For a pop star who has transcended, revitalized and revamped a rather watered down and commercial genre, “Born This Way” should have been epic. Instead, the new single by the meat-donning Gaga is a regurgitated bore. And yes, it’s just too damn similar to Madonna. (And don’t give me that “homage” BS.)

It’s not a terrible pop tune. It’s catchy and encompasses a positive and powerful message, which I can get behind. It’s just been done before. Repeatedly.

Lady Gaga stomped through the scene just a few years ago, demanding the spotlight and usurping the throne from the Katys, Britneys, Mileys, and (GASP) Madonnas of the past. With The Fame and The Fame Monster, Gaga was fresh, original and insanely daring at a time when the industry and audience weren’t quite ready for the bravado. She got weirder and quirkier by the second, eventually winning the hearts of millions. But “Born This Way” feels like a step in the wrong direction. Gaga already battled (thrived upon?) numerous comparisons to Madonna, and has even been classified as a modern day Madge…so why stand so close to the fire?

With excessive squawking about how amazing her new album is (“my absolute greatest work I’ve ever done” and “the greatest album of this decade”), is it wrong for my expectations to be absurdly high? She is, after all, the most polarizing and controversial artist currently in the mainstream eye. The track should be one-of-a-kind, with Gaga’s keen sense of style stamped all over it…not the exact opposite. Instead of trying to be the voice of a generation, she should work on staying ahead of the curve and not succumbing to who her fans want her to be.

Hear it for yourself: