Photo courtesy of Lady-Gaga.net.

Dear Lady Gaga,

Just listened to your new song “Bad Romance” while I was driving back to Boston.

“Bad Romance” made me want to do things. Crazy things, like speed down the freeway. Or pump my fists in the air and roar. Or dance on the hood of my car in a leotard. Or take off my computer chip-shaped sunglasses and cry at its sheer beauty.

It also gave me the same tingles as when I heard “Since U Been Gone,” “Gimme More,” and “Just Dance.”

I played it over and over, falling more and more in love with the song with each repetition of its crashing chorus and nonsensical, war-like rally calls. As you said in your press conference in Israel (assuming it’s the same song you’re referring to), it is perhaps the greatest song you’ve ever recorded, and certainly a front runner for song of the year.

I will hope that you disregard my previous letter, and allow me to explain myself for the very last time. (I promise!)

When you first debuted, I was in love: I declared myself “Gaga 4 Gaga,” blasted “Just Dance” and eagerly awaited The Fame, an album that quickly became one of my favorite albums of 2008.

Then you got quite popular, and people started acknowledging you. Radio began its love affair with your music. Your popularity grew exponentially, suddenly opening up opportunities to perform at television programs and award shows.

But as you shot to fame, you grew irritating and pretentious in your interviews. The shtick wore on my nerves quickly, and I found your permanent persona both rehearsed and tiring.

I was quick to criticize and judge whenever you missed a note, looked a mess, or acted strange because I saw parts of you that channeled everything that I loved from past idols and icons, including Grace Jones, David Bowie and, most of all, Madonna. Your skyrocket to success mirrored everything about hers, all but casting a shadow on the success of her own debut. Headlines like “The New Madonna!” and “The New Queen of Pop!” were decried from blogs to radio shows to magazine stands worldwide, and with it, you were awarded a new generation of pop listeners.

I must admit, I got upset. I denied it, debated it at long length with anyone who would listen (and often those who couldn’t care less.)

But you know what? They’re probably right.

Every artist begins somewhere, but you are one of the few to have clawed your way to the top of the pop charts with such persistence as Madonna did in the early ’80′s. You want this as bad as she does. Your personality is as equally polarizing; your music as unifying.

Though Madonna’s impact on pop music (or better yet, pop culture) will be forever inimitable, the originality, color and texture you bring to the pop terrain is unrivaled.

You are a true artist with a sense of style, an ear for melody, and an icon in the making. You embrace everything that I love about pop culture, fashion, and pop music (not to mention human rights), so I’m not going to be afraid to embrace you anymore, Lady Gaga.

I’m ready to be entertained.

Your new, solely “on-again” fan,

Brad