Believe it or not, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga to the world has been making her little monsters ecstatic since 2008! This week marks the anniversary of the release of her second body of work The Fame Monster, originally slated as an EP, but in many markets regarded as the deluxe reissue of her 3x platinum debut album The Fame (released in August 2008).

THE FAME MONSTER

The eight track set was led by the quotable smash hit single “Bad Romance,” which helped continue the evolution of all things Gaga including another explosive cinematic music video, innovative fashion, and vigorous choreography. To this day, fans and critics regard “Romance” as one of Gaga’s signature songs and, quite possibly, the one that cemented her Pop legacy.

If that wasn’t enough, pop megastar Beyoncé teamed up with Lady Gaga for a second time on this project. Following their “Video Phone” collaboration, the pair opted for a more classic “Telephone” instead, to help continue the hot streak of consecutive  Hot 100 top 10 hits for Gaga, certifying her as the next big pop star to hit the scene. A force which would endure and only grow into new heights during the following years.

Whether the 90s Ace Of Base vibes on the RedOne produced “Alejandro,” or the 80s synthpop inspired “Dance In The Dark,” Lady Gaga managed to not only prove that she wasn’t a fluke of the times, but that she was destined to be a bonafide star thanks to these eight unique, yet still cohesive tracks with the catchy melodies and hooks and her quirky songwriting style.

Moreover, the Monster era was also the peak of Gaga as a visual artist. The music videos for “Bad Romance,” “Telephone” and “Alejandro” are considered the reason why music videos became relevant again and why most artists started putting more effort into the production values of their videos and gathering larger budgets. Lady Gaga brought back the music video as a form of artistic expression, not just a mere accompaniment to the song, in a way that had not been since the inception of MTV in the 1980s.

It is safe to say that The Fame Monster still holds up as one of, if not the best body of work from Lady Gaga to date; whether you consider it as a standalone EP or as an extended version of her solo debut.

Mother Monster’s early work has managed to stand the test of time and undoubtedly will for many years to come as a pioneering album in the early 2010s electro-infused pop music scene.

LISTEN & RELIVE ‘THE FAME MONSTER’

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