Lady Gaga Calls Sexism In Music Industry
Lady Gaga has always been about talking taboos, exposing the things other people don’t want exposed. In fact, Lady Gaga’s tactlessness and taste in song subject would sometimes raise eyebrows rather than praise. But recently, Lady Gaga has been receiving constant approval and admiration for her new hit single, ‘Til it happens to you, which, this time, tackled the issue of rape. For ‘Til it happens to you, in addition to a lot of her blossoming advocacies and inspiring stories, Billboard awarded Lady Gaga as Woman of the Year at the Billboard’s Women in Music last Friday, December 11. The airing of the Billboard awards night only happened the Friday after the actual awards night, December 18.
https://youtu.be/ew5hRpNvtsQ
During the awards night, Lady Gaga performed her newest single ‘Til it happens to you behind a huge grand piano, moving everyone with her emotional and inspired performance. Presenting the Woman of the Year award to Lady Gaga was her own mother, Cynthia Germanotta, who gave an equally emotional and heartfelt speech for Lady Gaga. Germanotta, in her speech, shares the two most memorable moments in their family’s life: the birth of her daughter, Lady Gaga, and the moment when her mother-in-law gave them her son’s childhood piano. This piano became the catalyst for Lady Gaga’s passion in music.
Upon accepting the award, Lady Gaga, of course, had her own speech prepared. But while normal artists would go out of their way to praise the music industry, recognizing brilliant talent as theirs, Lady Gaga went out of the norm and called out the sexism in the music industry. Calling the music industry a “f—in’ boys club.”
“But what I really want to say is that it is really hard sometimes for women in music. It’s like a f—in’ boys club that we just can’t get into. Sorry, grandma. But yeah, I tried for so long. I tried for so long. I just really wanted to be taken seriously as a musician for my intelligence more than my body ever in this business.”
Lady Gaga then continues her speech, emphasizing the role of women in the music industry.
“To be here today means that I’m recognized for my songwriting and for my legacy, which means a lot because you don’t always feel like — when you’re working — that people believe that you have a musical background, that you understand what you’re doing because you’re female. And that’s why tonight is so important. Because women provide a wisdom to music that is very unique and special. It is a perspective that no other person can have because we bear life, and we go through things that no one goes through. And more importantly because it’s right, because we’re all equal.”
While Lady Gaga has been criticized in the past for her flamboyant and out-of-this-world taste for clothing and styling, in addition of course to the controversial Lady Gaga songs and music videos, after her speech at the Woman of the Year awarding ceremony, everyone began to understand the rationale behind Lady Gaga’s crazy start in the industry.
Lady Gaga also reveals in her speech how music has become her life and shaped her to become who she is right now. Lady Gaga then calls out to parents to support their children who have started to love music, especially since a lot of people these days discourage their kids to take up music, saying it’s more of a hobby than a career.
“Support your children in making music. If they have a creative instinct, don’t ask them to deny it, because it will make them so sad and depressed. It’s part of your life destiny if you’re born with that gene.”
In addition to Lady Gaga’s Woman of the Year award, Lady Gaga has just recently been nominated for a 2016 Golden Globe award in the category of “Best Actress in a Limited-Series or TV Movie” for her appearance as The Countess in American Horror Story: Hotel.
If you weren’t able to catch Lady Gaga during the Billboard Women in Music, you can read Lady Gaga’s full speech at the Billboard website.
[Featured photo by Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images]
