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)

Saturday 12 February

By angela

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Madonna is original? lol. Far from it.

Friday 11 February

By JBaer

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Why shouldn't Gaga rip Madonna off? Hell--everybody rips everyone else off these days.

By tenringer

So, if people are ripping off others, this somehow justifies Gaga doing it? That is the LAMEST excuse on the planet! Stealing is stealing. Have an original thought for once....oh, yeah, that would take effort and talent!

By THedlund

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People have been ripping each other off for centuries! Who gets ripped off? People with talent! Gaga is a hack who barely landed a recording contract because her voice was as melodic as grinding a gearbox. Madonna's talent is self-marketing, and apparently, that's Gaga's only talent too.

By CJ

2 wrongs still don't make a right.

By Mark

I like GaGa but would have liked to hear somthing a little more Original after all I think most of her fans like her because she is diffrent and has that edge. Don't get me wrong if she is going to imitate someone Madonna's a good choice and then agin we could all go out and by Madonna's cd instead let's all hope that the rest of her new cd has something to offer.

By Nikola Dragic

Yes, it's rip off! It's gonna be long ride for Gaga to get where Madonna was and is right now!

By Ian

GaGa is nothing but a Madonna rip off. Huh! Where have I seen a bisexual blonde who has racy, wearing hardly anything in videos and sings about sex. Oh yeah! 25 years ago and that was Madonna.

By randy

more like boy george if you ask me

By kelsey

Most pop songs are about sex... and most pop stars hardly wear anything in their videos. I don't exactly see why this is a big deal. Everyone does it. Madonna wasn't the first and only, and Gaga isn't the last.

By PeaNut Butta

I'm a fan of both Madonna and Gaga, not crazy fanatical but I like a lot of their songs. I would say that yes, of course Madonna is an inspiration for Gaga, but only inspiration and that is what is reflected in her new song. I'm admittedly not over the moon about the new Gaga song, but I wouldn't go so far as calling it a rip-off. All artists (visual, musical, technical) are inspired by someone or something, this is not the first time one artist has influenced another. Usher is clearly influenced by Michael Jackson, but he's not ripping him off.

By Paul

Well, there is a difference. Usher's music doesn't sound anything like Michael Jackson's. His performance may. ie. The dancing, the thematic concerts. But not his songs. Gaga on the other hand, her songs sound like Madonna's. Not "it kind of sounds like hers", it SOUNDS liker hers. And this isn't the first song Gaga has done that sounds almost identical to Madonna's. So yeah, she's "ripping off" more than "being influenced".

By kim

when i heard this song this morning express yourself lyrics started to sing in my head. like wow just wow.. yeah it's like bad express yourself

By Zz

LADY GAGA if you were going to copy Madonna´s Express Yourself you should have learn the lyrics better.. it goes: "DON'T GO FOR SECOND BEST, BABY"

TOTAL RIP OFF.
Very dissapointed,expected at least something original.

It´s not about inspiration...It´s about COPYING.

By shawnn

Another no talent, wanna be loser. Get some originality. Madonna has already done the over the top outfits, etc, what this thing does is nothing but cheap imitation. Right down to the vocal! I mean...I can sound like Madonna, or Shania, or Leann, or whoever, as long as I sing along to them enough. Crawl back into your hole honey, you are a no talent loser

Madonna has never worn the type of outfits you see Gaga wearing. If anything, Gaga is more like Cyndi Lauper but no, people are so brainwashed to believe that Madonna is this innovative female artist that all female singers want to be like now that they're too lazy to think outside the box for once of the other women who inspire and influenced music.

By Sheila

I think her voice sounds just like Madonna's, especially in the spoken part. As for the song sounding like "Express Yourself", I was only able to hear a portion of it and thought it sounded similar, but not exact. To each his/her own I guess.

By Diana

*** Exactly !.

By PN

No, it doesn't even sound like Madonna's Express Yourself at all to me. It's got its own dance song structure. She's obviously influenced by Madonna, but Lady Gaga's song is quite good. I love the energy and spirited feel in this song, just builds up momentum at the 2 and 3 minute mark of the song! Very uplifting in the lyrics. And she's singing much better too!

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