A religious group called Biblemode Youth Philippines is leading a campaign to have Lady Gaga’s concerts banned in the Philippines. It said it will start a prayer vigil on Saturday until Lady Gaga arrives in Manila for her two-night concert on May 21 and 22 at the SM Arena.
They are calling Lady Gaga the “anti-Christ,” the group criticized Gaga for her skimpy costumes and provocative songs, such as “Judas,” which the group said is a direct insult to Jesus Christ.
Lady Gaga, is 26 year old American singer-songwriter Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta born March 28, 1986. She has several hit songs among them were Poker Face, Just Dance and Paparazzi.
Influenced by David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Queen, Lady Gaga is recognized for her flamboyant, diverse and outré contributions to the music industry through her fashion, performances and music videos.
She primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to focus on her musical career. She began performing in the rock music scene of Manhattan’sLower East Side, and was signed with Streamline Records by the end of 2007. During her employment as a songwriter for the record company, her vocal abilities captured the attention of recording artist Akon, who signed her to his label Kon Live Distribution.
Lady Gaga came to prominence as a recording artist following the release of her debut album The Fame (2008), which was a critical and commercial success that topped charts around the world and included the international number-one singles “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”. After embarking on the The Fame Ball Tour, she followed the album with The Fame Monster (2009), which spawned the worldwide hit singles “Bad Romance”, “Telephone” and “Alejandro”. The album’s success allowed her to embark on the eighteen-month long Monster Ball Tour, which later became one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time. Her most recent album Born This Way (2011) topped the charts of most major markets and generated more international chart-topping singles, including “Born This Way”, “Judas” and “The Edge of Glory”. Besides her musical career, she involves herself with humanitarian causes and LGBT activism.
She has a body art or tattoo which looks like a curling script on her left arm. It was a souvenir from a midnight session at a tattoo parlor in Osaka, Japan. ”It says ‘In the deepest hour of the night, confess to yourself that you would die if you were forbidden to write. And look deep into your heart where it spreads its roots, the answer, and ask yourself, must I write?”‘ she said. The quote, in German, comes from the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, whom she described as her “favourite philosopher.” Lady Gaga said Rilke’s ”philosophy of solitude” spoke to her.
Some people are offended by Lady Gaga’s music and videos, in particular her song “Judas,” which they say mocks Jesus Christ.
“Judas”
Ohohohoh
I’m in love with JudasOhohohohI’m in love with JudasJudas! Judaas Judas! Judaas
Judas! Judaas Judas! GAGAWhen he comes to me I am ready
I’ll wash his feet with my hair if he needs
Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain
Even after three times he betrays meI’ll bring him down, bring him down, down
A king with no crown, king with no crown[Chorus]
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, babyOhohohoh
I’m in love with JudasOhohohoh
I’m in love with JudasJudas! Judaas Judas! Judaas
Judas! Judaas Judas! GAGAI couldn’t love a man so purely
Even prophets forgave his crooked way
I’ve learned love is like a brick you can
Build a house or sink a dead bodyI’ll bring him down, bring him down, down
A king with no crown, king with no crown[Chorus]
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, babyOhohohoh
I’m in love with JudasOhohohoh
I’m in love with Judas
[Bridge]
Ew
In the most Biblical sense,
I am beyond repentance
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
But in the cultural sense
I just speak in future tense
Judas, kiss me if offenced,
Or wear an ear condom next time
I wanna love you,
But something’s pulling me away from you
Jesus is my virtue,
Judas is the demon I cling to
I cling to
[Chorus]
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
Ohohohoh
I’m in love with Judas
Ohohohoh
I’m in love with Judas
Judas! Judaas Judas! Judaas
Judas! Judaas Judas! GAGA
“The way she uses imagery and lyrics is directly against the teachings of the Lord, ” says Pastor Reyzel Cayanan of Biblemode Youth.
Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto told organizers to ensure that “they follow the rules and regulations stipulated in the concert permit earlier provided by the city government.”
“Although we respect artistic and musical expressions, I won’t allow anyone or any group to provide acts which may be questionable in a way at any venue under my jurisdiction. We reminded the producers of Lady Gaga’s concert that the show and the event as a whole shall not exhibit any nudity or lewd conduct which may be offensive to morals and good customs.” says Calixto.
Protest leader and former Philippine Congressman Benny Abante says his group plans to file a case against Lady Gaga and concert organizers if she sings “Judas” at her Manila gigs. The singer and organizers can be punished for offending race or religion. Under the penal code, the penalty can range from six months to six years in prison.
Renen de Guia of Ovation Productions Inc., the promoter of Lady Gaga’s concerts in Manila, quickly dismissed the group’s claim that the artist is the anti-Christ.
“There is no truth that Lady Gaga is anti-Christ. Artists constantly reinvent themselves and want to be controversial,” says de Guia.
Angry protests followed Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” Asian tour. Fans younger than 18 were banned from the Seoul concerts over complaints her lyrics and costumes were too sexually provocative, and she was denied a concert permit in Indonesia by police under pressure from Islamic hard-liners.
Born This Way
She may have been “born this way,” but one thing is for sure — many religious youths outside of the U.S. are less than content with pop star Lady Gaga’s quirky and edge behavior.
These brouhaha on Lady Gaga is not new anymore. Madonna got punned on her crucifixion act yrs back. Now she’s a music icon, a Living Legend!
Even if you were to base it on that song alone, I still don’t think she’s an Anti-Christ.
The problem here is that people misconstrue what they see (the videos) that they no longer want to process the words or the true intention of the song.
The song is meant to portray her being a sinner and her struggle between good and evil, something that mirrors a huge part of humanity. That even though she knows who her virtue is (Jesus), she always seem to fall back from grace (with Judas). Do remember that songs are an expression of who an artist is, and while this is the case for her, it’s not something that can be acquired by others (listeners).
Funny how even in the news, the person from a religious group who was interviewed misquoted the lyrics, saying that “Jesus is the demon I cling to” whereas the song states it as “Judas” being that demon.
Sure, there’s a part of the song that connotes sex. But what I don’t get is, there have been a lot of songs containing that which has aired already, not just from Lady Gaga. If they’re going to at least make that as something they’re against, then they might as well do a sweeping generalization and check all foreign songs.
What about the song “Born This Way” then?
If you’ll look at the lyrics, you’ll see the intention to give a clear nod to God, telling people to accept who they are because that’s how God created them. Does that still make her an “Anti-Christ”?
I guess people are blinded by their faith that anything that goes against it is something that’s completely unacceptable. People tend to fear what they don’t know or understand. Then they turn to God for the answers. But God can only do so much. I’ve heard in church before that God doesn’t give you patience when you seek it, he gives you opportunities to acquire patience. If we are to apply that context into the issue at hand, then maybe this is something for people to learn how to keep an open mind.
“Born This Way”
[Intro:]
It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-MJust put your paws up
’cause you were born this way, baby[Verse:]
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir”There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”
She said, “‘Cause he made you perfect, babe”
“So hold your head up girl and you’ll go far,
Listen to me when I say”[Chorus:]
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way[Post-chorus:]
Oh there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Oh there ain’t no other way
Baby I was born this way
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this wayDon’t be a drag ‒ just be a queen [x3]
Don’t be![Verse:]
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youthA different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M (Hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (Love needs faith)[Repeat chorus + post-chorus][Bridge:]
Don’t be a drag, just be a queen
Whether you’re broke or evergreen
You’re black, white, beige, chola descent
You’re Lebanese, you’re orient
Whether life’s disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
’cause baby you were born this wayNo matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life,
I’m on the right track baby,
I was born to survive.
No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made,
I’m on the right track baby,
I was born to be brave.[Repeat chorus + post-chorus][Outro/refrain:]
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I’m on the right track baby
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I was born this way hey!
I’m on the right track baby
I was born this way hey![Fade away:]
Same DNA, but born this way.
Same DNA, but born this way.
♬kung Lady Gaga ka sa piling ng iba
♬at kung nais nyo ay palayasin siya
♬tu-Tulfo ba ako sa NAIA nais mu
♬sapat na ang minsay jinombag mu ako♬