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Real stars, the astrophysical ones, are born through a lengthy process of collapse.
You make sacrifices to get to a better station in life.
The story ofA Star Is Bornabides because it is familiar.
But it taxes because it is cruel.
The destruction of the male lead is mechanical in its effectiveness.
Cooper and Lady GagasStarworks because its charming and realistic in its staging, acting, and music.
Its partOne Crazy Nightand part Greek tragedy, a little bit country, and a little bit EDM.
(Ive seen it!)
I couldnt place Jackson in time in my head.
I couldnt see a world where he headlines Coachella and Glastonbury.
At first, this made the soundtrack seem dizzyingly anachronistic.
But rot is the core ofA Star Is Born.
Jackson issupposedto seem like a dinosaur.
Whats tragic is that his songs are sturdy.
Hes great when he can keep his demons leashed.
Coopers musical performances inA Star Is Borndramatize the discouraging sensation of trying your best and losing.
Failure and death are chilling undercurrents in nearly all of his songs.
Maybe its time to let the old ways die, theIsbell songmuses with foreboding clarity.
Too Far Gone and the duet Diggin My Grave double down on the fixation with mortality.
LikeArtpop,A Star Is Borns overt pop moves are fascinating, but Why Did You Do That?
Shallow is the big-deal duet of this soundtrack, and deservedly so.
The hook is a freight train, equal parts Bad Romance andBorn to Run.
The songs that gamble most on the natural soulfulness of Gagas voice reap the best rewards.
This isnt her first go at blending music and acting, and it wont be her last.
