Ten reasons why I like Lady Gaga:

1. She annoys feminists and misogynists alike. Feminists are offended by her little-girl-bondage look, and misogynists are offended by her success and ubiquity.
2. She has a rather odd face. When she was a brunette, she apparently kept being mistaken for Amy Winehouse.
3. She treats her career like a New York art school project, which of course is what it started as.
4. Her first album Fame (written when she was an obscure NYC novelty act) is all about sex and celebrity and being really, really, famous.
5. Her look is informed by Glam Bowie and Mechanical Animals-era Marilyn Manson, as well as Geisha makeup and bondage gear. And Minnie Mouse. And no pants.
6. She is named after the Queen song.
7. She sang with the Pet Shop Boys at this year’s Brit Awards dressed in a costume resembling a giant Royal Doulton teapot.
8. Her videos are satisfyingly bonkers and a lot more interesting than a lot of Top 20 stuff out there.
9. The album is quite good, actually.
10. Because I’m a dirty old man.