Glam Rock & Lady Gaga Close but no Cigar

Glam Rock on the Rocks

Glam rock fashion and styles purveyed by Lady Gaga and lifted not only from David Bowie but the lesser known pioneers of glam rock Jobriath, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Grace Jones, etc cannot save the music. What has essentially propelled her into instant stardom is much more akin to Madonna, 1980s dance music. At one point, in her quickly evolving career a sense of un predictability was emerging. Her self examination and vulnerability were beginning to show in the form of torch songs and 1970s inspired ballads. Her new record “Born this way” apart from one of the most appalling record art covers, looks simply to be cashing in on the big machine of bland dance music that permeates the modern charts. Glam rock, whatever its meaning and intention to anyone covers a broad spectrum of music that can be lyrically both relevant and superficial at the same time. However the quality of musicianship and sheer pleasure from say a band like The Sweet’s song “ballroom blitz” has proved to be timeless.

Jobriath, from the cover of Creatures of the S...

Image via Wikipedia

Glam Rock | Oh you Cloned Pretty Things

Of coarse many of Lady Gaga’s teenage fans have never seen where she gets the ideas for her fashions. Just Google Jobriath, New York Dolls, Suzy Quatro, Grace Jones, IAMX, (Chris Corner owns the duct tape) and lest we forget the Ziggy Stardust, Alladin Sane lightning bolt. It is really not a problem and cool to emulate these glam rock stars but a little latitude in originality goes a long way. The truth is glam rock as it exists 2011 can only come from bands or artists outside of the mainstream as the music needed to embrace “the look” needs to be hipper than just dance music. Many newer hip hop stars are getting in on the glam rock look. (step in record company stylist approx 5 years behind the times) Much of this stuff is recycled off of what kids were wearing on myspace circa 2006. These ‘street conscious kids” are ‘aware of what they are going through” and can spot the fakers within 20 pixels.

Glam Rock | These Foolish Things

Cover of IAMX

Lady Gaga will rise to whatever sphere she wants as money talks all else walks. However, as true meaning eventually is required in some fashion in the world of art, music, film and lifestyle perhaps one of her many teenage fans will produce what is needed to kick start a new real glam rock revolution. Alternative music is jammed with boring rock bands swathed in expensive denim and $200 trainers. What we need are some artists with something to say and can maybe even dress the part. The modern equivalent to a musical Quentin Crisp, Oscar Wilde could change the scenery of a sold out world to a new emotionally and intellectually charged atmosphere where mediocrity and cloning is punishable (by lack of sale) Whether it be glam rock or not, people are the guide for what is the future of music, fashions and art. Lets hope the bar gets raised out of the basement and into the stardust once again.