It will be interesting to see if she will still be selling the same number of records and if she still dresses the same in 5 years time.

I think her dress sense adds to the whole Gaga phenomenen but the music speaks for itself, each of her successful singles adds sales to her albums.

the vast majority of pop records have little or no meaning in their lyrics, i rate her because her songs are very likable! i have no agenda here, in fact my grumpiness often procludes me from really enjoying some songs! but gaga's material grabs me , it gets past my barriers and i reckon its damn good pop music.

Would Michael Jackson have sold as many records if he'd never dressed up as a zombie in Thriller? Would Madonna have sold as many records if it wasn't for her cone bra? Would the Beatles have sold as many records if they didn't have the hippie look?

Music is a performing art - how you present yourself matters intensely. There are styles of music where it doesn't matter much (if at all), but the kind of electro-pop Lady GaGa makes is all about flamboyance and glamour.

She's perfectly capable of making acoustic music that I would have bought if she was wearing a jeans and a T-shirt. Just Youtube Captivated / Electric Kiss if you don't believe me.

that's the trouble

For you maybe but not for many others.

What is it about music that makes so many people such narrow-minded snobs? There's only one way lyrics must be written, one way singers must sing, one way performers must dress and if someone doesn't follow the One True Path to Music Authenticity, they're not "real" artists? Ridiculous.

What are you talking about (to the original poster) isn't that comment a bit sexist?

Of course she's sell music is she wore plain clothes. After all she didn't become the most downloaded artist EVER became people like to LISTEN to her clothes...how stupid can you get??

*she'll sell music if* sorry can't edit.

I think she would still be really successful. She is so versatile. Just listen to the Fame Monster and you will hear how good she is. And she is fantastic live. And she is really good with lyrics.

But of course, being as creative as she is doesn't hurt at all

Well her style got her noticed by everyone, myself included. That led me to listening to her album and loving the heck out of it. It's one of the best-produced pop records of all-time (if you include The Fame Monster). If she had just dressed and acted normally I may never have even bothered. Same goes for thousands of others.

This outfit certainly looks brilliant.


http://twitpic.com/10vuu0

Whatever you think of her style, and I love it, The Fame, and it's Monster reincarnation is amazing

Her style made me notice her, but I think I would still like her if her dress sense was more 'normal'. I like her for her talent. Not her wacky hair and outfits.

I'd buy her music regardless of how she dressed but I imagine her image encourages people to go to her concerts. Her elaborate performances and costumes certainly make me want to see her live more so than any other artist.

I'm not sure why her appearance has people overlooking the fact she is a very talented artist. If you really think Gaga wouldn't sell if she dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, then ask yourself how would Beyonce?, Britney?, Kylie?, Mariah? even Madonna have done if they had done all of their videos wearing their casuals...

I think she would.
I like her,she's got talent and I also like things she support.
Her songs are maybe not my fav's but she's a great performer I think.

I think she would still sell, even if her image wasn't so ostentatious. Some of her songs are catchy, and I can understand why people like them.

She would, but probably not as many.

Her wackiness means she gets more attention so more people hear her music, hence more people but it.

The queen of wakiness is Bjork. No contest!

Grace Jones is pretty terrifying too!

That's a close contest. Grace Jones is still kicking around (I have her newest album which is very good... I don't like her old stuff, though). She looks 40 but is 60. She's a 60 year old woman who wears leotards better than Madonna ever can. She is scary, though!

How come so many of these 'Would so and so have done so and so if they didnt do so and so?' threads seem to be popping up at the moment?

They seem rather pointless.

wanting higher quality and artists having something to say is not being a "narrow-minded snob" just not a mindless cretin

Agreed before there was a balance of musicians who made music that had meaning and musicians who made just fun and ridiculously catchy music, in pop. But now it's lop-sided, don't get me wrong I enjoy a catchy pop tune just as much as the next guy, but I appreciate well written songs, that have a story/meaning behind them!

yeah, catchy and fun is great, but a lot of the pop acts today are not catchy and many are certainly not fun, just tedious, bring back Bucks Fizz

Would any female artist sell as many CDs if they dressed in jeans and a t-shirt? Same goes for a lot of male artists, from the dawn of music to the present.

Monumentally ridiculous thread.