Going Gaga for Gaga!

written by Emma Bartley

Lady Gaga is well-known for her crazy outfits, beautiful voice, and addicting songs. But Lady Gaga is much more than her music; she can be an inspiration to us all. Here’s why!

“If you were to ask me what I want to do – I don’t want to be a celebrity, I want to make a difference.”

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Germanotta in 1986 in New York. She learned to play the piano at just four years old, and at the age of 11, she was accepted to the Julliard School. However, she chose to attend a private Catholic school, studying music and performing still. She wrote her first piano ballad at 13, and she held her first performance at 14.

Later she was granted early admission to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts – one of only twenty students in the world to receive the honor of early acceptance. Later though, she withdrew from school to find creative inspiration and took three jobs to make ends meet.

In 2005, Lady Gaga was signed by Def Jam Records but was dropped in just a few months. This pushed her to perform on her own in venues in NYC. At this time she began her experimentation with fashion.

“At the end of the day, who I really and truly am is a little girl who loved to play the piano.”

In 2007, at the age of 20, Gaga began work at Interscope Records as a songwriter for artists including Britney Spears and New Kids on the Block. She began to write and record her debut album, The Fame, and her debut single “Just Dance” became popular in 2008. She reached No. 1 on the pop charts in January 2009. And with her second single, “Poker Face,” she earned even more fame.

Lady Gaga released three different albums by 2013, and when her third album didn’t do as well as her others, she and her manager parted ways.

In 2015, she showcased her talent for acting as well in American Horror Story and won a Golden Globe for her acting. During her acceptance speech, she thanked her cast members and the producer for their support in her pursuing her first dream (acting) before she had embraced music.

In October 2016, Gaga released her most recent album, Joanne, named after her aunt who died of lupus before Gaga was born.

“Returning to your family and where you came from, and your history…this is what makes you strong. It’s not looking out that’s going to do that – it’s looking in.” -Lady Gaga on Joanne

Now, Gaga is looking to pursue her career in acting, choosing to be credited in films under her name Stefani Germanotta, rather than Lady Gaga.

“Once you start being mindful and really going, ‘Do I actually want that?’ you start to feel empowered and you find your value.”

While Lady Gaga has always seemed to have success, through all this, she has had many struggles. She says she often relates to her misfit fans because she “felt like a freak” growing up. She was bullied as a child and still faces strong opposition for her eccentric behavior. And yet, through it all, she remains positive. Lady Gaga counts her blessings; she is confident with who she is and has a positive mindset. She uses her fame to help others rather than to benefit herself.

“Kindness is a free currency from a well that will never dry up.”