Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Lady Gaga - Born This Way (Official Music Video)

Title: Born This Way
Artist: Lady Gaga
Album: Born This Way (2011) - Track 2, Born This Way (Special Edition) (2011) - Track 2
Recorded: 2010; Abbey Road Studios (London), Germano Studios (New York)
Genre: Electropop, Dance, Pop
Length: 4:20
Label: Streamline, Interscope, Kon Live
Writer(s): Stefani Germanotta, Jeppe Laursen, Paul Blair, Fernando Garibay
Producer: Lady Gaga, Jeppe Laursen, Fernando Garibay, DJ White Shadow

"Born This Way" is a song by American recording artist Lady Gaga, from her second studio album Born This Way. Written and produced by Gaga, Fernando Garibay, Jeppe Laursen and DJ White Shadow, "Born This Way" was developed while Gaga was on the road with The Monster Ball Tour. It was inspired by the 1990s empowering music for women and the gay community, with Gaga explaining that "Born This Way" was her freedom song. Previously, she had sung part of the chorus at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in 2010. The song was announced as the lead single from the album, and was scheduled to be released on February 13, 2011. It was instead released two days earlier, along side the full set of lyrics and the single artwork.

"Born This Way" is an electropop song, backed by rumbling synth sounds and a humming bass, with a percussion added in the chorus. It also includes Gaga singing a capella near the end with an organ added. The lyrics of the song talk about empowerment with the chorus lyrics talking about making no apologies and being who you are. It features the names of communities like the gay, lesbian as well as transgender. After the early release of the lyrics, it garnered criticism from some Asian and Hispanic communities, claiming that the lyrics' use of the terms "chola" and "orient" to describe Latino and Asian communities is offensive and derogatory. The song has been remixed by different remixers, including a Country Road version recorded by Gaga herself, and another by Indian music producer duo Salim and Sulaiman Merchant.

"Born This Way" received mixed to positive reception from critics, being described as a "club-ready anthem" – whilst facing criticism for having similarities with Madonna's 1989 single, "Express Yourself". While some reviewers surmised that the similarities would damage the song's appeal, others felt that "Born This Way" was nonetheless a completely separate piece of work. The song reached number one in 19 countries, including Austria, Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and Sweden. In the United States, it became her third single to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally, "Born This Way" became the 1000th number-one song on the Hot 100, spending a total of six weeks atop the Hot 100. It became the fastest-selling song in iTunes history, selling one million copies in five days.

The music video for the song was directed by Nick Knight and by Gaga herself. It premiered on Monday, February 28, 2011 and was inspired by painters like Salvador Dalí and Francis Bacon, and their surrealistic images. The main idea behind the video is Gaga giving birth to a new race. The video commences with a prologue, in which Gaga talks about the new race who are born without prejudices and concludes with the view of a city populated by this race. The video has been noted for its cultural references and artistic similarities – to recording artists including Michael Jackson and Madonna, as well as to Greek mythology, surrealism and the work of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen. "Born This Way" was first performed at the 53rd Grammy Awards, where Gaga sang it after coming out of an incubating vessel. The song was again performed during the last leg of her The Monster Ball Tour. Singer Katy Perry and internet sensation Maria Aragon have covered the song.

Full wikipedia article: Born This Way (Song)