Ma discussion sans filtre, avec Lady Gaga (VF et VO dispo)

Lady Gaga, c'est great to meet you. Thank you so much for taking the time. Thank you. Your music has shaped so many of our lives. And now you're back with a new album, an album that's revisiting your pop roots. You describe this album as a creative process, like reassembling a shattered mirror. What do you mean with those words?

You know, I think that so much of my early music was inspired by my initial musical inspirations. Like so many of the artists that made me fall in love with music to begin with. And there was a very particular way that I approached songwriting and production. And I did that for my first few albums. And then I started to reinvent and grow in different musical directions. I've always been a student of music, so I've always liked to change. But with Mayhem, I kind of wanted to go back to some of my earlier influences. And also kind of claim for myself as a female musician. Like these are my references. This is my point of view. This is my style of pop music.

And I thought that it could be cool to kind of like put that into one record. And sort of address as well, like the mayhem of like living with a sort of personal chaos where people were trying always to define me as an artist. And I never really liked that. I always felt like I didn't want to be defined.

Do you think that's why you tried like different genres, different things in the past few years?

Yes. And also like maybe why I was afraid to return to it is I wanted it to be my choice. So this is my return to it.

Yeah. And so, yeah, we could see some, like some songs that we listened to the album earlier. And I was like, oh, like some stuff, you know, seemed very new. And other stuff I was like, oh, that's so interesting. You see some echo with like some music you did before. In this album, there's a song called Perfect Celebrity, which I found was very interesting in terms of like lyrics and what it's saying. What is a perfect celebrity?

I think what I'm addressing in Perfect Celebrity is this idea that I think in the world we're in today, there's kind of like two of us. There's the real us. And then there's the clone that we're projecting to the world. And I think a huge part of entertainment actually has become not only like the celebrating of the celebrity, but also like, like, I think criticizing celebrities is like part of entertainment. So that's really what that song is about. And it's, yeah, it's like probably the most angry song I've ever written about fame. Um, I'm like nervous to put it out. Um, but, uh, I think it's beautiful musically.

And, um, it was inspired by like a lot of artists that, um, really like heavily influenced my, my career.

Because it's something where, and I think you've always talked about this, but, um, celebrities are often seen as like not human anymore. It's like a celebrity, it can be like a Nikon. It can be like something, you know, defining a genre or like a culture or something. But like, yeah, you're not seen as like human anymore. Is that something you sometimes feel?

Yeah, I think it's a little bit of both. Like, I, I think I've kind of settled into this part of my life in a way that I was really rejecting for a long time. Um, but in that song, I, I say, um, I'm made of plastic like a human doll. You push and pull me. I don't hurt at all. I talk in circles because my brain aches. You say, I love you. I disintegrate. Sort of also making fun of this idea that, um, maybe for myself, speaking of myself, that there's, there's like a longing. For the public to cheer you on. Um, but like if, if you're inherently living a life of artifice and plasticity, then maybe hearing the words, I love you, makes you melt away.

And at the same time, of course, music is a dialogue and you've talked a lot. I remember, you know, I did a sort of manifesto like about 15 years ago in one of your albums. We're like explaining the way you see music also as a sort of dialogue with your community. And like people who follow you and like your music, they can sort of use this music as the, they have the kings of the music, like shape it and make it what they want. So I guess you also see it as a dialogue with your community.

I, I definitely do. And I, I actually think that's why I wanted to like, not return exactly to this sound, but explore my previous vocabulary in a new way. Because I think I developed like a language to speak to my fans with. And then as the years went on, I like deviated more and more from that. Um, so this was kind of a, a way for me to hopefully communicate with my fans on a deeper level again. And that's been really special to watch. Like when, when, when Abracadabra came out, I remember just feeling like we were speaking in like a secret code to each other. And, you know, that's like, that's magic, you know?

And also, does that mean like, because it's your seventh album after like all those albums, do you still feel like pressure or like even that maybe anxiety? I don't know, like before releasing, releasing a new project or?

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure. I do. I mean, you, I want people to, um, enjoy it, but the most important thing is just for me to be able to make the contribution to the music world. Like that means so much to me. And all you can hope is that you'll make something that will become important to someone's life, um, in a way that's genuine, that like maybe they needed it in a certain moment. Like a lot of what mayhem is about too, is that like the world being a chaotic place and having the ability to celebrate and dance during the mayhem. So I, if it can be something for someone that is like my honor.

Yeah. It felt like this album felt like a sort of a going into a nightclub with you, like doing a whole night or so, so interesting to you. Thank you. Very fun to hear.

I think if, uh, that's like so much when I describe the album song by song, I always say it in one, like in one night. Yeah.

Interesting. And even for us, yeah, and yeah, you've talked about this, um, this, you know, this lyric with this, um, dance or die. What do you put behind those words?

Well, dance or die, it starts out the beginning of the music video. And I think it's almost a little bit of a rhetorical, uh, category, you know, it's, there's really only one option when I say that is that you have to dance. Um, and, you know, on the record, I sing death or love tonight. And this is the, you know, the, the lady in red is like reading you the last few words of your life, um, and saying to you, I'm going to put you to the test tonight. Like, do you have what it takes to keep going? And, um, you know, this could be the most amazing night of your life and you fall in love, or this could be the end of your life.

And, and I think like, that's, there's something about partying that people like walk life on the edge, you know, and like we have too much to drink and we're dancing and partying. It's like, we, we like push things a little too far sometimes. I think the record is also about that too. Like, um, what, like, um, it's a little bit about control and like, like how, how much we lose ourselves to the magic of the night. It's, it's, it's like a Gothic dream. I call the album like a series of Gothic dreams.

which is so interesting. And in, in this music, we've got some, so I could feel some influences, you know, with like Gerser Phil Stein. So he produced, uh, like few songs with you, co-produced some of them. What was it like working with this French artist?

He's amazing. He's really amazing. He's completely rare and unique. Um, I learned a lot from him. Uh, I enjoyed so much, like, just like talking about music with him and, um, just like an art as well. Uh, but you know, we made some music together that some of my favorite music I've ever made. And I'm really excited for people to hear a killer on the record because I think it's very different for both of us, actually.

Um, super interesting. You could feel like sort of mix of your style and his style in this song. That was very, very good. Thank you. Um, looking back, back at the fame in 2008, um, which marked, of course, the beginning of your global success at just 22 years old, um, how did you cope with such a rapid rise at the time? And, you know, beyond the awards and everything at the time, what was, you think, the hardest part of handling fame at such a young age?

I think it was how isolated I got, and I think it was hard to also, like, not have that many friends. Like, I was kind of on my own and mostly surrounded by, um, a lot of people that wanted things from me. So, like, relationships became kind of transactional. And I don't think anybody can live their life in that way. I think, you know, we need realness and, um, authentic relationships in order to move forward. And it's also, it was not good for my artistry either. You know, like, like, life is what inspires you to make poetry and make music and make art. Uh, so I think the more narrow my life became, the more that it kind of was orbiting, like, fame and my career.

Yeah, like, there's no balance anymore. It's just, like, about the whole.

Yes, it kind of took me away from reality. And then I started to sort of live in a fantasy all the time, which was not good. But I do feel like recently, um, I have, like, a lot more gravity in, um, my life, a more full life. And I think some of that's also growing up, you know, and, like, valuing the whole me. And maybe that's part of that song, Perfect Celebrity, too. Like, like, not just valuing the clone of me, but valuing, like, the artist, the person who's the creator, not the creation.

And also, I feel like we see it in the interviews, even here, you know, like, speaking with you, you know, when I see, like, I mean, I feel it, but I also see, like, comments and, like, lots of people saying this. It's, like, of course, you're an artist and, like, you do, like, some, you know, very, like, huge, you know, walls, stuff like people wouldn't dare to do before. And, like, you do new stuff. And at the same time, you're, like, you still feel human because you feel like there's a connection with you. That's not always the case, I feel, like, with all artists, all people.

And so, I guess even for you, there's this balance of, like, I have to, yeah, stay human and not just be the celebrity and, like, what people are waiting for, in a way.

Yeah, I mean, and some of that's my responsibility, you know, like, or most of that is. And it just, like, took me a long time to realize that I could control more, like, who I was around and how I was living my life. And, like, even just getting to know you today is, like, really nice, you know, and we get to have a real conversation and instead of it feeling like a performance. I think I've found that, like, moments like these when you're talking with someone about the artist community, that that, like, gives so much more to the art than the promotion of it all.

But that's not to say I don't love promoting my music, but I've definitely, like, received criticism for not promoting my stuff enough. But it's but it really is true that, like, promotion can sometimes also take you away from, like, the work. So it's like a balance.

And things have changed since, you know, 2008 and this album. Of course, today, TikTok, Instagram, any social media, like, they all play a huge role in the way music is listened to, in the way it's sort of spread also. Do you feel like this has changed in any way the way you view your work and music?

I don't think so for me. I really like using all these platforms. Like, TikTok, for me, sort of reminds me of MTV in a way. It's different because it's not, like, only centered around music the way that MTV was. But, like, you know, audio being such a huge part of it. And then also the communities of people that are built that are bonding over, like, different art forms. That feels really interesting to me. So I've really enjoyed being a part of it to, like, learn about other people, learn about their lives. Like, I also love seeing people have a stage for themselves. Like, when I was coming up, like, I had to, like, make my own stage in a different way.

And it's nice to see people have that, like, outlet. So I don't think it really changes the way I make music. If anything, it makes me just, it just, like, gives me another way of expressing it.

And maybe it gives another way for people listening also to your music to, like, you know, dance on it or, like, analyze what your songs are about. And, like, it's a whole space of, I guess, discussion for them, too.

For sure. And it's so cool, too. I mean, I've always been watching my fans create after I give them my work. So, like, if it's a music video or if I put out a song or share a bit of artwork that I've made, like, there's been this constant conversation. And I actually find online that it can be a really beautiful way to, like, interact with your fans, which is why I, like, run my own social media. Yeah, because I, like, because then it's real, you know.

Yeah, and also creating and sharing our work, especially with social media today, it also means, like, trusting ourselves and, like, ignoring, you know, that little voice that might say, you know, oh, maybe people won't understand what you say. Or maybe people, you know, will judge you for this or for that. Like, you can have also, you know, this inner voice that comes back. Like, how do you manage to silence that voice? And do you think that that's something that you can learn through time?

You know, I think that I feel, I think I feel like it's unrealistic to try or to try to, like, be perfect. Like, what does that even mean? Like, I'm not perfect. I make mistakes, and I'm sure there's things that I do that people won't like or that people want to be critical of, and that's kind of part of it. And I've just, I feel like I've been trying to not put so much pressure on myself and just focus on what I think is important, which is the quality of the work.

Like, the hours in the studio, just, like, putting in the time and really, really being detailed about every single instrument, every single sound, every lyric, every melody, the story behind the song, the order of the record, all of the art behind it, you know, putting together the right team of people. It's like, to me, that's the work that matters, I think, the most more than kind of trying to control how people think about you.

How they see this or that music, this or that, yeah.

Yeah, like, I mean, ultimately, it's just, like, I'm offering something, and, like, they might not like it, and that, like, that has to be okay.

Yeah, you're fine as long as what you did was, you know.

As long as I feel good about it.

And you're like, that's something I want to share anyway, and I'm sure it'll speak to some people. I want to go back to, like, 2019, when you won an Oscar, of course, for Shallow in A Style Is Born. In your speech, you said, I'll read it out, it's not about winning, it's about not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it. There's discipline for passion, and it's not how many times you get rejected or you fall down or you're beaten up. It's about how many times you stand up, are brave, and keep going. Looking back, like, all those years, was there ever a moment in your career where you were like, okay, I'm giving up, that's too much?

You know, I think there was, for a little while, a time when I just was so depressed. And I had, like, I just didn't have a community anymore and was feeling so isolated that it just, it didn't feel worth it anymore. But I did ultimately really fight through that. And I have to say, it was a mixture of meeting Michael, my fiancé, and feeling like I had this, like, partner in my life. That helped me move forward, but also going back on tour with the Chromatica Ball and having this, like, amazing experience with the fans where I was, like, pain-free and they were cheering me on. It kind of, like, rejuvenated me.

And I feel really lucky, you know, not everybody that is in this industry can kind of keep going because it does, like, take a toll on your mental health. And so I'm just, like, really grateful to be here now.

What message would you like to share with young people who might feel marginalized?

I would just say that I love you. And right now is an important time for community to come together, to have each other's backs, and to support each other's lives. And that it's also not just about what we say, you know, when the cameras are on. And it's about how we live our lives.

So the last thing is just basically in one minute, I'll ask you some questions. And the idea for you is to, they're, like, very easy questions. The idea for you is to answer yes, no, or just pass if you want to pass the question. Okay? Yes. It's, like, just a 60 seconds. Are you ready? Do you still get stage fright before performing? Yes. If you had to choose between acting and singing, would you pick singing? You can pass. Next. Next. Do you speak French?

Um, badly.

A bit. A bit. A bit. A bit. A bit. A bit. That was a good friend. Do you add your own songs to your personal playlists? Yes. Have you ever regretted any of your songs?

Yes.

If Poker Face came out today, would it still be a huge hit?

I don't know.

That'd be interesting to you. Maybe. I don't know. Have you ever forgotten your lyrics during a concert?

Not very often.

Okay. Do you sometimes wish you weren't famous?

I'm not answering. Answer no. That's fine. That's fine. I'm just going to... I'm just doing whatever I want. Okay.

Is Elton John one of your biggest mentors?

Yes.

Was singing at the Olympics a huge honor for you?

Yes.

Is Paris the most beautiful city in the world?

It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There's many. I love lots of cities, but it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Are you afraid of failure?

Of failing?

Yeah.

I think so.

Maybe one, two, less. Do you keep iconic outfits from your past hauls?

Yes.

And maybe last question. Do you always tell the truth during interviews?

I try.

You try to. That's the best. Thank you so much, Lydia. Thank you so much for taking your time.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

That was great.