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Originality is huge issue that many Gaga critics like to throw out and I would like to clear up this nonsense.

The big things they hit Gaga with are her striking similarities to Madonna,Brittney Spears etc

This "taken inspiration from other pop stars" is common in the beginning of a pop's star's career. It doesn't automatically make her a copycat; she's just experimenting with things until she finds her own voice and her own artistic direction.It's evident in The Fame Monster, which is more of a departure from the upbeat, Kylie Minogue-like sound of The Fame than most people realize.

I believe as her career goes on, she's gonna to drive away from that club sound even further and perhaps, perhaps, eventually become a even more unique and groundbreaking artist.

After all, Madonna wasn't a profound and unique artist at first, but she grew up, and started making some of the best albums of all time and her sound has since become a staple in Pop music.

But even so, Gaga always gives credit to who inspires her. She never claimed to be original and doesn't want to be thought of as a legend and there are so many other artists out there who are like a big mash-up of lots of famous people too.

Originality died in the 80's. Nothing, I repeat, nothing is original any more.

Even legends took inspiration from other artists: Madonna was inspired by Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson from James Brown, etc.

I believe that there is more than one meaning of original. It can mean doing something that has never been done before, or it can mean reviving something that hasn't been done in a while and putting your own stamp on it.

That's the way I see Gaga. No one else in the charts was like her until she came along. A young woman who writes her own music, plays her own instruments, puts on a massive show, is genuinely eccentric and so on was something unheard of in the world of pop stars born from reality shows and divas with delusions of grandeur.

She stood out, and that's unique and original. She's breaking the mold and took a big risk with her music and style, and that's most definitely unique and original.

When you have legends like Madonna, Elton John, Annie Lennox and most recently, The Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne giving her praise, then she must be something special. Big stars like that wouldn't waste their time speaking so highly of someone who was a wannabe. To see her performing on stage with Sting, Shirley Bassey, Debbie Harry and Elton John was just amazing.

She's definitely made it now and it's high time she started gaining respect from the naysayers.

She may not be 100% original, but no one is any more.

I agree with both of you guys. I guess people are just missing the simplicity of the grand concept; take something that exists and twist it so people can see your own individuality in it. I think I learned that in the 3rd grade.

Gaga's done plenty of that and she's done plenty of stuff that people have never seen before, obviously. The critics don't take that into play.

I mean, she's got her own "little monsters", they put their paws up during her concerts, she's got some of the craziest videos, one of her songs chants "Ra Ra Ra ah ah ah,", and let's face it .. She seriously has walked around in public showing off her cheeks more than anyone has and has tons of unforgettable, distinctive outfits.

She does Gaga on a daily basis. How much more original does she have to be? Maybe these critics need to start being more original and stop the narrow analyzing.

I mean, c'mon now, I used to know people who wore manufactured ripped jeans, and when another guy came outta nowhere with his manually and purposefully ripped jeans, he was original. Why can't people view Gaga that way?