Eighteen Years On, Lady Gaga’s Debut Still Plays Like a Pop Star’s Coronation

Lady Gaga’s The Fame opens with a dance-pop anthem and closes with a song about a boy she loved and lost. The record wants to be both a pop star’s coronation and a confession album. Mostly, it succeeds at the former.

Just Dance

The lead single sets the tone: big, dumb fun, a chorus built for arenas and club speakers alike. It’s the mission statement, and it lands.

LoveGame and Paparazzi

“LoveGame” is a slower, sexier cousin to the opener, with a chorus that feels less like a dare and more like a demand. “Paparazzi” is the record’s dark horse, a song about fame and betrayal that shows Gaga can write about pain without losing her pop instincts.

Beautiful, Dirty, Rich and Eh, Eh

These three tracks form the middle stretch’s weakest run. “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” is competent but forgettable. “Eh, Eh” is a solid single with a hook that doesn’t quite stick. Neither earns a second listen.

Poker Face

“Poker Face” is the record’s second-best moment, a slow-burning duet about seduction and control. The build pays off.

The Fame and Money Honey

“The Fame” is the title track, a self-aware anthem that’s also a solid, if unremarkable, entry in the sequence. “Money Honey” is a guilty pleasure about greed and desire, and it knows exactly what it is.

Again Again and Boys Boys Boys

“Again Again” is pleasant but slight. “Boys Boys Boys” is a campy, tongue-in-cheek ode to bad boys, and it’s one of the few moments where the record lets its playful side through.

Brown Eyes and Summerboy

“Brown Eyes” is a gentle, confessional ballad that finally lets Gaga sing about heartbreak without irony. “Summerboy” closes the album on a note of longing, a song about a boy she loved and lost.

The Verdict

The record’s highs are very high — “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” “Brown Eyes” — but its middles drag. It’s a debut that announces a talent and a career, even when it’s not firing on all cylinders.