Even from her early teens, Lady Gaga was determined to show the world that she had something special to give to the world. Gulping down fear and memories of torturous adolescent experiences, Stefani Joanne Germanotta honed her own brand of courage and creativity in New York clubs, displaying the necessary talk-back attitude of her Italian-American upbringing. Lady Gaga's affection, lo affinity, for the word “monster” stems from how so many made her feel as a young teen. She was literally thrown into a trashcan.
That indelible memory has been surpassed by success beyond all her dreams, and the memories that mean most to Lady Gaga are the ones shared by fans turned friends who constantly relay how her songs have transcended shame and helped them to shape new lives.
In her new documentary for Netflix, “Gaga: Five Foot Two,” it's clear that there are many pricks that still bring pain for Lady Gaga. She takes fans from leaps to loneliness, and learning to cope with chronic pain that threatens her career every day. There is more to this complex and prolific woman than her stature, and seeing her courageous drive and genuine empathy up close and personal only leaves any Gaga lover looking forward to the future.
Beyond the physical
Lady Gaga recently laid bare her soul in sharing her battle with fibromyalgia, the nerve disease that impacts pain responses, muscles and mobility throughout the body. The generous “Mother Monster” fed fans with pizza at a recent Montréal show that she missed.
Her issues with “trauma and chronic pain” led to her postponement of her European tour to make healing and mending of body and mind a priority.
During the opening minutes of her documentary, the artist discusses that she no longer has “a threshold for bullsh*%” when it comes to men, after decades of personal and professional disappointments.
Working with producer Mark Ronson on “Joanne” was rejuvenating for Lady Gaga because their collaboration contained none of the prejudices or sexist attitudes that what the singer “was on my own wasn't good enough. I don't feel that way working with Mark.”
Lady Gaga has always defied the categories that males in power in the music industry persist in placing women.
“That's not at all what I have to offer,” the superstar stresses. She relates that she feels better than ever at 30, and gives an inside look at the needle injections, manipulations, and medications that are part of her constant regimen following a broken hip while on tour in 2013.
Determination has been part of Lady Gaga’s DNA, and one very personal vantage exposes the singer-songwriter’s heartbreak on the day that she was due to perform at Tony Bennett’s 90th birthday party. She relates that “the whole right side of my body is in a spasm,” making even her face hurt. She teases that on putting Trump on TV will knock her out. The energy and love from friends like Tony and fans empower her to go on, despite the pain that she's been “chasing” for five years.
Tell it to her face
A word that came from Madonna was certainly more painful than any barrage of sticks and stones for the singer. Being called “reductive” from a performer that Gaga herself continues to admire still is a thorn that the sister Italian-American artist cannot ignore. Most of all, she feels insulted that Madonna used social media to sling the insult. “She wouldn't look me in the eye and tell me I was reductive…I saw it on f*#king TV.” Later on, looking at family photos, Lady Gaga defends having braces, because if she had kept the gap in her front teeth, “then I would've had even more problems with Madonna.” It's clear that this sting hurts more because it comes from someone who counts.
Faith and family count more than anything to Lady Gaga. She has shared photos with her rosary in her health struggle, and touchingly shared time with her grandmother on film. She listens to the title track of her album, named after her aunt who died from Lupus complications at only 19. Grandmother and granddaughter share one of those unspoken moments that expresses more than countless volumes while hearing the song, and the grandmother gives the most meaningful seal of approval, saying “That's a beautiful piece.”
Her grandmother reminds that Joanne is “not forgotten, ever” no matter how many years have passed. The family cherishes the gifts and legacy left by the young woman's life. At last, Lady Gaga herself has finally come to a place of feeling “good enough” in all aspects of her life and her own gifts to the world.
In her own words, she confirms “of all the things I deserve, that's where I know I'm worth something.” In her own process of getting to that hard-won acceptance, Lady Gaga has imparted that same assurance to endless admirers.
