Posted on 12/03/2011 5:09:35 AM PST by Kaslin
A few months ago in this space, I wrote a column about the cultural phenom Lady Gaga that ended with my politely telling her to save her money. That's because the treacherous world of popular culture is not usually a long-term proposition. Entertainment idols often pass through the fame obstacle course very quickly.
In show biz, "jumping the shark" is a term used to describe a project in decline. It is derived from the hit sitcom "Happy Days," which, sorely lacking for material after years on the air, featured a show whereby The Fonz went waterskiing in a leather jacket and encountered a shark. You guessed it: The Fonz jumped over the shark on his skis. After that, the days were not so happy on that program.
Now we have Lady Gaga, the ultimate edgy, anti-establishment pop star, swimming in dubious waters. Recently, she fronted a Thanksgiving special. The New York Times described it this way: "Lady Gaga performs before family and friends and offers a glimpse of her personal life in an interview with Katie Couric... She also whips up a feast of deep-fried turkey and waffles with the chef Art Smith."
Somewhere Janis Joplin is weeping. By the way, Gaga's special was trounced in the ratings by the 237th airing of "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving."
And that's not all. The Associated Press reports that "Gaga's Workshop" is now open at the Barneys clothing store in Manhattan. Apparently, Gaga designed a special holiday shop featuring "a gigantic cartoon statue of the superstar herself in a pinup pose surrounded by jagged mirrors and sitting atop thousands of back plastic discs."
Forget the Rockefeller Center tree, the Gaga shop represents the true holiday spirit, does it not?
Some of you may think I am making this up, but it's all true. What I can't figure out is why Gaga's (Stefani Germanotta) management team seems to know nothing about history. Elvis Presley, the biggest pop icon ever, sabotaged his own career by starring in a series of movies like "Kissin' Cousins" and "Clambake." I mean, there was the once culturally dangerous Elvis doing a dance called the "Clam" on a beach wearing black shoes and white pants. It took the King years to get back on track after those dopey flicks.
Last year, Gaga made $90 million from her songs and shows. Does she really need the Thanksgiving special? Or the Barneys exposure? Really?
The answer, of course, is no. Gaga has now gone middle-class mainstream and, at this rate, will be co-hosting with Kelly Ripa any day now. The lady may be trying not to be a tramp, but she certainly has met the shark -- and jumped it.
Cute, but for good looking fiddle players you can’t beat Maireed Nesbitt from Celtic Woman.
...Here's the commercial I want to see, It's Keith Moon for snickers, "Threw up blood in me sleep last night. Sometimes I'm doing a drum solo and haven't eaten for three weeks, I eat a Snickazz!
...It's the culture of the dollar, These demons don't make enough money, they have to become barkers? Ice Tea (Cop Killer) is doing spots on Sesame Street! They're just whores now, kneeling in front of Satan. But, that's just me.
...BTW, for those of you that don't hate PBS, there was a special last night on the Lennon Sisters.
...Not my favorite music, but, I did like them.
BOR’s problem is that Lady Kaka doesn’t bathe much and that renders BOR’s lufa useless!
Because when we think of Thanksgiving, who doesn’t think Gaga?
LOL! That’s what I should have said. Thanks.
Where are they now?
Indian casinos
...Your welcome, now I've created another Font monster!
[nodding] [smiles]
And the next time somebody says “been there, done that” I’m gonna loosen a few teeth.
We wanted “Wasted Days And Wasted Nights” but the Powers That Be would not allow it.
We got [GAG!] “Time In A Bottle”, instead.
Friggin’ whiny ass song.
Roaring outta Frederick one night this summer, just as I passed a little 9 or 10 year old kid on a skateboard, “School’s Out” came up on my playlist and started blasting as we got near him.
Bless his little R&R heart, he flashed me the heavy metal horns and started pumping his fist in the air and singing along.
40 years between us yet we were connected.
How cool was that?
:)
The Look is cool in pictures.
Not so much up close and personal.
LOL
No, I hadn’t seen that.
I’m all choked up.
I -love- that family....:)
Wish they’d do their own family reality series like Simmons did.
It would *have* to be hysterical.
:)
Yeah.
I almost peed myself.
That was why I was so scared to be in the front row...no place to hide....;D
[thanks again for talking me into it]
Totally!
But the grands would rather listen to Led Zeppelin than rap, prefer Michael Jackson to Justin Bieber (who has grabbed a bunch of MJ moves and bits), and have been fairly well exposed to '60s and '70s vinyl...
So little of what is 'new' is anything close, most of it is ripped shamlessly from music a generation or more back...
and the old stuff is still good!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.