Lady Gaga
Her new album makes a statement for the LGBTQ community
Lady Gaga makes LGBTQ stars heard on her new album.
© Universal Music / Brandon Bowen
To mark the anniversary of “Born This Way”, Lady Gaga is releasing a special edition with which she sets an example for the LGBTQ community.
Lady Gaga’s (35) second album “Born This Way” was released ten years ago and has not lost any of its topicality since then. It conquered the chart throne in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain and the USA. In these countries it also stayed in the top 100 for more than 30 weeks. For the tenth anniversary, Lady Gaga is now releasing a digital special edition of the long player on June 25th – not without reason in “Pride Month”. Because with “Born This Way The Tenth Anniversary” the pop icon is celebrating the LGBTQ community.
The title song “Born This Way” is a call to everyone to love themselves for who they are. “I’m beautiful in my way, because God doesn’t make mistakes,” sings Lady Gaga. “I’m on the right track, I was born this way.” In 2011 she turned to her critics as well as to all those who doubt themselves and struggle with insecurities. Over the years, Lady Gaga also became an LGBTQ activist. It is no coincidence that the album also features artists who represent and support the LGBTQ community.
Lady Gaga lets LGBTQ stars raise their voices on her album
In addition to the 14 original titles, the special edition features six songs with newly interpreted versions. These include “Born This Way” by Orville Peck, “Judas” by Big Freedia, “Marry The Night” by Kylie Minogue, “The Edge of Glory” by Years & Years, “Yoü and I” by Ben Platt (27) as well “Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)” by The Highwomen feat. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards.
Orville Peck from Canada, like the German artist Cro, never shows his face, it is always covered by a fringe mask. He has not yet revealed his identity. The homosexual artist stands up for the rights of the LGBTQ community, especially in country music.
US rapper Big Freedia, real Freddie Ross Jr., defines herself as a homosexual man, but prefers the pronoun “she / her”. Big Freedia said in a 2015 interview, “I’m an upright gay man. I love my feminine side. She’s the diva in me. I think gender identity is on a spectrum and that means there are a lot of gray areas ! “
Kylie Minogue is considered an LGBTQ icon
Kylie Minogue isn’t just a pop star, she’s also considered an LGBTQ icon. There are several reasons for this. In interviews, for example, she repeatedly spoke about the fact that she would never question a person’s sexual attitude. The singer also received a lot of attention in 2016 when she through a tweet said that she only wanted to marry her then fiancé Joshua Sasse when there was marriage for everyone. “We can say ‘I want’ if you can too,” she said at the time. A year later, marriage was decided for everyone in Minogue’s homeland, Australia, but their own wedding did not take place: The relationship with Sasse ended in 2017.
Years & Years is the music project of the British artist Olly Alexander, who, in addition to his career as a singer, is also committed to the LGBTQ community. He supports campaigns on safer sex and HIV tests as well as initiatives against bullying. He speaks openly about his homosexuality and the connection with mental health problems due to homophobia.
The song “Yoü and I” is interpreted by Ben Platt. The actor and singer is best known for his role as Benji Applebaum in the first two “Pitch Perfect” films of 2012 and 2015. Platt came out as homosexual in his immediate environment at the age of twelve, but only in public with his debut album “Sing To Me Instead” (2019). The long player revolves around his past relationships with men. “I really hope the time is over when you had to make a big announcement,” he said of his homosexuality on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2019. “It should just be part of your work and part of who you are.”
Lady Gaga’s song “Highway Unicorn (Road To Love)” is a new version by the group The Highwomen feat. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards. The Highwomen are four women who play queer country music and often reverse gender roles in their songs. Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards are two singer-songwriters who are also very committed to the LGBTQ community.