Lady Gaga announces ‘reimagined’ Born This Way album with a host of queer singers
Lady Gaga. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty)
Lady Gaga is celebrating the tenth anniversary of Born This Way by releasing a “reimagined” edition of the album with covers by LGBT+ artists.
The anniversary edition of Gaga’s 2011 album will include the original 14 tracks in new packaging along with six reimagined versions of her songs recorded by queer singers.
Among the covers is a version of “Judas” by trailblazing queer artist Big Freedia. Her version of Lady Gaga’s classic song was released on Friday (28 May) ahead of the album’s 18 June release date.
In a statement, Big Freedia said “Judas” was her “favourite song” when it was originally released in 2011 – so she jumped at the chance to record her own version for Gaga’s tenth anniversary edition of Born This Way.
“I am beyond excited that it’s the first to drop from this project!” Big Freedia said. “To me, ‘Judas’ is a love song about when someone does you dirty. I’ve sure had my experience with that. Who can’t relate?”
Gaga’s reimagined version of Born This Way will also feature queer covers of “Marry the Night”, “Highway Unicorn (Road to Love)”, “You and I”, “The Edge of Glory” and “Born This Way”.
Representatives for the singer have not yet announced which artists will cover the songs, but it was confirmed that those featured are known for “representing and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community”.
The full list of artists featured on the tenth anniversary edition of Born This Way will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Lady Gaga was recently honoured at a Born This Way tenth anniversary celebration
The announcement comes just days after Lady Gaga was honoured in West Hollywood on the tenth anniversary of Born This Way.
The singer was awarded the key to the City of West Hollywood and 23 May was declared “Born This Way Day” at an event on Sunday (23 May) in recognition of the towering impact of her pro-equality anthem and its accompanying album.
The city also unveiled a giant “Born This Way” street painting bearing the album’s title at the event, with Gaga turning up to pose for photos surrounded by adoring fans.
Lady Gaga had already amassed a huge LGBT+ following when she released “Born This Way” in 2011, which features the lyric: “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgender life, I’m on the right track baby, I was born to survive.”
That song and its accompanying album helped to cement Gaga’s status as an LGBT+ icon, and she has used her platform ever since to speak out on behalf of queer rights and equality.
