[movlabc]

so this is a thread on that one element that almost always gets looked over in the world of GaGa: her musicianship as a piano player. yes, everybody talks about her image, her insane clothes, basically, the VISUAL element that makes up GaGa.

so my question to you all is, what are you honest opinions about her playing?

for me, there's just something that's unspectacular about her playing. like in the following video that was posted in the gagatube thread, it sounds like at the beginning of the song she's just playing descending triplets on her right hand and then simple bass hits on her left hand. and then when she starts singing, it's like her fingers are playing some oom-pah oom-pah oom-pah oom-pah song.



i don't know, to me, it just sounds like she'd should be playing in a nightclub in paris in the 20th century. there isn't anything spectacular (imho) about her piano playing.

i mean, i give her credit for playing an instrument and incorporating it into her act, and i really don't mean any disrespect about her musical skills; it's just that, maybe i expect more from her, as selfish as that sounds, 'cause then everybody would start focusing on that part of her talent rather than how she dresses.

maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, hoping that she'd have the same chops as tori.

thoughts? disagreements? maybe somebody can post a video of her blowing my mind away with her piano playing.

[Rounteetepe]

I don't think her playing is anything above average, coming from a non-pianist that isn't an avid fan. I do think she's talented, and can get by on the mediocre piano skills mostly cause she's good at all the other stuff she does and because she's so popular, so it doesn't seem to matter.

[movlabc]

i do wonder if she didn't play piano, if she'd be the big superstar she is today.

[Rounteetepe]

Good question. I think it definitely completes the whole package. It also makes her 'different' from the other pop stars.

[ancexiaepidge]

if you isolate her talents each one is okay but i think its the sum of the parts and what she does with them that is her talent plus her ability for pop songwriting/hooks. i also think she is great at reworking/rearranging her songs to give them a different feel.

[bQXHsKzS]

Her piano playing is pretty average. Nothing to write home about.

But she doesn't really need to be any better at it. I don't know why you would expect her to be as good as Tori. They're completely different artists.

(Gaga herself has said that she wishes that she was better at playing the piano, but that she doesn’t have much time to practice anymore.)

[movlabc]

I don't know why you would expect her to be as good as Tori. They're completely different artists.

i never said that i expected "her to be as good as tori," more that her skills as a piano player were more impressive like tori's, you know, something to write home about, something that the critics would take more notice of instead of her wacky persona. sorry if that was unclear. i know they're different artists but thanks for reminding me, i almost forgot!

[bQXHsKzS]

You said:

maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, hoping that she'd have the same chops as tori.

So when you say "same chops as" you don't mean "as good as"?

I like Lady Gaga's wacky persona. That's what sets her apart from all the other pop stars.

She doesn't really need to be great at any instrument as an artist right now. She's not making that kind of music. It's just a plus that she can play the piano at all.

[movlabc]

You said:
So when you say "same chops as" you don't mean "as good as"?

well, you completely ignored my response to your original post so i'll repost what i said:

i never said that i expected "her to be as good as tori," more that her skills as a piano player were more impressive like tori's, you know, something to write home about, something that the critics would take more notice of instead of her wacky persona. sorry if that was unclear. i know they're different artists but thanks for reminding me, i almost forgot! I like Lady Gaga's wacky persona. That's what sets her apart from all the other pop stars. i like her wacky persona as well. i never said it was a bad thing, only that it could detract from her skills as a musician and a piano player.

She doesn't really need to be great at any instrument as an artist right now. She's not making that kind of music. It's just a plus that she can play the piano at all. just out of curiosity, what kind of music does she need to be making to be "great at any instrument as an artist right now?" you know, for the sake of discussion of this thread.

[bQXHsKzS]

well, you completely ignored my response to your original post so i'll repost what i said:

Actually, my previous reply is a response to that post. I was just quoting your other post to make a point: that you somehow want Lady Gaga to be on the same level as Tori when it comes to piano playing. And I just don't see why you want her to be that good at playing the piano. She is not composing piano-heavy or piano-only music right now. She is a pop star. She's not a singer/songwriter (well, she is, but you know what I mean). She's a performer.

just out of curiosity, what kind of music does she need to be making to be "great at any instrument as an artist right now?" you know, for the sake of discussion of this thread. Any kind of music where the instrument would be the central point. Catchy pop/dance music isn't really known for its acoustic instruments, and right now she's all about being a performer on stage. She does play piano sometimes, but it's not a central part of her music right now. If you go to her show, and she just sits at the piano and sings, then yes she should be pretty good at piano playing, but right now she mostly dances and sings on stage. And that's what she should be great at as a performer.

[movlabc]

Actually, my previous reply is a response to that post. I was just quoting your other post to make a point: that you somehow want Lady Gaga to be on the same level as Tori when it comes to piano playing. And I just don't see why you want her to be that good at playing the piano. She is not composing piano-heavy or piano-only music right now. She is a pop star. She's not a singer/songwriter (well, she is, but you know what I mean). She's a performer.

i never said i wanted to lady gaga to be on the exact SAME level as tori, just that her chops were better (i really think you took that specific sentence a little too literally).

Any kind of music where the instrument would be the central point. Catchy pop/dance music isn't really known for its acoustic instruments, and right now she's all about being a performer on stage. She does play piano sometimes, but it's not a central part of her music right now. If you go to her show, and she just sits at the piano and sings, then yes she should be pretty good at piano playing, but right now she mostly dances and sings on stage. And that's what she should be great at as a performer. anyway, i wish the general public, her fans, and the media would take more notice of GaGA as a piano player; i just wish her piano chops were an additive element to the creation that is GaGa and that more people would perhaps see it makes her more of an interesting visual/fashion artist. and yes, i know she is a pop star and a performer, and a singer/songwriter, but umm, thanks for the condescension though. i recently read in ESQUIRE magazine that she "worships at the alter of late '70s warhol and early '80s madonna," and that everything she does is "disposable" and "phony".

again, i never said i wanted gaga to be on the same level as tori when it comes to her piano playing. in fact, i even apologized for not being clear in the original post and clarified (i feel like i've already stated this multiple time). i still don't understand how being a magnificent visual and wacky pop star doesn't mean she can't improve on her piano playing skills as an all-around entertainer. hello prince? hello elton john? and aren't those the musicians and idols that she name-drops in interviews?

i mean, i get the feeling you're just arguing for the sake of arguing but i could be wrong. i admit, you do bring up some interesting points in your posts but for the last time, i DO NOT expect her to be some kind of mind-blowing prodigy at the piano.

[movlabc]

*double post*

i'm having a hard time utilizing the quote functions.

[MondayBlues]

The limitations of our talents, and how we work within those limitations (or doggedly reach beyond them), is part of what makes us unique as artists, no matter the medium. Is Gaga a Tori-level pianist? No, but she has a particular style of playing, and her piano playing is only part of her whole deal. She's a gifted (genius, IMO) pop songwriter who uses the piano as a songwriting and performance tool. I love when she busts out with a piano number, and I love when she dances about to a backing track. It's all part of a delicious whole. I can hear the limitations in her playing, but they don't bother me. I'm not really tuning in to hear her play, even when it's a solo number. I just love the songs/the voice/her overall performance. That French TV solo performance of Eh Eh in the first post here is wonderful wonderful wonderful.

I think what's interesting about her is that she had a singer/songwriter, pianist thing going on in her early days, but I don't think that image or those songs would have gotten her anywhere. Maybe to be that kind of instrument-centric singer/songwriter figure, you HAVE to be a virtuoso? It's almost the opposite of what happened with Tori and YKTR. Tori dressed it down, Gaga dressed it up, and voila, iconic pop figures.

[foonlesse]

As someone who plays the piano, yes, she's definitely got limitations as a player. From what I've heard from her so far, she's only got a few tricks up her sleeve, and she goes back to the same musical motifs again and again and again, no matter which song she's playing. But I'm okay with it. Her energy, singing talent, and charisma more than make up for it, and her acoustic performances are therefore delightful. I love that she plays the piano; and she doesn't just say in interviews that she plays it, but she actually plays it on national TV and at her huge, sold-out shows! As someone said upthread, it sets her apart from the other pop stars.

And I think it's a really gutsy thing to do, considering what's expected of that type of performer. The first time I saw her live and she brought out the piano, I was STUNNED. I mean, I'd heard acoustic Poker Face before and knew she played, but I never dreamed she'd stop a high-energy pop/dance show halfway through and break out an acoustic set like that. And to play a new song, too! To play Poker Face, which everyone knows in any form, was one thing. But then to play Future Love, which nobody knew at the time... so so so awesome. What other pop star would play a song nobody knows or recognizes, let alone solo on the piano? People usually go to such shows to hear the hits.

[Sdinozes]

As a pianist, I don't find her playing to be lacking at all. Her songs don't require immense technical skill. I would imagine that she IS an impressive player and that her pop songs are just not the vehicle for displaying it.

[Corporal White]

it's obvious to me she has more than a few musical bones in her body, everything she does is nice and she does have her own style - cabaret stylings but with a LOT of bass. i've seen her pound out the bottom a (a0) in videos more than once. most people don't take the risk in taking things down to that end of the keyboard cause it usually sounds pretty muddy and gross.

[bQXHsKzS]

i never said i wanted to lady gaga to be on the exact SAME level as tori, just that her chops were better (i really think you thought that you took thtaspeficic sentence a little too literally).

You keep saying that you never said that, but you did. You might not have meant that, but that's how you worded it.

anyway, i wish the general public, her fans, and the media would take more notice of GaGA as a player again, i just wish her piano chops were an additive element about her creation as GaGa that would make people give her more respect that she deserves as a visual/fashion artist. and yes, i know she is a pop star and a performer, and a singer/songwriter, i am not dumb enough to realize that. but thanks for the condescension though. i recently read in ESQUIRE magazine that she "worships at the alter of late '80 and early '90, and that everything she dose in disposable and and phone). She's already pretty respected as an artist. It's fine that you wish she was better known for her piano playing, but she really doesn't need that as she is already hailed as being a great songwriter and performer.

I don't know why you find my posts condescending, though. That's not my intention at all.

again, i never said i wanted gaga to be on the same level as tori when it comes to her piano playing. in fact, i even apologized for not being clear in the original post and clarified (i feel like i've already stated this multiple time). i still don't understand how being a magnificent visual and wacky pop start doesn't mean she can't improve on her piano playing skills or as an all-around entertainer. hello prince? hello elton john? and aren't those musicians some of her musical idols that she name-drops in interviews, now that i think about. You did and you never apologized for anything, you just pretended like you never said such a thing.

I never said that she can't improve her piano playing skills, I just said that she doesn't need to. Her piano playing skills are fine for what she's doing right now as an artist.

i mean, i get the feeling you're just arguing for the sake of arguing but i could be wrong. I'm not arguing, I'm just sharing my views on this topic. Here is what you said in your original post:

thoughts? disagreements? maybe somebody can post a video of her blowing my mind away with her piano playing. If you didn't want to hear other people's views on this topic, I don't know why you felt the need to start this thread in the first place.

[Ceakicknunk]

Shut up, Scott. Seriously. Who cares?

Back to the topic...

I don't think Gaga has shown any amazing talent on the piano, but I don't really think she needs to. Her delivery is just fine. Look at things like Paparazzi solo or the version of Poker Face from SNL. I find those entertaining even if the piano is a bit limited.

[outfinofulpv]

if you isolate her talents each one is okay but i think its the sum of the parts and what she does with them that is her talent plus her ability for pop songwriting/hooks. i also think she is great at reworking/rearranging her songs to give them a different feel.

Agreed.

As a pianist, I don't find her playing to be lacking at all. Her songs don't require immense technical skill. I would imagine that she IS an impressive player and that her pop songs are just not the vehicle for displaying it.

Good point. Maybe we'll hear something more technically demanding in the future.

[leacturavar]

I think what leaves me unimpressed about her playing is that it looks like something I could easily do myself. And in case you guys didn't know, I'm not some famous, renowned pianist who frequents Tori Amos forums.

I picked up a few lady gaga songs in less than a day. I spend weeks trying to learn a Tori Amos song and I still fuck it up every time.

I've just never heard any real complexity in Lady Gaga's piano playing. For the type of music she's doing I think it works just fine but I'd hate to see her be iconified* as a girl with a piano. I'm just now warming up to Alisha Keys having that title and even there I'm skeptical.

*If Iconify is a word then iconified must be too. That's my logic ...