Lady Gaga has been one of the most popular and controversial musicians of the past decade. She first rose to prominence in 2008 with her debut album, The Fame, which featured the hits “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.” Since then, she has released four more studio albums, all of which have topped the charts in multiple countries. Gaga is known for her outlandish fashion sense and her provocative lyrics and music videos. She has also been an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights and other social causes. In 2016, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.
In recent years, Lady Gaga has continued to push boundaries both in her music and in her personal life. In 2019, she released her sixth studio album, Chromatica, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album’s lead single, “Stupid Love,” was a massive hit, reaching the top ten in multiple countries. Gaga has also been open about her struggles with mental health and addiction, and has become an advocate for mental health awareness. She is currently working on a new album, which is due for release in 2021.
Lady Gaga is one of the most successful musicians of our time. She is a multi-platinum selling artist with seven Grammy Awards to her name. She has sold over 150 million records worldwide and has had numerous number-one hits. She is also an LGBTQ+ icon and an outspoken supporter of social causes. There is no doubt that Lady Gaga is one of the most influential people in the world today.
Synopsis
When searching for the meaning of success, most people look at the heroes of yesteryear. In Lady Gaga’s case, however, there’s a mega-successful superstar around today that offers inspiration and some of the most important motivational advice available. Read on to learn about Gaga’s incredible rise to the top, and the twists and turns that took her there.
Childhood
Born on the 28th of March, 1986 as Stefani Germanotta, this New York-based singer was a hit maker right from the start. Describing herself as ‘provocative’ as a youth, the would-be singer was a target for bullies during high school due to her eccentric appearance and behavior. Friends remember her as a star right from the start, citing singing as one of her major passions even as a youth.
Early Life
Gaga’s family lived in New York’s exclusive Upper East Side neighborhood, but they were far from wealthy. Both professionals, they were out of the house for much of her early life, leaving her with plenty of time to style her hair, creative wicked outfits, and of course, to sing. Germanotta was a hit at open mike nights from her 14th birthday onwards, putting her budding piano skills to the test.
After a brief stint at art school, Germanotta dropped out, feeling that she was more able than most of her classmates and that the school’s slow schedule was holding her back. She asked her Dad for enough money to cover her rent for a year, and claimed that if her music career never took off, she would move straight back home and attend art school again ‘as a backup plan.’
Early Career
Of course, she didn’t need a backup plan. Her singing abilities immediately attracted attention from Def Jam representatives, and Gaga was signed to the label in 2006. However, after arguments over her musical direction, she was dropped from the label and left on her own again. She wrote music again, and a contact passed it on to executives at Streamline, a subsidiary of Interscope Records.
Career
Once again, Gaga had an opportunity, and this time she refused to squander it. She spent the next year writing songs for other artists at the company, until well-known R&B singer Akon saw great potential in her when she was called in to perform as a reference singer. He immediately signed on to produce her album, and insisted that she partner with some of his close friends.
Those friends happened to be Red One, famed producer and a key aspect of Gaga’s sound. Her own discography of tracks grew, and on 2008, Gaga exploded onto the scene with her hit ‘Just Dance.’ A catchy dance-pop song, it was followed with numerous other singles, and her acclaimed follow up album The Fame: Monster.
Gaga continues to be a force in the music industry, having sold a combined ninety-million singles and albums over the past four years. From her humble beginnings searching for a musical outlet to the top of the world’s biggest pop charts and the stages of the world’s biggest arenas, this pop star, despite her bizarre image, built her success on hard work, hustle, and a belief in her own vision.