I just finished a Netflix documentary, ‘Five Foot Two’ about the life of singer, writer, actress, Lady Gaga. It was a fascinating look into the inner workings of her experiences on the road, before the crowds and home with her family. I found her to be authentic and vulnerable with her chronic physical pain, fears and the longings of her heart to be loved. There’s a part where she admits, “ "It's a sad day when I'm doing the Super Bowl, and I'm so excited to do it, but I can't help but realize that when I sold 10 million records, I lost Matt. I sell 30 million, I lose Luc. You know? I get the movie, I lose Taylor. It's like a turnover. This is the third time I've had my heart broken like this. I'm alone, Brandon, every night. And all these people will leave. Right? They will leave. And then I'll be alone. And then I go from everyone touching me all day and talking at me all day to total silence."
It’s interesting that she shares that about silence because in another scene you see her going in and out of a limo with fans clamoring for her attention outside the car doors. She sits inside the limo and expresses her gratitude for the thing she mentions fearing later on - silence.
I understand this and I imagine most of us can relate to the feelings she shared. Most of us will never experience the level of success Stephanie (Lady Gaga) has. Even without the fame, we still experience relief for moments of calm and silence when our schedules are packed and the demands are high. Though we’re grateful for moments of stillness in times of chaos, we still fear the silence that comes from being lonely. I’m 37 which to me feels old, but I tell myself it’s not. I’ve found myself worrying about the future as Lady Gaga expressed. There is this verse that I find comforting,
Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)
. Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
God will always be with me and take care of me. That’s a truth I come back to when I get afraid of the unknown.
Watching the documentary also caused me to realize that even fame is all about service to others. Lady Gaga is a hard worker. She is constantly serving others by offering her hard work to them as a means of entertainment. It’s a service when you sign autographs. It’s a service when you practice for hours to get your choreography right. It’s a service when airports become your second home and you travel all year round. Granted, she loves what she does and it pays extremely well. But even with the perks and glamour of fame, it’s still service. It’s something she is doing for the benefit of others, her fans around the globe. Service is exhausting. It takes so much of you. It’s demanding to meet the needs of others. Not to mention the fact that in serving fans you always have to be open to their criticism, opinions, and dislike of what you do. The scrutiny of living your life before the public must be overwhelming at times. Yet she does it because it seems that is what she loves to do.
I admire her work ethic. I think her devotion to her fans is a beautiful thing. In one scene a fan is crying after meeting her. This young woman talked about the way in which Gaga’s songs filled her with hope. That reminded me that there are so many people out there looking for hope, love, and comfort. They connect with musicians and artists because these are the ones that give them songs and poems and films that take the edge off their aches. Lady Gaga’s service to this woman and millions of others is to put a smile on their face and hope in their heart.
I’d never listened to Gaga’s music before Shallow and the soundtrack to a Star is Born came out. Those songs drew me in, even though I haven’t seen the movie. We live in a strange, divided time where people think they must agree with someone’s political views, beliefs and lifestyle in order to enjoy their music. I am conservative when it comes to politics and follow people online with similar views. During the Grammys, Oscars or other popular shows I often see people declare how they won’t watch this year because the people involved don’t agree with their politics. I understand refusing to watch people make fun of those you like or mock a political leader you admire. Though I understand why people don’t want to watch, I think differently. I like to watch and listen to people who think differently than I do. I love people who think differently. Yes, I can get annoyed by certain statements like anyone else. However, I try to remember that at the end of the day we’re all humans and none of us has it all right.
Watching Lady Gaga or any celebrity or Hollywood Star is watching someone made in the image of God and loved by Him. None of us are perfect but we can all learn from each other.