Born This Way
by Lady Gaga
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 2316 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,955 out of 2316
  2. Mixed: 109 out of 2316
  3. Negative: 252 out of 2316
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  1. sadpanda
    May 23, 2011
    3
    This is a really poor album. There are approximately 4 good songs out of 14 here. The rest are a bunch of club bangers that range from awful to just below mediocre. I just can't recommend this to anyone, and I don't see the hype.
  2. yesplease
    Jul 1, 2011
    3
    This album sounds like the work of a follower and not a leader. Whereas The Fame and The Fame Monster were guilty pleasures, Born This Way is simply torture.
  3. Kaleido
    Sep 10, 2011
    3
    Most of the songs make no sence. "Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)", "Judas", "Bloody Mary"... Are these jokes? The only song which is really worth it to listen to is "Americano".
  4. breakawayx
    Mar 19, 2012
    3
    Very few noteworthy songs. The album is far too pretentious and fails to deliver the catchy dance anthems which fans and critics had come to love. The singles were far too simple, there are a few songs which save the album, Edge Of Glory + Scheisse for example. Worth a listen but don't buy into the hype.
  5. Mayfair
    Mar 20, 2012
    3
    This album is a mess and disappointing. I expected much more of Gaga, now I know that Lady Gaga is overrated. Songs like Judas, ScheiÃ
  6. doc2be
    Mar 28, 2012
    3
    Mediocrity defined here. The Fame Monster was superb and the tour surrounding that release was stellar. This album is overrated. Aside from a handful of songs (Bloody Mary, Heavy Metal LOver, Government Hooker), the rest is very pretentious and try hard. What I hate the most is the way the lyrics are written - so condescending and 'omniscient (all-knowing)'. There is no song tat can beMediocrity defined here. The Fame Monster was superb and the tour surrounding that release was stellar. This album is overrated. Aside from a handful of songs (Bloody Mary, Heavy Metal LOver, Government Hooker), the rest is very pretentious and try hard. What I hate the most is the way the lyrics are written - so condescending and 'omniscient (all-knowing)'. There is no song tat can be honestly related to. I am so surprised at how below average this is after the brilliant Fame...… Expand
  7. Telerama
    Feb 3, 2014
    3
    In her violent dance / pop music, Lady Gaga never gives way to subtlety. "Born this way" is like a wrecking ball with monumental beats, disco chorus without any originality and empty and demagogic lyrics. Lady Gaga concept : or you love, or you hate, or you just don't give a damn about it; personally, that's my case.
  8. RK13
    Jul 10, 2017
    3
    Compared to Gaga's iconic debut and re-release which was the fantastic The Fame Monster, this album was quite a disappointment. The main pitfall for me was the fact that the proposed theme of Out and Proud became to prominent on the album. It is something that Gaga should be praised for in showing that there are different components in the terminology of love, but this album becomesCompared to Gaga's iconic debut and re-release which was the fantastic The Fame Monster, this album was quite a disappointment. The main pitfall for me was the fact that the proposed theme of Out and Proud became to prominent on the album. It is something that Gaga should be praised for in showing that there are different components in the terminology of love, but this album becomes repetitive and bland. Whereas The Fame Monster embraced the weird and whacky, this shows little improvement. This album has fallen into the Sophomore Slump.… Expand
  9. Amyly
    Jun 30, 2021
    3
    BAD specially after a huge great debut. It was still a success just because it was Lady Gaga at that time.
  10. iamanicon
    May 23, 2011
    2
    All the chorus' sound the same. Few great tracks. Some don't even cut mediocre. Too many similar themes - i'm sure the unicorn one is just an extension of Marry the Night. Judas and Government Hooker stand out amongst numerous 80's b-sides.
  11. DylanVDW
    Jun 30, 2011
    2
    GAGA GAGA GAGA! I loved The Fame and for its fun dance beats and catchy hooks. Born This Way falls flat on both accounts sadly. I highly anticipated this album but upon listening several times, it falls flat. There's no sense of progression with this record. No sense of Lady Gaga. It almost feels impersonal. As if her only concern was upholding the facade that is her image. There is alsoGAGA GAGA GAGA! I loved The Fame and for its fun dance beats and catchy hooks. Born This Way falls flat on both accounts sadly. I highly anticipated this album but upon listening several times, it falls flat. There's no sense of progression with this record. No sense of Lady Gaga. It almost feels impersonal. As if her only concern was upholding the facade that is her image. There is also a sense of trying to please everyone but in affect she falls short of pleasing anyone except her most loyal fans, those who can't see beyond the crazy that is her image. She's so adamant about making a statement that she's neglecting the true essence of the music. Tracks like Born This Way and Edge of Glory are catchy enough after a few spins but other songs Government Hooker and Marry the Night fall flat. There's no innovation here. Better luck next time.… Expand
  12. hydrawithears
    Oct 24, 2011
    2
    The second studio album by Lady Gaga is as awful and cheap as the image on its cover. It is such a messy collection of overproduced dance routines that I cannot stop wondering how come so many people have fallen for it. Even if the songs start with some clever ideas (like Bloody Mary), they soon turn into unbearable generic nightmares. They say that she can sing. OMG but this is what oneThe second studio album by Lady Gaga is as awful and cheap as the image on its cover. It is such a messy collection of overproduced dance routines that I cannot stop wondering how come so many people have fallen for it. Even if the songs start with some clever ideas (like Bloody Mary), they soon turn into unbearable generic nightmares. They say that she can sing. OMG but this is what one expectes from a singer, dumbass. And all the cultural and societal allusions are as limited as the subjects Gaga touches on. And finally, there is nothing original about her: she just borrows from freaking everyone. Ask yourself a question: would you ever care about her if she hadnâ… Expand
  13. EmannuelBN
    Jan 27, 2012
    2
    The songs are almost a recycling or reuse of Fame Monster. They do not sound as natural as before, are not spontaneous, some are saved, but give a headache continues. Lady GaGa has promised much but turned all the way to a kind of public.
  14. BlacKat1025
    Mar 27, 2012
    2
    I fail to see what the praise about. It's mediocre at best, and it comes across as pretentious, almost patronizing. Could barely sit through the album...I cannot stress enough how OVERDONE it is. Ugh. Was never a fan of Gaga before, certainly not one now.
  15. gardenofeden
    Oct 23, 2013
    2
    definitely a slight disappointment, this record is all over the place and the rock-european pop crossover just feels wrong and overproduced. Lady gaga is a very capable vocalist but her vocals get drowned in the very uninspired production. Bloody Mary, government hooker and heavy metal lover are actually good-quality tracks, but the rest feels just like album-fillers...
  16. aaronpaul121
    Jun 2, 2011
    1
    Vocally, it was fine, but there is something in her voice that doesn't fit to the song. The song, lyrically, was really bad... it was horrible and disturbing. Although there was a message in it, it wasn't enough- vocally and musically- to bring it to life. Lady Gaga is a really good singer and I know she will bring something explosive to the music industry but this is not the song thatVocally, it was fine, but there is something in her voice that doesn't fit to the song. The song, lyrically, was really bad... it was horrible and disturbing. Although there was a message in it, it wasn't enough- vocally and musically- to bring it to life. Lady Gaga is a really good singer and I know she will bring something explosive to the music industry but this is not the song that blew me away. So disappointing......................… Expand
  17. madson10
    May 23, 2011
    1
    Disgusting... sick and boring, all the songs sound exactly the same... But for her freaking monsters, It will be "OMG the best album of the century"... they're too blind to see reality, hopefully I can see one or two wakening up... Thank God I've seen critics giving the reviews this disgusting album deserves... I'm not in love with Gaga, I won't ever be and this album SUCKS!
  18. jamesmanalili
    May 24, 2011
    1
    All the chorus' and underlying beats sound the same, cohesive, but the same. A lot of anticipation was built up for this album as she garnered it the "Album of the Decade"... Didn't live up to her own conceited hype. Oh yeah, and I thought Madonna released this album 20 years ago?
  19. Tangers
    May 25, 2011
    1
    People say the bad critical reviews are from unprofessional critics but one thing you ought to know is that, if the reviews were unprofessional, metacritic won't summit it to their website !!! Facts !!!!
    Secondly, The silliness of hype, anticipation and mediocre never fails to astound.
    I listened to this album yesterday, i left it on replay the whole night while i was doing some work and    People say the bad critical reviews are from unprofessional critics but one thing you ought to know is that, if the reviews were unprofessional, metacritic won't summit it to their website !!! Facts !!!!
    Secondly, The silliness of hype, anticipation and mediocre never fails to astound.
    I listened to this album yesterday, i left it on replay the whole night while i was doing some work and up till now am yet to understand the whole concept of the album. All the songs sounds exactly the same.    … Expand
  20. MED
    Mar 28, 2012
    1
    An album with so much potential completely spoiled by the insufferable pretense of the woman who made it. This is a cautionary tale of what happens to a megastar when they start believing their own hype.
  21. Plamen
    Aug 3, 2012
    1
    Tired, repetitive, generic album. The only people who can enjoy this terrible album are her Little Monsters. The only song that keeps me from giving the album a zero is The Edge of Glory.
  22. DNRuffin
    Apr 26, 2013
    1
    Horrible album. I did give it a 1/10 because Government Hooker is among the best songs she's ever done. Other than that, nothing else is really great (or even good).
  23. DarkBates
    Nov 6, 2013
    1
    This album is a hypocrisy. She needs to stop forcing be epic and come back as in The Fame and The Fame Monster. Born This Way is a great song, but the only. Judas was the worst single of her career. Ever.
  24. LucasKidoo
    Oct 17, 2016
    1
    Only Judas makes the score from the album goes down to 0. Stupid song that looks just exactly like Bad Romance, with poor lyrics and unnecessary polemic. She tried hard to do like Madonna, but she only proved to everyone the joke she really is.

    Born This Way, the lead single, is just another fail. It's annoying and copied by Express Yourself from Madonna. The other songs don't help.    Only Judas makes the score from the album goes down to 0. Stupid song that looks just exactly like Bad Romance, with poor lyrics and unnecessary polemic. She tried hard to do like Madonna, but she only proved to everyone the joke she really is.

    Born This Way, the lead single, is just another fail. It's annoying and copied by Express Yourself from Madonna.

    The other songs don't help. All them try hard to be meaningful and to have a strong concept, but the lyrics are so stupid that you only can remember immature teenagers who think they are the biggest rebels on the planet.

    It deserves 1 because of Heavy Metal Lover and Bloody Mary, the rest of the album is toxic garbage.    … Expand
  25. darryltrini
    Jun 30, 2011
    0
    This is an inconsistent mess. Really GaGa? This is NOT the "Album of the Decade" as she so claimed it would be. Only song that is good is The Edge of Glory
  26. TheGorilla
    Aug 1, 2011
    0
    I've changed my mind. Definitely a 0
  27. IsoMuisic
    May 24, 2011
    0
    @ cliff55: tiny mix tapes giving this a zero does not mean they are unprofessional, their review was far well written than 70% of the other critics here.
  28. little_birds86
    May 23, 2011
    0
    While her vocals are a strong point, everything else is bland, repetitive, and unoriginal. Worst-written album of the year by far. Filled with cliche banalities that should make even the most dedicated little monster shudder.
  29. MarlonBrutal
    May 26, 2011
    0
    LAME. just as the boring bimbo who released it.
  30. Verssa
    May 27, 2011
    0
    This album is plain stupid. i don't know how can anyone love this album. i mean, it's overproduced and it's messy from the first song to the last one. she tried to bring across a message to young people to feel confident and to be yourselves, but literally failed on that. no one can relate to it just because it lacks emotion and originality. the hype she created about her new work and herThis album is plain stupid. i don't know how can anyone love this album. i mean, it's overproduced and it's messy from the first song to the last one. she tried to bring across a message to young people to feel confident and to be yourselves, but literally failed on that. no one can relate to it just because it lacks emotion and originality. the hype she created about her new work and her so-called art, actually backfired cause she can't deliver. it's obvious that she tries too hard. the stories are all similar, and what she came out with is an old electro-techno-pop-saxophone(really gaga?)-80's tune that sounds, well, cheesy. it's tacky and tasteless, it's all over the place. and it feels rather like a collection of rip off than an album of the decade. there's no stand out tracks nor there are highlights. her hardcore fans will love it and call it "master piece", "epic" "best album ever", but in the eyes and ears of everyday music followers and lovers this is pure rubbish. she won't get new fans, instead, she'll lose some of them. i mean, she lost one follower, and that one is me. i think that many people feel just like i do about her sophomore effort. if she only took more time to write and to generate some better ideas, i think it would sound much better and more fresh than this played out auto tune music. names to the songs are laughable. she uses many times the word 'tonight', 'fashion'. lazy songwriter much? I've noticed that the choruses sound the same and the song 'fashion of his love' sounds like Whitney's 'i wanna dance with somebody'. Awkward! i'm sorry but gaga will probably never have an album of the decade.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2011
2
#2 Most Shared Album of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 34
  3. Negative: 1 out of 34
  1. Billboard.com
    Sep 25, 2014
    86
    Lady Gaga promised her fans (perhaps a tad prematurely) that her new album would be the greatest of the decade. But even if the next nine years bring something better, we're unlikely to hear anything bigger than Born This Way.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    Aug 8, 2011
    60
    Born This Way feels like the first proper Lady Gaga album. [Aug. 2011, p. 114]
  3. Prefix Magazine
    Jul 6, 2011
    60
    Gaga has always been able to anchor her haughty conceptual undertakings with simple, catchy tunes, but with Born This Way, the persona and the message are starting to bleed into the songs. It's not a good look.
    Read full review
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