Lady GaGa reminds me of when I was a DJ on WRKS, 98.7 KISS FM, New York City and Madonna first appeared on our musical sonar in the early 1980s.  The fashions, the hair, the quirkiness and the self-deprecating  independence and the future (or present) movie deals.

I think she really CAN sing too! And without the electronic enhancements so many of today’s Pop acts employ. So if you loved the album and are an electronica fan, you will surely dig these remixed versions.

On “Marry The Night” –  remixed by The Weekend & Illangelo – her voice hits  Donna Summer-ish notes at about 2:33 into it after a lull, and that in and of itself is  a huge compliment to any singer of popular party music.  Every time I listen to it I wonder if it isn’t really Donna guest-dubbing amidst the drum and bass beats!   Lady G doesn’t need hype from me, she is already an intergalactic superstar who is probably heard on that new ‘Earth-like planet’ that Astronomers recently discovered!  So I will comment from the perspective of a veteran disc jockey who loves to see people move their feet to-the-beat.  

With chucks from the time you press “play”,  “the Remix” captures you like walking by a lively pub happy hour after a hard day at the office.   I really dig cut eight, “Scheibe” (Guéna LG Club), because it can jump-start the party, has a  soulful mix-into bridge-break complete with background “ah-huh“s to play with and a solid beat-to-cold ending.  “Americano” simply is intercultural flava, the way international techno playboys like it!

Track twelve, another reworking of  the lame single “Judas” that I received last summer, is a favorite standout  attention-getter via the Hurts remix!  Upon continuous listen, it will always mark your mind, yet is not exactly dance fare.  “Born This Way”, the title track which plays-out on cuts one and thirteen, has LGBT anthem written all over your face. “Don’t be a drag just be a Queen/don’t be a drag just be a Queen” is a hilariously well-timed subtitle lyric!

When I receive “remixes” in the mail, I always file them in a separate CD bag with an ear towards the “drop-in” during a night’s work.  This CD is already in that category.  There is much music to work with among these fourteen GaGa tracks for the casual and professional selector.

I’d like to hear your comments about Lady Gaga and her meteoric rise on the charts!  Is she a worthy songstress?  How does she compare to the late Amy Winehouse, who is often spoken about within the same sentence?