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The video for “Bad Romance,” the first single off Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster, revealed a darker side of Gaga not seen before its release in November 2009. Sure, there had been glimpses most notably in her video for “Paparazzi,” from her previous album but in “Bad Romance,” she brought out her claws. Literally. Gaga’s iconic claw gestures can be traced back to this video. “Bad Romance” also debuted her “Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah/ Roma-ro-ma-ma” monster dance routine that has become as integral to her image as the one-gloved crotch grab was to Michael Jackson’s. “Bad Romance” is Gaga’s version of a love song: her romance is “ugly” and a “disease,” illustrated by the singed corpse of her former lover. The video’s Alexander McQueen costumes have become synonymous with her aesthetic. And though Gaga’s later videos would be even more elaborate, “Bad Romance” serves as the best example of what she does best: performance pop.