsters.  Speaking to Fans from her Laptop on the bed in her Hotel Suite after a tiring day, she tells us how much she appreciates them  "waiting outside her Hotel and all the lovely notes she receives". So sweet!  She goes on to say how pleased she is with her performances of Judas and Born this Way and really, they were just perfect!

Watch the Video below: