“Don't you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can't be exactly who you are.” – Lady Gaga
Singer, songwriter, actress and fashion icon, Lady Gaga rose to world fame and took the entertainment industry by storm. Her momentum doesn’t seem to be letting up any time soon! Here are 45 facts about Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga Facts
1. Start Spreading The News
Lady Gaga was born on March 28, 1986 in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York. Her real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta and she has a younger sister who currently attends fashion school in the city. I’m surprised “Lady Gaga” is actually the less extravagant name.
2. Born A Winner
Gaga was playing the piano by age four, wrote a ballad by 13 and was performing at music open mic nights by 14. She took on lead roles in high school productions like Guys And Dolls and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I got a participation award once.
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
3. The Simple Life
Starting at age 11, Gaga attended Covenant of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Private School on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Her Classmates included reality stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. She was considered eccentric in high school and was often mocked and labeled a misfit. So, would you rather take Gaga’s, or Hilton’s path to fame?
4. All Or Nothing
In an effort to concentrate on her music career, Lady Gaga left the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at 19. She would go on to later start a band that became popular in certain New York club scenes. Eventually, she connected with noted music producer Rob Fusari.
5. Business And Pleasure Don’t Mix
Producer Rob Fusari and Gaga were said to be dating in 2005 while the pair worked on music together. He also claimed to have come up with the “Lady Gaga” persona.
Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
6. What’s Up, Doc?
Bugs Bunny is Lady Gaga’s favourite cartoon character, but she was obsessed with My Little Pony toys. Talking about the toys, she said: “I was obsessed with the idea of a creature that was born with something magical that made them the misfit in the world of the stallion.”
Justin Higuchi, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
7. Better Than A Genie In A Bottle
Gaga studied at Julliard and is trained in classical music. One of her vocal coaches also trained Christina Aguilera.
8. Ghostwriter
Just after signing with Interscope Records on her 20th birthday, Gaga was busy co-writing songs for label-mates like Jenifer Lopez, Pussycat Dolls, Fergie and New Kids On The Block.
9. Inspirational Words
While ghostwriting music for other stars, Gaga had a conversation with industry veteran Akon, who encouraged her to work on her own music. It was at this point that she took a career as a singer more seriously.
Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images
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10. It’s All In The Name
Lady Gaga goes by many nicknames, the main ones being: Mother Monster, Gagaloo, Loopy, Rabbit Teeth and Little Mermaid.
Carlos M. Vazquez II, Wikimedia Commons
11. Never Doubt Me Again
In the later half of 2007, Gaga admitted her label had concerns about her being too racy, underground and dance-oriented for mainstream audiences. Her response to this was: “My name is Lady Gaga, I’ve been on the music scene for years, and I’m telling you, this is what’s next.” I need this level of confidence…. and talent.
12. All We Hear Is
The inspiration behind Lady Gaga’s name is the song ‘Radio Ga Ga’, by Queen.
13. Autocorrect Changed My Life
Her producer had sent a text message that was to read “Radio Ga Ga”, but autocorrect changed ‘Radio’ to ‘Lady’. After receiving this, Gaga replied with, “that’s it”. At least half of you are turning autocorrect back on right now.
14. What’d You Just Call Me?
Lady Gaga’s natural hair colour is brown. She dyed it because someone had once mistaken her in an interview for singer Amy Winehouse.
15. If You Liked It, Then You Should Have Put A Wig On It
“I need a chemical haircut because my blonde hair is falling out”, Gaga stated to People magazine in an interview where she discussed her hair loss due to over-dying. Calling it now that she will rock the bald look at some point in her career.
John Bauld, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
16. Lights, Camera, Action
The Mother Monster’s favourite film director is Martin Scorsese.
17. Got Yourself A Gun
Gaga’s earliest professional acting credit is as an extra in a 2001 episode of the hit show The Sopranos. Her role was “Girl at Swimming Pool #2”. I think she’s big enough now to get real names and lines in all her acting work.
18. Wardrobe Malfunction
In 2008, Gaga made an appearance on an episode of The Hills. The zipper on her cat suit broke right before stepping on set and the show’s stars, Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port helped fix it. Where were they for Janet Jackson?
19. I’m Gonna Have To Give You A Ticket
While in Chicago, Lady Gaga was once cited for indecent exposure for wearing hot pants in public. Karma probably caught up to the cop when their kid asked for money to go to the Lady Gaga concert.
Gareth Cattermole, Getty Images
20. The Red Meat Carpet
Lady gaga made waves during the 2010 VMA’s by showing up to the red carpet in an outfit made entirely of meat. The dress weighed roughly 50 lbs. and was said to be made of cheap cuts of meat when analyzed by a New York butcher. If you’re getting married soon, consider the meat suit for those trendy and chic wedding photos.
21. Born This Way
Gaga has always been outspoken about her sexual orientation. The song ‘Poker Face’ is largely about her being bisexual and the name of her male alter ego is Jo Calderone.
22. We All Have Regrets
According to Lady Gaga, losing her virginity was a regrettable experience. She once said: “I didn’t lose my virginity until I was 17. But I have to say even then I wasn’t ready and it was an absolutely terrible experience.”
Steve Baker, Wikimedia Commons
23. Home Is Where The Tea Is
Gaga has often been seen in public holding a saucer and teacup. She does this because drinking tea is something her and her mother do regularly and doing it in public makes her feel at home.
24. All In The Family
Gaga’s sister, who is a fashion designer, has made several of the stars craziest outfits. But one of the singer’s favourites was a pink dress with a giant bow at the waist that she wore during a benefit concert.
25. Sisterly Love
Gaga’s sister, Natali Germanotta, made a cameo in the music video for the 2009 hit song, Telephone.
26. Phone Tag
The song Telephone was originally written for Brittney Spears and was supposed to be on her album, ‘Circus’.
27. Music Royalty
Lady Gaga has said that she believes Brittany Spears is the queen of pop.
28. Global Phenomena
The 2010 album, The Fame Monster, went on to become the best-selling album worldwide that year.
29. Puff, Puff, Write
Gaga admits that she smokes weed during the creative process of writing songs.
30. Fashionista
As a noted trendsetter and fan of fashion, Gaga made her catwalk debut in 2011 during a Paris fashion show for designer Nicola Formichetti.
31. Remember The People Who Made You
Lady Gaga loves her fans. During a record store signing, Gaga ordered $1000 worth of pizza for the people who had waited for her outside. Next time I know she’s in town, I’m sitting outside her appearance and saving my lunch money.
32. Success Is My Middle Name
The debut album ‘The Fame’ was a huge success for Lady Gaga. It produced international number-one hits like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”, hit no. 1 in Canada, the UK and other countries and earned Gaga 6 Grammy nominations.
33. Under One Roof
Gaga has dubbed her entire crew as the “Haus of Gaga”. This includes visual artists, dancers, sound artists, and stage and clothes designers. She knows how to make everyone feel loved.
34. I Minored In Lady Gaga
The University of South Carolina offers a full-time course on the Mother Monster. The program is called “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame”. The official description is to “dissect the sociologically relevant dimensions of the fame of Lady Gaga with respect to her music, videos and other artistic endeavours.”
35. The Lowest Point
Having admitted to being a former addict, Gaga said: “It petrifies me when I think about laying in my apartment in New York with bed bugs and roaches on the floor and mirrors with cocaine everywhere.”
36. Nobody Asked For This
A London-based company created an unofficial ice cream flavour named ‘Baby Gaga’ in which a main ingredient is breast milk. When asked what her thoughts on the product were, Gaga replied: “nausea inducing”. Is this ice cream or a Fear Factor stunt?
37. What’s That Scent You’re Wearing?
Lady Gaga released an official perfume called ‘Fame’ in August 2012. Semen and her own blood were a base for the scent, but the overall smell that she was going for with the final product was that of an “expensive hooker”.
38. Let Me Put My Face On
According to official sources close to Gaga, she will not leave a hotel room unless in full makeup.
Lukas Maverick Greyson, Shutterstock
39. Superstar Ink
With 14 tattoos and counting, Lady G loves expressing herself through permanent ink. The tattoo on her inner left arm is a quote from her favourite philosopher, Rainer Maria. It reads: “In the deepest hour of the night, confess to yourself that you would die if you were forbidden to write. And look deep into your heart where it spears its roots the answer and ask yourself; must I write?”
Miguel Villagran, Getty Images
40. Close To The Chest
She has a heart tattoo on her left shoulder that says “Dad”. She got this during her North American Monster Ball tour while her dad was having heart surgery. She expressed her obsession with her dad’s health in an interview with Vogue and constantly asks her mother if he continues to smoke.
41. One Sided
Gaga is only tattooed on one side of her body at the request of her father. She said, “he asked that I remain, on one side, slightly normal. So I only have tattoos on my left side.”
42. The Last Laugh
Having been a victim of bullying in school, Gaga had some choice words in an interview for her cover story for Vogue magazine. She told them, “They used to call me ‘rabbit teeth’ in school and now I’m a real live Vogue beauty queen.”
43. Haters Gonna Hate
Gaga even faced doubt in previous relationships. She once said, “I had a boyfriend who told me I’d never have success, never be nominated for a Grammy, never have a hit song and that he hoped I’d fail.” In response she said, “Someday, when we’re not together, you won’t be able to order a cup of coffee at the [redacted]ing deli without hearing or seeing me.” The moral here is to always be supportive of your significant other.
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images
44. Worth A Thousand Words
In 2010, Lady Gaga was brought into the Polaroid family as creative director. Her major contribution was a pair of glasses with an outward facing display.
45. Effortless
The mega-hit ‘Born This Way’ was written in only 10 minutes. This single sold over one million copies on iTunes in less than 6 days.
