How Lady Gaga Helped The Veronica’s ‘Untouched’ Become a Hit
When The Veronicas released “Untouched” in 2007, it was out of touch with mainstream pop music. Then, Lady Gaga became huge and the world embraced “Untouched.” If you listen closely, “Untouched” has a distinct sound that brings to mind Gaga’s early hits, especially songs like “Poker Face” and “LoveGame.” But what is it about this song that feels so similar? And how did Gaga help pave the way for its success?
The Veronica’s ‘Untouched’ was initially rejected for not being a pop-rock song
The Veronicas are an Australian sister duo composed of Jess and Lisa Origliasso. During a 2021 interview with Junkee, Jess discussed the group’s early career. “We were two girls from Brisbane getting [in the studio] with Max Martin,” said Jess. “It was completely new and wild for Australia. It wasn’t like it felt like we were playing along with some sort of rule book.”
While the group started out making pop punk, the went electropop with “Untouched.” “A lot of people weren’t going electric,” said Lisa. “It was very hard to get the label at the time Warner Bros on board. They couldn’t get their heads around the fact that we didn’t have pop-rock guitars on our record.”
Warner Bros. Record put its feet down. “We were told it wasn’t going to get played on radio, that they weren’t going to support the album, that we had to go rewrite it,” Jess recalled. “And we just wouldn’t do it.” However, the “Bad Romance” singer‘s popularity helped radio stations embrace the electronic sound of “Untouched.” Afterward, everyone wanted to make music for the dance floor.
‘Untouched’ could have worked well on ‘The Fame’
Notably, “Untouched” shares many musical qualities with Gaga’s early work. The song’s electronic production, infectious hooks, and danceable rhythm evoke the same vibe that Gaga brought to the mainstream in the late 2000s. Both tracks have a driving beat and catchy melodies that make them instantly memorable. There’s a sense of theatricality in both songs, with bold arrangements and dramatic shifts in tempo. This style became a hallmark of Gaga’s music, and “Untouched” clearly channels that energy.
Gaga’s rise to fame played a huge role in shaping the pop music scene during this time. Her debut album The Fame, released in 2008, pushed boundaries in pop music with electronic elements, dance beats, and a sense of empowerment. Gaga’s bold, confident persona also influenced many artists to embrace more daring and experimental sounds. By the time “Untouched” was released, pop music had started to shift. Artists like The Veronicas were able to take risks with their music, inspired by the path Gaga had carved.
The Veronicas had a tone similar to Lady Gaga
Gaga’s influence didn’t just impact “Untouched”‘s sound, but also its attitude. Both songs are full of energy and self-confidence. They embrace pop as a genre of empowerment, with lyrics that speak to independence, love, and freedom. The Veronicas’ “Untouched” has the same sense of excitement and boldness that was characteristic of Gaga’s music at the time.
Ultimately, Lady Gaga helped reshape pop music into something more exciting and experimental. Her influence was felt far beyond her own hits, and songs like “Untouched” owe a bit of their sound to the trail she blazed.
