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Madonna, Lady Gaga 'Born This Way': Icon Speaks Out Over 'Familiar' Tune

Posted on Jan 13th 2012 10:55AM by Contessa Gayles
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Lady Gaga, MadonnaDimitrios Kambouris, WireImage

Back in April, Lady Gaga broke down in tears as she addressed allegations that she copied Madonna's 1989 classic 'Express Yourself' with her chart-topping hit 2011 anthem 'Born This Way.' While acknowledging the pop icon's influence on her work, Gaga was adamant in her dismissal of the allegations, calling them "completely ridiculous."

Now Madonna herself has broken her silence on the controversy in an interview with ABC's '20/20,' saying: "There are a lot of ways to look at it. I can't really be annoyed by it or insulted by it, because obviously, I've influenced her."

When asked specifically whether she thought the new kid on the block was biting off her own material, the 'Material Girl' replied, "I certainly think she references me a lot in her work. And sometimes I think it's amusing and flattering and well done."

The 53-year-old superstar also acknowledged that history repeats itself and art is recycled, noting that Gaga's work is a "statement about taking something that was in the Zeitgeist, you know, 20 years ago and turning it inside out and reinterpreting it."

Prodded further about the similarities between Mother Monster's 'Born This Way' and her own 'Express Yourself,' Madge recounted the first time she heard Gaga's tune. "When I heard it on the radio ... I said that sounds very familiar." She continued, "It felt reductive."

After calling Gaga's music "reductive," do you think Madonna was paying the singer a backhanded compliment ... or was she passive–aggressively calling her out? Leave your thoughts below.

Watch Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Video

Watch Madonna's 'Express Yourself' Video


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soi7

Madonna is the biggest ego maniac narsisitic perosn, i ve seen in a long time, she can not let go, she is OLD news move aside and let the fresh artist have a turn, maybe every 5 years come out and say hello and go back inside, give it up and learn how to give other people credit in life, you had your time , move on!!
jerk!

February 25 2012 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
claudia silva

madonna was right. gaga disresct madonna.madonna was always so nice to her, doing SNL and stff. and gaga just uses express yourself sample...but the problem is not that ..the problem is that gaga said BTW was a homage to whitney..she never mentioned madonna.... never... and more she said BTW doesnt sound like express yourself.is she kidding?

January 13 2012 at 12:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nonretrogirl

To know exactly what Madge is thinking, is trying way too hard. But I think that every auteur wants, needs and will always expect to receive due credit for what they have accomplished in life, specially if they did put it out there in the first place. So, Lady Gaga has a lot to account for. She's not an original. She just likes to dress up and use other people's stuff. I'm not freaked by her freak show.

January 13 2012 at 12:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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