I'm On the Right Track, Baby

Lady Gaga looks poised to be on the right track for 2011 - her new single "Born This Way" is unavoidably catchy and in my humble opinion, may very likely become one of the best singles of the year.

Gaga hit it big on the dance floor with "Just Dance," exploded into music video history with the monster hit "Bad Romance," and flexed her unique writing muscle with the gentle non-hit "Speechless." Lady Gaga's biggest strength is her ability to write and perform a wide variety of pop music. Like all of history's greatest acts, however, Gaga now exhibits a greater strength: the ability to grow.

"Born This Way" - from her upcoming album of the same name - blends wide, dance floor thumping lows, 80's synth-pop mids, and lyrical hooks that are both smart and fun. "Born This Way" is intelligent, uplifting, and a huge step up from the already-excellent The Fame Monster. Instead of resorting to Ke$ha-level debauchery or sticking by her club-creeping hits of 2008, Gaga is aiming for the family-friendly mainstream with her new single, singing a message of hope, love, and acceptance that will own radio and sales charts for the next few months.

I am absolutely looking forward to seeing what the rest of the album sounds like. May 23rd is a long ways away.

B3 out.