EDM icon Giorgio Moroder has had a long career in the music industry, penning hits for artists like Donna Summer, David Bowie, and Kylie Minogue, and he has no plans to slow down. The Italian hitmaker, 75, revealed to Us Weekly exclusively that he is working with Lady Gaga on her upcoming pop album.
“I’m talking to Lady Gaga right now,” he shared. “She wanted me to help her out and work with her on some material for her album.”
Although the two haven’t met yet because of their busy schedules, Moroder told Us that they will start working soon. “I’m pretty sure one day it’s going to happen,” he assured Us. Of the ARTPOP singer, he gushed, “She is one of those absolute great performers. She’s not only a great singer, she writes lyrics, co-writes the songs, she plays piano live, sings, dances. She is one lady who I definitely would love to work with.”
Of course Gaga isn’t the only artist that he admires. Moroder, whose album Deja Vu — his first studio album in over 30 years — comes out June 16, has also worked with the likes of Britney Spears and Sia. He shared some of his all-time favorite tracks with Us. Find out what songs made the cut (and what he had to say about Rihanna and Beyonce)!
“Tom’s Diner” by Britney Spears
“I always loved the original Suzanne Vega song. This was an interesting situation because Britney called my record company and asked if I was willing to produce this song for her. I started to arrange it and felt it was a little short, so I added the bridge and I became a singer too. So it became a duet with Britney Spears, which is quite interesting for a guy like me who doesn’t sing! She sang it absolutely great. The rhythm and the arrangements are great. I’m very happy with it and so was Britney.”
“Deja Vu” by Sia
“I love Sia as both a singer and a composer so I was obsessed with the song ‘Titanium’ to start. When the record company asked if I would be interested in working with her, I immediately said, ‘Oh god! Yes!’ She took the tracks and went into her studio and wrote the lyrics, sang it and did the harmonies and backgrounds. I love the title and the concept based on deja vu. Sometimes I don’t really understand the lyrics so well, but that’s her way of singing! I think it’s the best song on my new album, actually.”
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer
“I was just thinking the other day — I hear so many remakes of ‘I Feel Love,’ and there isn’t one that’s as interesting as the original. On one hand, the rhythm is so mechanical and machine-like, and then on the other hand there’s this nice melody with good lyrics and she is singing it so romantically. The combination of the romance, the nice melody, and the almost brutal machine rhythm is a great combination, and that’s why it works so well and has influenced so many great dance songs.”
“Call Me” by Blondie
“That’s the song I still end my DJ show with and the song that makes people always jump and sing along the most. It’s an incredible song. When the director first showed me the scene of Richard Gere driving into Los Angeles and you see the ocean and his car driving, I thought immediately it needed a really driving groove. [Debbie Harry] sang it in two or three takes and I took it back to Los Angeles, added a few little things, and that was it. The whole image of Blondie and what they were about was so perfect for the song. I just met her in Mexico and then again in Los Angeles at a party promoting the pictures Chris Stein did. I noticed she still is a diva! Very charismatic and the way people spoke to her was in awe.”
“What A Feeling” by Irene Cara
“First of all, I composed the song when I saw the Flashdance ending where [Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals)] is finally accepted. The music is good and [Irene Cara] did a very, very good job with the vocals. It’s a happy song for all people who are struggling and then at the end they make it. The whole song and the movie worked so well, but the whole movie and soundtrack launched so many trends in fashion. Great combination of fashion, soundtrack, acting, dance, and singing.”
“Giorgio by Moroder” by Daft Punk
“I especially love this one because after I recorded the vocal I didn’t have a clue what they would do! I was so emotional! I was kind of surprised by how well they integrated my vocals of the story of my life with the track. Interestingly, a lot of people in the last few months have approached me in restaurants or on the street and asked if I’m Giorgio Moroder…they say they recognize my voice. I think I’m one of the few people whose autobiography is a song. I must say, almost every performer or artist has the same struggle I talk about. At the time I had a Mustang Delong so I would sleep in the car instead of going home. But that’s how I survived the first several years, because I did not make any money other than performing and composing a little bit. It was a nice time but a struggle. All the hard work eventually came to fruition and I made it.”
“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin
“Composing-wise, it’s almost perfect melodically with the harmony. And Terri Nunn sang it so well! Jerry Bruckheimer wanted to try many different people and then we finally decided Berlin and Terri would be the best. I think her voice and not only the lyrics but the melody is so catchy. It’s so simple, but with the lyrics you keep repeating it and want to hear it again and again.”
“Love To Love You Baby” by Donna Summer
“I love it still! I thought nobody would ever release this! But when my publisher presented it to a music festival in Cannes, a lot of companies were very interested in it and, to my big surprise, we got some great offers. Then we extended it — it was the first extended-length song at 17 minutes, and there was a whole controversy with her moaning and Time Magazine counting the number of times she orgasmed in it. It is one of my most interesting songs, for sure. Even Donna didn’t feel comfortable doing it at the beginning. But then she sang it live and she was moaning. Beyonce did a short version of it in ‘Naughty Girl,’ but I think the girl who could REALLY deliver it is Rihanna. She is SO sexy and if she ever asks me to write a sex song that may be different, maybe not with moaning but a different style, I am more than happy to do it. She’d be perfect for a REAL sex song.”
