What Is Lady Gaga Saying In This WWD Interview, Exactly?

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Lady Gaga's makeup-smeared face stares out from the front page of today's Women's Wear Daily. It's a new look for the pop star, and it's the cover of her new single, "Applause," and it was shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

"Applause" is the first song off her forthcoming album ARTPOP, and Gaga artfully evaded the trade paper's questions about her creative process, upcoming collaborations, and the look she'll be working as she promotes the album. The Lady would allow, however, that the white fabric on the single cover is actually a Gareth Pugh coat in close-up. Otherwise, during the interview it appears the star spoke exclusively in koans, misdirection, and airy-fairy piffle.

Here are some of the most Gaga-ish things Gaga said, presented without comment:

· "The statement is that I'm not one icon. I'm every icon."
· "I need to get your reading first. Otherwise it's not art."
· "I see that there is a void that is leaking onstage, that the performer is leaking, that the art is sort of becoming something else in front of your eyes."
· "I have no restrictions. No restrictions."
· "I'm from New York. I've worked since I was a five-year-old to be a performer. All my life. I deserve to be here. I'm ready."
· "It's a gazing process, it really is. I have to gaze into the work for long periods of time for it to be good."
· "I live for the applause. I live for the way you cheer and scream for me. Give me that thing that I love."

— Jenna Sauers

· Lady Gaga: I'm Every Icon [WWD]