Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” music video featuring Beyonce stirs controversy

Photo from 'kindofadraag' via Flickr

Lady Gaga’s highly anticipated “Telephone” music video featuring Beyonce Knowles debuted last week on March 11th.

The video was supposed to come out February, but Lady Gaga wanted it to be “perfect”, according to Ace showbiz, so the premiere was pushed back a month as the video awaited in the editing room.

“Telephone” is the second single taken from Lady Gaga’s latest album The Fame Monster.Yesterday, March 15, Billboard announced that “Telephone” reached number one on the Pop chart, becoming Gaga’s 6^th consecutive number one on the chart. She is the only artist in history to do this.

The video is directed by Jonas Akerlund, a Swedish film and music video director best known for his stylish music videos that mock forms of movie trailers and short films. He is famous for his video for Madonna’s “Ray of Light,” which won a Grammy for Best Music Video. The “Telephone” music video is dubbed by Haus of GaGa—Lady Gaga’s creative team that collaborates with her on her clothing, stage sets, and sounds—as a “masterpiece.”

The nine and a half minute long music video attracted over 18 million viewers, creating a buzz online when it first debuted on YouTube. Many were surprised by Gaga’s video; but then again, considering it is Lady Gaga, many weren’t that surprised.

In the beginning of the video, Gaga is practically stripped naked in a prison cell before she leaps onto the bars, exposing herself in a way that references a rumor about her genitalia. The video also features a dash of Tarantino, with Kill Bill’s “Pussy Wagon” as Gaga and Beyonce’s method of transportation.

According to CNN.com, MTV had decided to ban the video due to its sexual content. However, MTV’s manager of programming denies this network ban.

It seems that bloggers—who remain divided over the controversial video—either love it or hate it. Some describe the video as edgy, sexy, and refreshing, while others dislike the video because they think it’s just plain weird.

“Telephone” also includes several moments of seemigly random product placements. Virgin Mobile cell phones, dating site PlentyOfFish.com, Wonder Bread and others make an appearance in this unpredictable music video.

Whether you love it or hate it, the door is open for a sequel to “Telephone.” When asked about the “To Be Continued” creating the possibility for a sequel, Director Jonas Akerlund told MTV, “We’re very spontaneous. We’ll see.”