Lady Gaga

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29 Jan 2024

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress known for her versatile talent and image transformations. Her career began with performances at open mic nights and roles in school plays during her teenage years. She pursued formal training at Collaborative Arts Project 21 within the New York University Tisch School of the Arts but ultimately dropped out to focus on her music career.

After facing setbacks like the cancellation of her contract with Def Jam Recordings, Gaga worked as a songwriter for Sony/ATV Music Publishing. In 2007, she secured a joint deal with Interscope Records and KonLive Distribution. Her breakthrough came in 2008 with her debut studio album, "The Fame," featuring hit singles like "Just Dance" and "Poker Face." The album's success led to a reissue that included the extended play "The Fame Monster" (2009), featuring popular tracks like "Bad Romance," "Telephone," and "Alejandro."

Lady Gaga's career has been marked by a series of successful albums, all of which debuted at the top of the US Billboard 200 chart. Her second album, "Born This Way" (2011), delved into electronic rock and techno-pop and achieved significant commercial success, selling over one million copies in its first week. The album's title track became the fastest-selling song on the iTunes Store at the time, with over one million downloads in less than a week.

Following "Born This Way," Gaga explored EDM influences with her third album, "Artpop" (2013), which featured the lead single "Applause." She then collaborated with Tony Bennett on the jazz album "Cheek to Cheek" (2014) and released the soft rock album "Joanne" (2016).

In addition to her music career, Gaga ventured into acting and received critical acclaim for her roles in the miniseries "American Horror Story: Hotel" (2015–2016) and the musical film "A Star Is Born" (2018). Her contributions to the soundtrack of "A Star Is Born," notably the chart-topping single "Shallow," earned her several prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award in the same year.

Gaga returned to her dance-pop roots with her sixth studio album, "Chromatica" (2020), which produced the number-one single "Rain on Me." Additionally, she released her second collaborative album with Tony Bennett, titled "Love for Sale," and starred in the biopic "House of Gucci" in 2021.

Lady Gaga has achieved remarkable success in her career, selling an estimated 170 million records worldwide. She holds the distinction of being the only female artist to have four singles each selling at least 10 million copies globally, solidifying her status as one of the world's best-selling music artists.

Her impressive list of accolades includes 13 Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and 18 MTV Video Music Awards. She has also been honored by prestigious institutions such as the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Additionally, Gaga has been recognized by Billboard as Artist of the Year (2010) and Woman of the Year (2015). She has been featured in Forbes' power rankings and was ranked fourth on VH1's Greatest Women in Music list in 2012.

Time magazine has acknowledged Gaga's influence by naming her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in both 2010 and 2019. She has also been included in Time's All-Time 100 Fashion Icons list for her impact on fashion and style.

Gaga is known for her philanthropy and activism, particularly in the areas of mental health awareness and LGBT rights. She founded the Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the wellness of young people. In 2019, Gaga expanded her ventures into the business world with the launch of Haus Labs, a vegan cosmetics brand.

Overall, Lady Gaga's multifaceted career and impactful contributions to music, fashion, and social causes have cemented her legacy as an iconic figure in contemporary pop culture.

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known as Lady Gaga, was born on March 28, 1986, at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, New York City. She was born into an upper middle-class Catholic family with Italian ancestry. Her parents are Cynthia Louise (née Bissett), a philanthropist and business executive, and Joseph Germanotta, an Internet entrepreneur. Gaga has a younger sister named Natali.

Raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Gaga's upbringing was marked by hard work and determination instilled by her parents, who came from lower-class backgrounds. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private all-girls Roman Catholic school, starting from age 11. Gaga has described herself during high school as dedicated, studious, and disciplined, but also admitted to feeling insecure and like a misfit. She faced mockery for her provocative and eccentric nature.

Lady Gaga's musical journey began at the age of four when her mother encouraged her to learn the piano, aiming to cultivate her into "a cultured young woman." Gaga took piano lessons and honed her skills throughout her childhood, preferring to create music by ear rather than reading sheet music. Her parents supported her musical endeavors and enrolled her in Creative Arts Camp to further nurture her talent.

During her teenage years, Lady Gaga frequently performed at open mic nights, showcasing her burgeoning talent as a musician. At Regis High School, she landed lead roles in plays such as Adelaide in "Guys and Dolls" and Philia in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Additionally, Gaga studied method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute for a decade, expanding her artistic horizons.

Despite facing initial setbacks, including unsuccessful auditions for New York shows, Lady Gaga made her television debut with a small background role as a high school student in a 2001 episode of "The Sopranos" titled "The Telltale Moozadell." Reflecting on her journey, Gaga expressed her natural inclination towards music and the profound impact it had on her life.

In 2003, at the age of 17, Lady Gaga gained early admission to Collaborative Arts Project 21, a renowned music school affiliated with New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. During her time at NYU, she resided in a dormitory on campus and immersed herself in her studies. Gaga focused on music education and dedicated herself to enhancing her songwriting abilities. As part of her coursework, she delved into diverse topics such as art, religion, social issues, and politics, even completing a thesis centered on pop artists Spencer Tunick and Damien Hirst.

However, in 2005, Gaga made the decision to withdraw from school during the second semester of her second year to fully commit to her burgeoning music career. This pivotal moment marked her transition from academic pursuits to a relentless pursuit of her artistic aspirations. Additionally, in the same year, Gaga showcased her versatility by appearing as an unsuspecting diner customer on MTV's "Boiling Points," a prank reality television series.

In 2005, Lady Gaga collaborated with hip-hop artist Melle Mel to record two songs for an audio book accompanying Cricket Casey's children's novel, "The Portal in the Park." Additionally, she formed a band named the SGBand, comprised of friends from New York University (NYU). The band performed at various venues across New York City and became well-known in the downtown Lower East Side club scene.

Following her participation in the 2006 Songwriters Hall of Fame New Songwriters Showcase at the Cutting Room in June, talent scout Wendy Starland introduced Gaga to music producer Rob Fusari. Fusari and Gaga began collaborating, with Gaga commuting daily to New Jersey to work on developing her songs and creating new material. Fusari claims to have been the first person to coin the name "Lady Gaga" for her, inspired by the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga." Their professional relationship eventually turned romantic, and they dated from May 2006 until January 2007.