Thursday, July 01, 2010

The Ga does 40K

After Xhalax pointed it out, I'm forced to agree that Lady Gaga's new video ("Alejandro") has some seriously 40K content in it. Aside all the Tom of Finland homo-erotic bits, obviously. She poses as a mean Sister of Battle, smoking a pipe (obscura or lho, methinks). There's a gnarly shot of her with a commissar at a ruined window in the snow, staring out at destiny ("so, Ibram, how do you like what I've done with the garden?"). And she turns up as Saint Sabbat at least twice (I am now fairly convinced that Saint Sabbat will be wearing white knickers with a scarlet cruciform on the gusset next time we meet her).

Obviously, like I said, all the quasi-militaristic homo-erotic stuff in no way fits the grim darkness of the far future, although, in terms of Freudian psychoanalysis, you could argue... (oh no! Can open! Worms everywhere!).

Anyway, bow to The Ga. The Emperor protects.

48 comments:

Jesus said...

I can't believe I had to listen to that damn song just to see the damn Imperials. I felt a Moscow/1942 vibe, like Germans staring out at some very gay Russians. What a theatrical that would be! "Happy Hitler and the Slavic homosexuals!"

ZING!

Beltayn said...

"all the quasi-militaristic homo-erotic stuff in no way fits the grim darkness of the far future,"

I intensely dislike even invoking his name, but this instantly made me think of Ian Watson's "Space Marine". (Still not sure how I got through most of it. In the end though my motivation gave out 5 pages from the end.)

Still, maybe that was her inspiration. At least nobody got their buttocks branded in the vid.

Matthew Churchill said...

Oh, daft old Ian Watson! Pain is pleasure.

Lightbringer said...

You know, I thought EXACTLY the same thing when I saw that video. And then I thought I was going mad because I thought I was seeing 40k imagery everywhere. I'm glad it's not just me!

+++Lightbringer+++

Pack_master said...

Damn you,. Dan, I had to watch thisn ow.

But Xhalax' right, as always. it has a certain 40k style with all the implants and the pseudo-gothic.

Jonathan Green said...

I've just watched the video for the first time and... crikey!

Do you think the Adepta Sororitas have machine guns in their cast iron brassieres as well?

Dan Abnett said...

Do you think that brassiere makes The Ga an ArmaLite Nun?

Ba-dum tish!

Shadowheim said...

Dan...I'm disappointed. Haha! :)

harvb said...

Not entirely conviced I'm comfortable with a Friends reference applying to anything 40K related! That's just... Wrong.

Anonymous said...

It's not 40K unless all the men are in great flaring coats. Spandex shorts don't cut it, even with the pretty boots. -_-

However, I would have to say that it is a grim future indeed where all the (nice, fit!) men are so utterly disinterested in us women. Poor Lady Gaga! Alejandro was obviously just going through the motions with her while missing his squadmates. o_O

Big said...

Looks like i came back just at the right time, GaGa has gone 40k my dreams have come true.....

Cor said...

I am now very intrigued and aint wait to get home to check out this new gaga video obviously muted cause I can't stand her music

Xhalax said...

All I'd like to add that this point is:

Muahahahahahahahaha!

Ok, well not really but I too was starting to worry if seven
years of 40K was rotting my mind.....especially since earlier that day someone pointed out that Voldemort looks
like he actually works for The Greater Good (I'd just finished reading Courage and Honour at the time too).

Good to know I'm not completely obsessed with 40K that I'm seeing it everywhere.....or at least I'm not the only one.

And Mr. Abnett, as much as I dislike Sanian and her crazy idea....it would amuse me greatly if she turned up in such attire. Don't forget the creepy heelless platform shoes.

Love The GaGa!

frieslander said...

I've not seen it as I am at work. Going to have to inspire of my apathy to most GaGa songs. I pity the person who hast clean up the worms you uncanned though

Lord Azaghul said...

You're killing me Mr Abnett!

I'll never see the 'sisters' the same...at least I have the luxury of supressing my curiousities and avoiding the video - thanks to those wonderful web filters at work!

Phillip said...

I haven't seen the video and must confess to being left cold by GaGa.

I also can't help but notice your silence regarding the Horus Heresy meeting...

Matthew Churchill said...

Blimey, you're right Dan. They should call her Lady Kake.
M

Lordy said...

Is anyone else now tempted to theme a Guard/Sisters alliance around her video?

Andres said...

I believe that might be an IG regiment with heavy training on unarmed combat, so that will explain the wrestling leotards...

It was very 40K indeed...

Forkmaster said...

I could totally see Lady GaGa as the newest character introduced in the Gaunts Ghosts stories. You should totally create a characted based upon her. =D

sredni vashtar said...

You mean like Urlock Ga?

sredni vashtar said...

also, y'all ignant. Ian Watson's 40K books were awesome, and perfectly captured the grim phallus of the hard future.

Unknown said...

Gah i will have nightmares, for a longtime now, having forced myself to watch one of "it's" videos, will most likley have then in 3D and THX surround. *Goes back to immersing himself in god old fashioned Bolt Thrower to get the WH40k feeling back*

lilibat said...

In the dark future, pop music still sucks.

I can kind of see a bit of fallen sister at the beginning, but other than that and the general ambience not really seeing it. :-/

I am feeling a bit GagaRolled at this point.

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Will Wright said...

Looks like someone went and took it too far :0

Alot of the crazy stuff she wears looks like it would be perfectly fashionable for a Planetary Governors Ball.
Maybe Bequin dresses that way when she wakes up :)

ColKillgore said...

I have a box full of sisters waiting for a good theme. This might be it.

Vividwings said...

I got the same feeling (Her first outfit is great inspiration for an inquisitor costume..), though I really think Lady Gaga is more Slaaneshi than anything else.

Anonymous said...

HOLY GRIM DARK ETERNAL WAR !!

Ehem, I mean, you are right Mr. Abnett.

Commissar? Yes!

Sister of Battle? Indeed!

Slaanesh? ABSOLUTLY!

Rob Rath said...

I have to admit that the youngish guy is pretty close to what I imagine Ludd looks like. Fantastic costumes and makeup-- I'm pretty sure the makeup artist used like thirty pots of Bleached Bone on Gaga's face.

In other news, I always knew there was something "off" about those Catachans...

Actually I'm very happy to have seen this, since the cover of the latest Rolling Stone features Gaga in the ballistic brassiere, and I couldn't help but wonder, "What the hell is up with that?"

ProfessorUSMC said...

Dan,
Big fan, diehard Astartes reader...guess being a former US Marine it is hard to read anything else.
I am highly anticipated your upcoming Heresy novel.
My biggest want though is another Iron Snakes novel, I absolutely love them. Codex yet with their own individual structure. I have a large Iron Snakes Army, and have been currently converting squad leaders and apothecaries to fit with your work.
When are you planning the next adventure for Priad and squad Damocles?
Thanks
SEMPER FIDELIS
Shawn

Matthew Churchill said...

Xhalax you have a lot to answer for. I have become mildly addicted to Lady Gaga. And drawn to checking out her crotch in all her videos to see if something truly does lie beneath.
M

Matthew Churchill said...

P.S. Anything is improved by Jim Henson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4jCXLfsUpI

M

Xhalax said...

Yup and one day I shall be the cause of the end of civilisation as we know it.....though whatever it is that I do that causes the end of the world I won't have done it on purpose....honest!

And the Bad Romance vid is better...with Bert and Ernie.

I also enjoyed a Lady Gaga vs. Final Fantasy VII flash video of some of the characters doing the dance from Bad Romance too. I nearly had a nosebleed at that one. FFVII AND Lady Gaga. WAHEY!

Rob Rath said...

I'm going to buck the trend actually and say that more than Soviet/German soldiers, they seem a bit more like Francoesque Spanish fascist types. Maybe it's just the Spanish names in the song.

Dju said...

And then what about Christina Aguilera going all Mechanicus on the cover of Bionic ?

Epistolary Anderson said...

"so, Ibram, how do you like what I've done with the garden?"

Abnett-san, the last time you made me giggle like this, Loken had just crunched Lucius' nose.

Hope you're well.

Bomster said...

Had to actually visit *her official home page* to watch it since youtube wasn't really helpful. Then again, the imagery is about right, if more sexually charged than most 40k fiction.

Now, if anybody were to combine this with the OTT future battles in Coheed and Cambria's recent video for "The Broke(n"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-U6NKKCwJU)
we'd be halfway there...

Dan Abnett said...

Bomster - Re: Coheed and Cambria vid - awesome sauce, thanks.

Anonymous said...

Could someone link to the video on youtube or something? The video I just watched does not seem like the right one.

TheWarsmith said...

Dear God, you're right. Honestly, I get a huge and hilarious Mechanicus vibe from all of this - the crazy bionics she's got going when she's watching the ... training ... and then that black room with the doctor's tables where's she doing all the erotic poses with the guy.

I have this image in my head of a sterile vault in a Mechanicus enclave that is the "Designated Fornication Chamber."

You need to give this idea to Mr. Mitchell next time you talk to him. Such a room is exactly the sort of place Ciaphas Cain should "accidentally" barge into.

demonkoryu said...

Ga. A case for the Gray Nights, IMHO.

The emperor protects.