I hope for Amos that experience has taught her not to care about tabloid bullshit, and if that’s the case, it’s not difficult to see her speaking in a less guarded manner to the press than one without a time-tested fanbase, i.e. she’s no newcomer either courting controversy or taking pains to appear nice/inoffensive.

That’s not to say Gaga is one of these. Opinion – what I know of her songs I find annoying (and catchy), though she’s acting impressively strangely and getting more and more popular which is possibly a feat we’d all love to try.

Her individualistic approach hasn’t seemed to have inspired more individualism in itself, rather more idolatry and following suit. Again, I won’t blame her, the world has a choice, but the industry she’s stepped into has a long history of manipulating the public and especially those young and impressionable (though you don’t have to be young to be impressionable, there are plenty of culturally spoon-fed adults…) and she is making them pots of money, with a relatively small cut (tens or hundreds of millions, who knows) for herself.

Tori has a right to diss Stefani, and Stefani has a right to be rich and famous. But I think the original point, Tori comparing the two ends of the spectrum of songwriters… doesn’t matter whether it’s valid or not, clearly they are both songwriters… Chiefly, Ben, I don’t get why you’re so mad about it. Maybe that’s a bigger question – where’s the beef?

Whether Gaga actually stays around as long as Madonna has yet to be seen. Amos is taking a pretty safe bet here, but probably not as safe as she may think; Gaga has shown herself to be (in my view) surprisingly savvy in carving out a niche.

Tori found a market through Kate Bush and the women power garbage

that was so huge and acceptable at that time. She sold half her records doing covers of other artists material, and she fizzled out of the mainstream many moons ago. Now she has something to say about mainstream pop tarts. She could have voiced her opinions about Xtina, Spears and other Mickey Mouse Club Kids, but no she’s pissed because Lady Gaga comes on the scene like the joker, demanding fame and fortune while selling the underground anti-fashions as acceptable and what’s hot. Meeting the queen of England like a dominatrix cinderella. If this didn’t bother Tori so much she’d write a song about it, rather than a scandalous diss advertised as insight and constructive criticism. It’s hilarious! At least Gaga is doing it right. She’s supposed to be mainstream, remember ? Tori shouldn’t worry about it. Gaga may be a fad, but no one has ever taken a peepshow freak-show and married it with typical pop music. I think that Tori is just jealous cause she’s never set her piano on fire, had blood gushing from her body, on top of singing great vocals, good hooks, and had 8 year old kids watching while singing bubblegum pop at the same time. Is Gaga here to stay or not ? Who cares ? Lady Gaga is a lot more entertaining than the same old emotional song about religion, sex and leather that Tori keeps writing on every album. Gaga isn’t here to compete with Tori Amos, Peaches, Kelly Osbourne, Bat For Lashes or any other artist that have challenged her. These big names could have spoken about Beyonce, Spears, Xtina, Hillary Duff, and perhaps they have, but Gaga seems to be getting the attention, and something tells me it’s because they’re jealous in some weird way. Why go out of your way to diss somebody who shouldn’t be your competition, especially if they’re just a meteor right ?

She’s not saying they’re the same, she’s saying the exact opposite: she’s criticizing Lady GaGa based because of the ways in which they’re different. The fact that they’re very different entertainers isn’t under dispute by anyone.

I really don’t see why this is difficult to understand.

You keep referring to the Neil Young reference as “absurd” and “stupid,” but I don’t see why. She didn’t say Lady GaGa was like Neil Young. In fact, she made a point to say they were different. Her entire point was based on this difference. And the way in which they are different is the angle from which her criticism is coming from.

Amos doesn’t like fads, and she doesn’t like performers who only aspire to be a fad. To emphasize this point, she mentioned a very different type of performer who has shown great longevity and consistent relevance (Neil Young). You may disagree about the relative value of pop-culture “performers” like Lady GaGa, but there’s nothing inconsistent or irrational about what Amos is saying. She is criticizing an example of transient entertainment by highlighting the value of lasting entertainment.