Music Review: Lady Gaga & R. Kelly "Do What U Want"
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Lady Gaga & R. Kelly
Do What U Want
Album: ARTPOP
Year: 2013
Lady Gaga slams for the press for commenting on her mistakes in the self-involved “Do What U Want.”
Dizzy synths open the single, setting a twitchy tone. She’s has her chin held up high. She has her arms out some to balance herself on her stilettos, the heel the shape of an icicle. Her art deco headpiece is in its place. However, she stumbles, crashing on the pavement. Flashes of light from cameras blind her. Gritting her teeth as she gets up, she ignores the paparazzi shouting at her. In a few hours it will be online. The press will love this, she thinks, they are just looking for a reason to bring her down. (“I feel good, I walk along/But then I trip upon myself and I fall, I/I stand up, and then I'm OK/But then you print that shit/That makes me want to scream.”)
In the pre-chorus, she’ll blow off the criticism and continue working on her music. In the meantime, the press will have make up their headlines, using her name to drive up traffic to their silly little sites. They might throw in some commentary regarding her relevancy. They are lucky to be writing about such an interesting person such as her. She likely distracts them from boring lives stuck at the desk all day, wishing they could be as famous and beloved as she. Fuck them. She’s a fucking icon and it’s something they are going to have accept. (“So do what you want/What you want with my body/Do what you want/Don't stop, let's party/Do what you want/What you want with my body/Do what you want/What you want with my body/Write what you want/Say what you want bout me/If you’re wondering/Know that I’m not sorry/Do what you want/What you want with my body/What you want with my body.”)
In the chorus, she says the press won’t ever know the real her. They may crop and adjust her photos according to their biased angle of her. She won’t ever care. Not ever. Never ever. Not even a single tweet. (“You can’t have my heart/And you won't use my mind but/Do what you want (with my body)/Do what you want with my body/You can’t stop my voice cause/You don’t own my life but/Do what you want (with my body)/Do what you want (with my body.”)
R. Kelly is simply along the ride. He’s been a pop star for decades and he couldn’t ever not having access to a private jet and fashin designers at the snap of the fingers. He’ll gladly work with her again. He thinks they make a great pair. He’s in aw of her. She’s a talented woman. Despite his years of experience in the music, he will defer to her, the future music legend. (“Early morning, longer nights/Tom Ford, private flights/Crazy schedule, fast life/I wouldn't trade it in/Cause it's our life (now let's slow it down)/I could be the drink in your cup/I could be the green in your blunt/Your pusha man, ya I got what you want/You want to escape all of the crazy shit/You're the mailman, I'm the president/I love to hear you sing, girl.”)
In the pre-chorus, R. Kelly is humbled by the chance to be on a single with her. Finally, he’s relevant again! He namedrops her whenever he can. They’ll tell all those bloggers and reporters off, making them scared to ever write another bad review or story about her ever again. (“Do what I want/Do what I want with your body/Do what I want/Do what I want with your body/Back of the club, taking shots, getting naughty/No invitations, it's a private party/Do what I want/Do what I want with your body/Do what I want/Do what I want with your body/Ya we taking these haters and we roughin' em up/And we lay in the cut like we don't give a fuck.”)
She sings the chorus again. Kelly adlibs in the background.
In the bridge, she has forgotten how to be a regular person. She doesn’t even know how to navigate the world outside her own self-contained bubble. Losing whatever fame she has left will cause her to spiral. She hopes the backlash will end soon and the press will have an outpouring of love her again. (“Sometimes/I'm scared I suppose/If you ever let me go/I would fall apart/If you break my heart/So just take my body/And don't stop the party.”)
She sings the chorus as Kelly adlibs in the background again.
In the final section, she says “do want you want with me/what you want with my body” four times to close the single.
Gaga’s pungent vocals gnash her teeth into the press, biting them as hard as they did her. It bothers her, given the all cap tweets and rants (written and sung). Her devotion is to stardom and fame, prolonging it for the rest of her life.
She is ascribing to the pre-TMZ model where celebrities were once held in high regard. She strictly tweets about her music, her image, rabid fanbase and feuds with other celebrities (unprovoked or not). There is no more Stefani, the Lady Gaga persona has taken over. She does not deign herself to post about her favorite movie or a silly thing her pet did (does she even have a pet?). It’s the inauthenticity and unwilligness to be seen as a normal person which will kill her career.
Kelly’s kowtowing vocals are on cruise control, gliding along. He’s just glad to be featured on someone’s single again, even if he’s required to suck up publicly. With his relaxed demeanor, he outshines her.
The hypocritical “Do What U Want” picks a fight with the press, hoping they will take the bait and give her the same amount attention she received early on in her career.