Because Lady Gaga seems to constantly be reducing women to sex objects, I have a personal problem with her. And shouldn't all women have a problem with being reduced to sex objects? Shouldn't our boyfriends and husbands?
It's ironic that females, many of whom have long been pursuing women's rights, actually support artists who objectify us and reduce our value to so very little. We're continually exploited by the people who entertain us.
But I'm not just offended by the way in which Gaga exploits my gender. I'm more concerned about her anti-Christ behavior; she not only blasphemes the Savior, but continually promotes Satan through her lyrics and videos. She is thus, in every sense of the term, an anti-Christ figure. And what I don't understand is given all of this, our culture is worshipping her.
I don't think it's possible to miss Gaga's blasphemous lyrics--or the Satanic symbolism in her music videos--but in case you have overlooked these blatant messages, let me point out a few:
"Judas"(my comments are italicized)
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas, Judas
Judas! Juda-as Judas! Juda-as
Judas! Juda-as Judas! GAGA
Judas, the disciple who betrayed Christ by betraying Him to Roman soldiers, became the son of perdition (John 17:12).
When he comes to me, I am ready
I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs
Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain
Even after three times, he betrays me
Gaga references the woman who washed Christ's feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair (Luke 7:44); far worse, though, is that Gaga implies her ability to forgive sins when God alone has the authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:21).
I'll bring him down, bring him down, down
A king with no crown, king with no crown
I'm just a Holy Fool, oh baby he's so cruel
But still I'm in love with Judas, baby
I'm just a Holy Fool, oh baby he's so cruel
But still I'm in love with Judas, baby
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas, Judas
Judas! Juda-as Judas! Juda-as
Judas! Juda-as Judas! GAGA
I couldn't love a man so purely
Even prophets forgave his crooked way
I've learned love is like a brick you can
Build a house or sink a dead body
I have no knowledge of prophets forgiving Judas.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/lady_gaga/judas.html ]
I'll bring him down, bring him down, down
A king with no crown, king with no crown
I'm just a Holy Fool, oh baby he's so cruel
But still I'm in love with Judas, baby
I'm just a Holy Fool, oh baby he's so cruel
But still I'm in love with Judas, baby
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh
I'm in love with Judas, Judas
In the most Biblical sense,
I am beyond repentance
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
But in the cultural sense
I just speak in future tense
Judas kiss me if offenced,
Or wear an ear condom next time
Beyond repentance? That's for God to judge and I hope you're not, but if you don't come to see the light eventually--yes, Ms. Gaga, you will probably be "beyond repentance" in the "most Biblical sense."
You are acting like a "hooker" and a "prostitute wench"--I wish you'd stop.
The line "Judas kiss me if offenced" refers to when Judas betrayed Christ. Judas told the soldiers he would show them who Christ was by kissing Christ on the cheek (Matthew 6:49)
I wanna love you,
But something's pulling me away from you
Jesus is my virtue,
And Judas is the demon I cling to
I cling to
Gaga "clings to" the son of perdition rather than Christ.
"Born This Way"(my comments are italicized)
It doesn't matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'Cause you were born this way, baby
Alright, this should be obvious: "Capital H-I-M" refers to God. (And surely it does matter if we love Him.)
"Paws" implies we're animals/beasts, not humans with reason and agency.
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
"There's nothin wrong with lovin who you are"
She said, "'cause he made you perfect, babe"
"So hold your head up girl and you'll go far,
Listen to me when I say"
I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Yes, we are beautiful in our own way, especially because we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26)--and yes, God does not make any mistakes because He is perfect. But WE make mistakes, and loving ourselves isn't enough--"love yourself and you're set" doesn't work because the first commandment is to "Love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:37) and the second commandment is "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:39). Perhaps most important to note here is that Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). If we love Christ, we follow Him by keeping His commandments--whether Gaga likes it or not.
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way
Don't be a drag - just be a queen
Don't be a drag - just be a queen
Don't be a drag - just be a queen
Don't be!
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (love needs faith)
Gaga's assertion "a different lover is not a sin" followed by "Believe capital H-I-M" implies that Christ accepts relationships other than heterosexual relationships (see below where she sings: "No matter gay, straight, or bi, Lesbian, transgendered life I'm on the right track baby...") While I love my gay friends and want them to know that, I can't deny that as a Christian, I believe God created males and females to fit together--biologically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually--in relationships, and that claiming otherwise is blasphemy. I like what Gil Rugh said: "Homosexuality is a biblical issue, not a political issue. How we 'feel' about it is not relevant. What the Bible says about it is completely relevant." Lady Gaga can claim what she wants--but truth is truth, whether or not we accept it.
Repeat chorus + post-chorus
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're lebanese, you're orient
Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby you were born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track baby
I was born to be brave
Now check out the symbols in the music video:
If you want help understanding the symbols, check out this article. Interesting points and the writer interprets the capital H-I-M as Satan himself (though I interpreted the reference as God, I see how both interpretations could work here.)
"Alejandro"
Watch it and again, if you want to read about the symbolism try this.
Watch "Bad Romance" and then read this.
Apart from lyrics and music videos, Gaga has been fairly open about personal Satanic nightmares that she includes in her performances. She said, "I do have morbid dreams...I put them in the show. A lot of the work I do is an exorcism for the fans but also for myself." Gaga spoke of an illuminati dream during an interview with Rolling Stone:
"I have this recurring dream sometimes where there’s a phantom in my home and he takes me into a room, and there’s a blond girl with ropes tied to all four of her limbs. And she’s got my shoes on from the Grammys. Go figure—pyscho. And the ropes are pulling her apart. I never see her get pulled apart, but I just watch her whimper, and then the phantom says to me, ‘If you want me to stop hurting her and if you want your family to be OK, you will cut your wrist.’ And I think that he has his own, like, crazy wrist-cutting device. And he has this honey in, like, Tupperware, and it looks like sweet-and-sour sauce with a lot of MSG from New York. Just bizarre. And he wants me to pour the honey into the wound, and then put cream over it and a gauze."
Yuck.
Yuck.
Do people not get what they're supporting every time they listen to and watch Gaga's filth?
Jenna, this is a really well-written post, as usual. I don't think Lady Gaga is necessarily Satanistic; she's just trying to shock people in order to get attention. Problem is, not much she does shocks us anymore (meat dress, anyone?), so she has to resort to singing about her love for some guy who's been dead just about two millenia, and who, oh yeah, betrayed Christ, according to the Bible. See, she's not really that original, she's just doing what Eminem and Marilyn Manson have done before her: targeting the relgious, knowing they'll get offended and discuss them, just like we're doing now, thereby getting them more publicity and video views.
ReplyDeleteWhile I admire her efforts to gain visibility and rights for the gay community and others, I think it's sad that she has to try so hard. I think if she just acted like her true self, she'd be taken more seriously as an artist. I've seen television interviews with her, and she's not really as strange as she purports to be.
KoKo, thanks for your comments; it's nice to read some feedback and thoughts, especially from good friends :)
ReplyDeleteAre we really seeing the REAL woman she is? Of course not. Stefani Germanotta created "Gaga" in order to sell music she couldn't sell as Stefani. Is Stefani herself a Satan-worshipper? Frankly, I have no idea and I hope she isn't. But her created character of Gaga incorporates satanic themes into her work, so Gaga ultimately represents an anti-Christ figure by pushing these themes--whether Stefani really believes in them or not. I agree, she uses shock to sell. But whether she blasphemes God because she really feels this way about Him, or whether she just does it to shock and sell her music--she still does it, and I wish she wouldn't. Like you, I wish we could see something real here.
Thanks for this Jenna! I too was shocked at her new song judas and I'm glad you wrote about the words.
ReplyDeleteJENNA! This is absolutely fantastic! I love that you took a stand on her! It really is sad that so many people are worshipping her when she seriously has not a single ounce of good intention in these songs or in her actions! It makes me absolutely sick. You are a really great writer - i'm glad I found your blog.
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elizabeth anne
Jenna, I also agree with you and your stand! We've been asked to speak out against the evils of today. I certainly didn't know what Lady Gaga was all about until I read your blog and read the lyrics to her music. Unfortunately she is a lost child of God and she is against Christ, thus making her an anti-Christ. I've asked your sisters to read your blog and to continue to turn off her music when it comes on the radio.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post Jenna! I really appreciate someone speaking out against such the lies so easily accepted into our culture. I absolutely agree with you. One of the most tricky things about Lady Gaga is from a songwriter point of view, her songs are fantastic. The craft is excellent. It's time to stop accepting craft at the expense of our crumbling morals.
ReplyDeleteWell said Jenna.
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