Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Bollywood Remix Is 'Magical,' Producers Say

Composers Salim-Sulaiman says Gaga had a 'very positive response' to their version.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Shortly after dropping a country-fried version of "Born This Way," Indian composers Salim-Sulaiman were approached to do a Bollywood version of the song, breathing new life into the chart-topping track and putting their own Desi seal on it.

"It was kind of difficult to start with," Sulaiman Merchant told MTV News, crediting entertainment website Desi Hits! for helping to curate the collaboration. "It's been such a big track, it's been very popular, and when you consider the style, it's very aggressive. It's got all the stuff that's required to make it a nice clubby track, so for us, the most important thing was: How do you get it into a zone where it's palpable to the Indian flavor? And the first thing we did was bring in a sitar, and that changed the flavor a little bit. We kept the aggression but changed the style and made it a little more four on the floor, a little more house."

Salim Merchant added that "we wanted to bring in an Indian sound ... and give a Sufi touch as well." He explained that after getting over some initial nerves, "It's fantastic how it all turned out. There was this little pressure because the song was #1. I guess once we put that baggage behind ... it was magical. Once we started it, everything came into place. It became a celebration."

While Gaga is a global superstar, Sulaiman said she has yet to really permeate India's pop culture. "Lady Gaga hasn't been as popular as we would like it to be over here, so this track wasn't as big before," he said. "We finished the mix, and now it's getting into the zone where it's gaining popularity. It's a great way to get eyeballs and ears onto Lady Gaga."

Has Gaga given the guys any indication of how she feels about the track? "She has liked it," Salim said. "She did mention she really loves it. When we did send her the final version, we did get a big very, very positive response. She really loved it. That's what she mentioned. I'm really happy. Finally the artist is Gaga about the song."

What do you think of the Bollywood version of "Born This Way"? Let us know in the comments!

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Daniel Radcliffe Admires Lady Gaga's 'Outspoken' Gay Rights Advocacy

'Deathly Hallows' star tells MTV News, 'She has a slightly more flamboyant way of putting her point across.'
By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Daniel Radcliffe
Photo: MTV News

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe has been one of the most active celebrities showing their support for the LGBT community, and his continued efforts on behalf of the Trevor Project has earned him a Hero Award. MTV News caught up with Radcliffe recently and talk turned to his affiliation with the gay rights/ civil liberties causes, so we asked if he'd ever come into contact with another passionate supporter: Lady Gaga. His response wasn't quite what was expected.

"No, never, although my mom and dad, bizarrely, went to her concert," Radcliffe said with a laugh. "Like, my parents at a Lady Gaga concert, which I just think is the coolest, oddest thing ... they're ahead of me on most things pop culture."

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Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll


Mary J. Blige
Photo: MTV News

You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.

In early February, reports began circulating that Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven," working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her Stronger With Each Tear album, due Monday.

But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering another Zeppelin classic — the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" — for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the Essence Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.

"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' — it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."

Blige also said she recorded another new song — a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" — for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.

"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.

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