Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Contact
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Arab Radio Podcast intro
    • Radio Baladi Detroit
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Toggle search form
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport  Activism
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022 American Arabs
  • Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ
    Jordan bans 12 news sites for ‘spreading media poison’ following corruption report Arab World
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech Activism
  • ADC creates emergency fund to defend people who are being punished for expressing views on the American-sanction violence by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Photo courtesy of ADC
    ADC Condemns ADL, Rep. Torres’ Defamation of Dr. Lara Sheehi Activism
  • UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories warns of a second Nakba  Arab World
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month Activism
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders American Arabs
  • Stuffed Grape Leaves. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    A recipe on how to make Stuffed Grape Leaves with lamb, ox tail and rice American Arabs
  • Andrew Boutros, interim US Attorney Northern District of Illinois. Photo courtesy of the US Attorney's Office
    Andrew S. Boutros Takes Oath of Office as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois American Arabs
  • Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians March 18 2025
    Palestinians demand investigation of Israeli war crimes in Gaza Strip Arab World
  • Illinois Muslim Action Day April 9 2025
    Illinois Muslim Action Day Policies at April 9 Statehouse News Conference American Arabs
  • Investigation demanded in March 23 massacre of 15 first responders by Israel's military in Rafah
    Investigation demanded into Israel slaughter of First Responder in Rafah on March 23, 2025 Arab World
  • More than a dozen candidates running for various local offices in the Chicagoland suburbs attended an Ifatr dinner Thursday, March 13, 2025 hosted by the Arab American Chamber of Commerce at the Jerusalem Banquet Hall in Bridgeview.
    Candidates promise fairness and engagement at Arab Chamber Iftar event March 13 Activism
  • Orland Fire Protection District, Fiscal Voices, receive endorsement of the Arab American Democracy Coaliton
    Independent candidates for Orland Fire receive Arab and Muslim American endorsement Activism
Lady Gaga courtesy of Wikipedia

Lady Gaga causes ruckus, again, over Super Bowl song

Posted on February 6, 2017 By rayhanania 2 Comments on Lady Gaga causes ruckus, again, over Super Bowl song
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Lady Gaga causes ruckus, again, over Super Bowl song

Superstar singer Lady Gaga has lit up Social Media with renewed speculation over why she included the word “Lebanese” in one of the songs she performed at the 51st (LI) Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, called “Born This Way.” The word popped up in a set of song lyrics (called a bridge) referencing victims of discrimination. What did she mean?

By Ray Hanania

Superstar singer Lady Gaga lit up Social Media with renewed speculation over why she included the word “Lebanese” in a song she released back in 2011 and that she performed at the 51st (LI) Super Bowl Sunday Half-Time show on Feb. 5, 2017.

The song is called “Born This Way” and the word “Lebanese” popped up in a set of song lyrics (called a bridge) referencing victims of discrimination.

The question “What did she mean?” has been renewed from when it was first asked when the song was released six years ago and was banned by the Lebanese government at the time.

It has sparked a huge debate on Social Media platforms like Google+, Facebook and Twitter, but the songstress has not commented publicly yet.

Lady Gaga’s performance at Sunday’s Super Bowl was roundly praised by everyone from politicians to sports figures for the very fact that it avoided the kind of controversy that past performances sought through controversial imagery.

Lady Gaga courtesy of Wikipedia
Lady Gaga courtesy of Wikipedia

Lady Gaga’s performance was all about entertainment and she began the spectacular show by asking everyone to enjoy themselves.

Here are the lyrics in question:

Don’t be a drag, just be a queen,
Whether you’re broke or evergreen.
You’re black, white, beige, chola descent,
You’re Lebanese, you’re orient.
Whether life’s disabilities,
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased.
Rejoice and love yourself today,
’cause baby you were born this way.

You can view the full lyrics of the song on Google Play by clicking here.

(This section of her song is called the “Bridge,” which denotes lyrics that are performed between the main lyrics and the chorus, or as a place where a songwriter expands on a theme in a different melodic manner sometimes)

What did she mean by including Lebanese? The song was originally banned in Lebanon in 2011 as the Lebanese government took offense to including the reference to “Lebanese” in her lyrics in the context of others being discriminated.

At the time, the Lebanese “General Secretary Department” criticized the song for being “anti-Christian,” and even fans of Madonna accused Lady Gaga of ripping off Madonna because the song sounded very similar to Madonna’s singing style. They called the song lyrics “bad taste.”

Lady Gaga wrote the song in 2010 and it became the lead single of her 2011 album of the same name, “Born This Way” which evolved out of her Monster Ball Tour.

She said it was intended to reflect empowerment for women and Gays and she said the song reflected who she is.

The song received high praise and was considered the fastest selling song on iTunes at the time, setting a new Guinness World Record. It won a 2011 MTV Video Music Award in the U.S. and in Europe.

Just hearing the word “Lebanese” made my ears perk up during Lady Gaga’s spectacular performance and it surprised many Arabs around the world who were unaware of Lebanon’s ban against Lady Gaga’s song in 2010.

Her performance was awesome and amazing. The fact that it avoided all of the politicization that many entertainers seek at high profile events like the Super Bowl, which attracted more than 114 million viewers just in the United States, made her performance so memorable and enjoyable. The coveted 30-second Super Bowl Ads reached a new record of $4.5 million each.

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta to a Catholic family in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem at Super Bowl L (50).

Personally, I didn’t know whether she intentionally meant to single out the Lebanese people and Lebanon, or just threw it in for rhythmic effect. Maybe she was trying to make a point about the Lebanese being more enlightened and opened than the rest of the Arab World. The Lebanese, though, have always been at the forefront of breaking barriers and in free expression, struggling in a Middle East that has increasingly seen religious extremism and repression dominate everyday events and the news.

newswire info
  • About
  • Latest Posts
rayhanania
rayhanania
Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israelisnipers shooting and killing hospital workers in Gaza - December 11, 2023
  • CAIR Condemns Israeli Executions of Wounded, Unarmed Palestinian in West Bank   - December 11, 2023
  • Arab and Muslim American voters face a “simple choice” between Biden’s inhumanity and Trump’s edgy politics - December 9, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
American Arabs, Arab World, Bloggers, Christian & Muslim, Commentary, News Tags:controversy, Gays, Lady Gaga, Lebanese, Lebanon, Lesbian, Protest, song, women's rights

Post navigation

Previous Post: Is Islam compatible with Democracy?
Next Post: The Majoritarian Evil Creeps into Senate, Congress and the Administration

Related Posts

  • Hunger strike escalates for prisoner Bilal Kayed Arab World
  • Dear Florida Voters from this Concerned Citizen and Reporter Without Borders Arab World
  • Star singer Tony Eid releases latest hit “Lamma Sheftik” American Arabs
  • UNRWA Relay Run for Refugees with Right to Movement Palestine
    UNRWA USA partners in Run with Right to Movement Palestine to raise funds Middle East
  • BDS Israel to End Apartheid in the Holy Land and Save the Soul of Democracy American Arabs
  • GE Israel urged to embrace principles of fairness Arab World

More Related Articles

Jordan nominates “Theeb” for 88th Academy Awards Arab World
Trump, Golan Heights, This American, USS Liberty and Mordechai Vanunu Arab World
Rubio’s humiliation offers break for Middle East peace American Arabs
Read Ray Hanania's columns in the Arab News newspaper Hanania column: Rejection is not a strategy that works for Palestinians Arab News
Mordechai Vanunu Could Be Free for Christmas American Arabs
Israel targets and kills women & children in Gaza attacks Arab World

Comments (2) on “Lady Gaga causes ruckus, again, over Super Bowl song”

  1. Moyakitsya says:
    February 7, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    I hate to tell you this, but apparently “Lebanese” is a coy way of saying “Lesbian” in public. http://fanoos.com/life/lesbanese.html

    Log in to Reply
  2. Ray Hanania says:
    February 6, 2017 at 10:06 am

    Anyone have any speculation on What Lady Gaga meant when she included the word “Lebanese” in her 2010 hit song “Born This way”? Just curious on what other people think …

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Ray Hanania's 4 times a week columns at https://RayHanania.com at Substack

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Photo courtesy of Journalist Abdennour Toumi
    France: Political Compromise vs Political Instability
    August 28, 2024
  • Zakia Restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia
    Arabs eat Middle East food like they are making love
    June 27, 2024
  • Zwar lamb kabob and kufta with white and yellow rice
    Zwar ranked the Best Middle East restaurant in Chicagoland suburbs
    June 8, 2024
  • Pictured: Rahm Emanuel, Afghan activist Salman Aftab who was co-chair of the Iftar dinner, and several non-Arab Muslim leaders. Also pictured is Ald. Joe Moore. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania for Arab News
    Comprehensive look at the failings of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
    January 18, 2024
  • NEWSWIRE
  • CAIR Logo. Council on American Islamic Relations
    CAIR Condemns MIT for banning Class President from Graduation Ceremony over Anti-Genocide speech
    June 1, 2025
  • Arab American community liaison Hassan Nijem, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Basta at the Arab American Heritage Month event hosted by Pappas’s office.
    Pappas honors Arab American business and community leaders for Heritage Month
    April 29, 2025
  • 04-28-25 Pappas Arab Heritage Month
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognizes Arab American Heritage Month by honoring business and community leaders
    April 27, 2025
  • Mike Ghouse
    Celebration of 500th Interfaith Marriage Ceremony
    February 14, 2025

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • NEWS
  • photo credit author Nehemia Gershuni-Aylho www.NGPhoto.biz and Wikipedia
    Emergency Court Motions to Stop Elbit Drone Parts Shipment via Frankfurt Airport 
    June 7, 2025
  • American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh murdered by Israeli soldiers May 11, 2022
    Documentary names soldier it says killed Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022
    June 1, 2025
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Faisal Abbas Book Anecdotes
    Book Review: Arab author shares his anecdotes living in the United Kingdom
    October 22, 2024
  • Columnist Ray Hanania at the ADC Convention in Dearborn with the author Susan Abulhawa
    Book Review: Mornings in Jenin bySusan Abulhawa
    September 14, 2024
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Television set and remote. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
    MBC GROUP unveils MBCNOW, its brand-new groundbreaking entertainment service aggregator
    February 24, 2025
  • ArabCon 2024 Gala Program features Dr. Cornel West, Macklemore, and more
    September 6, 2024
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2025 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme