After defending “Born this Way” to critics who say the song is strikingly similar to “Express Yourself” for maybe the 40th time, Lady Gaga kinda lost her temper earlier this week in an interview with NME. “That’s retarded. If you put the songs next to each other, side by side, the only similarities are the chord progression. It’s the same one that’s been in disco music for the last 50 years. Just because I’m the first f—ing artist in 25 years to think of putting it on Top 40 radio, it doesn’t mean I’m a plagiarist, it means I’m f—ing smart. Sorry.”
Damn, girl. Gaga apologized 24 hours later, in a statement released to PerezHilton.com. “To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional. An honest mistake requires honesty to make.”
I get that retarded is a totally offensive word depending on the context, but it’s still a WORD. It doesn’t solely exist as oppressive slang. It’s a word that has meaning other than calling someone mentally retarded. Which she didn’t do. She didn’t say, “My song isn’t a rip off of ‘Express Yourself’, you’re retarded.” She didn’t say, “Only a mentally retarded person wouldn’t be able to make the distinction between the two songs.” Retarded, retarding, retardant – it means delayed. Slowed. In her case, she clearly meant, “This train of thought is unevolved.” We all know that. Of course, there are a number of ways she could’ve better EXPRESSED HERSELF, but being defensive and brash during an interview is hardly a federal crime. Gaga may have been inarticulate in expressing her anger, but she’s hardly a public enemy of the mentally disabled. Let’s just accept her apology and stare at pictures of her wearing cone boobs, K?
Exactly!! Well put!