School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Lady Gaga

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Lady Gaga's real name is Stefani Germanotta. She was born in New York in 1986 and had piano lessons from the age of four. As a teenager she played at open mic nights and in school theatre. She briefly studied at the arts programme of New York University, but dropped out to concentrate on music. In the clubs of the Lower East Side she performed with her own band and in burlesque shows with the performance artist Lady Starlight. Her stage name is derived from the Queen song Radio Ga Ga.

Music and breakthrough

Her debut album The Fame, made with the producer RedOne, was released in 2008. The singles Just Dance and Poker Face reached number 1 in many countries, and Poker Face was the best-selling single of 2009. The Fame Monster (2009) included Bad Romance, Telephone with Beyoncé and Alejandro. Born This Way (2011), Artpop (2013), a jazz album with Tony Bennett, Cheek to Cheek (2014), and the soft rock album Joanne (2016) followed. For the film A Star Is Born (2018) she sang Shallow. Later she returned to danceable pop with Chromatica (2020) and Mayhem (2025).

Influence

Gaga combines electronic dance pop with the glam rock of David Bowie and Queen. Just as important is her image: she founded the creative team Haus of Gaga, on the model of Andy Warhol's Factory, and constantly changes her look, costume and style. In this she follows the model that Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince set out in the 1980s: a pop star as a total work of art made of music, video, fashion and show.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Bad Romance and notice the opening: Gaga sings a short series of sounds without real words, rah-rah-ah-ah-ah, which keeps returning later. Hear how the chorus then comes in with a heavy synthesizer bass and a pounding beat.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists