Random GaGa Crap

[toriMODE]

I just started listening to the soundtrack. I wasn't really expecting so many Gaga vocal tracks, so that's a nice surprise. I want to see the movie, but will probably wait for it to come out on DVD.

[MikeEP]

I saw the movie yesterday and thought it was great..both Gaga and Bradley Cooper are fantastic in it and their chemistry is electric. It's pretty incredible. The scene where they first perform "Shallow" is magic in the way that only the best movies are. It's a new classic movie moment for me when it comes to music.

I do think the story line with Ally's pop career and the stereotypical manager felt cliched. ...but this IS a remake of a classic Hollywood story so I guess it's expected that there would be a feeling of having seen this story many times before. It just felt very obvious the way they handled the concept of a "pop star" with the backup dancers and the manager suggesting she dye her hair blonde. but maybe it's because Hollywood really is that cliched. I don't know. It also feels weird the way they handled Gaga's character's pop songs, which seem like they're supposed to be viewed as "inauthentic" (as much as I hate that word) and lesser in some way. I wasn't quite sure what to make of them. I was kind of surprised to see them on the soundtrack along side all of the other songs.

Speaking of the soundtrack, in addition to Shallow there are some really great songs there, especially Maybe It's Time, Is That Alright, and the closing song (I'll Never Love Again). I purposely didn't listen to any of it before seeing the movie, except Shallow which felt unavoidable. I do think if you're able to avoid it before seeing the movie, it would make the songs that much more impactful. i am wondering which song they'll push for the awards...I'll Never Love Again is a classic movie ballad along the lines of I Will Always Love You, but Shallow is even stronger I think. It's just an instant classic in my mind. It's quite possible multiple songs will be nominated of course. And I think both Gaga and Bradley Cooper will be nominated for Oscars and will both win the Golden Globes.

[Owen]

^ I agree with you about waiting until seeing the movie before listening to the soundtrack. It really made my first listen an emotional and impactful experience.

I'm still amazing at how many truly good songs are on the record. The duets are SO GOOD.

[Jake]

WHEN I'M ALL CHOKED UP AND I CAN'T FIND THE WORDS

The soundtrack is stellar. I love the entire thing.

[grapefruit_is_winning]

I see the movie on Sunday - very excited, and haven't listened to the whole soundtrack yet. But I will say, what I have heard, I'd have to agree with @Jake, she sounds absolutely better than ever on these tracks, and they were recorded live! I find the songs I've heard surprising... high caliber and well done but also a little more vanilla? generic? than most of her catalog (which makes sense for the movie.) I never thought I'd be comparing Whitney Houston and Gaga but that's what I'm hearing! And btw I don't see that as a bad thing AT ALL, I am quite impressed by her versatility. But, I really, REALLY hope her next album goes off this normcore path she's been pursuing beginning with Joanne. I want her ugly, I want her disease!

Also, although I have always been a very casual fan of hers, I have been watching her interviews for the movie obsessively and really fallen in love with her as a person. Self-possessed, self-aware, articulate, sensitive, funny, loving, thoughtful... she's awesome! Did anyone see what she had to say about Kavanaugh on Colbert? Fucking A.

[John's Face]

Whitney Houston, totally. This is her Bodyguard soundtrack.

[Adam]

The movie was AMAZING and so is the soundtrack. However, the “Ally” pop songs are lackluster. To me it shows that she really needs to stick to more singer-songwriter fare. I also thought it was sort of an indicator ( maybe?) that in the movie, her pop persona wasn’t really her true self. I wonder if that means anything for her future output and if it was a personal thing for her.

[grapefruit_is_winning]

Those "pop" songs are definitely intended to be mediocre.

[SloppyJane]

LOVED the movie, and both Cooper and Gaga were FANTASTIC. I'm shocked Gaga delivered that caliber of a performance. I did not think she had it in her.

When's the last time a huge pop star pulled that off? Cher? She has a whole new career now. It's no surprise she's rumored to be playing Ursula in the Little Mermaid live-action movie.

A few complaints about the movie however...

- It was way too long. It really dragged in the second half. There were way too many unnecessary scenes of them getting a dog, chatting with Dave Chappelle's family, etc. There were long stretches with zero conflict. I found myself waiting for something to happen.

- There is no way that a record company would push someone like Ally into being a Britney Spears-type pop star. No way. The viral video of her was pure rock/country. That's what the public clearly loved. I think we buy it because we know Gaga as that type of artist, but in the world of the movie, it seemed as ridiculous as a record company trying to do that to someone like Adele or Amy Winehouse.

- The soundtrack is somewhat disappointing. The only three original songs worth listening to are Shallow, Always Remember Us This Way and I'll Never Love Again (extended). Granted, they are FANTASTIC songs, and may be Gaga's best ever, but the rest are totally skipable. Also, where is Brandi Carlile's version of Pretty Woman?! Still, the fact that they are all performed/filmed live is astonishing. That final Gaga performance may be one of cinema's greatest moments. Seriously.

[MikeEP]

The soundtrack is somewhat disappointing. The only three original songs worth listening to are Shallow, Always Remember Us This Way and I'll Never Love Again (extended). Granted, they are FANTASTIC songs, and may be Gaga's best ever, but the rest are totally skipable. Also, where is Brandi Carlile's version of Pretty Woman?! Still, the fact that they are all performed/filmed live is astonishing. That final Gaga performance may be one of cinema's greatest moments. Seriously.

I disagree about the soundtrack...I personally love Is That Alright, Maybe It's Time, Gaga's cover of La Vie En Rose, and Look What I Found.

[grapefruit_is_winning]

I think Shallow, Look What I Found, and I'll Never Love Again are absolutely great songs. Not quite my bag, so to speak, but I appreciate the craft in them, especially the quality of her vocal performances. I haven't listened to many others much at this point. Is That Alright? is very pretty.

This movie and soundtrack ... they have elevated her right back to the top, I think. I think she deserves it and I love that she didn't go down in the meat dress, or whatever point it was the tide started turning against her. It's a stunning accomplishment on so many levels.

[SloppyJane]

This movie and soundtrack ... have elevated her right back to the top

This. I can't think of a more triumphant comeback. And the fact that it's based purely on talent and not female sexuality is a feat on it's own.

[littleBluBoy]

The soundtrack is so good!

Can't live without Always Remember Us This Way (this song is perfect on so many levels), Shallow, Heal Me and Hair Body Face.

Also really like Before I Cry and I'll Never Love Again.

I like all of her songs on this...really. I can't believe it. Joanne and half of Artpop were such a disappointment.

I don't think the pop songs are mediocre at all. Heal Me and Hair Body Face are superior to all of Joanne, over half of Artpop and half of The Fame.

I also added The Cure to the album...obvious now it was recorded for the movie but wasn't needed.

Because she can "hide" behind Ally I like that she's paying homage to Whitney, Mariah, Celine and Janet which she couldn't do on her own. It works so well.

Also don't think there's ever been a facade wrt her musical output....she loves it all (pop, country, rock, jazz) and does it all so well (on this soundtrack at least).

[grapefruit_is_winning]

Wow - the soundtrack made #1 on the Billboard 200 for its first three weeks, and #2 its fourth week. Between the six tracks they've officially released on YouTube, I calculate 177M views in one month. And the movie has made almost THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.

Really, an unqualified success on every level.

(added after original post)

Oh, another video! I think it's cool how the videos have all been treated similarly and basically cut right out of the movie. The movie looked great, consequently the videos look great. But the consistency of the approach with each of the videos, while perhaps not the most innovative or creative one, really works for me. Makes me want to watch the movie again.