Why U2’s Bono Thinks Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ Is a Perfect Song
Lady Gaga’s song “Born This Way” isn’t just popular — it’s also garnered critical respect. For example, U2’s Bono, one of the most famous classic rock stars of all time, said “Born This Way” will be sung until the end of time. Here’s why he thinks “Born This Way” is perfect.
Why this rock star didn’t like Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ until he heard it the second time
For his 60th birthday, Bono listed his 60 favorite tracks. In Rolling Stone, he explained why he liked these 60 songs and what he feels about the artists behind them. The 51st song on the list was Gaga’s “Born This Way.”
Bono was particularly taken with one line of “Born This Way.” “Dear Lady Gaga,” Bono wrote. “On first hearing this I knew, like everyone, how clear the concept was and that the chorus would be one of those. It was on the second listen that I realized the lyrical power of the set up with lines like ‘God makes no mistakes.’”
Why Bono thinks Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ is like the best rave songs
Bono discussed why he considers “Born This Way” perfect. This is your show, this is your life… to sing for the people who feel outside of themselves, outside of song, outside of Grace, and to sing us back inside. A song can be too perfect but this one isn’t… It’s perfection is that it loves the cracks that we all fall down. Some in high heels, some flat on our face or on our knees. If Cole Porter was reincarnated as a 21st century dance pop female showbiz phenomenon, she surely would have written a song like this.”
In his letter, Bono mentioned that his friend told him the best rave songs are about hope for a better world. Considering “Born This Way” is a plea for tolerance for people of all races and LGBTQ people, it certainly fits the bill. “Gaga you outdid them all with this one,” Bono added. “This song will be sung forever. Your supra fan, Bono.”
How the world reacted to Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’
“Born This Way” clearly resonated with Bono. This raises an interesting question: Did the song resonate with the public at large? “Born This Way” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track remained on the chart for 20 weeks. It was instrumental in promoting the album of the same name, which reached the top of the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for 55 weeks.
Lady Gaga’s connection to a Cole Porter song
In addition to praising the song, Bono compared it to the work of legendary songwriter Cole Porter. Interestingly, Gaga performed Porter’s classic song “Anything Goes” as a duet with Tony Bennett for their album Cheek to Cheek. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Bono compared Porter to Gaga — and it seems the public embraced both “Born This Way” and Gaga’s rendition of “Anything Goes.”
