Something unprecedentedly fabulous happened in the year of our Lord 2010. No, it wasn’t the legalisation of gay marriage in multiple countries. It was Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s iconic, never before seen, visual feast of a music video to ‘Telephone’.
Let me take you on a journey down music history lane.
Why was Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s ‘Telephone’ music video so iconic?
12 years ago lady gaga and beyoncé released “telephone” music video, this is truly a cultural pop reset
https://t.co/pRm3OAAsbE— 2000s (@2000sthetic) March 11, 2022
The year is 2010. Lady Gaga’s seminal album The Fame has been out for two years and she’s preparing to release The Fame Monster. Beyoncé is about to make history at the Grammy where she’ll break the record for most awards won by a female artist.
But before all of that was March 2010. Before all that, there was the ‘Telephone’ music video.
The story goes that ‘Telephone’ was actually originally written for Britney Spears. As per Capital Xtra, Gaga wrote the song for Britney’s legendary Circus album.
While I imagine Britney Spears’ take on ‘Telephone’ would be legendary, I for one am glad we got the iconic Lady Gaga and Beyoncé collab.
How does ‘Telephone’ fit in to the Lady Gaga cinematic universe?
The vid’s director Jonas Åkerlund has confirmed ‘Telephone’ was a sort-of sequel to the equally-as-iconic ‘Paparazzi’ music video.
He spoke to Variety about the music video for its 10 year anniversary back in 2020.
“We had a practice run on ‘Paparazzi like, a year earlier,” he said.
Variety then described ‘Telephone’ as a “direct sequel” to ‘Paparazzi’.
“It’s kind of fun, and it would be cool to have a third one coming,” Åkerlund said at the time.
What happens in the ‘Telephone’ music video?
There is so much to say about ‘Telephone’.
It is nine and a half minutes long. Almost half of it is needlessly set in a women’s prison. Lady Gaga is using Coca-Cola cans as hair rollers. She goes on a road trip with Beyoncé (who is wearing black lipstick! She wears a neon yellow cowboy hat!).
Beyoncé tells Lady Gaga verbatim: “You’ve been a very bad girl”.
Watching that at age 12 triggered something in my pre-pubescent gay brain.
Most important though is the final scene of the film. Specifically, a frame reading “To be continued…”.
What’s the deal with that ‘Telephone’ Part 2 Lady Gaga promised?
12 years later the ‘Telephone’ music video has no sequel. The pair have never performed it together despite the song getting three VMA noms and winning the “Best Collaboration” award.
Many have given up hope on ever seeing a ‘Telephone’ part two.
the way gaga said a part 2 would be coming soon back in 2013 and yet almost 9 years after….. https://t.co/CzfxkXm6d2
— saniyah (@sociallysani) March 11, 2022
Literally came here to say.
— never cross a picket line (@PMMDJ) March 11, 2022
I’m still waiting for the part 2 that Beyonce & lady gaga still owe me 😴 pic.twitter.com/7OVTu7QiMM
— YT: Marilyn Rose 🇨🇲 ♏ (@thatssomarilyn) March 11, 2022
2022 would be a phenomenal year for Beyoncé & Lady Gaga to give us Telephone part 2. Same style/concept but make it 2022 the fits would EAT
— ᴀʀɪ 🤎🫶🏾 (@urunfriendlyblk) March 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/dscohevn/status/1502267190896390145?s=20&t=CfoURcAjx5nHttFor9Syng
i dream about the second part every day
— Scheiße Scheiße Scheiße!!! (@nastyslt) January 26, 2022
But I still hold out hope for one reason and one reason only: TikTok.
When did ‘Telephone’ get big on TikTok?
Like many bangers of the noughties, ‘Telephone’ found a new home on TikTok in 2022.
Beyoncé’s rap in ‘Telephone’ specifically became a popular TikTok trend. Even Mary Fitzgerald from Selling Sunset got into it: go off hun.
@tommy_bracco Everyone knows who the real star of this video is (hint hint: it’s not me) #telephone #musicvideo #gaga #beyonce #DIYwithBlock ♬ telephone electrolightz remix – JP 🔥
@themaryfitzgerald 💁🏼♀️📞 #telephone #ladygaga #beyonce #telephonechallenge #sellingsunset #netflix #callme ♬ telephone electrolightz remix – JP 🔥
@paigefarrell_ Dancers do it best #dancers #telephone #uni ♬ telephone electrolightz remix – JP 🔥
@mrteachableteacher Welcome to …. #teachertok. 🔥 #teachersoftiktok #telephone #CorollaCrossStep #foryoupage #fyp #telephonechallenge #teachers #teacherlife ♬ telephone electrolightz remix – JP 🔥
I’m officially asking the TikTok girlies and the Twitter girlies to team up and put their neon yellow cowboy hats on for this. It’s time we persuaded Lady Gaga and Beyoncé to finish what they started.
