December 5th, 2012
03:14 PM ET
Jack White explains those Lady Gaga commentsAfter questioning Lady Gaga's authenticity in an interview with Esquire UK, Jack White has found himself in the midst of what he calls a "tabloidesque drama." The solo musician held a conversation with the publication that ranged from the state of modern celebrity to Twitter to the Mother Monster.
“I don’t think she lives it because it’s all artifice,” he said of Gaga. “It’s all image with no meaning behind it. You can’t sink your teeth into it. It’s a sound bite. It’s very of this age, because that’s what people want.” The quote was viewed as White making a critique on Gaga's music, but, as he says in a statement issued Wednesday, he was not. "I never said anything about her music, or questioned the authenticity of her songs in any way," White says. "I was in a conversation about the drawbacks of image for the sake of image, and that it is popular nowadays to not question an image in front of you, but only to label it as 'cool' or 'weird' quickly and dispose of it. I don't like my comments about Lady Gaga's presentation being changed into some sort of negative critique of her music." Someone with a bigger legal team might be able to "hold [journalists] accountable for what they say," but White's going to stick to Twitter and the Internet, he said. "I also think that kind of tabloid drama encourages artists to not express their opinions in the press, and instead give polite soundbites that don't stimulate thought about creativity and the consumption of art in its many guises," White said. "Peace to Lady Gaga and I fully congratulate and compliment her on her championing of gay rights issues and the momentum it's given to help create change."
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Two weird looking dudes who make millions for making noise.
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Gaga needs to relax she has too big of an audience now to eff it up. good day to all.
Well said, Jack.
received a silver metal–nice awards these last 2 wks..emp of the yr...silver for team player
take a look
so true
I agree with Jack White 100%. With Madonna, there was always meaning and messages behind the imagery..
big chunky highlights.
The man was having a conversation about image. Gaga came up because image has been huge for her. He expressed his honest opinion and he expressed himself very elegantly.
he needs highlights-
Can Jack White be more pastey? Dude get some color! Even goths have more pigment than you. And, you look dirty.
lol
nobody ever did-poor thing
Jack White is obviously a radically uncommon talent. His writing, playing, singing and stage presence have rightfully earned him his position in the pantheon of rock. However, his image is as contrived as any I've ever seen. Persona is a major aspect of attaining and maintaining rock stardom, of course. White's may seem more rooted in and intertwined with Jack's music in his own mind, but for a pop star like Gaga, I doubt much difference is evident.
I find her music boring and unsubstantial, but after watching Jack alongside some very real and humble legends in "It Might Get Loud," and witnessing the efforts he went to in portraying a very carefully constructed image, I cannot read his well-articulated but hypocritical comments without cringing.
Jack White-"Lady Gaga is so no substance that I have to use her to get any media attention on myself."
I agree with Jack White 100%. With Madonna, there was always meaning and messages behind the imagery... it was deeper. With Gaga, it's just images thrown at you that do not amount to anything meaningful. It comes off as plastic and soulless. Imagery without meaning leaves you kind of empty.
Like you, I also agree with Jack White. But Madonna being deeper? Seriously? She was and still in about creating controversy to make profit. She is not an artist. She is not creative. She stole every image she used and she didn't write her own music! What she is, is an extremely savvy business woman.
Ok, so she did write some of her more recent lyrics but they suck!!
Madonna is a good drummer – she learned from her Uncle, a great Jazz drummer and music school classmate of mine.
Blah-Blah-Blah-Madonna's music has messages?
Yea-o.k.
Look,these people are all pop singers-not Mother Teresa.
Lady Gaga uses the exact measure of oddity and perfection to get you all to feed at the trough of her fame.
Lap it up little doggies.
I found Jack's original comments, as well as his response to the reaction to them, to be legitimate. The quote shows he was not demeaning her music, but was simply conjecturing on whether the woman behind the image is the same as the image. And yes, Jack, that was me that shouted out your name in front of the Wildhorse Saloon the other day when we were following you in for the B52's concert.
Gaga had 1.5 good pop albums. The last one sucked. She's already going down hill and will be forgotten in 5 years.
I'm sorry folks, but Jack White's comments were dead on. There is no such thing as shock value these days. She is using the same formula as many before her (i.e. Alice Cooper, Madonna, Marilyn Manson, etc...) She is doing nothing new or original and it takes away from her music. Her image is as phony as it gets.
And, Jack White has no need for an image because he lets his music speak for itself. People need to be more true to themselves in this day and age. That goes a lot further than creating a false sense of yourself just to sell records and please other people.
Vincent Fournier's "image" is part and parcel to his compositions – it's an opera. Quite the pioneer, that Alice, and a scratch golfer as well.
Jack White= Michael Jackson in these pics. No comment on the music because someone will tell me I'm wrong that's a given.
shut down....
you getting a trophy today...oh yea...no...
sucks
PLLMPLLMPLLMPLLMPLLM
It's gotten to where you can hardly comment for some twelve-year-old on the bus with a smart phone. Wonder who she thought she was texting? Oh well. Gaga and White have such different audiences that you can't compare them. She is aiming at the disco crowd in clubs while White appeals to rock fans. It's a waste of time to say one is better than the other; in fact, if you like one, you probably don't like the other. And he was talking about stage shows, not music, anyway.
Does anyone know of a fan club that is a fan of any celebrity who doesn't apologize for expressing their feelings or celebrities who don't feel they need to explain themselves? Those are the celebrities I like. These pansy liberal types who are afraid to hurt feelings have ruined entertainment.
yeah, that's true. you have a point there.
The Lady makes me want to Gag a.
Gaga's music? Sure it's OK. It's all re-written Madonna tunes. Gaga has no musical originality in her.
...and neither is Madonna? Your point?
You are person that has no self esteem...i freekin win all the time...i could care less about cnn, your blogging trolls
who basically do nothing all day....we set out a mission and we win...we always win...you always lose.
you are nothing to me .... you are trash
i always win because i am who i am....and i always WIN.
i do at my job and where i live....you get nothing. this is the trap top. i win you lose....
i get awards and medals.....you get nothing for what you do all day......no get lost
thanks guys...another crap in the pants....i really don't have the time anymore just give it directly
to men in blue now....
thanks...
no self esteem...i get awards .... you get nothing...i win....you lose-none of the men i know would touch you
gaga. now its time for another diaper change...we smell the dump you just took in your pants from here...
puppet
4443–
i get awards and you get nothing....richard fores effs other women on you gaga.
–
and you get nothing.
your 6 ft under as it is...try to do something good today
4443
the authorities–
the authorities...
Although I do agree with jack, I'm more annoyed at the back peddling.
what is their problem????? they both are good entertainer and they should focus on their work rather commenting on each other!!!!!
This is true of soundbites.
Zzzzz, whatevas!
Have them run back and forth on a stage so I can fling fecal matter at them.
have fun talking to noone...if i want continue to get laid can't do it on cnn.
"It's popular nowadays to not question an image in front of you." Are you kidding me? The amount of positive and negative comments inspired by a Lady Gaga video on You Tube alone, or even the people protesting outside of her concerts, proves that at least one person questions her "presentation."
its time for your 10:30 bottle.....thank got i'm leaving this site soon.
Gaga is adored by tweens and overweight 30 somethings
White claims Son House as a big influence
'nuff said
Thats neat. Jack is brave and a champion to come out like that
Both certainly have talent that appeals to a substatial number of people. Unfortunately too many take the music and the off-hand commentary of these entertainers seriously.
sweat dreams to everyone...
I couldn't name one of his songs. If you like new pop you probaly like Gaga. She's a great humanitarian too.
A humanitarian that supports abortion... hmmm
Can't think of "Seven Nation Army"? "Icky Thump", "Love Interruption"? Listen, push off the rock you've been living under and get out a little.
aren't you guys? most of the 130,000 people are 1 person anyway.....god bless for your energy....
My lord why is this a story on CNN
Hope this doesn't herald the start of a new months-long barrage of lady gaga promotional news and manufactured 'controversies'
i never liked gaga...good voice...but i do not like her. calling your fans monsters puts me off.
The both are terrible artists with no harmony or pitch movement at all. They just scream into a microphone
Jack white is a pretty talented guitar player.
gaga cries for an attention she will never fully get. she could give you migraines.
and watching you at the same time. go ahead say some more funny stuff.
Jack white's a tool. They both suck.
Nah hes a talented musician!
sorry for your loss.
Poo-Poo, Ca-Ca.
some of you are so jealous of her. silly.
You sure nailed that one. Jealous indeed. Of having 1 fan per every 123,000 people that think you're a moron...can't think of a better polarity contest to win
that's still a jealous comment.
especially the stupid banana clip she wears in her hair..makes us shake...
I'm sorry, who is this jackazz?
Jack is right. Gaga is just a puppet. Whereas Jack is musician first.
Quite frankly, I don't like either of their music, but their is validity behind some of what he is saying. Music these days isn't based on talent, or even a smidging of talent. It's about churning out the next "best" performer, and driving them to perform until they're no longer valid, and pressing onward to the next best thing. For the last 20 years, music has sorely sucked.
So Jack White explains "those" comments? You mean the "those" comments none of us had heard of until you brought them up and took them out of context and tried to create a story that isn't there.
Let artists be artists and quit looking for the soap opera drama. Jack is right, you people destroy truth and realism to art. Gotta keep it polite and not say too much or who knows what you entertainment "journalists" will turn it in to for the sake of justifying your own pathetic existences. You people are maggots.
I think all he meant was... " She writes way better hooks than I do" But " I still should be as famous"
Oh lord...dude's been famous for far longer, created way better music, has written songs with real depth, had a #1 record, i one of the best modern guitar players, is real rock and roll.
Lady Gaga wears meat.
Jack White is Mediocre at best .... and does NOT deserve the accolades some lay at his feet
Let's see...how do I say this.
You're wrong.
Where were you in the 00's? The White Stripes were one the best bands in the world and put on an amazing show with bare bones pure talent. Lady Gaga is pure Pop with a nice light show and dress up. You cannot compare the two. Bowie did the same in the 70s only he had the music to back it up.
I agree with his comment and he did word it fairly without disrespect, however Jack whyte himself is really not that talented or a great musician. Image dominates his success too. Her's not an accomplished guitar player in any way at all, nor is is music at any technical achievement either. Really if you are talking about musicianship, put him next to true musicians like classical trained musicians or even accomplished guitar players and it's clear hes not "musically" accomplished. Sorry jack but true. Like someone trying to say hes as good as tony hawk but cant do tricks.
You have a very narrow view of what music is. Not to take away from "classically trained" musicians, but they are basically paint by numbers. Sure they can read music, but they are rarely, if ever innovative. They only know what's on the paper in front of them. Very mechanical if you will. Musicians like Mr. White (even Lady Gaga for that matter), on the other hand are innovators and musical visionaries that take music to a new and different place. They play from the heart. Doesn't mean you have to like it. Does everyone like Classical music? Mr White is very well respected by proffesional and non professional guitarists alike. That speaks volumes.
" Sure they can read music, but they are rarely, if ever innovative. " Exactly – my friend can play anything from sheet music but he gapes when I fumble out some new riff off the top of my head. But my dad composed and performed classical music and also played jazz. He liked Brubeck; for example.
gaga needs a bottle every 3 hours–
how truer can you get
Jack White has more talent in his little finger than that freak show Gaga has in her entire body. What makes you think he sold out??
You are mentally very weak. Poor guy. You need professional help.
gaga is so immature isn't she–
And Jack White knows what he's talking about, because he is all image himself. I must admit that I am not a fan of his because I find his music derivative, his voice annoying and his personal life as much a part of his mystique as he complains about with Lady Gaga. At least Lady Gaga understands that she is part of a hype machine, Jack White apparently thinks he has integrity as a musician when it is clear that he sold out to the hype machine a long time ago. (And just to be clear, I don't care for Lady Gaga's music either, but at least she knows what she's part of).
Well said and TRUE'
i gag when i look at gagagagagaga