Does Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Rip Off Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?

By John Mitchell Posted Feb 11th 2011 12:45PM

People are already going crazy for Lady Gaga's anthemic new single, 'Born This Way.' But we couldn't help but notice that in just about every article or review of the song (not to mention your comments, beloved PopEater readers), people are calling out its similarity to Madonna's 'Express Yourself,' with some even claiming it's a blatant rip-off.

While we wouldn't go that far -- we love Madonna (you have no idea), but people give her so much credit as a pop innovator you'd think she built the first synthesizer with her bare hands -- it's impossible to not see the thematic and melodic parallels between Her Madgesty's pop classic and Gaga's latest club jam.

If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, Madonna should be feeling pretty good this morning. People are loving Gaga's new tune, but the big story that has emerged since its debut this morning is its rather obvious similarity to the Material Girl's 'Express Yourself' (there's also a little 'Deeper and Deeper' in there, too, if you ask us).

Compare for yourself:

The buzz has sent the Internet aflutter, with "Madonna," "Born This Way" and "Express Yourself" all trending on Twitter, and headlines from The Atlantic ("Is Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' a Rip-Off of Madonna's 'Express Yourself'?") to the Washington Post ("Lady Gaga's New Song, 'Born This Way,' Premieres Online. We think Madonna Will Like It") drawing the comparison.

But as Vulture notes, "['Born This Way'] has Gaga, an artist constantly compared to Madonna, cheerfully swiping some melodies from Madonna's 'Express Yourself' -- because this is not the kind of song where that feels like a big deal, or anything much at all seems like a big deal."

Exactly. To us, Gaga's new tune feels like more of an homage than a rip-off. The 'Bad Romance' singer has made no secret of her respect for Madonna, and with that in mind, there's no way the thematic and musical similarities between 'Born This Way' and 'Express Yourself' were not purposeful. With its full-on disco swagger and lyrics about self-acceptance, Gaga is taking a page straight out of the Madonna handbook and not apologizing for it.

And why should she? Just about every female pop star -- from Britney Spears and Rihanna to Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera, whose 'Not Myself Tonight' video got raked over the coals last spring for borrowing imagery from the 'Express Yourself' video -- has been accused of aping Madonna at some point. At least when Gaga does it she has the class and pop sensibility to do it right. 'Born This Way' isn't a poor-man's retread of 'Express Yourself'; it takes the feel and concept of that empowerment anthem and ups the ante. Gaga cranks the bass and opens the door to everybody -- and it's something we should be celebrating her for.

'Express Yourself' -- song and video -- remains a high point in Madonna's particular brand of pop culture feminism, and in a lot of ways, it's probably her most successful "message" song. And sure, 'Born This Way' is cut from the same cloth, but who cares? Twenty-two years after 'Express Yourself' topped the charts, it's about time someone dropped a self-acceptance tune that holds a candle to the Queen of Pop's showstopper.

Let's just hope Gaga's likely-to-be-awesome video for 'Born This Way' -- she reportedly already filmed the clip with her 'Telephone' and 'Paparazzi' director Jonas Akerlund, himself a longtime collaborator of Madonna's (he directed her videos for 'Ray of Light,' 'Music' and, most recently, 'Celebration') -- is half as good as Madge's legendary David Fincher-directed clip for 'Express Yourself.'

What do you think, PopEater readers? Do you think 'Born This Way' hews too closely to 'Express Yourself,' or is Gaga simply paying her respects (in the best way she knows how) to the Queen of Pop?

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Tags: Lady Gaga, madonna

Comments

(292)

Friday 11 February

By Andrew

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The fact that it's kinda a rip off doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that it SUX!

By Kim

Exactly what I was thinking....it BLOWS~!

By bigD

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Yeah it's only marginally good. But isn't it funny that everyone is talking about Madonna and not the fact that the song is about a hermaphrodite and she is basically telling the world for the first time!

By scottnsandrac

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LMAO!

By Nico Toscani

I've been saying since she came out that she's nothing more than a second rate Madonna impersonator. Nice to see everybody else is finally realizing it.

By alfredschrader

I never steal songs. Mine are all original:
"LOVE"
My love for youCmaj7, is like two drops of rainA,
that join as oneDmaj7, to climb up to the skyE,
to form a perfect rainbowA of you and meG,
endlessly in loveA.
Your soft touchCmaj7 that melts my heartGm so I forget
the world and see only youEmaj7, my beautiful loveA.

Song by Alfred-

By sharon

sounds like a little jealousy on here im not a fan of lady gaga but i bet shes got more money than any of us..so shes got something goin on..if u dont like dont listen..

By Walter

OMG, Lady Gaga's song sounds slightly similar to Madonnas Express Yourself. Being that this is actually my first time listening to Madonnas Express yourself, and Gaga's Born this way, there's no denying it.

By Natosha

I know! I was listening to it this morning for the first time..and I kept thinking this sounds like something I have heard before and it was on the tip of my tongue! glad someone else was able to put a name to the tune, that was humming in my head after hearing the new one

By moron

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Madonna's is a note ofr note rip of of the staple singers "respect yourself" did they get paid?

By Tell It Like It Is

Madonna is the Queen Of Pop. The original for female Pop music/fashion. Cher is also an original wherein style/fashion. Janet Jackson as well. New artists have no alternative other than to "ape" Icons. Artists would otherwise have 2B creative enough, 2 initiate previously unheard of. Or seen.

By New York

Madonna is sooooooooomuch better in every way.

By Maria

Maybe it's a rip off, but Madonna had the look, Lady Gag is just plain fugley!

By Get Real

Makeup and lighting can do wonders for anyone, but Lady GagMe is utterly hideous.

By Dave

If you don't like it don't listen, I bet Gaga is laughing all the way too the bank, and could care less about the haters. I am not a big fan, but I am not going to slam her, because she does have talent.

By HWeber

A little Madonna and do I here a little Prince mixed in there too

By Robert

I EXPECTED MORE FROM THIS SONG. I LIKE EXPRESS YOURSELF MUCH MORE. This type of song was done by Madonna already so this doesn't sound innovative at all. Since GAGA had said it would blow our minds! I'll stick with Madonna-she is more original and doesn't try to go over the top in her songs to get listeners. Sorry GAGA but Madonna was born this way first.

By Luvguest

I expected more as well. I don't this should have been a dance song. I actually thought it was going to be kind of like the way she sang it at the VMA's

By cl

GaGa's entire persona is a rip off. Her friend wantted to be in the buisness and this was her persona. Her friend died, before her career took off. Then GaGa in fact took the persons and sound. The only difference was her friend was better looking.

By Matt

I absolutely do not think that Gaga is a rip-off. I think her hype carries her. I love her, but I think that this cult following she has now is going to keep boosting her fame and never die. But I do think that people may backlash one day, like what happened to Madonna's sexploitation in the 90s and she had to make a humble album to redeem herself. And BTW, I'm with Luvguest on this one. I thought it was going to be a "rocky" song like "Speechless". I thought all of her new songs (find the tracklisting on Wikipedia) would be "rock-oriented" songs, but I guess not. So far, I'm only excited for "You and I". I loved "Livin on the Radio", but it's not on the tracklisting. :(

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