User:Evengan/Hair

"Hair" is a song by American recording artist and songwriter Lady Gaga taken as the second promotional single from her upcoming second studio album Born This Way (2011). Along with "The Edge of Glory", it is part of iTunes' "Countdown to Born This Way". Written and produced by Gaga and RedOne, "Hair" will be released worldwide digitally on May 16, 2011 as the final promotional single before the album's release. Nevertheless, Gaga explained that "Hair" was not planned to be an official single, but could be released if it sells well on iTunes, like her previous promotional song "The Edge of Glory".

The song, like the previous promotional single "The Edge of Glory", features a saxophone solo performed by saxophonist Clarence Clemons, a prominent member of The E Street Band. Furthermore, according to Gaga herself, the melody resembles metal bands KISS and Iron Maiden. The song, also influenced by Bruce Springsteen, is an uptempo club record inspired by Gaga's experience as a teenager, when her parents forced her to dress according to the high school she attended, which implanted uniforms; the only way to express herself was through her hair, and she describes it as a song about liberation and her ability to change her ways.

Background
The name of the song was revealed through an interview with Vogue magazine in early 2011. Gaga has revealed during an interview with the New York radio station Z-100 that "Some of those themes are explored more on this album. To put my money where my mouth is [regarding themes of empowerment on this song and album]", leading her to later explain the origin of the song, which involves the relationship of her hair with freedom, and how that's the only part of her body she can change without anyone judging her.

Also, during an interview with Ryan Seacrest on his radio program On Air With Ryan Seacrest, she revealed that "Hair" is an up-tempo club record, which also has Bruce Springsteen overtones to it. She also reveals the involvement of Clarence Clemons playing sax on the dance record. During the same interview, she stated: "One of my favorite songs on the album is called "Hair". It’s a really uptempo club record with a Bruce Springsteen vibe to it. I had Clarence Clemons come in from the E Street Band and play saxophone on the record. It has this KISS / Iron Maiden to the melody."

Gaga released a video on May 13, 2011 revealing the cover artwork for the song. "I love this song so, so much," she stated in the video message. "When I was a kid, I used to always come down the stairs of my parents' house, and they would say, 'Go back upstairs and brush your hair, change your clothes, you can't go out wearing that', and I felt like it was stifling my identity." She added: "My hair was my glory. It was the only thing that I could change about myself."

Artwork
Lady Gaga oficially revealed her artwork for the song "Hair" on May 13, 2011 during a video she posted on YouTube. The black and white cover features a pink-haired GaGa lying upside down on the floor in a sharp-edged leather outfit, which comes complete with protruding nipple spikes, and it was photographed by her long time collaborator Nick Knight. On the same clip, she revealed the background behind the song.

Later on, Gaga tweeted the words "Radio 1 show was killer! The Born This Way Itunes Countdown will release my song HAIR 2moro 1pm PST." along with the official, high quality picture of the promotional single artwork, via TwitPic.

Critical reception
An hour before kicking off the final leg of The Monster Ball Tour, Gaga sent four tracks to Rolling Stone magazine, including "Scheiße", "Yoü and I", and "The Edge of Glory", to have an advance preview. Matthew Perpetua wrote a positive review of the song. "Hair is another inspirational song in the mold of Born This Way, but it's a bit weirder, mixing the yearning romantic melodrama of Pat Benetar's "We Belong" with the hard industrial metal edge of Broken-era Nine Inch Nails. The lyrics are essentially about embracing one's hairstyle as the ultimate expression of their identity, climaxing with Gaga triumphantly declaring "I am my hair!" in its huge sing along chorus. An anthem for hair salons everywhere."

Since its release, 'Hair' has received highly positive reviews from critics. PopJustice gave an extremely positive review, giving it a perfect score, 5/5. NME gave a positive review saying that 'Hair' gave the "Love-Yourself-And-Let-It-All-Hang-Out" message way more effectively than the title track, Born This Way, and that "It trumps it once again by being quite the gayest thing you will ever hear for a long time." M is for Music said that "'Hair' sees her go for the more P!nk autobiographical style, as she breaks out of her shell to be herself" and concluding with "This is a triumphant sound that will have you on your feet for hours." The Independant also gave a positive review, calling the track anthemic and that it is the "equivalent of David Crosby 'letting my freak flag fly', tonsure as a statement of rebellious individuality." They mentioned 'Hair' in the Download section as well, noting it as one of the album's best.