6 August 2010 - Lady Gaga

Jay Scott : Daily Whale : archive : 2010 : 6 August 2010

Try this recipe: 1. Write a few poems or songs or something. 2. Choose an absurd name for yourself, that couldn’t reasonably be your own. 3. Behave outrageously. Will you become rich and famous? The formula didn’t work for Friedrich Holderlin, but but Madonna and Lady Gaga seem to have perfected it. What is different? Is it only that the times have changed, or do you have to start out without talent?

clue:

Madonna is actually named “Madonna”, which I find unreasonable.

Major German lyric poet Hölderlin (1770-1843) was insane for the last several decades of his life, and called himself “Scardanelli” and other imaginary names. He became famous only in the 20th century.

take oh take this clue away