Rolling Stone introduces 6 songs from ‘Born This Way’

“Born This Way” - This is the Number One single in the country, so you’ve probably heard this one by now. This was the first time Gaga has played the song in concert, but it’s already the ideal conclusion to her show, ending the night with a giddy communal celebration of personal empowerment and self-acceptance. Watch footage of the performance below.

“Hair” – “Hair” is another inspirational song in the mold of “Born This Way,” but it’s a bit weirder, mixing the yearning romantic melodrama of Pat Benetar’s “We Belong” with the hard industrial metal edge of Broken-era Nine Inch Nails. The lyrics are essentially about embracing one’s hairstyle as the ultimate expression of their identity, climaxing with Gaga triumphantly declaring “I am my hair!” in its huge sing along chorus. An anthem for hair salons everywhere.

“Scheiße” – A remixed version of this number was used in a recent runway show by fashion designer Thierry Mugler. The album version doesn’t have the same hardcore European house flavor, but it’s definitely the tune most likely to bring back memories of early-Nineties dance crossover hits by C&C Music Factory, Snap and RuPaul. The opening of the song — in which she flatly intones “I don’t speak German, but I can if you like” — is fierce, but the song is saved from being a slight novelty by a soaring chorus that vaguely recalls Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.”

“You and I” – Gaga didn’t share the studio version of this theatrical rock ballad, but she did perform it in her concert later in the evening. This one has been part of her Monster Ball setlist for months now, and at this point it’s already a crowd-pleasing showstopper. Assuming that the album recording will have more or less the same piano-centric arrangement, “You and I” will provide a necessary break from the high energy beats on the other tracks. Watch her performance of the song from The Today Show back in July below.

“Edge of Glory” – This one sounds crazy in print — it’s a massive power ballad with heavy club beats that features Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band wailing on his saxophone — but somehow it all seems totally natural when you actually hear it. There’s an element of cheesiness to it, but it’s totally captivating and incredibly catchy. If any of these new Gaga tunes demands to be a big fat hit, this is it. The inclusion of Clemons is an inspired touch that amplifies the song’s Eighties stadium rock vibe, but his actual performance is amazing and ranks among the best of his career.

“Judas” – Currently scheduled as the second single from the album, “Judas” is a classic Lady Gaga pop banger with three huge hooks, a thumping house music breakdown and a vocal part that borrows a bit of Rihanna’s distinctive cadence. Gaga has written about falling for the wrong guy before in “LoveGame” and “Bad Romance,” but this time around she’s a bit less dark and dramatic. There’s a bubbly sweetness in her voice as she sings

“I’m just a horny fool

baby it’s so cool

I’m still in love with Judas, baby.”