Exploring Lady Gaga's Musical Influences: A Journey Through 'My Life in 10 Songs
Lady Gaga recently participated in Rolling Stone's "My Life in 10 Songs" video series, where she shared her passion for music by selecting 15 songs across various genres. Her choices ranged from jazz legends like Miles Davis and Dinah Washington to classic rock icons such as Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. She also included alternative rock from Beck and The Cure, soft rock by Carole King, and R&B hits from Stevie Wonder. Additionally, Gaga highlighted the influence of "theatrical" music by David Bowie and shared an interesting anecdote about Iron Butterfly's song "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."
One of Gaga's intriguing picks was Iron Butterfly's 1968 hit, which she revealed was inspired by the band's drunken attempt to sing "In the Garden of Eden." This song resonated with Gaga as it showed her the creative freedom of incorporating nonsense words in her own music, as seen in tracks like "Bad Romance" and "Abracadabra." Gaga also showcased her appreciation for lesser-known acts like Heavy Metal Kids, Justice, She Wants Revenge, and Carl Bean, whose song "I Was Born This Way" directly influenced Gaga's hit single "Born This Way."
Despite the diverse selection of songs, Gaga provided detailed explanations for each choice, emphasizing how these tracks and artists have played a significant role in shaping her musical style and creativity. Through her song selections, Gaga offers a glimpse into the eclectic influences that have inspired her iconic music career.