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"Paparazzi" is a song written by Lady Gaga and Rob Fusari (Team Love Child), released as the final single from her debut album, The Fame. It was the last collaboration they did together, in 2007. According to Gaga, it's was her "first real pop song" that she wrote with a "killer hook". The song was performed during the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Writing and inspiration

When Ron Slomowicz from About.com referred to different interpretations of the single, Gaga responded: Well I'm so glad there are a few different interpretations, that was the idea. The song is about a few different things – it's about my struggles, do I want fame or do I want love? It's also about wooing the paparazzi to fall in love with me. It's about the media whoring, if you will, watching ersatz make fools of themselves to their station. It's a love song for the cameras, but it's also a love song about fame or love – can you have both, or can you only have one? To the Australian Daily Telegraph, Gaga explained that the song was also about struggling to balance success and love. Bill Lamb from About.com concurred that "the song is a tribute of sorts to the symbiotic but ultimately fake and 'plastic' relationship between stars and their trailing paparazzi [...] who, for better or worse, are there to document and, in a sense, create the stardom."

I just thought that it was turning into a constant problem, so what's more important thing to write about than the absolute hugest part of media culture? The paparazzi. What am I really trying to say here? What will the act of me writing this song really do? Me making a conscious decision to write about the paparazzi – I thought about performance art and shock art and how Paris Hilton and her sister and Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie are shock artists in their own way. They're not necessarily doing fine arts – something they put in the museums – but it's an art form. That's what this song is trying to say. [...] At the same time, the lyrics are very confusing. It says, "I'm your biggest fan. I'll follow you until you love me, paparazzi. There's no other superstar you know that I'll be. Your Papa-paparazzi." The thing is, I will chase you because I'm a star but I'm going to chase you if you're the star. It's very twisted. When you have love, when you have fame, when you have both, it's all of those issues in one record. It's my favorite song in the album. [...] Well I'm so glad there are a few different interpretations, that was the idea. The song is about a few different things – it's about my struggles, do I want fame or do I want love? It's also about wooing the paparazzi to fall in love with me. It's about the media whoring, if you will, watching ersatz make fools of themselves to their station. It's a love song for the cameras, but it's also a love song about fame or love – can you have both, or can you only have one?

—Lady Gaga

Composition

"Paparazzi" has a similar up-tempo composition to the previous singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face" and carries a sultry beat. The song has a moderate electro-synth groove. The verses are in the key of C minor while the chorus is in the Key of A flat major, and the song is a tempo of 116 beats per minute. It is set in common time, and Gaga's vocal range spans from a low-note of G3 to the high-note of E♭5. According to Bill Lamb of About.com, Gaga's voice is heard above these beats, seductively as if enticing the listener to the complex world of stardom. The song's chords have a warmth in them. "Paparazzi" is based on slightly languorous synth textures and incorporates percussion to convey the emotions. Emotions lying in the composition range from sexual desire, dread, and resigned acknowledgment to an insistence to have fun. The lyrics of "Paparazzi" deal with stalking and the trappings of fame.

In 2019-2021, Gaga and her orchestra performed a noir thriller inspired arrangement of the song exclusively for her Jazz and Piano shows.

Commercial release

"Paparazzi" was the third single released from The Fame in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Italy, the fourth single in Canada and the United States, and lastly, the fifth single in Australia and New Zealand. It was released on July 6, 2009 in the United Kingdom, and July 10th in Australia. Initially, "LoveGame" had been planned to be released as the third single in the United Kingdom, but it was decided that "Paparazzi" would be released instead because of the potentially controversial lyrics of and music video for "LoveGame".

Physical release

Australia (2712117)

PaparazziAU Label: Labels
Format: Slimline jewel case
Released: July 6, 2009
Barcode: 602527121178
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

602527121178

France (271 832-6)

FR PP Label: Labels
Format: Cardboard
Released: December 7, 2009
Barcode: 602527283265
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

FRPP

Germany (0602527192949)

GE PZ Label: Labels
Format: Slimline jewel case
Released: July 17, 2009
Barcode: 602527192949
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

GEPZ

Note: Track two is listed as "Chu Fu Ghetto House Radio" instead of "Chew Fu Ghetto House Radio".

United Kingdom (2712117)

GE PZ Label: Labels
Format: Slimline jewel case
Released: July 6, 2009
Barcode: 602527121178
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

UKPZ

Germany — The Remixes (602527179865)

GE PZR Label: Labels
Format: Slimline jewel case
Released: September 11, 2009
Barcode: 0602527179865
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

GEPZR

United States — The Remixes (B0013571-22)

USA Papa Remixes Label: Labels
Format: Jewel case
Released: October 13, 2009
Barcode: 602527217901
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

USPPR

United Kingdom (2712119)

UK VPZ Label: Labels
Format: 7" vinyl in a transparent plastic
Released: July 6, 2009
Barcode: 602527121192
Photography: Meeno
Design: Stewart Armstrong
   

UKVPZ

Side A (45RPM)
Side B (33RPM)

United States — The Remixes (B0013572-11)

USA Papa Remixes2 Label: Streamline, Kon Live, Cherrytree, Interscope
Format: 12" vinyl in cardboard sleeve
Released: October 13, 2009
Barcode: 602527217918
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
   

USPPR2

Side A (45RPM)
Side B (33RPM)

Italy — The Remixes (8032536108729)

FR PP Label: Labels
Format: 12" Vinyl in cardboard sleeve
Released: October 29, 2009
Barcode: 8052516108729
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva
Side A (45RPM)
Side B (33RPM)

Digital release

Paparazzi - Remix EP

The Remixes, Part Deux

Paparazzi (Part Deux) Label: Interscope
Format: Digital
Released: September 29, 2009
Barcode: None
Photography: Meeno
Design: Irene Silva


Remixes

  • Chew Fu Ghettohouse Fix — 6:28
  • Chew Fu Ghettohouse Radio Edit — 3:52
  • Chew Fu Ghettohouse Radio Edit (Clean) — 3:52
  • Demolition Crew Remix — 3:54
  • Fernando Garibay Remix — 3:52
  • Filthy Dukes Club Mix — 5:21
  • James Carameta Tabloid Full Remix — 8:13
  • James Carameta Tabloid Radio Edit — 4:27
  • Moto Blanco Bostic Dub — 6:51
  • Moto Blanco Club Mix — 6:43
  • Moto Blanco Club Mix (Clean) — 6:43
  • Moto Blanco Radio Edit — 4:06
  • Moto Blanco Radio Edit (Clean) — 4:06
  • Stuart Price Remix — 3:19
  • Yuksek Remix — 4:47
  • DJ Dan Club Mix — 6:04
  • DJ Dan Radio Edit — 3:51
  • Dave Audé Club Mix — 8:31
  • Dave Audé Dub — 7:00
  • Dave Audé Radio Edit — 4:00

Performances

Lyrics

Album version

We are the crowd
We’re c-comin’ out

Got my flash on, it's true
Need that picture of you
It so magical
We’d be so fantastic, oh

Leather and jeans
Garage Glamorous
Not sure what it means
But this photo of us don’t have a price
Ready for those flashing lights
Cause you know that baby I

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar
You know that I’ll be
Your Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
until you love me Papa, Paparazzi

I’ll be your girl
Backstage at your show
Velvet ropes and guitars
Yeah, cause you’re my rock star
In between the sets
Eyeliner and cigarettes

Shadow is burnt-
Yellow, dance and return
My lashes are dry
Purple teardrops I cry
It don’t have a price
Loving you is cherry pie
'Cause you know that baby I

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar-
You know that I’ll be
Your Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
until you love me Papa, Paparazzi

Real good, we dance in the studio
Snap snap, to that shit on the radio
Don’t stop for anyone
We’re plastic, but we still have fun

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar
You know that I’ll be
Your Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
until you love me Papa, Paparazzi

Acoustic version

We are the crowd
We’re c-comin’ out

Got my flash on, it's true
Need that picture of you
It's so magical
We’d be so fantastic

Leather and jeans
Garage Glamorous
Not sure what it means
But this photo of us it don’t have a price
Ready for those flashing lights
'Cause you know that, baby, I

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar
You know that I’ll be
Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
Until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi

I’ll be your girl
Backstage at your show
Velvet ropes and guitars
Yeah, 'cause you’re my rock star
In between the sets
Eyeliner and cigarettes

Shadow is burnt
Yellow, dance and return
My lashes are dry
Purple teardrops I cry
It don’t have a price
Loving you is cherry pie
'Cause you know that baby I

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar-
You know that I’ll be
Your Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar
You know that I’ll be
Your Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi

I’m your biggest fan
I’ll follow you until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi
Baby there’s no other superstar
You know that I’ll be
Your Papa, Paparazzi

Promise I’ll be kind
But I won't stop until that boy is mine
Baby you'll be famous, chase you down
until you love me
Papa, Paparazzi

Music video

Paparazzi
Premiere date May 29, 2009
Director(s) Jonas Åkerlund
Fashion director B. Åkerlund
Choreographer Laurieann Gibson at Haus of Gaga
Director of photography Eric Broms
Paparazzi Music Video Poster

The short film / music video for "Paparazzi" was shot April 13 and 14, 2009 in Bel-Air. The video was initially set to premiere on June 4, 2009 in the United Kingdom and Ireland on Channel 4, however, while touring in Australia, Gaga posted a message on her Twitter account on May 29, 2009 saying "Stop leaking my motherfucking videos", which referred to the video being released without the singer's consent.

The video premiered on Perez Hilton's website on May 29 at 9PM EST. The explicit version was released at midnight on Channel 4 on June 4, 2009.

The music video was directed by Swedish director, Jonas Åkerlund. His wife Bea Åkerlund was hired as Gaga's stylist for the video. Gaga told MTV that she had finished shooting "[..] my video for 'Paparazzi,' which I really am very pleased with the way that turned out. It's like a short film." In an interview with The Canadian Press on May 26, 2009, Gaga cited her video as "the most amazing creative work that [she's] put together so far." She went on to describe the idea behind the video and the message it gives.

"It has a real, genuine, powerful message about fame-whoring and death and the demise of the celebrity, and what that does to young people. The video explores ideas about sort of hyperbolic situations that people will go to in order to be famous. Most specifically, pornography and murder. These are some of the major themes in the video."

In 2010, Lady Gaga released the sequel with the music video for "Telephone", featuring Beyoncé. The story starts off where the music video for "Paparazzi" ended, with Gaga going to jail.

Cast

  • Lady Gaga — Herself
  • The boyfriend — Alexander Skarsgård
  • Policeman 1— Kerry Rhodes
  • Policeman 2— Michael Paul
  • Policeman 3— Eric SchackelFord
  • Model 1— Zdenka Sutton
  • Model 2— Katrina Hunter
  • German super model— Margarita Ruhl
  • Forensic 1 — George Finn
  • Forensic 2 — Marc Livingood
  • Triplets — Snakes of Eden

Script

The music video's original script, written by both Jonas Åkerlund and Gaga herself, features Lady Gaga and her on-screen boyfriend Alexander Skarsgård speaking to each other in Swedish.

a SERIAL PICTURES Production


Starring LADY GAGA


and ALEXANDER SKARSGARD


Lady Gaga in - PAPARAZZI - directed by JONAS ÂKERLUND


Gaga: Älskar du mig? (Do you love me?)
Skarsgård: Det är klart jag älskar dig. (Of course I love you.)
Gaga: Puss, puss. (Kiss, kiss.)
Skarsgård: Kom hit. (Come here.)
Skarsgård: Litar du på mig? (Do you trust me?)
Gaga: Självklart. (Of course.)
Gaga: Sluta! (Stop!)
Skarsgård: Titta in i kameran. (Look in to the camera.)
Gaga: Vad gör du? (What are you doing?)
Gaga: Sluta!... sluta! (Stop!... stop!)
Skarsgård: Jävla fitta! (Damn you cunt!)

(Newspapers headlines)


LADY GA GA HITS THE ROCK BOTTOM


LADY GAGA IS OVER


LADY NO MORE GAGA


(Before the end of the song, magazine headline)


THE NEW IT GIRL


(After the song)


911 Operator: 9-1-1, an emergency?... Hello?
Gaga: I just killed my boyfriend

(While the police is taking her out, newspapers headlines)


SHE'S BACK!!!


WE LOVE HER AGAIN


SHE'S INNOCENT - Police investigate - Lady GaGa


(At the police station, Gaga's card)


POLICE - 064 - PAPARAZZI


Cameraman: Watch into the camera... Walk away.

The End

Promo Images

Outfit fitting (March, 2009)

Fashion/Synopsis

Scene 1

The video opens with a shot of a seaside mansion, where Gaga and her boyfriend are shown lying on a bed. They move to the balcony and start making out, but a hidden photographer takes pictures of them. Gaga realizes that her boyfriend has set the paparazzi to photograph her and tries to stop him. However, when it becomes futile, she smashes a champagne bottle in his face. The enraged boyfriend throws her over the balcony. While falling, a black and white pattern flashes in the background, in reference to the Alfred Hitchcock film "Vertigo".

Lady Gaga wears a bra by Faire Frou Frou, a corset by Mugler, tights by Leg Avenue, shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti, custom gloves by Glovedup, a necklace by Tom Binns, a ring by Dior, and bracelets by Loree Rodkin.

Scene 2

Gaga lies at the ground in her own blood as paparazzi take pictures of her bloody body and tabloid headlines proclaim that her career is over.

Lady Gaga wears a crystal embellished corset by Mugler, mirror glasses by Haus of Gaga, bangles by NOir Jewelry and heels by Ruthie Davis.

Scene 3

When the song starts, Gaga is shown getting out of a limousine, being carried by male dancers to a wheelchair. She wears a bejeweled neck brace and a side halo on her hair in this sequence.

Lady Gaga wears a catsuit by Mugler, a bra by Faire Frou Frou, sandals by Balmain for Giuseppe Zanotti, an unsigned vintage neckband, a neckbrace by Betony Vernon for Swarovski, a corset by Dolce & Gabbana, a vintage ring by Chanel, a custom hair button by Haus of Gaga, sunglasses by HI TEK ALEXANDER, and a wheelchair by Michael Schmidt.

Scene 4

Next, Gaga is shown writhing on a golden couch wearing a low-cut black latex dress and fishnet tights. These scenes are intercut throughout the video from then onward, and is the main setting for the second verse. During the line "Loving you is cherry pie", she makes out with a trio of hair metal rockers. The trio, known as Snake of Eden, are from reality television dating program Daisy of Love.

Lady Gaga wears an outfit by Mugler, and pumps by Dolce & Gabbana.

Scene 5

An alternate version of the video replaces the images of Gaga on the couch during the second verse, with Gaga sitting on a spotted horse with a purple mane. It’s likely that this scene wasn’t included in the regular version as it could’ve caused controversy over the horse’s dyed mane.

Lady Gaga wears a sea-shell bathing suit by Jeremy Scott, a bra by Mugler, shoes by John Galliano, and a bullet belt worn as a sash by B. Akerlund.

Scene 6

As the dancers gyrate around her, she takes off her black body suit and starts walking down the carpet with the help of a pair of crutches while wearing a metallic bustier and a matching helmet. These scenes are interspersed with scenes of dead models including one whose face is wrapped in plastic, one who is hanging from a noose and one who appears to be oozing gold colored blood from her mouth.

Lady Gaga wears an outfit by Mugler, and a custom crutches by Michael Schmidt.

Scene 7

Lady Gaga is seen dancing with a troop of background dancers inside the mansion.

Lady Gaga wears a bodysuit and a half skirt hybrid by Boudicca, and shoes by Fendi.
Dancers: outfits made by B. Akerlund, inspired by the Boudicca dress.

Scene 8

The video continues through the intermediate bridge with Gaga wearing a dress made up of film strips and a towering feathered Mohawk headdress. Her trademark dogs, two harlequin Great Danes, are also shown during this scene.

Lady Gaga wears a film stock dress by Haus of Gaga in collaboration with Jeremy Scott and B. Akerlund.

Scene 9

In the next scene, Gaga and her eye-patch wearing boyfriend are reading magazines on a sofa in a quaint tea room. Gaga wears a flamboyant outfit of yellow jumpsuit with circular glasses and circular shoulder pads. She finally takes her revenge on her boyfriend by discreetly poisoning his drink with white powder concealed in her ring. After he falls dead, the song stops and Gaga calls 911 and declares that she just killed her boyfriend. Investigators are then shown searching the room for evidence.

Lady Gaga wears a bodysuit and sunglasses by Jeremy Scott, shoes by Chanel, a pendant from Personalized Boutique, and a ring by Noir Jewelry.
Boyfriend: an eye-patch by Andreas Eberharter.

Scene 10

The police come and she gets arrested for the murder as a reprise of the chorus plays. Gaga, wearing a tall, blond, corkscrew wig, walks to the police car as the paparazzi surround her once again. Images flash by, with newspapers proclaiming her innocence and that Gaga is back in the spotlight and has regained her fame.

Lady Gaga wears a bra and corset by The Blonds, a custom gloves by Glovedup , a ring by Noir Jewelry, and sunglasses by Emilio Pucci.

Scene 11

The video ends with Gaga posing for mug shots like a fashion model while wearing a tulip shaped metallic dress. She walks out of frame just before the videoclip fades to black.

Lady Gaga wears a metal bustier dress by Dolce & Gabbana.

Yellow press headlines

Throughout the music video headlines of yellow press articles - which are coherent with the plot of the music video and indicate what is going on in the main character’s life right at that moment - can occasionally be seen.

Behind the scenes

Behind the scenes video

Behind the scenes photos

Edited version

A clean edit of the music video was also produced, and released on VEVO and many TV channels, although most TV channels still only aired the music video in late-night or obscure rotation. This version cuts out the line "Jävla fitta!" and blanks out the word "shit", as well as removing the scene of Gaga smashing a bottle in her boyfriend's face and of a dead model hanging from a noose. Additionally, due to Gaga's dress having an extremely short skirt that exposes it, scenes where the viewer can see her butt are replaced with shots from different angles. Some TV network versions also reduce the frame rate during the bridge, due to concerns that the flashing may induce seizures in people with epilepsy. Some TV channels also blanked out the word "cigarettes".

Credits

Song

Personnel

Publishing

  • Sony/ATV Songs LLC / House of Gaga Publishing LLC (BMI)
  • Sony/ATV Tunes LLC / June Bug Alley (ASCAP)

Music video

  • Director — Jonas Åkerlund
  • Written — Lady Gaga & Jonas Åkerlund
  • Music composer — Lady Gaga
  • Executive producers — Stephanie Bruni, Violaine Etienne, Vince Herbert, Nicole Ehrlich, Troy Carter
  • VIP — Jimmy Iovine
  • Live producer — Steven Johnson
  • First assistant director — Andy Coffing
  • Director of photography — Eric Broms
  • Costume designer — B. Åkerlund.
  • Production designer (Art director) — Jason Hamilton
  • Makeup artist — Sharon Gault
  • Hair stylist — Peter Savic
  • Manicurist — Naja Rickette
  • Casting — Annie Egian
  • Special FX make-up artist — Ve Neill
  • Editor — Danny Tull
  • Telecine (Colorists) — Dave Hussey
  • Flame artist — Peter Törnestam
  • Graphic designer — Anna Lindqvist (The Chimney Pot)
  • Online / visual effects — Peter Törnestam, Martin Nilsson, Markus Lundqvist
  • Commissioner — Nicole Ehrlich
  • Rep — Laure Scott
  • Production company — Serial Pictures in co-production with Factory Films
  • ISRC — USUV70801179 / USUMV0900020
  • UPC — 602517738560 / 602527053028
  • UMA — 253891

References

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