by Lady Gaga is one of the most successful pop artists of all time, known for her flamboyant fashion sense and anthemic dance-pop songs.
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But underneath the outrageous costumes and catchy choruses lies a musician deeply inspired by some of rock and pop’s greatest icons. While Gaga has not publicly named her absolute top three favorite singers, throughout her career she has repeatedly expressed admiration for artists like Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Elton John, and Whitney Houston. These legendary performers clearly had a profound impact on shaping Gaga’s own bold artistic vision and style. Let’s take a closer look at some of Lady Gaga’s greatest musical influences.
Freddie Mercury and Queen
Of all the artists to influence Gaga, Freddie Mercury and the band Queen may have had the biggest impact. Gaga has called Mercury her “music soulmate” and one of the primary reasons she pursued a career in music. She was drawn to Mercury’s unapologetic flamboyance and showmanship, which helped empower her to fully embrace her own uninhibited creativity and self-expression. In a 2011 interview with ABC News, Gaga said “Freddie Mercury was one of the most brilliant performers of all time…he was so courageous, he was so brave.”
Gaga’s admiration for Queen is evident in her music as well. “Video Phone” features a guitar riff nearly identical to “We Will Rock You,” and her song “Telephone” contains a sped-up sample of “I Want to Break Free.” Gaga has also covered Queen songs like “Radio Ga Ga” in concert. Beyond the musical references, Gaga strives to channel Mercury’s charismatic stage presence and command of the crowd. Her Monster Ball tour was directly inspired by Queen’s legendary live shows, featuring elaborate costumes, pyrotechnics, and dynamic performances.
In 2014, Gaga paid tribute to Mercury by singing “Queen Hits Medley” alongside Adam Lambert at the annual Queen extravaganza show in Hyde Park, London. She called it “the honor of my lifetime” to perform for Queen fans. Sadly, Mercury passed away just a few years before Gaga began her rise to fame, but his unbridled spirit and passion for live entertainment clearly resonated with her. Freddie Mercury empowered Gaga to fully embrace her quirks and talents without fear of judgment, cementing Queen as one of her all-time biggest influences.
David Bowie, Elton John, and 70s Glam Rock
Along with Mercury and Queen, glam rock icons like David Bowie and Elton John were hugely influential on Gaga’s artistic evolution. The flamboyant costumes and gender-bending personas of 70s glam rockers gave Gaga permission to experiment fearlessly with fashion and persona. In Bowie, she found a fellow musical chameleon constantly reinventing his image. Gaga dressed as Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust character for Halloween in 2008, a tribute to his trailblazing androgyny.
Elton John also left a strong mark with his lavish stage style and four-octave vocal range. Gaga has cited Elton as one of her favorite artists and covered his songs in her early club days. She even recruited Elton to perform with her at the 2011 Grammys, a full-circle moment for two artists who pushed creative boundaries. Like Bowie, Elton showed Gaga it was acceptable for men to enjoy traditionally feminine aesthetics like bold prints, glitter, and high heels. These glam rock icons gave her confidence to express all facets of her gender identity and sexuality through flamboyant fashion.
Gaga’s early albums like The Fame and Born This Way took clear inspiration from 70s dance-pop and glam rock sounds. Songs like “LoveGame” utilize funky basslines and melodic hooks reminiscent of Bowie and T. Rex. Even her avant-garde persona “Jo Calderone” for the 2011 VMAs paid homage to glam rock’s gender-bending rebelliousness. Throughout her career, Gaga has channeled the bold and provocative spirit of Bowie, Elton, and their contemporaries. Their fearless artistic experimentation showed Gaga she didn’t have to conform to societal norms and encouraged her to keep pushing creative boundaries.
Whitney Houston and Pop Divadom
While Bowie, Elton, and Mercury brought androgyny and theatricality to Gaga’s work, Whitney Houston represented a different kind of influence – that of the quintessential pop diva. Gaga has said she first dreamed of being a star after seeing Houston perform “The Star Spangled Banner” at the 1991 Super Bowl. Even as a young girl, she was in awe of Houston’s powerful pipes and commanding stage presence. It’s no surprise then that Gaga cites Houston as one of her main vocal inspirations.
Gaga’s vocals clearly took cues from Houston, utilizing her impressive four-octave range to belt anthemic pop songs. Tracks like “Born This Way” and “Million Reasons” showcase Gaga’s ability to emulate Houston’s soaring vocals and melismatic runs. Beyond her singing, Houston showed Gaga how to captivate an audience through sheer star quality and confidence in her talents. This likely informed Gaga’s own dynamic live performances and ability to connect with crowds on a grand scale.
Tragically, both Houston and Gaga struggled with substance abuse issues – a common challenge for larger-than-life performers. However, Houston’s premature death in 2012 only strengthened Gaga’s admiration for the late diva. She covered “Greatest Love of All” at a Houston tribute concert and honored Houston’s legacy by continuing to push the boundaries of mainstream pop music. From vocal styling to stage presence to navigating fame and addiction, Whitney Houston left an indelible mark on Gaga’s journey to become a global pop phenomenon.
Cher and Reinvention
While the previously mentioned artists shaped Gaga’s music and persona in various ways, perhaps no one influenced her concept of reinvention more than the one and only Cher. Like Gaga, Cher constantly pushed creative boundaries and genre styles throughout her decades-spanning career. But most impressive was Cher’s unparalleled ability to reinvent herself with each new era, from hippie folk singer to disco queen to 1980s pop icon. Gaga admires Cher’s fearlessness in abandoning one image for the next bold persona, a skill Gaga herself has mastered.
In Cher, Gaga saw a model for longevity through constant evolution. While most artists fade from relevance, Cher maintained star power for over 50 years by refusing to rest on past success. She also showed Gaga the importance of bold visuals in establishing each new era – whether its headdresses, bikinis, or head-to-toe leather. This emphasis on memorable fashion no doubt shaped Gaga’s own iconic looks. From the meat dress to cyborg couture, she understands the power of a single image to define an entire aesthetic.
Gaga paid tribute to Cher by performing “Believe” during her Monster Ball shows, a full embrace of dance-pop excess. More recently, she opened for Cher on her successful 2016-2018 tour, showing two generations of fans that reinvention knows no age limit. Like Cher, Gaga seems poised to remain a force in pop for decades through continuous evolution. Her ability to establish entirely new personas with each album is a direct result of Cher’s masterclass in longevity through shape-shifting and visual panache.
Enduring Influence
Over a decade into her career, Lady Gaga continues to be deeply inspired by icons like Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Cher. While her early works most overtly channeled these artists, their influence can still be felt in Gaga’s music and persona. From theatrical live performances to fearless self-expression through fashion, Gaga’s shapeshifting style mirrors these legends who paved the way for pop’s ongoing progression. She carries their subversive torch by challenging norms, embracing all identities, and refusing to be confined by genre or era.
Through highs and lows, Gaga’s respect for these artists remains steadfast. Their bold artistry empowered a young Stefani Germanotta to embrace her quirks and fully realize her limitless creative potential. Now, Gaga passes that empowerment on to her Little Monsters and fans worldwide by staying true to the boundary-pushing spirit of her heroes. Whether reinventing herself or paying tribute through covers, Gaga ensures the legacies of Freddie, Bowie, Elton, Whitney, and Cher live on for new generations to find inspiration. In turn, she cements her own status as one of pop’s most influential modern auteurs. The circle of influence continues as Lady Gaga’s career goes from strength to strength.
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