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?

Chime in on Facebook!

Tags: Lady Gaga, madonna

Comments

(292)

Friday 11 February

By Gspokely

Vote down Vote up Report this

Does not sound anything like it!!!! Songs are going to sound alike..... Geez! Christina A, has been copying Madonna for years, it's kinda impossible not to!

By Deisara

I heard both of the songs and to be honest i see some similarities, especially the beats, but the lyrics are different. Madonna is singing about love and a guy and Gaga is sending a messange to those of all race and sexual orientation so they ARE different. Lets face it their are goin to be similarities in music; artist especially. In reality i dont care i love both songs and both artist, so what if they sound the same? It happens, artist are always remaking songs, and changing them and a bunch of other things so whatever.Dont take it personally or make a big fuss if Madonna isnt suing for copyright claims then its not a proble.

By The Real Born this Way

The winner of round #1: BrITney

By Karen

Sounds a little bit like "Express Yourself," but it isn't the same as George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" ripoff of "He's So Fine." There are only eight notes in a scale and if you're in the same genre and using the same beat, there's bound to be some overlap. If we like the song and Madonna isn't screaming "plagerism!" then we should just enjoy.

Besides, I'm pretty much for any popular medium that encourages people to just be themselves and be okay.

By PacoGerte

Madonna was the biggest rip-off artist there ever was! She stole every idea she ever had from someone hipper - albeit more obscure. She innovated nothing, created nothing, and everything she has done has been pre-calculated and sterile. Her music is devoid of heart and especially soul. That being said, Gaga is awful.

Thursday 03 March

By Frankie

It reminds me of the following songs:
Madonna - Experss yourself
TLC - Waterfalls
Madonna - Voque
Morcheeba - Rome wan't build in a day
Madona - Future Lovers
But I still like it. It is like a mashup :)

By Marsha

I must admit, it definitely does sound Madonna-like. And yes it does bring Express Yourself to mind, however I think that was purely incidental.

I think I must have matured. I know that many people love Gaga. I wonder if I would have liked her more had I of been in my teens as I was when Madonna hit the scene? I liked almost everything Madonna put out, up until her more recent stuff.

By GO

The song isn't the only thing that Gaga 'got' from Madonna. Are we sure they aren't actually the same person?.... you can do amazing things with make-up and PhotoShop....

Just sayin'....

By Linda

Who cares!!!!

By erin

Agreed Linda!

I don't like this song by Lady Gaga. I hate when singers get political. Plus on top of it all, she is a copy cat.

By Kiki

DUH! And Alejandro was a rip off of la Isla Bonita. Madge will either wreck her or get even richer off of her. I hope for a collaboration actually! GAGA and Madonna now there is a show!

By None Ya

Wow... ummmm these are like the sameeee... to bad Gaga's is badddd... OMG I'm not a hater but I really don't like that song... uggghhhhh...

By Marie

Not the first time she's done this. Her "Alejandro" is a rip off of Madonna's "La Isla Bonita and Ace of Base's "Don't Turn Around..."

By Tom

I like this song and yes it does sound a lot like Express Yourself but then who hasn't made their music sound like someone else's. If you like this type of music...A LOT is taken from ABBA...I seem to remember Madonna stealing an ABBA tune too!

By John

Madonna didn't STEAL that ABBA track. She paid them for it. In fact, she talked about them constantly when promoting her album. If she stole it, she'd have not said anything.

By Heather

i just want to remind people that madonna stole abbas gimme gimme gimme riff for one of her songs. so what? artists recycle music allllllll the time. if gaga is inspired by madonna who cares that she used the same riff? she adding inspiration into her own creativity.

John needs to lighten up....weather she paid or whatever...it's still not her "tune" which is what I was getting at...so what if the beat is like EY....both songs have merit...

By tom

whoops...just saw...should be whether....not weather...just happened to be watching the news and weather report when I wrote that!

Sunday 13 February

By Nelly

Madonna BOUGHT that tune. Now a lot of artist buy the sample or the music to use it in it's own songs. If you pay for them it's ok because you are paying the person who create the song.

Lady Gaga is just stealing.

Page 5 of 15