Lady Gaga: Bad Romance

Billboard said it, not me. And while I do think this video is stunning, and an artistic and musical triumph. I don't know that it is the best music video of the 21st century, I don't even know if it's Gaga's best video, although it is a masterpiece, a modern day Thriller if you will, and in some ways it's more ambitious than Thriller. Don't sue me, MJ fans.

Bad Romance tells the story of a Russian bathhouse, and Gaga is sold to a group of men who are bidding on her, only to have the highest bidder be murdered by Gaga in an act of fiery revenge. All of this is basically irrelevant to the meaning behind the video itself though. All of this imagery, symbolism and storytelling is just a manifestation of Gaga's experience as a pop star, a product to be sold, and represent the capitalistic exploitation of the female form in every facet of American culture.

"I want your love, and I want your revenge" Gaga sings, and in an interview with Fuse during her Fame Monster days, Gaga claimed that the song is about love so profound that you want someone whole, even their most disturbing traits and qualities. I think that the video represents the complex relationship we have with the patriarchy and with power structures, all with incredible choreography and stellar cinematography that was rarely seen in music videos at the time. Bad Romance is a modern masterpiece and (one of) Gaga's best music videos, and it simply towers over even the best music videos of Gaga's contemporaries.

I appreciate the very nifty costumes but this does seem more like style than substance. The whole thing comes off as rather hollow and soulless while Ostensibly meant to be some kind of artistic statement. After all of these years it almost comes across as a self parody, which is a shame. Especially that goofy spasmodic dance style.

It has to get points for its iconic status. There are still some scenes in here that I appreciate like the flaming bed and skeleton.

This is seriously the most creative, beautiful music video I have ever watched. From directing, choreography, mood... Eveything.

The song, the costume, the drama, gosh it never gets old! This is a true masterpiece!!!

The objectivity of seeing this music video in 2022 is seeing Lady Gaga trying to stand out with the 20/20 knowledge that she will transcend all this outfit weirdness and become a pure icon.