Teeth (Lady Gaga song)

Last updated

"Teeth"
Song by Lady Gaga
from the EP The Fame Monster
ReleasedNovember 18, 2009 (2009-11-18)
RecordedSeptember 2009
Studio Record Plant (Los Angeles)
Genre R&B [1] [2]
Length3:41
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Teddy Riley
Audio video
"Teeth" on YouTube

"Teeth" is a song recorded by American singer Lady Gaga. The track appears on The Fame Monster (2009), her second major release and her third EP. The song was written by Gaga, Taja Riley, Pete Wyoming Bender, and Teddy Riley, [a] and produced by Gaga and Teddy Riley. It has an oral theme and has been called a "perverse" march and an ode to sadomasochism. "Teeth" peaked at number 107 on the UK Singles Chart and received a mixed reception from critics. Gaga performed the song during The Monster Ball Tour (2009–2011) and her 2017 Coachella set. In 2013, Riley sued Gaga for US$500,000 and punitive damages over the songwriting credits, saying he was not given 25 percent of royalties as he had been promised.

Contents

Background and composition

Teddy Riley (pictured in 2017) co-wrote and co-produced "Teeth". Teddy Riley at the 90's Block Party Tour.jpg
Teddy Riley (pictured in 2017) co-wrote and co-produced "Teeth".

"Teeth" was written by Lady Gaga, Taja Riley, Pete Wyoming Bender, and Teddy Riley, [a] and was produced by Gaga and Teddy Riley. It has been described as a "perverse march" and a "gospel ode" to sadomasochism. [4] [5] Bradley Stern of MuuMuse said the song is "part musical, part country, and a little bit tribal in spots". [6] Popjustice described "Teeth" as a "wobbly, stompy, bouncy marching song" that opens with the lyric "don't want no money, just want your sex" and later chants, "show me your teeth!" [7]

Lyrically, Gaga asks her lover to display his teeth for her. According to MusicOMH , "In the background another voice intones strange messages, which may or may not revolve around dentistry". [8] Music Times said the "skank-y" horns in the track exhibit Riley's work. [9] In an interview with MTV, Gaga explained the meaning behind the song and its lyrics: "It is meant to mean two things, the first one kind of juvenile sexual provocative connotation is about oral sex, but also the monster in the song is fear of the truth. 'Show me your teeth' means 'tell me the truth' and I think that for a long time in my life that I replaced sex with the truth." [10]

In 2013, Teddy Riley sued Gaga for US$500,000 and punitive damages over the songwriting credits, and said his daughter Taja "committed fraud and copyright abuse by earning a deal with EMI for her role in the song". [11] [9] Riley said he was not given the 25 percent of royalties he had been promised. [12] [13] He also tried to sue his daughter and said, "her participation in the creation of the composition, authorship, and ownership [of 'Teeth'] are all false and untrue". [14] Music Times said Teddy Riley's work on "Teeth" was his only contribution to The Fame Monster and called the track the EP's "smallest". [11]

Reception

"Teeth" received a mixed reception from critics; some complimented the song and others called it the album's worst track. Gaga's vocals was compared to those of Christina Aguilera. [15] Slant Magazine 's Sal Cinquemani said the song "sounds like something from Michael Jackson's last studio album as sung by Christina Aguilera ... that the closest she gets to another human being involves being tied up and bitten is revealing." [5] Blogcritics' Clayton Perry said "Teeth", along with the tracks "Monster" and "Telephone", "thump harder than anything she's released thus far". [16] In his review for Consequence of Sound , Tony Hardy describes the song as a "repetitive chant which gets its point across in the first verse, rendering the rest of it almost redundant". [17] Nick Levine of Digital Spy said "Teeth" is "the most sonically intriguing thing GaGa's put her name to, an ode to rough sex conducted over an intense, tribal production that recalls Cher's 'Half Breed' and Fleetwood Mac's 'Tusk'." [18]

MusicOMH called "Teeth" the album's "biggest curveball" and said in its review, "It doesn't really go anywhere, the chorus getting mixed in with the verses, but it's still a compellingly dancey listen and may be indicative of where she's heading next". [8] MuuMuse's Bradley Stern described the song as a "stomping, hoot-and-holler-worthy chant-along" that invites listeners to "cut loose and ... well, sink their teeth into the music". He added, "It's an odd choice to end the album, though a surefire crowd pleaser for live shows if the addictive backing beat is anything to judge by". [6] Popjustice rated the song six out of eight and said it "foray[ed] into Black Betty territory". [7] PopMatters ' Evan Sawdey called "Teeth" Gaga's "most sonically adventurous song yet". [19] Nick Hyman of Under the Radar said the song was the worst on the album. [20] Vulture , an online blog associated with New York Magazine , included lyrics from "Teeth" in its "Best Lines" portal. [21]

In 2017, Billboard ranked "Teeth" number six in its list of the 100 greatest "deep cuts" in 21st century pop music, writing that "what makes 'Teeth' so remarkable isn't its implied carnality... but the seething aggression lurking not far below the song's surface". [22]

Live performances and other appearances

Lady Gaga performing "Teeth" on The Monster Ball Tour in 2010 The Monster Ball - Teeth revamped (cropped).jpg
Lady Gaga performing "Teeth" on The Monster Ball Tour in 2010

Gaga performed "Teeth" during The Monster Ball Tour (2009–2011). [23] [24] The Riverfront Times said her January 2010 performance of the song in St. Louis was "fantastic" and described it as "a fierce Broadway strut full of vamps, vigor and choreographed dancing which recalled Chicago". [25] Gaga performed an "angry version" of the song at Radio City Music Hall a few days later; she "hunched over in an animalistic crouch, surrounded by a predatory-looking pack of dancers" while images of a "ferocious" wolf were displayed. [26] She grabbed her crotch and "snarled" to emphasize the song's lyrics; Dan Aquilante of the New York Post said these actions "didn’t seem all that inappropriate". [27]

Gaga performed a "concert version" of the song at Lollapalooza in August 2010, during which a guitar solo was played between each iteration of the line, "Show me your teeth!" [28] During some performances of the song, she told concert attendees she never lip syncs. In his review of Gaga's April 2011 performance in Montreal, Mike Lepage said the reminder was "needless" and wrote, "What idiot would actually have charged this canary-haired dynamo with that? If anything, you can’t shut the Gaga up, and she has both the chops and the pride to deliver it all live." [29] In 2017, Gaga performed the song in her setlist for the 2017 Coachella Festival. [30]

In 2011, Discovery Channel used "Teeth" to promote its Shark Week programming. [31] Target Corporation was selling a "singing" toothbrush that plays two-minute excerpts of "Born This Way" and "Teeth". [32]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Fame Monster. [33]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Teeth"
Chart (2011)Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) [34] 107

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 While Pete Wyoming Bender and Teddy Riley are not credited as songwriters of "Teeth" in the album liner notes, they are listed as songwriters by BMI. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Riley</span> American record producer (born 1967)

Edward Theodore Riley is an American record producer, singer, and songwriter credited with the creation of the R&B and hip hop fusion genre, new jack swing. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the musical group Blackstreet, as well as its predecessor Guy. The genre gained popularity from artists who utilized Riley's production and songwriting, namely Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Heavy D & the Boyz, Keith Sweat, Hi-Five, and the Jackson 5, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Gaga</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1986)

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Known for her image reinventions and versatility across the entertainment industry, she is an influential figure in popular music and regarded as a pop icon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just Dance (song)</span> 2008 single by Lady Gaga featuring Colby ODonis

"Just Dance" is the debut single by American singer Lady Gaga. She co-wrote the song with Akon and his producer RedOne. It also features vocals from Colby O'Donis and was released on April 8, 2008, as the lead single from Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame. The song was written by Gaga in 10 minutes as "a happy record." "Just Dance" lyrically speaks about being intoxicated at a club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beautiful, Dirty, Rich</span> 2008 promotional single by Lady Gaga

"Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" is a song by American singer–songwriter Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released as a promotional single from the album on September 16, 2008. Written by the singer and its producer Rob Fusari in 2006, it is an uptempo dance-pop and disco-funk song that makes heavy use of synthesizers. The lyrics focus on Gaga's experiences as a struggling artist in the Lower East Side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poker Face (song)</span> 2008 single by Lady Gaga

"Poker Face" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released on September 23, 2008, as the album's second single. It is a synth-pop song in the key of G♯ minor, following in the footsteps of her previous single "Just Dance", but with a darker musical tone. The main idea behind the song is bisexuality and was a tribute by Gaga to her rock and roll boyfriends. The song's lyrics feature various sexual innuendos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Gaga discography</span>

American singer Lady Gaga has released five solo studio albums, two collaborative studio albums, four film soundtracks, three remix albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, two live albums, 40 singles, and 14 promotional singles. Gaga made her debut in August 2008 with the studio album The Fame, which peaked at number two in the United States, where it was subsequently certified triple Platinum, while topping the charts in Austria, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Its first two singles, "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", reached number one in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and for the latter, becoming the world's biggest single of the 2009 calendar year. The album spawned three more singles: "Eh, Eh ", "LoveGame" and "Paparazzi". The latter reached the top ten in many countries worldwide, and number one in Germany.

<i>The Fame</i> 2008 studio album by Lady Gaga

The Fame is the debut studio album by American singer Lady Gaga. It was released on August 19, 2008, by Interscope Records. After joining KonLive Distribution and Cherrytree Records in 2008, Gaga began working on the album with different producers, primarily RedOne, Martin Kierszenbaum, and Rob Fusari. Musically, The Fame is an electropop, synth-pop, and dance-pop record that displays influences from 1980s music. Lyrically, it visualizes Gaga's love of fame in general, while also dealing with subjects such as love, sex, money, drugs, and sexual identity. The album was primarily promoted through The Fame Ball Tour and multiple television appearances, and was reissued as a deluxe edition with The Fame Monster on November 18, 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)</span> 2009 single by Lady Gaga

"Eh, Eh " is a song by American singer Lady Gaga, from her debut album, The Fame (2008). It was released as the third single from the album in Australia, New Zealand and selected European countries, and the fourth single in France. The song is a calypso-styled, mid-tempo ballad, and is about breaking up with one's old partner and finding someone new. The song peaked at number fifteen on the Australian ARIA Charts and at number nine on the RIANZ charts of New Zealand. It proved to be even more successful in Sweden, where it managed to peak at number two on the Sverigetopplistan chart, as well as in the Czech Republic, France, and Hungary, where it reached the top-ten of their respective charts. "Eh, Eh " received Gold certifications for its sales in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LoveGame</span> 2009 single by Lady Gaga

"LoveGame" is a song released by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Produced by RedOne, the track was released as the album's third single in North America and Europe and the fourth single in Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden after "Eh, Eh ". "LoveGame" was also released as the fourth single in the United Kingdom, after "Paparazzi".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paparazzi (Lady Gaga song)</span> 2009 single by Lady Gaga

"Paparazzi" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It was released as the album's fifth and final single by Interscope Records. Gaga wrote and produced the song with Rob Fusari. The song portrays Gaga's struggles in her quest for fame, as well as balancing success and love. Musically, it is an uptempo techno-pop and dance-pop ballad whose lyrics describe a stalker following somebody to grab attention and fame.

<i>The Fame Monster</i> 2009 studio album reissue by Lady Gaga

The Fame Monster is a reissue of American singer Lady Gaga's debut studio album, The Fame (2008), and was released on November 18, 2009, through Interscope Records. Initially planned solely as a deluxe edition reissue of The Fame, Interscope later decided to release the eight new songs as a standalone EP in some territories. The decision was also because Gaga believed the re-release was too expensive and that the albums were conceptually different, describing them as yin and yang. The deluxe edition is a double album featuring the eight new songs on the first disc and The Fame on the second disc. A super deluxe edition was released on December 15, 2009, holding additional merchandise, including a lock from Gaga's wig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Romance</span> 2009 single by Lady Gaga

"Bad Romance" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Gaga wrote and produced the song with RedOne. Following an unauthorized demo leak, Gaga premiered the song's final version during the finale of Alexander McQueen's 2010 Paris Fashion Week show in October 2009 and released it as the lead single from The Fame Monster later that month. Musically, it is an electropop and dance-pop song with a spoken bridge. Inspired by German house and techno, the song was developed as an experimental pop record. Lyrically, Gaga drew from the paranoia she experienced while on tour and wrote about her attraction to unhealthy romantic relationships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telephone (song)</span> 2010 single by Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé

"Telephone" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Featuring American singer Beyoncé, it was released as the EP's second single on January 26, 2010. Gaga and Rodney Jerkins wrote and produced "Telephone", with additional songwriting by LaShawn Daniels, Lazonate Franklin and Beyoncé. Gaga originally wrote the song for Britney Spears, who recorded a demo. "Telephone" conveys Gaga's fear of not finding time for fun given the increasing pressure for her to work harder as an artist. Musically, the song consists of an expanded bridge, verse-rap and a sampled voice of an operator announcing that the phone line is unreachable. Beyoncé appears in the middle of the song, singing the verses in a "rapid-fire" way, accompanied by double beats.

"Speechless" is a song by the American singer Lady Gaga from her extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009). The song was written by Gaga to convince her father to undergo open-heart surgery for his malfunctioning aortic valve and remind her younger fans to appreciate their parents. "Speechless" is about Gaga's fear of death. A rock power ballad, the song has elements of 1970s rock, blues rock, glam rock and country music.

"So Happy I Could Die" is a song from American singer Lady Gaga, taken from her second major release and her third EP, The Fame Monster (2009). It was written by herself, Nadir "RedOne" Khayat, and Nicolas "Space Cowboy" Dresti, with production helmed by RedOne. Inspired by Gaga's fear of what she described as the "Alcohol Monster", the song is about the influences of alcoholism, and also explores several sexual themes in its lyrics as well as liberalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance in the Dark</span> 2010 single by Lady Gaga

"Dance in the Dark" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). It is about a woman who prefers to have sex in the dark as she is insecure in her body. Having met such women while working on the MAC AIDS Fund, Gaga said that the song is not about freedom, but rather the assurance that she understood their feelings. A Europop track, it contains retro and new wave music influences, and begins with a stuttering introduction. It includes a spoken interlude, where Gaga lists famous dead people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alejandro (song)</span> 2010 single by Lady Gaga

"Alejandro" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third extended play (EP), The Fame Monster (2009)—the reissue of her debut studio album, The Fame (2008). Written and produced by Gaga and RedOne, it was released on April 20, 2010, as the third single from the EP. Interscope Records intended the track "Dance in the Dark" to be the EP's third single after "Alejandro" initially received limited airplay, but Gaga insisted on the latter. A synth-pop track with Europop and Latin pop beats, it opens with a sample from the main melody of Vittorio Monti's "Csárdás". The song was inspired by Gaga's fear of men and is about her bidding farewell to her Latino lovers named Alejandro, Roberto and Fernando.

<i>The Remix</i> (Lady Gaga album) 2010 remix album by Lady Gaga

The Remix is a remix album by American singer Lady Gaga. Released in Japan on March 3, 2010, it contains remixes of the songs from her first studio album, The Fame (2008), and its reissue, The Fame Monster (2009). A revised version of the track list was prepared for release in additional markets, beginning with Mexico on May 4, 2010. Remixers on the album include Pet Shop Boys, Passion Pit and The Sound of Arrows.

"Monster" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga from her third EP, The Fame Monster (2009). Inspired by her "Fear of Attachment Monster", the record was produced by Nadir "RedOne" Khayat, and written by Gaga, RedOne and Space Cowboy. Gaga had explained that "Monster" describes her fear of sex and relationships, and described the lyrics as being in love with the bad boy all the time, but instead of running away, one keeps going back to the same person. She added that the fear in "Monster" erupted from her need to have a stable relationship. Incorporating the usage of heavy bass lines, descending keyboard lines and "massive" choruses, "Monster" contains zombie-like metaphors and a reference to Gaga's debut single "Just Dance".

References

  1. ↑ Wood, Mikael (November 23, 2009). "Album review: Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on November 26, 2009. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  2. ↑ Power, Ed (December 14, 2009). "The Fame Monster". Hot Press . Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Teeth (Legal Title): BMI Work #11129493". Broadcast Music, Inc. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Cinquemani, Sal (November 18, 2009). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Slant Magazine . Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Stern, Bradley (November 16, 2009). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster (Album Review)". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Lady Gaga's 'Fame Monster' – it's a proper album (and a very good one at that)". Popjustice . October 26, 2009. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Track-by-Track: Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster". MusicOMH . November 23, 2009. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Gailbraith, Alex. "Lady Gaga sued by Teddy Riley over 'Teeth' royalties". Music Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ Anitai, Tamar (November 3, 2009). "Lady Gaga On MTV's 'It's On With Alexa Chung'". MTV News. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Book, Ryan (November 3, 2013). "Lady Gaga sued by producer Teddy Riley for his work on 'Fame Monster' track 'Teeth'". Music Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Lady Gaga sued by Teddy Riley over song fee". Calgary Sun . November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Lady Gaga sued by Teddy Riley for 'Teeth' Movie Review". The Times of India . November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  14. ↑ Clements, Ashley (November 2, 2013). "Lady Gaga Being Sued by Backstreet Star Over 'Teeth' Track". Giant Digital. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  15. ↑ Plagenhoef, Scott (January 31, 2010). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Pitchfork Media . Archived from the original on February 14, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  16. ↑ Perry, Clayton (November 13, 2009). "Music Review: Lady GaGa – The Fame Monster". Blogcritics . Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ Hardy, Tony (December 4, 2009). "Lady GaGa – The Fame Monster". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  18. ↑ Levine, Nick (November 21, 2009). "Lady GaGa: 'The Fame Monster'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  19. ↑ Sawdey, Evan (November 22, 2009). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". PopMatters . Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  20. ↑ Hyman, Nick (January 13, 2010). "Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster". Under the Radar . ISSN   1553-2305. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Best Lines: Lady Gaga". Vulture . Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  22. ↑ "The 100 Best Deep Cuts by 21st Century Pop Stars: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  23. ↑ Montgomery, James (June 29, 2010). "Lady Gaga Goes the Distance at Montreal Monster Ball Tour Kickoff". MTV. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  24. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (February 22, 2011). "Lady Gaga Brings Monster Ball Home to New York". MTV. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  25. ↑ Zaleski, Annie (January 8, 2010). "Show Review + Setlist: Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo and Semi Precious Weapons at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Thursday, January 7". The Riverfront Times . St. Louis, Missouri. Archived from the original on October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  26. ↑ Zinoman, Jason (January 22, 2010). "For Lady Gaga, Every Concert Is a Drama". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  27. ↑ Aquilante, Dan (January 21, 2010). "Radio (City) Gaga". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  28. ↑ Blauvelt, Christian (August 7, 2010). "Lady Gaga kicks off Lollapalooza: On the scene". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  29. ↑ Lepage, Mike (April 26, 2011). "Concert review: Lady Gaga, The Monster Ball, Bell Centre, April 25". The Gazette . Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  30. ↑ Weatherby, Taylor (April 16, 2017). "Lady Gaga Debuts New Single & Plays Beyonce Collaboration During 2017 Coachella Performance". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  31. ↑ Bierly, Mandi (July 5, 2011). "Shark Week promo: Great Whites and Lady Gaga's 'Teeth'". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Brush Buddies Singing Lady Gaga Toothbrush". Target Corporation. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  33. ↑ The Fame Monster (Liner notes). Lady Gaga. Interscope Records. 2009. 2726601.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  34. ↑ "The Official UK Singles Chart for the week ending December 5, 2009". UKChartsPlus (432). Milton Keynes: IQ Ware Ltd: 3.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.