Everyone on the planet has listened to, or is familiar with the name Lady Gaga. One of the most interesting, thought-provoking, inspiring artists that has risen within the 21st century, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, has made more transformations within her career since her major debut in 2008. From meat-dresses, bleeding in fake blood on stage, wearing lavish condom outfits, and much, much, much more, Gaga has transformed music in countless ways. One way that she has done so is broken into new territory genre-wise. The 29-year old songstress teamed up with legendary singer Tony Bennett to cover a series of songs to create the jazz masterpiece "Cheek to Cheek." The album, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and winning a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, is a treat. Having never listened to jazz before, I obtained this album unaware of what was to come. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga covering songs that have aged 50+ years? Will this be good or not? Once listening, all of my preconceived notions blew away like the wind as I delved into this perfectly tuned album. I love it so much so that I I hope there will be another. These are the six reasons why:
1. The First One Did Me Good
From this single "Anything Goes" from the musical of the same name, the title track written by Irving Berlin, and the swingin "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" by Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, the album had the jazz standards down pat. The first album is one that someone could dance around to, do homework, and not have to skip a single song. The cohesion of the songs are effortless and it is a like breeze to Mr. Bennett and Ms. Gaga to belt out song by song.
2. Tony and Gaga Are a Dream Duo
Though they are at complete opposites ends of the spectrum before their coming together, this duo is music to anyone's ears. They harmonize so beautifully together and the chemistry through the songs is genuine. It is also cute when they change the lyrics in the songs to fit each other. Like when Gaga sings "Tony" or Bennett sings "Gaga"; it makes the songs more personal and jazzy, like music in the 30's. One has to see them both live because it will make the biggest hater of Gaga or Tony shed a tear.
3. Shows Off Gaga's Talent
Lady Gaga had immense talent before she released the album with Tony. Four successful albums with a countless number of number one singles, Gaga has showed that she could do anything. She has had countless tours and she is one of the very few artists nowadays that can sing live, debatably better than her recorded tracks. Releasing another jazz album would show even more that Lady Gaga can really do anything when it comes to the music industry.
4. She Has Been Teasing New Material
If you follow Gaga on anything and everything on social media, you would know that she has been teasing new material. It kills me when I see a media on Instagram of her at the piano, becoming giddy, and then realizing that the video has no sound. Crafty bitch. Nevertheless, Lady Gaga could be working on some tunes of the jazz variety. She also has been putting "LG5" in a lot of her posts throughout the web. Is it another pop album? Jazz album? How about a rock album? Who knows. All we know is that she is working on something.
5. Meshing Genres Has Become Huge
Artists can show their true versatility within their music. Some artists have gone rap to rock, country to pop, and everything else in between. Whether it be their lyrics or their sound, changing genres has been a big thing within the music industry. Lady Gaga has already done it once and many times before in her past albums, why not do it again? Though Lady Gaga is also progressive thinking and has initiative, she could change into any style and still crack out brilliantly sounding hits.
6. We Need New Music
Every Lady Gaga fan NEEDS and YEARNS for new music from this beautiful creature. Anything new will do. ANYTHING.
If she does not end up making another jazz album, we always have her album with Tony Bennett "Cheek to Cheek".
