Amputated Mermaids, Puerto Rican Badasses and the Wrath of Kahn: What was almost The Edge of Glory

"This video raped the song in the ass and left it to die on the street corner, right next to the hooker and her saxophone player." Ouch. That was just one of the hundreds of glittering comments left by a somewhat disappointed little monster after watching Lady Gaga's newest music video, The Edge of Glory. Granted, the video wasn't what I expected but was this hating really necessary? Sure I eagerly anticipated the theatrical release of another one of Gaga's music videos after its' announcement only days ago. Thoughts raced through my head about what ballsy, outlandish thing she could possibly think of and do this time that could somehow outdo her previous work on Judas. By the time the video was finally displayed, for all the world to see, on the most recent episode of So You Think You Can Dance, my heart was beating in excitement as adrenaline ferociously pumped through my little monster veins....for the first minute. The chorus soon followed along with not much of anything else. Same scene, same outfit, same cast, same Gaga and then it was over. The video left you with a feeling not of a simmering sensation from such a visual orgasm, as most of her videos did, but instead more like that of an empty, lifeless, deflated rubber balloon that just finished squeaking out its' last bit of air. What the F*CK was that? Why would Gaga do something so...boring? Most of all: Why would you air a music video on a TV show that's only willing to play half of it? (Screw you So You Think You Can Dance! ) Many questions needed answering. After some thorough online research, things slowly began to surface.

After the initial showing of the video the Gaga fan forums were ablaze with not the most prettiest responses and comments, but one rumor that began circulating was that Gaga and the video's director had "creative differences" and then parted ways. Originally it was believed that the fight was with Laurieann Gibson, Gaga's creative director, Judas' video co-producer and close friend, but after cheerfully accepting the award for international video of the year alongside Gaga at Canada's Much Music Awards it seemed that Laurieann was still allowed inside the Haus of Gaga. In reality, Joseph Khan, who had previously worked with Lady Gaga on LoveGame and Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say), was hired to direct the music video for the Edge of Glory. Apparently though, it just wasn't meant to be. The New York Post's Pop Wrap blog reported that Kahn, despite agreeing to create the video, left production after arguing with Gaga while filming. Chancler Haynes, Kahn's on-set editor, according to Pop Wrap, said that Gaga's and Kahn's idea for the film was a constant struggle of opinions.

"Gaga changed her mind and told Joseph what to do. His hands were tied. The director just didn't have control over Gaga after she started making changes [and] Joseph's concept died," stated Haynes.

The concept in question varies depending on who you ask. Supposedly E! News obtained a casting call notice for the video which asks for a "Puerto Rican or Dominican type badass" who "must be willing to kiss Lady Gaga", "Couture Doctors" who will wear smocks and black gloves", a "male or female on-air reporter", and "a group of military men to hold M16 rifles" according to MTV news. Pop Wrap also states that several sets had been created for the video. 

Images of these scenes were leaked on the web and then confirmed by Haynes which included "...a hospital scene, the Brooklyn Bridge, and a big underwater mermaid scene." 

If you wonder how this might have turned out like, as I did, just leave it to Gaga drop clues while still keeping us guessing. On June 15th Gaga performed at Le Grand Journal, a French talk show, and gave us a possible sneak peak of what the mystery video might have looked like.  Continue reading, and view video here.

As cool as a mermaid fin amputation might have been, I'm not entirely sure that it would have fit well with a song that was so personal to Gaga. And that's just it. Despite all the flashy, displays of grandeur and unique, in your face,  spectacle that is a Gaga music video; was it really all necessary this time around or would it had of distracted from the main central theme of the song? 

Gaga began writing The Edge of Glory as she spent time with her grandfather in his final days on Earth. She completed the song soon after he had passed. On one interview that appeared on FUSE TV,  Gaga was asked why she chose to have The Edge of Glory be such an upbeat, happy song. She smiled and gently said,

"Because his life was glorious and because life is glorious. When I saw my grandpa holding hands with my grandmother, what I saw was him looking into her eyes and saying, 'I won. I'm a champion at life. You and I kicked life's ass.' The Edge of Glory is about rejoicing and living every moment as if it's your last."

The theme is about being personal. It's not about epic scenes or sweaty back up dancers or how many wardrobe changes are possible to pull off in a 5 minute time slot. It's all about Gaga being in the city of New York (or a studio replica that's just like it), her home and most cherished place to be, dancing and celebrating every moment to the music of an unbelievably talented musician (Rest in peace Clarence Clemons) while being on The Edge of Glory with YOU. Yes you. You and me and every little monster out there. At one point she even goes as far as to grab the camera to get across to us that this video, despite its' differences from her past work, was simply meant to honor a song and its' meaning and to not have it drowned out with some over the top allegory. This, I believe, is truly why she went in the direction that she did, despite what other critics may say.

From trying to emulate such pop stars as Michael Jackson and Madonna where they featured videos with just themselves and the music, to citing lack of budget and time, different bloggers and fans alike keep sharing the many theories circulating the web. Some claimed that the lack of appreciation for the Born This Way and Judas videos lead Gaga to create a less than stellar video just to have us realize how much we really do love all her hard work and effort. Others stated the opposite in that Judas left us with such high quality work that there was no way to continue to raise the bar so instead, lower it so it could be raised once again. Some people stated that she should have just gone with her Google chrome commercial while others said that that would have been just lazy. One final group even claimed that this just proves that there will be no single for Marry the Night since this video would have been perfect for it. 

Whether you're comparing it to Rent, West Side Story or an amateur strip show set atop a New York fire escape, no one is ever gonna agree on the point of this film. All I ask is that anyone that still holds ill will even now after the release of the video needs to forget about Gaga's previous work for just five minutes and watch The Edge of Glory just one more time. Hear the words, feel the emotion and just dance, dance, dance with your hands, hands, hands above your head, head, head like Gaga said. Rejoice and live every moment as if it's your last. Simple yet beautiful concept. It is The Edge of Glory.