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Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro”: A Guide to Madonna References

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We probably don’t have to tell you that Lady Gaga’s long-awaited “Alejandro” video premiered today at noon. The music media has already puzzled over the themes: Holocaust? (Yes, definitely.) Vampire? (Less substantiated, but the imagery certainly lends itself to that interpretation.) Holy war? (Well, all that Catholic imagery must mean something…) Haters are hating. Overanalyzers are overanalyzing. Us? We’re just geeking out over the number of Madonna references Gaga managed to pack into the video. Obviously, there’s the sex, the black-and-white cinematography (which ’90s Madge was so fond of), the feminized male dancers. But there’s a lot to take apart on a shot-by-shot level, too. Is it Lady Gaga “straight up MURDERING Madonna,” as Videogum suggests? We’re not sure. All we know is she’s definitely attempting to up the ante. Watch “Alejandro” and follow along as we enumerate the Madonna references after the jump.

Opening shot: Dude in fishnets and bondage-tastic army hat. Are the stockings a nod to Eddie Izzard, or perhaps Rocky Horror? We’ve seen that hat fairly frequently on Madge, and perhaps most recently in the video for 2003′s “American Life“:

Of course, if Madonna’s Third Reich references have some subtlety to them, Gaga’s is blatant and over-the-top. Guys in Nazi uniforms at the cabaret? Check. Dudes goose-stepping in corsets and underpants? Why not?

We’re not sure what’s happening on the left side (an Illuminati pyramid? Conspiracy theorists, go to it!), but we’re pretty sure that behind the Abu Ghraib-style hooded figures, there’s a super-sized crown of thorns in the center (obscured a bit, above, by the burst of light) and a Star of David. Kabbalah-loving Madonna would be proud to be represented.

Where’d Gaga get the steampunk headdress and eye pieces? Remember Madonna’s Metropolis-themed ”Express Yourself” video?

We’re guessing Gaga read Foucault’s Discipline and Punish at NYU and knows all about the power of all-seeing eyes. Meanwhile, Gaga marching, widow-like in front of a coffin is looking very Evita to us:

Like any lapsed Catholic, Madonna’s always had a thing for sacred heart imagery. Here she is holding one in a David LaChappelle photo:

And, uh, here’s the one in Gaga’s hands: Bloody, messy, pierced with nails.

Let’s talk about Gaga’s cropped hair for a minute:

We love it, and we’re seeing “Take a Bow“-era Madonna:

A dictator-like Gaga gazing down at the scantily clad men performing for her…

… reminds us of “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” Madonna, as Evita on the balcony:

Here comes the femme-domme bondage!

Hello, “Erotica.” Yes, folks, that’s Madge tying her man to the headboard:

Now, let’s tackle the Catholic stuff, shall we? Back in 1989, with “Like a Prayer,” Madonna shocked the world by getting (sort of) dirty in church:

In 2010, Gaga is wearing a vinyl leotard with a bright red cross (that we can’t help thinking looks a bit menstrual…) over her crotch.

… and deep-throating a rosary:

Gaga! In Pants! Have we seen it before?

Looking hot in suit pants with heels may have originated with Marlene Dietrich, but it’s Madonna who revived Dietrich’s early gender-fucked fashion statements. Here’s “Express Yourself” again:

Madonna’s “Vogue“-era cone bra?

Meet Gaga’s “Alejandro”-era gun bra:

Gaga. Wants. You.

To “Justify My Love“:

Did you catch any references we missed? Let us know in the comments.

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Comments (63)

The whole shoving and rope scenes are a bit reminiscent of Human Nature.

the music reminds “La Isla Bonita”

“…last year’s ‘American Life’..”? Try 2003.

Brilliant stroll down memory lane *applause for the cause* but I have this nagging feeling in the bottom of my Pop heart, something’s coming over me… sub out the Berlin overtones for a block of Harlem brownstones: Bedtime Stories called and 1994 wants their “Secret” back. The overarching connect between Alejandro and, well, every major Madonna video is high brow Pop – approve.

Thanks, Seanti. Corrected. I guess my boredom with 21st century Madonna shows.

Who was the stylist? Moe Howard of the Three Stooges? All of the dancers have his haircut! You can certainly tell that Jean-Paul Gaultier didn’t work with this mess.

You did not go into Madonna’s ; Drowned World Tour, ReInvention Tour or her latest Sticky & Sweet Tour’s video installations… that were only seen in concert.. Lady Gag Gag rips those also.. Espeically ReInvetion opener!!!!! “The Bed”.. And Madonna used it with Britney on their video together!!

GAGA is not the N.O.T.
MADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMADONNAMAD
She”s a wannabee copycat… WTF

the nude lingerie with black stockings reminds me “4 minutes”

Spanish Civil War References Anyone?

Snow White References anyone?

Oh well… This post could only have been done by some Aguilera screetchy fan who got pissed with the criticism over hat “Not myself tonight” crap. Im am a Madonna fan and not yet completely caught up by the “gagafever” but this is ridiculous. This video for Alejandro has nothing to do with anything from Madonna… Might be just me but i think some of you are pushing it a bit too far….

The “Oh, Father” video figures in, I think, as well–black-and-white, lots of Christian and Freudian imagery, the constant emphasis on falling snow…

Madonna is so inspirational n so beautiful…..lady gaga she so ugly…..to be a pop star….hello……

Lady Gaga is the new Madonna, that’s clear!!
And I belive she made a tribute to Madonna in this video.
Great one.

I’m wondering what it means that LG’s (as well as Madonna’s) video love interests so often adhere to a very obvious gay aesthetic? Is it just marketing? Preaching to the choir? Or are they part of that subculture that likes Captain Kirk-Spock love stories?

Its so boring to fit Gaga to Madonna. They are different. I love Madonna, but i see the new queen is Gaga, cause she is more fresh. As this case we can fit any video to another. Boring and stupid thing…

This is all pretty far-reaching. I mean I love Madonna, but reading the comparisons I’m just like “…what? that looks nothing like the other”
Some actually do, though. The others not so much.

lol, the glasses reminded me of willy wonka more than it did this.
But you see this is why I don’t necessarily call Gaga a copy cat.
Because even though she does take things from artists of the past, she makes it her own. The cone bra for example, she revamped it and made into a gun bra.
Most female pop stars straight up just take from Madonna, and that’s it. But at least Gaga has the decency to mention Madonna being her influence, and puts her own spin in it.

Most of these comparisons are a stretch.
And honestly…I don’t get why people are always saying that she copies Madonna entirely. If anything, she “copies” Grace Jones more than she does Madonna.
So because she’s blond and wears outlandish outfits she’s all of a sudden a carbon copy of Madonna? C’mon now.
Same with Britney Spears. People called her the next Madonna just because she was white and blond, even though she was more Janet Jackson-esque.
And for the record, no Gaga doesn’t think she’s the next Madonna. And she wishes her fans would stop saying that.

Lol, yes. I can just imagine her getting with the director, Steven Klein, and pointing out specific scenes from Madonnas videos to copy. Stop it. People are getting carried away with this copycat bull.

Some of this doesn’t even look similar to each other. I only see similarities with Like a Prayer. Vogue comparisons are just dumb, Madonna did not invent black and white, and she certainly isn’t the first to do that. Everything else there are ZERO similarities.

i’m a huge gaga fan, and i thought this video was kind of crap. totally disappointed. :(

I support the Like a Prayer reference, where Gaga is singing infront of fire just like M was.

the ‘dictator like’ scene where’s she’s looking at the dancers through the window is more “Express yourself” than Evita (although she did the same with the guitar player in “La Isla Bonita”!)

it is madonna from beginning to end, we have seen it all before……………..

she is completely madonna. the difference is that sex/gender in mainstream society has changed so much since madonna’s hayday (and partially to her credit) that gaga has to push the envelope a bit further now that we’re all desensitized so much more desensitized (again, partially to madonna’s credit). booya.

First.

this will probably get me in hot water with the die-hard gaga (and madonna) fans, but: this song is awful. it sounds like *bad* madonna, and i don’t think the video comes close to saving it, though it was a good attempt. i don’t have a problem with all of gaga, so this isn’t just a rant from someone who doesn’t “get it.” it just sounds so… lazy. from beginning to end. i was disappointed (i hadn’t heard the song before watching this vid).

now, a question: is she going to shoot a video for every song on the album? even the crappy/non-single-worthy ones, like “alejandro”? gaga *is* much more arresting visually than musically, so that would be an interesting strategy, and brings into question our definition of gaga.

can she be called a musician when her shtick/art is much more visual than aural? (even hardcore fans i think would admit that her appearance and act adds immensely to — if not supersedes — her music.) i know she plays the piano and writes her own stuff and blahblahblah/gagaga. but “pop stars” don’t seem to focus primarily on their music, instead focusing on spectacle — and i have to put gaga in that camp. she consistently pays more attention to her “persona” than to her music, and “alejandro,” both the song and the video, only add to that argument.

i’ve now officially spent WAY too much time considering this. your turn. i’m feeling a little faklempt; talk amongst yourselves. here, i’ll give you a topic… lady gaga: neither titled aristocracy, nor, some would claim, female. discuss.

lady gaga sucks
copy cat

[...] those of you poring over "Alejandro" for Madonna references, here (thanks, Joe) is a fun list. Most are right on, but some do veer into Madonna Derangement Syndrome [...]

how can anyone say that Gaga is not copying Madonna! It is obvious in the majority of the things she does that she is. Great popstars are original and don’t necessarily have to borrow from others even if its a “tribute” which many of Gaga fans claim this is. Have we seen other superstars play tribute? I can’t recall Michael Jackson playing tribute to anyone or Madonna playing tribute but perhaps that is because they were originators and people who truly cared for their craft and went above and beyond to break the mold and try new things. Something Gaga obviously has no clue about. I am tired of people that are not original getting credit for things that have already been done.

You know what would be great, to see Gaga use just her voice and piano skills and sing ballads that actually showcase her talent. Why the getup and the try to hard attitude? She isn’t original and to be honest, whenever I hear the first few seconds of this song I swear its Ace of Base. Wonder if they have anything to say about Lady G. copying off their melody.

All hail Madonna the queen!!!!!!!!!!!!!\

Gaga is just a pop tart.

Whoever wrote this is correct – complete tip of the hat to Madonna. BUT some of the references were not correct. The stuff on the bed (which is HOT) is more of a reference to a W magazine photo shoot from 2003 which was also shot by – wait for it – Steven Klein. She also used some of those photos in her re-invention tour.

Now – while I’ll be okay with the idea of Evita on the balcony, I feel the need to remind that Madonna is also in a tower in Express Yourself, and those men dancing/exercising in the rain is a direct image from that video. And yes, it’s from Metropolis (very good again, y’all) but – and go with me here: I think Gaga is actually referencing Metropolis as well. She’s just referencing Madonna’s reference of Metropolis to make her point.

My fave – the NYU Foucault line. Dead on. As an NYU grad, who once took a sociology class called “Sexual Diversity in Society,” you nailed it right thur. Foucault was our, for lack of a better word, hero.

Oh – and I hate to go on, but both Madonna and Michael referenced artists before them. Michael’s favorite reference was Sammy Davis, Jr. So much so that Michael used to go over to Sammy’s house and watch Sammy’s tape and film from his personal performance archives. And if you’re familiar with Sammy, then you can see it.

As for Madonna – many of her references came from Old Hollywood: Dietrich and Marilyn most prominently. I mean, Express Yourself is a complete reference to the film “Metropolis.” The writer of this article was correct about that (and everything else, to be fair). Let’s not forget the movie “Who’s That Girl” is a complete re-telling of “Bringing Up Baby!” These references that are flipped or turned on their side and used to mean more things, are what make these people postmodern artists.

[...] I’m just saying that somewhere in the midst of a socio-political indie short film, and a scene-by-scene homage to immaculate conceptions – and collections – lies a near perfect Pop music video – period. Is pastiche supposed to be coherent? It is [...]

It’s pretty naive to even compare gaga to Madonna. I’m sure lade gaga would like us to think of her in some reference to Madonna but she is a talentless hack with stupid costumes.

Firstly let’s all understand that all artists are influenced by other artists – including Michael Jackson (with the great dancer Cab Calloway), Madonna (if you take the Vogue video she was influenced by the likes of Greta Garbo, Jane Mansfield, Liza Minneli (from Cabaret) to name few)
Point being artists are influenced by other artists however they are also providing their own interpretation as well = which is quite evident in Alejandro. That’s how music evolves ….
The music and the video is sheer brilliance. The fact that everyone is talking about it – Lady Gaga is smiling as that is what her music/art is meant to do – get people thinking and analysing. She is bringing back what the art of music what meant to be – an expression of thought and ideas.
Rather than the mass produced music we’ve been exposed to over the past few years. Bravo Lady Gaga – keep it up!

This is the heart of postmodernism. Taking bits and pieces of different places and make something new, a new story. She is an artist (body art, flexible art in her clothing, performance art, mixed media art), she is a musician, she is a postmodernist en though I don’t like her music, I greatly enjoy the show she puts up for the world.

Obviously copying Madonna, but testing the evolution of the media and the expectations of society. So much more is mainstream now with media than ever was during most of Madonna’s career. The door was opened and I think, even though this is a rip, it is also a celebration of that evolution. Madonna comes out “on top” once again as the one who kicked that door open. Can’t wait to see what’s next! Madonna?

[...] mais: Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro”: A Guide to Madonna References Share and [...]

The video is totally a homage to Madonna, the music is inspired in Ace of Base.

I just saw the video Alejandro, and automatically googled “alejandro lady gaga madonna” to see if someone else noticed!

thanks for posting.

I probably don’t understand anything in art ,but from my point of view Madonna is dirt under Gaga’s nails now artistically and socially. I’m happy that during my life time I witnessed an appearance of GENIUS and it’s not a Madonna, it’s Gaga. Yes , it was all in the air for 20-25 years. However she is the only one who was able to pull it. Others simply did not have artistic genitalia ,that Gaga does have and does not affraid of it.
She plays a very dangerous game. I can only roughly compare- probably Edith Piaf had an equal social-artistic weight in 40s ,that Gaga has now.
Michael and Madonna were had very strict boundaries compare to Gaga.

the Lady gaga’s scene with the methal bed reminds more of madonna’s “The Beast within” song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX73a4HzFPU check it out. At 1.22…

I’m not a gaga’s fan, but after all the coincidence i think it looks like all this similarities were intentional. xD

You can’t be so cheeky if is not intentional. xD

Admittedly, I’m not a huge Madonna fan, but I think she took the role of the pop star to interesting and risky terrains. I also think that her more shocking statements (like the Like a Prayer video) had some artistic merit.

Now, this Alejandro video is risky only from a marketing perspective (and not THAT risky, as Madonna and Marilyn Manson have already paved the way for the shock factor). It seems completely empty artistically. Almost yawned out.
Gay militaristic fascism? That’s been done since the 60′s! And what does her use of Christian imagery add to it all? Nothing, other than a chance to irk conservative America.

And yes, the song sounds like La Isla Bonita. Grafted onto “Don’t Turn Around” by Ace of Base, that is.

I don’t know what Alex N’s been smoking, comparing Gaga to Edith Piaf. Piaf is someone who suffered for her radical brand of art. Gaga ditched art school and became a mega sensation two years later. Talk about tough!

There are so many more interesting pop musicians out today. Cocorosie, Bat for Lashes, Soap&Skin, Fever Ray, Patrick Wolf. Lady Gaga’s about as radical as Gunther and the Sunshine Girls (with a similar Euro pop sound).

Gaga’s not as bad as Katy Perry, but here’s hoping she is inspired by more challenging music than Swedish dance and diva trance.

I think the thing that everyone who think Gaga is less than or ripping Madonna off is missing is that Lady Gaga has a sense of humor! Madonna approves of her, and maybe this IS a tribute, OR maybe it’s also Gaga making fun (even of herself perhaps) and having fun at the same time.

This song reminds me of ABBA’s Fernando.

Lady Gaga’s had fake big teeth with a gap put in to look like Madonna, it’s very obvious from some angles.

WHY on earth are we just focusing on this video???? GaGa has stolen Madonna’s blue print for success full stop! Have you seen her revamped Monsterball tour? There are so many Madonna references its untrue… fine pay homage to your idol but dont imitate her badly! Madonna’s art and music go hand in hand, shes a legend and an icon whos been around 30 years, why else is GaGa theiving everyone Madonna has worked with to create nonsense videos like the one to Alejandro… what on earth does all that rubbish in the video have ot do with a spanish man?? Shes shocking for values sake, Madonna had something to say, something she believed in. GaGa is just throwing anything Madonna did before her into the pan without any coherent thoughts or connection, shes a fraud and it wont take people long to see through her. You only have to look at her now with cropped blond hair, rouge lips and those 1950′s shades… its Madonna post 1987, the black corsets… shes a joke and people today are way to easily pleased, Alejandro’s video is an insult to Madonna and her fans.

she’s copying big time the real question is: Why?
Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery….I’m a child of the 70′s and was around when mtv first came out with vids. Since the 90′s I really haven’t seen much of anything original, everything is been there done that, over and over and over…. The really original stuff was so long ago that most people probably don’t remember. Madonna was the first to do what she did and she did it very well. After this much time I’m not sure why this Lady Gaga feels the need to make an attempt to even come close. All of the songs I have heard are pretty much bubblegum pop and kind of silly so maybe she’s just trying to appeal to silly young girls…who knows

I’m surprised not one person on this thread has even noted the amount of work Steven Klein (the director of Alejandro) has produced with Madonna over the years. Any knowledge of that completely delegitimizes this entire argument.

These are two performers who have collaborated with the same visual artist years apart from one another to produce strikingly similar images. Interestingly enough, these images still shock the hell out of people and they can’t stop talking about it.

i agree with nic, i noticed the part where she’s dancing with the black and white footage and in pants, the editing fading in and out and consistent beat, the way she’s dancing really reminded me of madonna, so did the part where she’s singing on the microphone, just the way she’s moving her head and hands seemed to remind me of madonna too idk

It amazes me how many people actually credit Gaga for being original and inspiring to so many people. It’s all very recycled Madonna to me. I can appreciate her music well-enough, but I take it for what it is, not something new and innovative and SHOCKING.

Ultimately I don’t think there is anything wrong with this kind of imitation. How many Rolling Stones songs can you hear without hearing Muddy Waters etc? It’s kind of the music way. I just wish people would recognize the history and give due credit.

Listen.
Lady Gaga is simply UGLY !!!

There.
I’ve stated what everybody else has been
thinking for years (and you know it’s true).

She looks like that ugly little kid who was
the star of that one show called ‘Blossom’.

Why won’t they both just get a nose
job and their jaw/chin fixed already?

Just because they are rich does not
mean that they also have a right to
go around traumatizing society
with their unattractive faces.

How dare they?!?!

Do society a favor and call
a plastic surgeon already.

Ha ha ha……..that is hilarious! The cheek of ugly , disfigured, gay, old or whatever people….they dont deserve to live..kill em all….ha ha ha infinity…….

[...] all the controversy over whether Lady Gaga is blatantly ripping off Madonna, and — let’s [...]

What a crock of bullshit. Man, you guys are really reaching here. I can’t help but laugh my ass off. lol

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