Critics’ Movie Choice for Best Song (2019)

Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (2019)

Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (2019)

Academy Award for Best Original Song (2019)

Golden Globe for Best Original Song (2019)

Yep, you guessed it, we are talking about ‘Shallow’ written by Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson. This hit first appeared in ‘A Star is Born’, released in 2018, which follows a hard-drinking musician (Cooper) who discovers and falls in love with a young singer (Gaga). At one point in the movie, they sing ‘Shallow’ together, and ever since, the song has been all over the place. YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, the News, the radio, and multiple award programs are just a few examples. You would think after hearing it over and over that I would get annoyed, but in fact the opposite has occurred. Instead of avoiding it, I have been searching covers, re-watching the performance at the Golden Globes, and downloading it from iTunes. Why? Because it is such an amazing song.

Here are the lyrics:

Tell me somethin’, girl

Are you happy in this modern world?

Or do you need more?

Is there somethin’ else you’re searchin’ for?

I’m falling

In all the good times I find myself

Longin’ for change

And in the bad times I fear myself

Tell me something, boy

Aren’t you tired tryin’ to fill that void?

Or do you need more?

Ain’t it hard keeping it so hardcore?

I’m falling

In all the good times I find myself

Longing for change

And in the bad times I fear myself

I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in

I’ll never meet the ground

Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us

We’re far from the shallow now

In the shallow, shallow

In the shallow, shallow

In the shallow, shallow

We’re far from the shallow now

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Whoah!

I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in

I’ll never meet the ground

Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us

We’re far from the shallow now

In the shallow, shallow

In the shallow, shallow

In the shallow, shallow

We’re far from the shallow now

The lyrics are one of the many reasons why this song has so much potential. It is a realization between the two characters/singers that they aren’t happy with where they are in life, so instead, they long for this change that they mention multiple times, but by the time they begin to strive for it, they accept that it is too late to turn back, as they are “far from the shallow now”. This message is relatable to so many listeners, adding on to its success.

If Lady Gaga didn’t sing this song, I am confident to say that it wouldn’t have been so popular. Surprisingly, lyrics aren’t the only thing that makes a song worthy of recognition. Lady Gaga is popular for her voice’s ability, along with the emotion that is revealed while she sings. Take ‘Bad Romance’ for example:

Rah rah ah-ah-ah!

Ro mah ro-mah-mah

Gaga oh-la-la!

This fragment of the song stresses what I am talking about. Her voice is able to execute the impossible, so why forbear in a song with straightforward lyrics. Instead of simply singing the word ‘shallow’, she adds her own twist, truly making something special of this masterpiece.

Mark Ronson, co-writer of the song, even states himself on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ that he wanted to do something weird with it just for her. “I love her songs like ‘Bad Romance’. We should do something a little weird. So she took the shallow part, and then she made the sha la la la la [part],” he shared.

Ronson also had an interview with Popsugar journalist Ryan Roschke, as he said, “all my hair stood up, and it felt like someone hugging my soul from the heavens.”

To be completely honest, when I first heard this song, I wasn’t thrilled with it, but as soon as Lady Gaga’s solo hit, and I think you know the part I am referring to, I was intrigued. Thank god I stuck around to experience that moment, or my love and connection to the song would be nonexistent.

Another reason that makes this song so meaningful is the fact that it displays Lady Gaga’s true passion for what she does. For a while, it seemed as if her career was dying down. I haven’t heard much of her since her older songs were popular, but this is her time for redemption.

After winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, Gaga shared, “If you are at home, and you are sitting on your couch, and you are watching this right now, all I have to say is that this is hard work. I have worked hard for this for a long time and it’s not about winning, but what it’s about is not giving up.”

Yes, the song was a huge success and she is most likely making a lot of money, but it obviously is more than just money to her. If a song truly means that much to an artist, then undoubtedly should it be popular for years to come.

Overall, I am not done enjoying this work of art. Will that time come eventually? Most likely. Will it come any time soon? Probably not.