Lady Gaga's success as a pop music artist is not only audio; it's visual as well. Top directors working in the art form created the often powerful clips. Many of the images are unforgettable, and they help define Lady Gaga as an artist. These are the 10 most memorable Lady Gaga music videos.
"Just Dance" (2008)
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Directed by Melina Matsoukas
Lady Gagaand her dancers arrive at a party that seems to have ended and kick things back into high gear in the music video for her first #1 pop hit single "Just Dance." There are cameo appearances here by Colby O'Donis,Akon, and her DJ Space Cowboy. That blue lightning bolt beneath Lady Gaga's right eye is a tribute to her idolDavid Bowie.
The success of the music video helped kick the career of director Melina Matsoukas into high gear. She later encountered controversy directing clips for hits by Rihanna. Matsoukas has won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video twice, and in 2016 she began directing episodes of TV shows.
"Poker Face" (2008)
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Directed by Ray Kay
Lady Gaga'semergence from a swimming pool wearing a silver metallic harlequin mask at the opening of this video is iconic. The music video received four MTV Video Awards nominations and won Best New Artist. Norwegian director Ray Kay received assistance from Anthony Mandler in the creation of the clip. The dramatic imagery helped "Poker Face" become Lady Gaga's second #1 pop hit single.
The music video for "Poker Face" includes multiple striking images and set the bar for Lady Gaga's future music videos. Among the memorable sights are the pair of harlequin GreatDanes, Lady Gaga's white mannequin "servants," and her pop culture sunglasses. For some TV cuts of the video, the words "muffin," "Russian roulette," and "gun" are censored.
"Paparazzi" (2009)
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Directed by Jonas Akerlund
Lady Gaga connected with celebrated Swedish music video director Jonas Akerlund for "Paparazzi." He is known for his work on such landmark clips as Madonna's "Music," Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," and Maroon 5's "Wake Up Call." For "Paparazzi," he put together a music video that comments on the damage that celebrity does to a person's very existence. The music video received five MTV Video Music Award nominations. It won Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects.
The story contained within the "Paparazzi" music video unfolds like a mini-movie. It is eight minutes in length and shows a rising star nearly killed by her boyfriend and ultimately seeking revenge after she survives the attack. Actor Alexander Skarsgard, known for his roles in the acclaimed TV series "True Blood" and "Big Little Lies," appears as Lady Gaga's boyfriend.
"Bad Romance" (2009)
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Directed by Francis Lawrence
Lady Gaga'smusic video for "Bad Romance" is one of the most acclaimed of all time. It received 10 MTV Video Music Awards nominations and won seven of those. Also, it received the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Video. The basic story in the clip is that Lady Gaga endures kidnapping by a group ofsupermodels, drugging, and being sold to the Russian mafia. The initial shooting plan for "Bad Romance" included multiple sets as well as outdoor scenes in New York City. However, those ideas evaporated due to budget concerns. Ultimately, the music video was shot over two days on a single set in Los Angeles.
Director Francis Lawrence was a 15-year veteran in the creation of music videos. Among his previous efforts were Aerosmith's "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing," the Black Eyed Peas' "Pump It," and Britney Spears' "Circus." His work on "Bad Romance" drew comparisons to Michael Jackson's classic "Thriller" music video. He went on to gain even greater acclaim as the director of "The Hunger Games" trilogy of films.
"Telephone" with Beyonce (2010)
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Directed by Jonas Akerlund
The music video for "Telephone" continues the story begun in "Paparazzi," but everything is bigger and grander. Homages toQuentin TarantinoandMadonnaappear. The basic plotline followsBeyoncebreaking Lady Gaga out of prison and engaging in a two-woman crime spree. The video earned nominations for three MTV Video Music Awards. It won Best Collaboration but lost Video of the Year to "Bad Romance."
The "Telephone" music video is over nine minutes long exceeding the length of its "Paparazzi" predecessor. Unusual items abound. Among them are sunglasses made out of half-smoked cigarettes, an outfit made out of yellow caution tape, and a hat made out of a telephone folded into an origami project. Guest stars appear throughout the video. They include Lady Gaga's sister Natali, singerTyrese Gibson as Beyonce's boyfriend, and members of the band Semi Precious Weapons.
"Alejandro" (2010)
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Directed by Steven Klein
Famed fashion photographer Steven Klein directedLady Gaga'smusic video for "Alejandro." She saw the clip as a "celebration and admiration of gay love." Much of the dancing shows the influence of the musical "Cabaret" and choreographer Bob Fosse. The music video generated some controversy due to its use of religious imagery particularly a segment of Lady Gaga ingesting rosary beads. Observers saw echoes of the landmark music videos for Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" in "Alejandro."
The full video for "Alejandro" exceeds eight minutes. It received criticism for hewing too close to Madonna's past work. Some explained that might be because Steven Klein often worked closely with Madonna. Also, many saw the use of religious imagery as a deliberate attempt to court controversy. Katy Perry said on Twitter, "Using blasphemy as entertainment is as cheap as a comedian telling fart jokes."
"Born This Way" (2011)
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Directed by Nick Knight
The music video forLady Gaga's#1 smash hit "Born This Way" is a conceptual piece about the birth of good and evil and their eternal battle. Beyond the concept, however, it is centered on dancing. Key inspirations for the music video are the surrealistic work of painters Salvador Dali and Francis Bacon. Full-body tattoo model Rick Genest, aka "Zombie Boy," appears in the clip. The music video closes with a visual tribute to Michael Jackson and "The Way You Make Me Feel." Acclaimed British fashion photographer Nick Knight directedthe music video.
Critics saw the "Born This Way" video as one of the most expansive and unique visions yet created by the artist. It didn't all make sense, but that didn't matter. Lady Gaga worked with her choreographer Laurieann Gibson to improve her dancing for the clip. The avant-garde modern dance routine was her most difficult so far in a music video. A shower of high fashion clothes and jewelry included pieces by Thierry Mugler, Alexis Bittar, and Petra Storrs among others.
"You and I" (2011)
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Directed by Laurieann Gibson
Filmed in Springfield, Nebraska, the music video for"You and I"is one ofLady Gaga'smost complex. She said, "The video is quite complex in the way that the story unfolds, and it's meant to be slightly linear and slightly twisted and confusing, which is the way that love is." It was celebrated as a return to form in the visual feast for the eyes and the use of sometimes bizarre but ultimately fascinating elements. Lady Gaga appears as two alter egos. One is the male Jo Calderone, and the other is the mermaid Yuyi. Actor and model Taylor Kinney portrays Lady Gaga's love interest in the music video.
Among the unique items that show up in the "You andI" music video are Lady Gaga's mother's wedding dress, glasses decorated with hairpins, and an ice cream truck. It is loaded with cutting-edge fashion, too including pieces by Hussein Chalayan, Norma Kamali, Jan Taminiau, and many more.
"Til It Happens to You" (2015)
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Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Lady Gaga co-wrote the song "Til It Happens to You" with Diane Warren for the 2015 documentary film "The Hunting Ground" about the epidemic of college campus rape in the U.S. The music video directed by Catharine Hardwicke focuses on the emotional impact of sexual assault and rape. Critics praised the disturbing scenes depicted and Lady Gaga's fearlessness in bringing the issue to the attention of the general public.
Although it only reached #95 on the pop singles chart, "Til It Happens to You" became Lady Gaga's first #1 dance hit in more than two years. It also earned a nomination for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. It was only the fifth song from a documentary ever nominated for the award.
"Million Reasons" (2016)
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Directed by Ruth Hogben and Andrea Gelardin
The "Million Reasons" music video is a continuation of topics presented in her previous clip for the song "Perfect Illusion." Following the narrative of Lady Gaga's album "Joanne," the music video shows Gaga's friends and team helping her heal after the emotional and physical pain she experienced earlier in her career. In many ways, it is a stripped down, more conventional, video than her previous work. Critics praised it for helping audiences see a different, more human, side of Lady Gaga.
"Million Reasons" returned Lady Gaga to the pop top 10 for the first time in over three years. It also earned a platinum certification for sales and streaming.
FAQs
What is Lady Gaga's most famous song? ›
Lady Gaga
How many music videos does Lady Gaga have? ›American singer Lady Gaga has released three video albums and has been featured in over thirty music videos.
What is Lady Gaga net worth? ›At 34, Lady Gaga is a Grammy- and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress—and businesswoman worth $150 million. When it comes to her talent, she was born this way: Growing up in New York as Stefani Germanotta, young Gaga was playing piano by age 4 and performing at open mics at 14.
Who is Lady Gaga's husband? ›In October, Gaga announced her engagement to talent agent Christian Carino whom she had met in early 2017.
What is Lady Gaga's latest hit? ›Lady Gaga has released a new song called “Hold My Hand,” from the new Tom Cruise movie Top Gun: Maverick. The single was produced by Gaga and BloodPop® with additional production from Benjamin Rice.
How many Top 10 hits Has Lady Gaga had? ›10 or higher on the Hot 100 throughout Gaga's career—15 in total and do what we do best: Rank 'em.
Which is the greatest song of all time? ›Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' named Greatest Song of All Time by Rolling Stone. (WTRF) – Rolling Stone has released its latest list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and the Queen of Soul is at the top. Aretha Franklin's “Respect” topped the list as the No. 1 song, according to the entertainment magazine and website ...
How many Number 1 does Lady Gaga have? ›...
| Lady Gaga discography | |
|---|---|
| Reissue albums | 2 |
- PAUL MCCARTNEY. Net worth: ~ $1.2 billion.
- PAUL HEWSON (a.k.a. Bono) Net worth: ~ $700 million.
- ROBYN FENTY (a.k.a. Rihanna) Net worth: ~ $600 million.
- MADONNA CICCONE. Net worth: ~ $570 million.
- MARIAH CAREY. Net worth: ~ $540 million.
- ELTON JOHN. ...
- DOLLY PARTON. ...
- GLORIA ESTEFAN.
1. Kanye West. The record for richest musician in the world 2022-2023 is held by Kanye West who has accumulated his huge wealth through music, real estate and brand endorsement. His music records have alone sold over 160 million copies and he is the winner of 24 Grammy Awards.
Is Lady Gaga vegan? ›
Trending on Billboard
Both traditional TV ratings and cross-platform consumption ticked up Sunday from the 2021 awards, which hit an all-time low. “It's certainly no disrespect to anyone that's vegan or vegetarian,” Gaga told DeGeneres, who herself is vegan, in a post-show interview.
This Friday, July 15, marks the 10th anniversary of Psy's “Gangnam Style” music video release — and the Korean artist's combo of stylish quirkiness, trademark dance moves, synth hooks and satirical edge made it the first viral video to top 1 billion views on YouTube.
Why is Lady Gaga so famous? ›Lady Gaga, byname of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, (born March 28, 1986, New York City, New York, U.S.), American singer-songwriter and performance artist, known for her flamboyant costumes, provocative lyrics, and strong vocal talents, who achieved enormous popular success with songs such as “Just Dance,” “Bad ...
Who is Lady Gaga's daughter? ›...
| Cynthia Germanotta | |
|---|---|
| Children | Lady Gaga Natali Germanotta |
The singer and actress does not have children of her own, but she hopes to be a mom someday. The A Star is Born actress has said she wants "tons of kids" and "a family life."
What did Madonna say about Gaga? ›“I used to make fun of [Madonna] for lip-syncing on stage, but the problem really started when she ran Gaga down on an American chat show,” he wrote, in reference to a 2012 ABC News interview in which Madonna claimed that Gaga's 'Born This Way' was “reductive,” and likened it to her own 1989 hit 'Express Yourself'.
Is Lady Gaga Italian? ›Her father is of Italian descent; and her mother, who is from West Virginia, is of half Italian and half French, English, German, and Scottish ancestry.
How many Top 40 hits Has Lady Gaga had? ›Loved A Star Is Born? Cuts from Gaga's Oscar-winning soundtrack count for 11 of the Top 40 in total - including Why Did You Do That? (36) and several collaborations with Bradley Cooper, including I Don't Know What Love Is (28).
How old is Gaga? › Why does Lady Gaga dress that way? ›Speaking in her new documentary, Lady Gaga reveals that her wacky fashion choices come out of a desire for control in an industry that loves to take control away from its artists.
What is the most iconic music video of all time? ›
1. 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson. From the moment it was released in December 1983, 'Thriller' was destined to become one of the most legendary music videos of all time.
How old is Gaga? › What is Lady Gaga's first song? ›Lady Gaga's debut single, "Just Dance," was released to radio in early 2008, and received both popular and commercial acclaim. The song was then nominated for a Grammy Award (for best dance recording) in 2008.
Which is the greatest song of all time? ›Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' named Greatest Song of All Time by Rolling Stone. (WTRF) – Rolling Stone has released its latest list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and the Queen of Soul is at the top. Aretha Franklin's “Respect” topped the list as the No. 1 song, according to the entertainment magazine and website ...
Who has the longest music video? ›Twenty One Pilots has officially set a new record for the longest music video of all time – clocking in at just over 4,264 hours. The pop band, known for their hit “Stressed Out,” released the song “Level of Concern” in April.
What is the weirdest music video? ›- Little Big – Hateful Love. ...
- UNKLE – Rabbit In Your Headlights. ...
- Aphex Twin – Come To Daddy. ...
- Basement Jaxx – Where's Your Head At? ...
- Flying Lotus – Parisian Goldfish. ...
- Björk – Human Behaviour. ...
- Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun. ...
- Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart.
Lady Gaga, byname of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, (born March 28, 1986, New York City, New York, U.S.), American singer-songwriter and performance artist, known for her flamboyant costumes, provocative lyrics, and strong vocal talents, who achieved enormous popular success with songs such as “Just Dance,” “Bad ...
Who is Lady Gaga's daughter? ›...
| Cynthia Germanotta | |
|---|---|
| Children | Lady Gaga Natali Germanotta |
...
| Lady Gaga discography | |
|---|---|
| Reissue albums | 2 |
How many Top 10 hits does Lady Gaga have? ›
10 or higher on the Hot 100 throughout Gaga's career—15 in total and do what we do best: Rank 'em.
How many #1 songs does Lady Gaga have? ›Rain On Me was released as the second single ahead of Lady Gaga's sixth album, Chromatica. Hitting #1 on June 6th, 2020 and staying on the charts for 10 weeks so far. Rain On Me, featuring Ariana Grande, became Lady Gaga's fifth and most recent #1 single.