Now we all know that Madonna is one shady character, and someone who is fond of cryptically- or not so cryptically in the case of Mariah Carey and Janet Jackson- attacking others when it suits her (most noticeably when she needs publicity). We also know that Lady Gaga's Born This Way sounds a lot like Madonna's classic Express Yourself and that the Queen of pop herself commented on the likeness by saying,
"When I heard ['Born This Way'] on the radio… I said, 'That sounds very familiar'… It felt reductive. "
This being the case, when footage from Madonna's latest tour rehearsal leaked showing her performing a mash-up of Express Yourself and Born This Way, one couldn't help but question her motives for doing it.
Is this "shade" of the highest order from Madonna? With Gaga being on her own, very successful, tour at the minute, could Madonna be having a dig at the star and her career? After all, of all the Gaga songs Madonna could have chosen to cover she picked the one song she herself labelled "reductive".
Or is Madonna simply telling everyone who assumes that there is beef between the stars that they are above all of that with the inclusion of this medley. Both songs do have similar themes of empowerment, and they are also the reason why many assume a problem exists between the stars, so it could be a fitting choice.
As of now I'm going to take this video as a sign of goodwill from Madonna- I'm a fool, right? However, if this medley doesn't make it into the final show then I am more inclined to believe that this was purely for publicity and another cheap shot from Madonna at Gaga.
What do you guys think? Shade, or no shade?
Update: Just took another listen, don't know how I managed to miss the repeated "she's not me" at the end... I think that pretty much speaks for itself. Definitely shade.
Tour Footage:
