‘The Fame’ Turns 10: A Look Back At Lady Gaga’s Debut Album

By Michele Yeo. 17 Aug 2018 5:14 PM

Few modern pop stars have had the impact that Lady Gaga has had on music and pop culture as a whole. And as the singer prepares to make a big-screen splash in “A Star Is Born”, as well as launch her upcoming Las Vegas residency, we’re looking back at the album that started it all: her debut album, “The Fame”, released 10 years ago this week.

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Done n 30 Days
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Gaga titled her debut album "The Fame" but it could have been "The Month" because that's how long it took to complete the entire album - from writing to final mix!
Canada Goes Gaga
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While Gaga was a well-known fixture in the New York club scene, it was actually Canada that embraced the singer first, with "The Fame" quickly going to number one in the true north strong and free while it only reached number two on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
10-Minute Hit
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Just Dance, Gaga's first single off the album which hit number one in the US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK, was written in just 10 minutes. Easy to see why the entire album was done in 30 days when you're writing at this speed!
Akon Out
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"Just Dance" features guest vocals from singer Colby O'Donis but his part was actually supposed to go to Gaga collaborator Akon and in fact that's how they initially recorded the song. Strife between Interscope and its parent company Universal kept Akon's vocals off the version that was eventually included on the album.
Just Dance Almost Went To Someone Else
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"Just Dance" may have been the song that launched Lady Gaga but it almost went to someone else: the Pussycat Dolls! Akon, who wrote the song along with Gaga and producer RedOne, was under contract to write songs for The Pussycat Dolls at the time and considered giving to the group but quickly realized the song needed to stay with Gaga.
Opening Act
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Speaking of the Pussycat Dolls, after the release of "The Fame" and before she became a full-blown superstar, Lady Gaga opened for the Pussycat Dolls on their "Doll Domination" tour. Gaga was also the support act for the New Kids On The Block on some of their 2008 reunion tour.
Grammys Go Gaga
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"The Fame" not only went to number one in several countries, it also earned Gaga six Grammy nominations, two of which she won: Best Electronic Dance album, and Best Dance Recording for "Poker Face".
MTV VMA Slay
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Given the success of "The Fame", it's no surprise the MTV VMAs invited Gaga to perform at the 2009 ceremony. Gaga brought the house down, amazing audiences with her performance of "Paparazzi" in which she acted out dying on stage. The performance often gets overlooked when people reminisce about that year's VMAs because it was the same show in which Kanye West famously stormed the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech.
'The Fame' Monster
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"The Fame" was so successful for Gaga, she re-released a deluxe edition in November 2009 with additional songs under the name, "The Fame Monster". The reissue included the hits "Bad Romance", "Alejandro", and "Telephone" (her duet with Beyonce) The Fame Monster earned Gaga additional Grammy love, bringing in six nominations including Album of the Year. It won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Short Form Music Video both for Bad Romance.

‘The Fame’ Turns 10: A Look Back At Lady Gaga’s Debut Album

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