This Friday, after a year-plus break from the studio, Lady Gaga will release the title single from her forthcoming follow-up album, Born This Way. The lyrics, which Gaga released on Twitter last week, promise an empowering anthem for drag queens, cholas, transgenders, “evergreens,” and anyone who rides a subway. As such, it is pre-tailored to inspire basically every type of YouTube parody one could imagine. (“Born This Evergreen Way!” “Born This Lebanese Way!” etc.) So, in preparation for this inevitable onslaught of Lady Gaga video tributes, Vulture has reviewed the best (and worst) of parodies past to determine a formula for surefire Internet success. Future Weird Als: Please read before you film.
Previously: Vulture’s Dos and Don’ts for Parodying “California Gurls” on YouTube