It's one of the most tweeted, blogged and hyped pop singles in recent memory. The title was announced more than six months ago, with the lyrics leaked piecemeal by the lady herself. Elton John has claimed it's "the new gay anthem", Justin Bieber and James Blunt tried to predict what it would sound like, while others have criticised the racial terminology in the lyrics. It was due to premiere on US radio at 6am EST, but has since been shoved online by Perez Hilton.
So what does it sound like? Well, a lot like Madonna's Express Yourself, so much so that those two words are currently trending on Twitter. There's also some spoken-word bits a la the Material Girl (as no one calls her any more), but it doesn't sound copycat, more a knowing nod and a cute wink.
Born This Way is a thumping, almost disco anthem that stomps along until the chorus crashes in with the weight of a discarded meat dress. Lyrically, it's all love yourself whoever you are and "don't be a drag, just be a queen". Within the ridiculously camp musical context, the lyrics sound a lot less heavy-handed than it would suggest. One suspects it will probably shift a few copies.
