Music Blog, Theme Prompt

Big Birthday For A Little Lady!

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“March Music Birthdays”.
This is my response to the challenge.

This week at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “March Music Birthdays”. Our challenge? To write about a song written or performed by someone born in the month of March.

Happy 40th Birthday to Stefani Germanotta!

It’s a great treat for me to feature a brilliant, strong, ground-breaking female performer, a self-made, wildly talented artist of Italian descent born in New York City, a philanthropist, social activist, mental health advocate, defender of the bullied and misunderstood, supporter of equality and women’s rights, international super star, and more. A huge persona in her petite 5’2″ body. This is Lady Gaga!

© Pinterest

Stefani Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, was born March 28, 1986, in NYC. Raised in an Italian-American Catholic family on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, she began playing piano at age four. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart and later studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts before dropping out to pursue her music career. Her stage name was inspired by the Queen song “Radio Ga Ga” and originated from a 2006 text message mishap with producer Rob Fusari. When he tried to text her “Radio Ga Ga”, his phone’s autocorrect changed “Radio” to “Lady” and the name stuck. Lady Gaga is an Oscar-winning singer, songwriter, and actress known for her theatrical, genre-bending music and fashion. Rising from the Lower East Side club scene, she achieved stardom with her 2008 debut The Fame and hits like “Bad Romance” and ”Just Dance”. Her latest work includes the 2020 album Chromatica and the 2025 release Mayhem. In 2012, she co-founded the Born This Way Foundation with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, to support youth mental health and to combat bullying. For more about Lady Gaga, please go HERE.

Lady Gaga’s catalog is extremely diverse. In an attempt to peel back a few of her many layers, I’ve chosen three very different videos to feature this week.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★

“Bad Romance” is a critically acclaimed 2009 electropop hit from Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, inspired by German house/techno and her own experiences with lonely, unhealthy relationships. The song was written on a tour bus in Norway by Lady Gaga and producer, RedOne (Nadir Khayat); it is known for its iconic music video, which portrays a surreal, high-fashion, and futuristic narrative where Gaga is auctioned off to the Russian Mafia. The lyrics explore the attraction to destructive, “bad” romances, fueled by personal paranoia during tours. Released in October 2009, it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, hit #1 in 26 countries, and sold 18 million copies.

This is “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga


LYRICS

Ooh, caught in a bad romance
Ooh, caught in a bad romance

Ra-ra, ah-ah-ah
Roma-, roma-ma-
Gaga, ooh, la-la
Want your bad romance

Ra-ra, ah-ah-ah
Roma-, roma-ma-
Gaga, ooh, la-la
Want your bad romance

I want your ugly, I want your disease
I want your everything as long as it’s free
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (hey)

I want your drama, the touch of your hand (hey)
I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love, I want your love)

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want it bad, your bad romance

I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance (ooh)
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Ooh, caught in a bad romance
Ooh, caught in a bad romance

Ra-ra, ah-ah-ah
Roma-, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh, la-la
Want your bad romance

I want your horror, I want your design
‘Cause you’re a criminal as long as you’re mine
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love

I want your psycho, your vertigo shtick (hey)
Want you in my rear window, baby, you’re sick
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love, I want your love)

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you (’cause I’m a free bitch, baby)
I want it bad, your bad romance

I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance (ooh)
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Ooh, caught in a bad romance
Ooh, caught in a bad romance

Ra-ra, ah-ah-ah
Roma-, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh, la-la
Want your bad romance

Ra-ra, ah-ah-ah
Roma-, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh, la-la
Want your bad romance

Walk, walk, fashion, baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, fashion, baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, fashion, baby
Work it, move that bitch crazy
Walk, walk, passion, baby
Work it, I’m a free bitch, baby

I want your love and I want your revenge
I want your love, I don’t wanna be friends
J’veux ton amour et je veux ta revanche
J’veux ton amour, I don’t wanna be friends (ooh, oh)
No, I don’t wanna be friends (oh, caught in a bad romance)
I don’t wanna be friends (ooh, oh)
Want your bad romance (oh, caught in a bad romance)
Want your bad romance

I want your love and I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance (ooh)
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
Ooh (want your bad romance), caught in a bad romance (want your bad romance)
Ooh (want your bad romance), caught in a bad romance

Ra-ra, ah-ah-ah
Roma-, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh, la-la
Want your bad romance

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Stefani Germanotta/Nadir Khayat
Bad Romance lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Songs Of Redone, House Of Gaga Publishing Inc

★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★

“Shallow” is a power ballad from the 2018 film A Star Is Born, written by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, and Anthony Rossomando. It serves as a pivotal duet between characters Ally (Lady Gaga) and Jackson (Bradley Cooper), representing their deep connection, mutual vulnerability, and desire to escape superficiality. The song represents a conversation between a man and a woman regarding the drive to “dive into the deep end” of life and emotion. The lyrics reflect the need for a deeper connection in modern relationships. “Shallow” won the 2019 Oscar for Best Original Song, as well as a Golden Globe and multiple Grammys.

From the movie A Star Is Born, this is “Shallow” with Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper.


LYRICS

Tell me something, girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there something else you’re searchin’ for?

I’m falling
In all the good times, I find myself longin’ for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself

Tell me something, boy
Aren’t you tired trying to fill that void?
Or do you need more?
Ain’t it hard keeping it so hardcore?

I’m falling
In all the good times, I find myself longing for change
And in the bad times, I fear myself

I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I’ll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us
We’re far from the shallow now

In the sha-, shallow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
We’re far from the shallow now

Oh, ha-ah-ah
Ah, ha-ah-ah, oh, ah
Ha-ah-ah-ah

I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I’ll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us
We’re far from the shallow now

In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-llow
In the sha-ha, sha-ha-llow
We’re far from the shallow now

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Mark Ronson / Anthony Rossomando / Andrew Wyatt / Stefani J. Germanotta
Shallow lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Downtown Dmp Songs, Downtown Dlj Songs, Songs Of Zelig, White Bull Music Group, Stephaniesays Music, Warner Olive Music Llc., Warner-barham Music Llc., Concord Copyrights, Sg Songs Worldwide, Concord Road, Concord Boulevard

★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★

“Die With A Smile,” released on August 16, 2024, is a romantic soft-rock/country ballad by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, exploring love in the face of apocalypse. Developed by Mars in 2021 and finalized with Gaga, the song was inspired by the idea of being with someone during the world’s end. It features a 1970s retro style and became a global hit, appearing on Gaga’s Harlequin album. It reached #1 in many charts, becoming a massive commercial success shortly after its release. On Spotify, it became the longest-reigning daily #1 song, the fastest track to surpass 3 billion streams, and the most-streamed song of 2025. The track spent 18 weeks atop the Billboard Global 200 chart. In the video, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are dressed as a 1970s country-western duo, heavily inspired by the iconic pairing of Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner.

This is “Die With A Smile’ by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars


LYRICS

Ooh

I, I just woke up from a dream
Where you and I had to say goodbye
And I don’t know what it all means
But since I survived, I realized

Wherever you go, that’s where I’ll follow
Nobody’s promised tomorrow
So I’ma love you every night like it’s the last night
Like it’s the last night

If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you
If the party was over and our time on Earth was through
I’d wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile
If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you

Ooh

Ooh, lost, lost in the words that we scream
I don’t even wanna do this anymore
‘Cause you already know what you mean to me
And our love’s the only war worth fighting for

Wherever you go, that’s where I’ll follow
Nobody’s promised tomorrow
So I’ma love you every night like it’s the last night
Like it’s the last night

If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you
If the party was over and our time on Earth was through
I’d wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile
If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you

Right next to you
Next to you
Right next to you
Oh-oh, oh

If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you
If the party was over and our time on Earth was through
I’d wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile
If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you
If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you

Ooh
I’d wanna be next to you

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: James Edward Ii Fauntleroy/Stefani Germanotta/Bruno Mars/Andrew Wotman/Dernst Emile
Die With a Smile lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Mars Force Music, Dii Music Llc, Warner Geo Met Ric Music, Bmg Onyx Songs, Sg Songs Worldwide, Hv James Fauntleroy Publishing, Andrew Watt Music Publishing

★ ★ ★ ☆ ★ ★ ★

To close today’s post, here’s a trailer from the Netflix documentary, GAGA: FIVE FOOT TWO, which follows the superstar at her most vulnerable moments as she pushes through chronic pain, heartbreak and produces a soul-blooming album.

March Music Birthdays

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jim’s site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some tunes.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2026

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

50 thoughts on “Big Birthday For A Little Lady!”

  1. Every time I hear/read about Lady Gaga I’m almost ashamed to think that I never spent any time listening to her. I was just turned off by what I thought was a gimmick (and might have been) and dismissed her, but she’s really good. I kept scrolling here waiting for a Gaga and Tony Bennett collaboration, but you surprised me with three new songs.

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    1. Thanks very much Fishman! I thought about featuring Gaga with Tony Bennett, which would have been wonderful, but I didn’t for two specific reasons: I tried to focus on songs written by her, and none of her duets with Tony were her original songs; secondly, I wanted all my song choices to be very different from each other and I didn’t need another balled as I already featured one from her movie with Bradley Cooper. Simple as that, but I appreciate you mentioning it. I’m glad to know you are a fan. Lady Gaga is an incredible talent.

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  3. Great write up and song, Nancy. When Lady Gaga came down from the heavens in an aerial entrance and performed her talented little heart out, I was stunned. I had previously thought she was a rather nutty bacon-suit wearing person hungry for attention. I have been a fan ever since!

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    2. I can’t blame you one bit for thinking that way, Lisa; her meat dress was not a good statement, and I’m glad she did not carry that on any further. She is quite a dynamo and a lovely person also. I’m glad you enjoyed this week write up. Thank you so much.

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  4. Lady Gaga is an undeniable talent! Her and Bradley’s version of a Star is Born was fabulous. I love the Streisand Kristofferson one and love that the storyline is the same but different. As it was for the Garland / Mason one. It’s funny that in all of the previous versions, the names of the characters remained the same. Still.

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    1. A Star is Born is such a great movie, it would be foolish to mess around with it too much. I think the producers realize they got a good thing going with these remix; if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. There was a much earlier movie in 1937 with Janet Gaynor and Frederick March; the characters names were different but that was not a musical, so it doesn’t really count here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, my friend.

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      1. Yes, I know. And no, I checked. Their names were the same as the two versions after. It’s only with Gaga and Cooper that they changed their names. No matter. I love that they keep the gist of the story the same. He alcoholic and a star, she a relatively unknown. Etc.
        And always a pleasure Amica mia

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  5. Nancy I am so happy you chose Lade Gaga today. I saw it was her birthday in March and hoped somebody would. She is an amazing talent with a beautiful voice. Thank you too for including the duet with Bruno Mars. It’s one of m favorites ❤️🥰

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    1. Thanks, Christine. I was excited to see Lady Gaga on the birthday list. It gave me an opportunity to write about one of the most talented and versatile female performers around today. I’m glad to know you enjoyed my post. And yes, “Die with a Smile” is a terrific song! Thank you!

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  11. Lady Gaga has been reported to have an IQ of 166 and she is known for her intelligence and creativity and I just love her. I love the outfits that she wears, and she looks great when she is not wearing them. She is loaded with talent, and you made an excellent choice for the theme today, Nancy.

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    1. Thanks for your excellent comments, my friend! I realized I don’t really feature female artists as much as I should, and that came as quite a surprise to me. I know of no better way to break that cycle than with the incredible Lady Gaga. I’m delighted to know you enjoyed my post today. Thank you and thanks also for a great theme.

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  12. Wonderful choice, I almost chose her, too. I love her songs and her talent. I feel she loves all her personas, yet knows when to keep it real. More than ‘just a singer’ she tackles the hard parts of life … in her own way. 🙂

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  14. Happy birthday to Lady Gaga, I think she’ll be 40 on the 28th of March, and thank you for the wonderfully informative story my friend …

    “Peace. it does not mean to be in a place where there is no trouble, noise, or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart” ~ Lady Gaga

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  15. Wow! When you said her catalogue was diverse you weren’t a kiddin’! What a great and varied showcase you put together for us Nancy!

    I will admit I kind of turned a blind eye after the meat dress incident- but I am thinking I should have a second look!

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    1. Haha! The meat dress was not a highlight of her career and I’d rather forget it myself. That said, you’ve just seen what a diverse artist she is, as well as being incredibly intelligent and socially aware/active. She is a dynamic force, and I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed my write up today. Thanks, Jodi. It’s always good to know what we do here on WordPress is appreciated. ❤️

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  18. This is a wonderful write Nance I loved reading about her and the songs you chose are great. Myfavourite is Bad Romance but I also love the duet with Bradley as I said to Maggie- I’ve not seen the film but after watching that I’m definitely going to♥️

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    1. Ange, I hope you do take some time to watch the movie. Bradley Cooper had extensive training for the role and I believe he would hold his own against any singer/guitarist in the business today. Lady Gaga, of course, was wonderful. Thank you for your lovely comments; I don’t feature a lot of female performers, for whatever reason. I wanted to rectify that today in a big way and nobody makes an entrance like Lady Gaga. Thank you! ❤️

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    1. This is something different for me, Maggie, as I rarely feature female performers; that is not intentional, but I thought it was time to correct that. And what better way than with the brilliant Lady Gaga? I wrote this up last week while I was recuperating from surgery; as soon as I saw her name on the list of March birthdays, I knew it had to be her. I enjoyed your post very much and I’m glad to see you went with “Shallow”. Both Gaga and Bradley Cooper were sensational in that movie. Even though we feature the same artist, our takes were very different. Thank you, Maggie. 🥰

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