The pop song John Lydon called “genius”
When John Lydon took on the nickname Johnny Rotten in the 1970s, he entirely committed himself to the descriptor. The Sex Pistol turned post-punk frontman turned punk disappointment has continually lived up to the name, throwing nasty criticism towards as many of his peers and predecessors as possible. No artist is safe from his wrath.
Throughout the years, Lydon has shared his disdain for some of the most revered and respected names in the business. He critiqued The Clash frontman Joe Strummer for his champagne socialism, shared his hatred for synth-poppers Depeche Mode, and even suggested that the members of the Rolling Stones were inept and hypocritical. Earning Lydon’s admiration rather than his loathing is a feat few have achieved, but Lady Gaga is one of them.
Perhaps unexpectedly, the former Sex Pistol had nothing but good things to say about the ‘Bad Romance’ singer when he spoke about her during an interview with Absolute Radio. Far from the damning statements he often affords to other artists, he described Gaga as “fantastic”.
“I love it,” he admitted, “The humour in it, absurd imagery, yes of course it uses sex, but in a really witty, clever way.”
Lydon was particularly enthusiastic about Gaga’s talent for pop songwriting. “The songwriting is bang up there, bang up there,” he enthused, “They really are, they are well-crafted, they’re smart and they leave plenty of room for wisdom.” Gaga certainly is one of the best pop songwriters of her generation, penning songs that are equally catchy and creatively engaged.
Throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, Gaga unveiled banger after banger, from her floor-filling debut ‘Just Dance’ to an iconic collaboration with Beyoncé to the self-indulgent ‘Applause’. Each new offering was catchy and radio-friendly, winning her huge commercial success and fast fame, but they were artistic exercises, too.
They were songs about fame and sex, but also about religion and about identity. Beyond the catchiness of her choruses, the songs were expertly crafted. And with each new song she unveiled, Gaga further enhanced her all-encompassing artistry on stages and red carpets. Between red-hooded bodysuits and raw meat dresses, she created a character to go alongside her music, cementing herself as one of the innovative popstars of the era.
Along the way, she won over the admiration of Lydon, particularly with her 2009 single, ‘Paparazzi’. The song was a perfect example of Gaga’s pop mastery. Dark synths underscored Gaga’s soft vocal delivery, while her lyrics told a tale of stardom and stalking. “I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me,” she sang, “Papa, paparazzi.”
Lydon described the song as “genius”, and it’s hard not to agree with him. 15 years after it was first released, the single remains a pop classic. It’s as catchy and slick-sounding as it was in 2009, but it also pushes into themes of celebrity and stardom with a certain self-awareness. Gaga exists within that world, but she also opts to critique and observe it with her work.
While most artists merely hope that Lydon won’t come after them with his unflinching hatred, Gaga has somehow managed to find favour with the Sex Pistols singer. Her daring yet playful approach to pop seems to have won Lydon over, and with just one re-listen to ‘Paparazzi’, it’s easy to see why.
