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The Fame Image
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 1674 Ratings

  • Summary: The debut album for the songwriter includes songs written and produced by RedOne and Space Cowboy.

Top Track

Just Dance
RedOne Konvict Gaga (oh-oh, eh) I've had a little bit too much, much All of the people start to rush (start to rush by) A dizzy twister dance Can't... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. The full-length The Fame proves she's more than one hit and a bag of stage tricks.
  2. Listen a little closer to the sly, snarky lyrics and glam grooves on this feisty debut and you'll hear that this former downtown New York spice girl has at least a few things on her dirty mind.
  3. GaGa ups the ante in terms of catchy songwriting and sheer high-in-the-club-banging-to-the-beat abandon.
  4. The Fame is still a solid dance album.
  5. Empty lyrics are all part of the game when it comes to creating pop music--and Lady GaGa looks to have hit the jackpot here with her blend of sassy attitude, metallic beats and sharp, incisive songwriting.
  6. In this economy, though, her high-times escapism has its charms.
  7. Gaga's lyrics alternate between cheap drivel and nonsensical drivel, and her vocal performances are uneven at best....The songs that work--and there are plenty, including 'Poker Face,' 'Starstruck,' 'Paper Gangsta' and 'Summerboy'--rest almost solely on their snappy production and sing-along hooks and reveal Gaga as the Xtina/Gwen/Fergie hydra monster that she is.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 23 out of 286
  1. szapphiref
    Sep 11, 2009
    10
    She' s got the voice, the artistry, the theatrics, the imagery, the fashion and most of all the chutzpah into the album that it feels She' s got the voice, the artistry, the theatrics, the imagery, the fashion and most of all the chutzpah into the album that it feels like the album is alive and breathing. The greatest pop album in this generation. It's also clever. Hiding the depth of its commentary on women and society under the skin of pop music. Expand
  2. Sep 10, 2020
    10
    Just amazing! I love every single sonf on that album!! Her first album couldnt have been any better
  3. Mar 23, 2012
    10
    A brilliant pop album. It's been over three years since I got this album and I still love it.
  4. May 27, 2011
    10
    Lady GaGa desverves the success this album has give her. 4 Number one hits, 12,000,000 copies sold and 5 Grammy nominations speak forLady GaGa desverves the success this album has give her. 4 Number one hits, 12,000,000 copies sold and 5 Grammy nominations speak for themselves in this, unusual, amazing, stunning abum. Expand
  5. Nov 2, 2013
    9
    Between Poker Face, Just Dance and Nothing Else I Can Say, you'll feel that this album has been in your head forever. That's not necessarily aBetween Poker Face, Just Dance and Nothing Else I Can Say, you'll feel that this album has been in your head forever. That's not necessarily a bad thing :P Expand
  6. Oct 25, 2013
    8
    When Lady Gaga first came on the scene back in 2008, few truly realised how talented she was. Having studied pop culture well, she knew thatWhen Lady Gaga first came on the scene back in 2008, few truly realised how talented she was. Having studied pop culture well, she knew that as a popstar, talent has to be fairly hidden initially if you wanted success and you couldn't be overly artistic either. She realised that if she wanted to make the music that she truly wanted, she had to sell out a bit at first. As such, she launched herself as an attractive, sexy popstar with top quality pop tunes that the public ate up. But a lot of people thought she was all style, no substance, couldn't sing, play an instrument or had anything interesting to say. But towards the end of The Fame's album campaign, she started changing a bit. She started pushing her vocal performances to prove she had a voice, she started playing piano live (a talent in which she was classically trained and had led to offers from Juliard) and she began to say rather intelligent things in interviews. And if you truly listened to her album, you would find that The Fame is highly satirical. The songs sound as if she is advocating a superficial lifestyle but on closer inspection, you realise she is actually critiquing it. Especially evident on songs like Paparazzi, The Fame, Just Dance, Lovegame and Money Honey, Lady Gaga is clearly "in on the joke." She cleverly released an album that sounded mainstream enough to sell yet its songs were actually picking fun at the mainstream if you listened closely. But the album wasn't just a swipe at fame. It also has genuinely touching ballads Brown Eyes and Again Again (available on some worldwide editions). Lady Gaga would go on to create better albums, but The Fame is still good for what it was. This album was the stepping stone that she needed to become famous and she could show her true talent later on, when the public had accepted her. All she needed was to open that door to be accepted in the first place and she could go her own way afterwards. The Fame was the perfect vehicle for this ambition. Not quite as outstanding when looking back on it 5 years later, but still very good as a pop album. Expand
  7. ChrisC
    Apr 11, 2009
    0
    Would probably like her more if the radio didn't blow her up and force them in my face. A lot of times her singing style is EXTREMELY Would probably like her more if the radio didn't blow her up and force them in my face. A lot of times her singing style is EXTREMELY annoying especially during the verses, and honestly, pop has enough albums. I don't care how many #1's she has. She's crap. Expand

See all 286 User Reviews