Wow, you should write for her fan blog. You are totally Gaga for Gaga! I'm not sure she has de-sexualized herself enough for this old horndog (big surprise!) but she does come across as a musician rather than a dancer so her movements are a bit geeky which is much more charming for me than the usual pole dancer moves of the Pussy Cat Dolls for example. The current show-biz model for sexy has gone too far into characterization land for me.
The great thing about FFL is that last night I would have bet you $50 that I would NOT be talking about Gaga today. And here we are. Your enthusiasm carried it far beyond what I could have anticipated, so thanks for that. Here is a guy I could put my heart into writing about the way you did with Gaga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8RtayjqqIw --- In [email protected], maskedzebra <no_reply@...> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues" <curtisdeltablues@> > wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], maskedzebra <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > Thanks for the reply MZ and kind words. And thanks for taking the > > paragraphing request as is was meant, a way to help me read posts worth > > reading and not as douchy over-controlling of how another person writes! > > > > Lets start with Gaga. When I first saw her I just assumed she was just > > another fluff princess who represents the exact opposite of the kind of > > authentic roots music I have devoted my life to. But on her first SNL > > appearance she (gloriously decked out in a costume that could only be > > described as intergalactic)broke into talking to the audience while she > > played piano about how she was just a NYC girl who followed her dreams and > > that she was doing what she loved and we can all do that... > > > > It moved me. It felt authentic as if she quilt up all these layers of > > protection so she could be completely raw with us, vulnerable. > > > > Since then she comes across pretty well in interviews. She has the real > > talent and has her own inner directed purpose. I wonder if the X usage > > isn't melting her brain a bit sometimes and making her message a bit > > simplistic, but for her little monsters it is working and they look to her > > as a life coach in a meat suit. > > > > Since I am NOT any type of visual artist I am especially impressed that she > > had got that going on at such a high level along with her musical talent. > > On the finale of American Idol (oh yeah that's how I roll!) she dropped off > > this 20 foot foam cliff with her dancer partner, and I don't care what she > > landed on, it was ballsy! She seems to be giving everything to achieve her > > artistic vision. > > > > I downloaded her new CD for 99 cents from Amazon during her one day > > promotion and haven't listened to it. I think I am more of a fan of her > > than her actual music, which is a bit too far in the club scene direction > > for this old hippie. But I have to high five her for being at her level > > and attempting to keep it real in a way I never got from Madonna. I always > > hated seeing Madonna on Letterman because she was not showing up > > authentically, and her schtick just didn't work for me. > > > > I would enjoy seeing her in 20 years, after her second stint in rehab, 3rd > > marriage with that shocking gender switcheroo in her second marriage, > > sitting at a piano without all the schtick. I'm guessing she will have > > even more to say. But for all of 25, with all of her life lessons on > > center stage, I have to give her big props for NOT being Amy Winehouse, and > > she could so easily have gone that way. > > > > So that's a start, what do you see in her? > > > > > RESPONSE: Watch the HBO Madison Square Gardens video if you can (Monster > Tour, from last month). She's right inside Manhattan there, where she grew > up, and she goes all the way in this performance. (Note her after-show A > Capella version of Born This Way). Lots of things you say here are pertinent: > "It felt authentic as if she quilt up all these layers of protection so she > could be completely raw with us, vulnerable." ". . . has her own inner > directed purpose." ". . . look to her as a life coach. . ." "She seems to be > giving everything to achieve her artistic vision." ". . . attempting to keep > it real in a way I never got from Madonna." > > My take? She is so passionate and devoted to her musicand her message (inner > God-given dignity of every person: "For God makes no mistakes" BTW) comes > through non-didactically, non-sentimentally. As you say, her effect on her > "little monsters" is real. They can't help what happens to them during a LG > performanceand I have been in a live audience watching her: she does more > good for each person than TM ever did (if you will excuse the hyperbole, the > bitterness, the outrageousness of that declarationbut for me, it's true). No > one of course is 'transformed' but her effect seems to make people a little > more sincere, a little more intelligent, a little more grounded. Although I > doubt ANYONE knows just how she is doing this. For me, her dedication as an > artist is pure and deathless, and this invites a grace which desexualizes her > just to the right degree, while allowing her, non-egotistically to sacrifice > herself inside her art. And the form and message of the art are one. That > almost is unprecedented in my experience. (I have been a performer myself). > > A woman dishabille and yet private lust for her is not permitted. This is > because her art is (and the woman behind the art) so sincere and inspired > that a certain chasteness secretly enters into the contextdefying the very > provocative and sexually uninhibited way she performs. Inside her > performanceI have studied her carefully up-closeshe is that good (as an > artist) that she surrenders all of herself, and from within this posture of > total giving, she is able to create an effect which defies analysis. People > feel good, but it is not an escape, nor is it some kind of epiphany. She just > works on you, and the sensation (for me at leastand it seems reflected in > the faces of most of the audience as well: see that HBO MSG Concert) is > controlled by a beautiful intelligence. > > You will also notice she never breaks her concentration. She remains Lady > Gaga, even in her intimate improvisational words to those fans who are > standing near to her. She does not get off on the energy, the rush of her > performance. She remains invulnerable, poised, focused when all that > adulation and enthusiasm comes at her. She wants to stay inside herself, and > not be seduced by any experience of what it is like to be her performing. For > me this borders on the miraculous. Vanity, pride, egotism are banished in the > commitment she has made to her artand I would say, even her 'religion', for > she certainly believes she has a message, and she efficaciously communicates > this message so it goes right into people. > > Lady Gaga stays in her persona even when she gets into bed with her mother at > home. (Someone sent me one of her tweets in which she announced she was just > then in bed with her mother.) Or when she walks into her dressing room after > a fabulous (that's the right word) show. Among men, women, gays, she stays > the same, controlling, disciplining herselfthis so as not to weaken the > potency of her destinyfor she clearly believes and experiences she has a > very specific destinyand it goes beyond Picasso or Beethoven. She stays > locked inside that destinythe destiny of the ultimate 21st century, > postmodern artist. > > As for her bisexuality, her drug use (she confesses she composes some of her > songs high on marijuana), her whiskey-swilling, her masturbations, her easy > offering (at least in the past) to older men, her cigarettesher generally, > at least overtly, dissolute life style, I say this: It is necessary for her > in order to project her art and her message that she be completely anti-naive > about everything. In fact that she is experienced in everything. This way no > one can insinuate that her programmatic belief system comes from some failure > to know about the hard facts of life. No, she has seen it allat 25 years > old. And by the way, if you notice, when she performs, her age disappears. > You can't tell how old she is. That's a marvellous testimony to how > affectionately the gods of music (the happier ones) have taken her up. She is > a transcendent artistin the act of performing. > > And she is performing right now as I write these words. Right in character. > There is no showing another face to anyone. She is Lady Gaga all the time. > > Lady Gaga is riding some wave of grace and brilliance that, in my intuition, > has to come to something other than what you rightly and shrewdly predict for > her. I don't know what it is, but I do know this: underneath Lady Gaga is a > very lovely girl with the sincerest desire to love and to bring happiness to > people. She is an extraordinary human being I believewith all her faults of > courseand blind-spots. > > For the time being, she is making it. You either get Gaga or you don't. Or > rather, to get Gaga is to go more or less all the way. I went all the way in > order to understand her. I think I do. If I may be permitted to say so, I > have a love for Lady Gaga that I have never had for any other artist I have > seen perform. And I think she would make a wonderful dinner guest. > Interesting, intelligent, sophisticated, trueand ready to crucify herself > for her art. It's quite a beautiful thing to watch. > > We'll have to see what happens to the Gaga. I think the whole story of LG is > not in yet. But she's more happening (IMO) than anyone else I know out there. > > And I would infinitely prefer to speak to her personally than Amma. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "curtisdeltablues" > > > <curtisdeltablues@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > > > > > > From: Blue Caboose <bluecaboose@> > > > Date: June 21, 2011 7:51:15 PM EDT > > > To: Blue Caboose <bluecaboose@> > > > Subject: FFL:CDBJune 21,2011 > > > > > > p a Saint - Lose Your Badge > > > > > > FWIW Masked Zebra Ravi seems to be a decent guy underneath his persona. > > > But he > > > doesn't seem to want to share that level of himself here too much. I > > > wouldn't > > > take all the bizzaro putdown pimp whore talk personally. It is more > > > formulaic > > > than focused on what you really write here. You wont get a back and forth > > > from > > > him on any topic but if he decides to take something more seriously for a > > > minute > > > he can be very entertaining. As he says he is drunk on the divine and > > > that is > > > probably the best way to deal with him. (If by divine he means jello > > > shots) He > > > can be a cheery contributor to the madness here and he certainly grew on > > > me. > > > (till I got some wart-a-way) > > > > > > I hope you continue to post and find your groove here once you have us all > > > sorted out. I believe your contribution here is highly unique and I for > > > one > > > have been digging your posts. As I get to know more about your > > > perspective I > > > hope I can lob some questions your way that you might find interesting > > > enough to > > > consider. I only knew OF you when I was at MIU in the late 70's, so it is > > > nice > > > to hear from the man behind the mask. (or zebra if you prefer) > > > > > > Oh and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, do you think you could > > > sprinkle in a > > > few paragraph breaks now and then? I hate to have to fight the format to > > > get to > > > what you are saying. > > > > > > I hope you feel welcome brother. > > > > > > RESPONSE: Thanks for the welcome, CDB. Your posts probably were what got > > > me to accept RA's invitation to contribute here. Powerful intellect and > > > big heartor so this is how it seems to me in reading what you write on > > > this blog. I especially appreciate your introducing me to the context > > > here. Thoughtful, hilarious, and apposite. I feel after reading this I > > > have my bearings. > > > > > > By all means, lob your questions my way. I will enjoy the opportunity > > > to write into that mind of yours. And I will adjust my paragraphing. > > > > > > If you will permit me to say so, I especially enjoy the strength of > > > your convictionsI don't sense (so far anyway) the sublimation of your > > > real personality into the metaphysic of the East. Something that is > > > anathema to me (as you can understand). I had this super romance > > > spiritually (MMY), and now I tend to react negatively. to all women. And > > > I think Lady Gaga wiser than Amma. > > > > > > Yeah, it's going to be good, CDBor at the very least interesting. You > > > pack the right kind of wallop in my opinion. So, let her rip. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Ravi Yogi" <raviyogi@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], maskedzebra <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > You know, Ravi Yogi, Rick Archer invited me to post on this blog. When > > > > I looked over the blog, it seemed pretty dangerousthat is, as I > > > > said to RA, I might get eaten alive by the sacred monsters on this blog. > > > > Perhaps for my own good, I don't know. But I was somewhat apprehensive > > > > about posting here because it seemed from my first impression that I > > > > might really be in for it. But I posted several times; no problem. Then, > > > > this morning, I discover YOUR POSTS. What I lack (I am sincere here, > > > > believe me) is some context within which to understand your dismissal of > > > > me in the terms you have used: Prodigal Pimp. Who knows? maybe it fits > > > > perfectly, but it's just I haven't come across this characterization of > > > > myself. Perhaps, after being eviscerated on this blog by Ravi Yogi I > > > > will beat a hasty retreat. It depends on whether you can substantiate > > > > this judgment of me (PP) or not. Meantime I will (you will understand > > > > this) have to resort to the most disguised as well as the most blatant > > > > irony in order to protect my reputation in my own eyes. After all, it's > > > > not what other people choose to think about you, it's what you think > > > > about yourself. I just want to defend myself to the utmost (on behalf of > > > > myself) so as to put off as long as possible the possible impact of this > > > > indictment. The indictment implied in your unflattering estimation of > > > > me. Should I take this personally, Ravi Yogi? Or should I just play > > > > along with you, seeing whether you really will knock me off of this > > > > blog? Could it beI am just speculating herethat you, as a born > > > > Hindu, assume as a given an assumption about the validity of the Eastern > > > > view of reality which itself needs to be challenged? But I don't know > > > > nothing, Ravi. I am only (as you can see) taking the measure of this > > > > opposition which has suddenly come out into the open. I don't relish one > > > > of them food fights that sometimes get started on this blog. If you are > > > > going to deliver the real intellectual ordinance, why then I'll have to > > > > anticipate possible permanent injury. And I will step away and nurse my > > > > wounds, hoping they don't prove fatal. > > > > > > > > > > No, really, Ravi Yogi, I am a nice guy. I think you've got be wrong. > > > > Give me a chance, will you? > > > > > > > > > Welcome to FFL, Rick Archer invited me as well and I got hazed. I'm just > > > > continuing the long tradition of FFL hazing. But I gave my hazers hell, > > > > they are still licking their wounds especially Barry aka turquoiseb. You > > > > are indeed too nice by comparison :-) > > > > > > RESPONSE: Appreciate this too. I can handle the hazing. My irony quotient > > > is always equal to my love quotient. So I'll be fine. > > > Looking toward to the experiences that are coming up. Thanks again for > > > this. > > > > > > > > > > > FWIW Masked Zebra Ravi seems to be a decent guy underneath his persona. > > > > But he doesn't seem to want to share that level of himself here too > > > > much. I wouldn't take all the bizzaro putdown pimp whore talk > > > > personally. It is more formulaic than focused on what you really write > > > > here. You wont get a back and forth from him on any topic but if he > > > > decides to take something more seriously for a minute he can be very > > > > entertaining. As he says he is drunk on the divine and that is > > > > probably the best way to deal with him. (If by divine he means jello > > > > shots) He can be a cheery contributor to the madness here and he > > > > certainly grew on me. (till I got some wart-a-way) > > > > > > > > I hope you continue to post and find your groove here once you have us > > > > all sorted out. I believe your contribution here is highly unique and > > > > I for one have been digging your posts. As I get to know more about > > > > your perspective I hope I can lob some questions your way that you > > > > might find interesting enough to consider. I only knew OF you when I > > > > was at MIU in the late 70's, so it is nice to hear from the man behind > > > > the mask. (or zebra if you prefer) > > > > > > > > Oh and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, do you think you could > > > > sprinkle in a few paragraph breaks now and then? I hate to have to > > > > fight the format to get to what you are saying. > > > > > > > > I hope you feel welcome brother. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Ravi Yogi" <raviyogi@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], maskedzebra <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > You know, Ravi Yogi, Rick Archer invited me to post on this blog. > > > > > > When > > > > > I looked over the blog, it seemed pretty dangerousthat is, as I > > > > > said to RA, I might get eaten alive by the sacred monsters on this > > > > > blog. > > > > > Perhaps for my own good, I don't know. But I was somewhat apprehensive > > > > > about posting here because it seemed from my first impression that I > > > > > might really be in for it. But I posted several times; no problem. > > > > > Then, > > > > > this morning, I discover YOUR POSTS. What I lack (I am sincere here, > > > > > believe me) is some context within which to understand your dismissal > > > > > of > > > > > me in the terms you have used: Prodigal Pimp. Who knows? maybe it fits > > > > > perfectly, but it's just I haven't come across this characterization > > > > > of > > > > > myself. Perhaps, after being eviscerated on this blog by Ravi Yogi I > > > > > will beat a hasty retreat. It depends on whether you can substantiate > > > > > this judgment of me (PP) or not. Meantime I will (you will understand > > > > > this) have to resort to the most disguised as well as the most blatant > > > > > irony in order to protect my reputation in my own eyes. After all, > > > > > it's > > > > > not what other people choose to think about you, it's what you think > > > > > about yourself. I just want to defend myself to the utmost (on behalf > > > > > of > > > > > myself) so as to put off as long as possible the possible impact of > > > > > this > > > > > indictment. The indictment implied in your unflattering estimation of > > > > > me. Should I take this personally, Ravi Yogi? Or should I just play > > > > > along with you, seeing whether you really will knock me off of this > > > > > blog? Could it beI am just speculating herethat you, as a born > > > > > Hindu, assume as a given an assumption about the validity of the > > > > > Eastern > > > > > view of reality which itself needs to be challenged? But I don't know > > > > > nothing, Ravi. I am only (as you can see) taking the measure of this > > > > > opposition which has suddenly come out into the open. I don't relish > > > > > one > > > > > of them food fights that sometimes get started on this blog. If you > > > > > are > > > > > going to deliver the real intellectual ordinance, why then I'll have > > > > > to > > > > > anticipate possible permanent injury. And I will step away and nurse > > > > > my > > > > > wounds, hoping they don't prove fatal. > > > > > > > > > > > > No, really, Ravi Yogi, I am a nice guy. I think you've got be wrong. > > > > > Give me a chance, will you? > > > > > > > > > > > Welcome to FFL, Rick Archer invited me as well and I got hazed. I'm > > > > > just > > > > > continuing the long tradition of FFL hazing. But I gave my hazers > > > > > hell, > > > > > they are still licking their wounds especially Barry aka turquoiseb. > > > > > You > > > > > are indeed too nice by comparison :-) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
