Lady Gaga has taken the Pop music world by storm in as little as a year. Her diverse style and eclectic fashion -- on its own -- has cemented her as an artist that is surely on her way to becoming a style icon. Though many music fans have found it difficult to look past the signature semblance Lady Gaga has created for herself; the Yonkers, New York native offers more than what meets the eye.

When Gaga is not performing her songs live on stage half-dressed or using her foot as a means to make music on a piano or electric keyboard, she can be seen parading around city streets wearing costume-like attire that borders burlesque dancer and drag queen; as well as being photoed by her favorite fans, paparazzi.

She has an unapologetic nature and unconventional spirit that has pop culture fanatics infatuated with just the mention of her name; Is Lady Gaga's musical style and overall persona art or not?

If you ask an art enthusiast what their meaning of art is, they will simply describe it as being any form of expression. Lady Gaga is without a doubt one of the most bizarre Pop artists we've seen since Queen and Madonna. Calling her the average Pop tart would be a complete understatement.

The most pioneering artists of the 20th century were one's that had their own style and marched to the beat of their own drums. The fabric they were cut from was clearly one from a different brand compared to the rest and were the more misunderstood. Imagine if Leonardo Da Vinci painted like every other artist or Cyndi Lauper opted to look and sound like Paula Abdul; their names would fail to stand out above the rest, ending in them drowning in a pool of duplicates.

To understand Gaga's artistry you would have to understand her before The Fame, pun intended. While others are debating the hermaphrodite rumors and interpreting them as truth or are finding themselves enthralled with her outlandish interviews where she reveals information about herself that is better left in the dark, there is an impressive side to her that bubbles below the cracks.

Lady Gaga (who goes by Stefanie Joanne Angelina Germanotta when the camera's are away) learned the piano by ear at the tender age of 4 and wrote her first piano ballad at 13. While the average 17-year old girl was begging her parents to stay out past curfew, Gaga was becoming one of 20 kids in the world to earn early admissions to Tisch School of Arts at the prestigious New York University.

Ditching her books for leather boots and corsets, Lady Gaga impulsively bid farewell to her studies to lead a life of parties and drugs. Even with her busy schedule, she was able to make a name for herself as one of the most sought after songwriters penning lyrics for Fergie, The Pussycat Dolls, and Britney Spears to name a few.

Pop is one of the most competitive genres in music and even with its sea of potential chart toppers; Gaga swims to the surface with her over the top presence and catchy singles. According to Nielson Soundscan, her break-out single "Just Dance" has sold 4.4 million copies, making it the No. 2 best selling digital single of all time.

The "Paparazzi" singer understands music far past it's flashing lights and fan appeal, which is a formula used by the bubble gum pop princess' of Pop's past. She understands the underlining science behind making more than just a song that can receive massive plays; she comprehends what it takes to make classic albums. In a sit-down with Billboard, Lady Gaga broke down her thoughts on hit records (in her own quirky way) by saying that "A hit record writes itself. If you have to wait, maybe the song isn't there. Once you tap into the soul, the song begins to write itself. And I usually write the choruses first, because without a good chorus, who really gives a f---?"



Standing as one of the few artists that refrain from lip singing during live shows, Gaga plays a bigger role in the production and composition of her music. In her latest effort The Fame, the singer boasts that she wrote all of the lyrics and melodies on the album. And if that wasn't enough proof, maybe her come-up would do the trick. In a world of reality show singing contests and the occasional craigslist "singers wanted" ad; Gaga took the more traditional music artist route of making a name for herself by performing in the open mic circuit, club gigs, and by simply self-promoting herself.

Her peculiarity was not a label created gimmick nor was she told to walk out in public pantless; Lady Gaga has been doing this for some time now. Her unorthodox fashion choices however, successfully baits fans only to have her infectious music riel them in.

Lady Gaga fits the definition of "art" to a tee. Granted her look and lyricism may be a tad bit controversial, she is revolutionizing Pop at 23-years old by colliding the picture perfect genre with inspiration from glam rock; not to mention, her credentials speaks volumes.

She's like the Van Gogh of music. Using her sequin hot pants as her paint brush and a disco ball as her easel, Lady Gaga paints a vivid and unassimilated picture of her artistic talent that lies within.






Story by Samantha Greaves

Starpulse contributing writer