Lady Gaga

Barney Frank is in love. This is not exactly news — he's getting married in July — but it's still striking, the way a congressman who has cultivated a reputation for prickliness can be so publicly, sweetly sentimental. "It's funny," Frank said last week, musing about his relationship with his fiance, Jim Ready. "I used to listen to these songs about love and . . . they didn't mean anything to me. I would almost be kind of annoyed by them, you know — it's like I was left out. The whole thing takes on a meaning it didn't have.

Lady Gaga has the go-ahead to put on a second concert in the Philippines after Manila authorities decided her first show did not violate the law. The pop diva thrilled fans at her sold-out show Monday night, but some Christians in the Philippines have been protesting her concerts and accuse her of promoting immorality. Authorities say her second gig Tuesday night be will allowed to proceed because they found no violations of the conditions of the special permit they issued for the first concert.

She wobbled onto the red carpet in impossible shoes at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards on Monday. She was followed by a menacing tangle of black dress and sported an electric blue bob that made her look like the bride of Aquaman. Given the unruly spectacle of nearly every Lady Gaga entrance, some observers wonder: Does the pop star deserve the CFDA’s Icon Award? In the past, the CFDA has bestowed the honor upon trendsetters such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Moss, and Nicole Kidman.

Pop singer Lady Gaga arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to cheers from fans and protests from young Christians calling for the cancellation of her upcoming concerts. About 200 Christian young people marched in Manila for a second straight day, holding placards urging the singer to "respect our faith, stop the blasphemy. " The Biblemode Youth Philippines members plan to hold a vigil starting Sunday near the concert venue. They said they are offended by Lady Gaga's music, particularly her song "Judas," which they said mocks Jesus Christ.

The Fame Interscope ESSENTIAL "The Fame" At first blush Lady GaGa's frothy disco confections could easily be mistaken for the mindless booty bait dangled by, say, the Pussycat Dolls. And some of them, like easy, breezy first single "Just Dance," are just that. But listen a little closer to the sly, snarky lyrics and glam grooves on this feisty debut and you'll hear that this former downtown New York spice girl has at least a few things on her dirty mind.

CARLISLE - For sale: Country business on a postage-stamp-size lot. Price: $799,000. Selling point: Lady Gaga was a customer. From the outside, the legendary Blue Jay Recording Studio, built in 1979, has no more flash than a hobbit hole. Many locals don't even know it exists. But down a driveway, tucked into the side of a hill, there's a subterranean space that over the years has attracted some of the biggest names in music, from Aerosmith to Gaga. But with the music industry going through seismic changes, classic studios like Blue Jay are becoming as rare as a 45 rpm record.

When Lady Gaga stepped on stage at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre yesterday to launch her youth foundation, it was hardly a typical appearance for the pop star who has built her reputation with over-the-top theatrics. She didn't hatch from an egg, or appear in a dress made of raw steaks. Instead the 25-year-old Gaga wore a subdued full-length black dress and spoke to a polite audience of students, academics, and educational specialists about the Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit charity whose mission is to "foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is...

You have to hand it to Lady Gaga: She wasn’t really a superstar until she started acting (and dressing) like one. Of course, it helped that you couldn’t turn on the radio this year without hearing “Just Dance’’ and “Poker Face’’ every half-hour. She named her first album “The Fame’’ long before she had any, which makes her follow-up all that more intriguing. There’s a lot riding on “The Fame Monster,’’ which repackages her debut with a bonus disc of eight new songs.

Lady Gaga will release a book of photographs with fashion photographer Terry Richardson. Grand Central Publishing announced Thursday that it will release the book, "Lady Gaga," on Nov. 22. The publisher said the book will include more than 350 color and black-and-white photographs of Gaga. Richardson followed the singer for 10 months between Aug. 2010 and Feb. 2011. That time period includes Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour and the recording of her album "Born This Way. " Lady Gaga will write the book's forward.

When she comes to Harvard in two weeks to launch her Born This Way Foundation, Lady Gaga will have a few special guests: her mom, Cynthia Germanotta, and daytime diva Oprah Winfrey. That's right, Oprah will be by Gaga's side Feb. 29 when the singer unveils BTWF for a crowd of policy makers, nonprofit organizations, foundation folks, and students at Harvard. Other guests will include Deepak Chopra and Harvard Law professor Charles Ogletree. Why Oprah? Highlights of the event will be included in an episode of her new show "Oprah's Next Chapter.

Scores of Christian youths in the Philippines chanted "Stop the Lady Gaga concerts" at a rally Friday calling for the pop diva's shows here to be canceled despite assurances from authorities that they won't allow nudity and lewd acts. Sold-out crowds and angry protests followed Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Asian tour. Fans younger than 18 were banned from the Seoul concerts over complaints her lyrics and costumes were too sexually provocative, and she was denied a concert permit in Indonesia by police under pressure from Islamic hard-liners.

Lady Gaga will have to cancel her sold-out June 3 show in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt the youth. National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said the concert permit has been denied. DeGeneres honored Ellen DeGeneres has earned the nation's top humor prize. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that DeGeneres will receive the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

CARLISLE - For sale: Country business on a postage-stamp-size lot. Price: $799,000. Selling point: Lady Gaga was a customer. From the outside, the legendary Blue Jay Recording Studio, built in 1979, has no more flash than a hobbit hole. Many locals don't even know it exists. But down a driveway, tucked into the side of a hill, there's a subterranean space that over the years has attracted some of the biggest names in music, from Aerosmith to Gaga. But with the music industry going through seismic changes, classic studios like Blue Jay are becoming as rare as a 45 rpm record.

Lady Gaga will have to cancel her sold-out show in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt young people. National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar, responding to the pressure, said Tuesday that the permit for her June 3 "Born This Way Ball" concert had been denied. Indonesia, a nation of 240 million people, has more Muslims than any other. Although it is secular and has a long history of religious tolerance, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

The Conversation With Amanda de Cadenet 11 p.m., Lifetime Who is Amanda de Cadenet? And why are people like Gwyneth Paltrow, Lady Gaga, and Jane Fonda visiting her new weekly talk show on the Lifetime network? You may have heard de Cadenet's name over the years in various capacities: She was once Mrs. John Taylor (the dreamy bassist of Duran Duran), is currently married to Nick Valensi of the Strokes, used to pal around with Courtney Love, and is apparently Demi Moore's best friend.

Taylor Swift is No. 1 again: The singer is the top act on Billboard's "Money Makers" list. Swift earned more than $35 million in 2011, according to the Billboard list released Friday. U2 was second with $32 million. Kenny Chesney, Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne rounded out the top 5. Artists' rankings were based on U.S. income sources from tours, albums sales and publishing royalties. Billboard said in a press release that it didn't factor in "sponsorships, merchandise sales or synchronization deals.

Pop singer Lady Gaga was among the guests at a Silicon Valley fundraiser for President Barack Obama. The intimate gathering was held under a tent in the yard of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg on Sunday night. Gaga wore a black, sleeveless gown and high heels, and with her hair piled up she towered over the Silicon Valley elites who were paying up to $35,800 per couple to attend. Gaga attended as a paying guest. She said last week that she wanted to meet with Obama to discuss her concerns about bullying, but it wasn't clear whether the two would be having that discussion.

Lady Gaga will have to cancel her sold-out June 3 show in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt the youth. National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said the concert permit has been denied. DeGeneres honored Ellen DeGeneres has earned the nation's top humor prize. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced that DeGeneres will receive the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

CLUBS & DANCE NIGHTS MY SO CALLED 90S NIGHT Every Friday at Common Ground's long-running dance night, get down to Ace of Base, No Doubt, Nirvana, and other '90s sensations as DJ Phatmike spins tunes from the decade that brought us "Beverly Hills, 90210" and pogs. Flannel shirts and jelly shoes optional. March 9, 10 p.m. 21+. Tickets: $5 Common Ground. 617-783-2071. www.commongroundallston.com TOMMY TRASH The Australian-born electro superstar has been blowing up recently, pumping clubs full of his signature throbbing, aggressive mixes.