Lady GaGa, 'The Fame'

The buzz: A favorite of celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who heralds Lady GaGa as the “heir apparent to Madonna,” this 22-year-old New Yorker is doing her best to live up to the lavish praise with clever electro-pop delectably detailing the glamorous life. Signed to Akon’s Kon Live label (an imprint of heavy hitter Interscope), “The Fame” is Lady GaGa’s debut album.

The verdict: Clearly raised on a diet of Kraftwerk, Madonna and Ace of Base, among others, GaGa shines on tunes like “Paparazzi,” “Poker Face” and “I Like It Rough.” But the single “Just Dance,” with fellow Akon protégé Colby O’Donis (and Akon himself in the background), is the queen bee here, with its happily confused chorus of, “What’s the name of this club? I can’t remember but it’s alright, alright—just dance!”

Did you know? No less a superstar than Christina Aguilera has been accused of borrowing from the Lady GaGa playbook, performing an electro-tinged new song at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards while sporting an identical blonde hairdo.