Hot Video Alert: Lady Gaga - Yoü and I

Up until now, I haven't been impressed by Lady Gaga's latest "masterpiece" album, Born This Way. The album's title track had a positive message and all but it kind of bored me. Her second single, "Judas" impressed me even less, coming off as a rehash/remix of "Bad Romance" and nothing more. By the time Gaga released her third single, "The Edge Of Glory," I was officially bored. Now we have "Yoü and I" and I don't really know what to think. On the one hand, Gaga's voice has never sounded better. What can I say...the girl can sing. I think my problem is with her act as a whole. It's just starting to lose me a little bit. I'm all for flamboyant pop stars but her latest shtick is starting to tire. Watching her excruciatingly long intro on the MTV Music Video Awards sealed the deal for me. While I give Gaga props for staying in character as [her male alter ego] Jo Calderone throughout the entirety of the show I just didn't understand the point of it. When she FINALLY started singing "Yoü and I" I was already so irritated that I couldn't possibly enjoy the performance. Again, Gaga dazzled us with her flawless musicality and powerhouse vocals but the weirdness of her character overshadowed everything else.  Admittedly, I have yet to give Born This Way a complete beginning to end listen but at this point I just don't know if I really want to.  We're already four singles in and I feel nothing.  Time will tell I suppose, but at this point I think I might be over Lady Gaga.

The one saving grace for me has been the remixes.  Like any true pop diva, Gaga brings out the best in producers and remixers alike and the Born This Way era has delivered some fierce, uber-danceable mixes. At the top of my list - the Grum remix of "Born This Way," the Goldfrapp Remix of "Judas," and the Cahill Remix of "The Edge Of Glory."  While I have yet to give them a proper listen, Gaga's latest single, "Yoü and I" has been remixed as well, this time by Danny Verde, Hector Fonseca, Mark Taylor, 10 Kings, Metronomy, Wild Beasts and ATB.  Quite the turn out from both well known and respected artists and remixers, not to mention lesser known talents in the dance/electronica fields.  Another saving grace for Gaga is the exceptionally high quality of all of her music videos.  While the video for "The Edge Of Glory" might have bored some people, it was no less sexy than any of her other videos and gorgeously shot.  The video for "Yoü and I" is another epic video, equal in proportion to the "Judas" video and even "Bad Romance."  Directed by Lady Gaga's choreographer Laurieann Gibson, the video showcases Gaga playing a variety of characters.  In portions of the video she's a man, in other parts she's a mermaid, in other parts she's heavily made under.  She's a regular chameleon!  As always, Gaga's costumes are out of this world - both bizarre and beautiful at the same time.  Gaga knows how to put on a spectacle, whether it be live on stage or performing in front of a camera.  She's always switched on and that electricity definitely shows here.  It's just a pity I am not feeling the music.

A slower tempo pop track with heavy rock influences, "Yoü and I" was written by Lady Gaga and produced by Shania Twain's ex, Mutt Lange (Bryan Adams, Maroon 5).  The song samples Queen's iconic "We Will Rock You" and features the band's guitarrist Brian May on electric guitar (May made an appearance on the VMA's playing on stage with Gaga!).  Released on August 23rd, "Yoü and I" so far has peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Given her high profile VMA performance and how well her previous singles have done ("Born This Way" = #1; "Judas" = 10, "The Edge Of Glory" = #3) I wouldn't be surprised if "You and I" became Gaga's fourth top 10 hit off of Born This Way.  As it stands right now, "Judas" is Gaga's lowest charting single but if "Yoü and I" doesn't start climbing, it may take that title.  Gaga's second full length album, Born This Way, was released in May where it went straight to the top of the charts in the U.S., UK, Australia and pretty much everywhere else.  Check out the stunning video for "Yoü and I" below and download the song on U.S. iTunes HERE.

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