Released back in 2011, today marks the five-year anniversary of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way LP.
The album, which served as a follow-up to The Fame and The Fame Monster EP, features some of Gaga’s most well-known hits, including the progressive title-track, the controversial ‘Judas’, the jazz-influenced ‘The Edge of Glory’, the underrated pop ballad ‘You and I’, and the masterfully produced and busy ‘Marry the Night’.
Although the pre-Born This Way eras are all extraordinary in their own way, it was during the time of Born This Way that Gaga was really in her element – creating what seemed to be what she had always been destined to create. The album’s rock-infused electronic sound combined with its lyrical content – which explores equality, religion, sexuality and empowerment – all makes for a cohesively solid, dark and confident piece of work. These themes also threaded themselves through the Born This Way Ball, the tour in support of the album, which included five different acts, all of which included social and political commentary infused in the narrative and visuals.
The album was met with both critical and commercial success, reaching number one in many places around the world, including the UK and US, and selling over 6 million copies worldwide. It remains a statement album in 21st century popular music, and was a strong LP that helped continue the industry-domination Gaga started right back when she released ‘Just Dance’ three years prior.
Revisit Lady Gaga’s hit song ‘Born This Way’ below.
