Teeth (Lady Gaga song)

File:Teddy Riley at the 90's Block Party Tour.jpg (pictured in 2017) co-wrote and co-produced "Teeth".]]

"Teeth" was written by Lady Gaga, Taja Riley, Pete Wyoming Bender, and Teddy Riley,{{efn|name=writer|While Pete Wyoming Bender and Teddy Riley are not credited as songwriters of "Teeth" in the album liner notes, they are listed as songwriters by BMI.{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=11129493&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130407210022/http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&keyid=11129493&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2013|title=Teeth (Legal Title): BMI Work #11129493|publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc.|access-date=November 8, 2015}}}} and was produced by Gaga and Teddy Riley. It has been described as a "perverse march" and a "gospel ode" to sadomasochism.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fame-monster-mw0001947970|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|access-date=November 6, 2015|publisher=AllMusic|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117041456/http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-fame-monster-mw0001947970|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}{{Cite journal|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|access-date=November 6, 2015|date=November 18, 2009|journal=Slant Magazine|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828011236/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster|archive-date=August 28, 2013}} Bradley Stern of MuuMuse said the song is "part musical, part country, and a little bit tribal in spots".{{cite web|last=Stern|first=Bradley|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster (Album Review)|url=http://www.muumuse.com/2009/11/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster-album-review.html/|publisher=MuuMuse|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=November 16, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022125/http://www.muumuse.com/2009/11/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster-album-review.html/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} Popjustice described "Teeth" as a "wobbly, stompy, bouncy marching song" that opens with the lyric "don't want no money, just want your sex" and later chants, "show me your teeth!"{{cite web|title=Lady Gaga's 'Fame Monster' – it's a proper album (and a very good one at that)|url=http://www.popjustice.com/briefing/lady-gagas-fame-monster-its-a-proper-album-and-a-very-good-one-at-that/47417/|website=Popjustice|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=October 26, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030231/http://www.popjustice.com/briefing/lady-gagas-fame-monster-its-a-proper-album-and-a-very-good-one-at-that/47417/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}

Lyrically, Gaga asks her lover to display his teeth for her. According to MusicOMH, "In the background another voice intones strange messages, which may or may not revolve around dentistry".{{cite web|title=Track-by-Track: Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster-trackbytrack|work=MusicOMH|access-date=November 16, 2015|date=November 23, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111080522/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster-trackbytrack|archive-date=November 11, 2013}} Music Times said the "skank-y" horns in the track exhibit Riley's work. In an interview with MTV, Gaga explained the meaning behind the song and its lyrics: "It is meant to mean two things, the first one kind of juvenile sexual provocative connotation is about oral sex, but also the monster in the song is fear of the truth. 'Show me your teeth' means 'tell me the truth' and I think that for a long time in my life that I replaced sex with the truth."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2294594/lady-gaga-on-mtvs-its-on-with-alexa-chung-see-the-photos-and-watch-the-interviews/|title=Lady Gaga On MTV's 'It's On With Alexa Chung'|last=Anitai|first=Tamar|date=November 3, 2009|access-date=March 3, 2016|publisher=MTV News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014147/http://www.mtv.com/news/2294594/lady-gaga-on-mtvs-its-on-with-alexa-chung-see-the-photos-and-watch-the-interviews/|archive-date=March 5, 2016}}

In 2013, Teddy Riley sued Gaga for US$500,000 and punitive damages over the songwriting credits, and said his daughter Taja "committed fraud and copyright abuse by earning a deal with EMI for her role in the song".{{Cite web|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/2094/20131103/lady-gaga-sued-producer-teddy-riley-work-fame-monster-track.htm|title=Lady Gaga sued by producer Teddy Riley for his work on 'Fame Monster' track 'Teeth'|access-date=November 7, 2015|date=November 3, 2013|website=Music Times|first=Ryan|last=Book|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117031127/http://www.musictimes.com/articles/2094/20131103/lady-gaga-sued-producer-teddy-riley-work-fame-monster-track.htm|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Gailbraith|first=Alex|title=Lady Gaga sued by Teddy Riley over 'Teeth' royalties|url=http://www.mstarz.com/articles/21128/20131102/lady-gaga-sued-teddy-riley-over-teeth-royalties.htm|website=Music Times|access-date=November 8, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023816/http://www.mstarz.com/articles/21128/20131102/lady-gaga-sued-teddy-riley-over-teeth-royalties.htm|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} Riley said he was not given the 25 percent of royalties he had been promised.{{cite news|title=Lady Gaga sued by Teddy Riley over song fee|url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/02/lady-gaga-sued-by-teddy-riley-over-song-fee|access-date=December 29, 2015|work=Calgary Sun|date=November 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417100643/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-coachella-20170416-story.html|archive-date=April 17, 2017}}{{cite news|title=Lady Gaga sued by Teddy Riley for 'Teeth' Movie Review|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Lady-Gaga-sued-by-Teddy-Riley-for-Teeth/movie-review/25109227.cms|access-date=November 8, 2015|work=The Times of India|date=November 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417100643/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-coachella-20170416-story.html|archive-date=April 17, 2017}} He also tried to sue his daughter and said, "her participation in the creation of the composition, authorship, and ownership [of 'Teeth'] are all false and untrue".{{cite web|last=Clements|first=Ashley|title=Lady Gaga Being Sued by Backstreet Star Over 'Teeth' Track|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/85650/lady-gaga-being-sued-by-blackstreet-star-over-teeth-track|publisher=Giant Digital|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=November 2, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023010/http://www.gigwise.com/news/85650/lady-gaga-being-sued-by-blackstreet-star-over-teeth-track|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} Music Times said Teddy Riley's work on "Teeth" was his only contribution to The Fame Monster and called the track the EP's "smallest".

"Teeth" received a mixed reception from critics; some complimented the song and others called it the album's worst track. Gaga's vocals was compared to those of

Christina Aguilera.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13823-the-fame-monster/|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|access-date=November 6, 2015|first=Scott|last=Plagenhoef|work=Pitchfork Media|date=January 31, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214143551/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13823-the-fame-monster/|archive-date=February 14, 2016}} Slant Magazine{{'s}} Sal Cinquemani said the song "sounds like something from Michael Jackson's last studio album as sung by Christina Aguilera ... that the closest she gets to another human being involves being tied up and bitten is revealing." Blogcritics' Clayton Perry said "Teeth", along with the tracks "Monster" and "Telephone", "thump harder than anything she's released thus far".{{cite web|last=Perry|first=Clayton|title=Music Review: Lady GaGa – The Fame Monster|url=http://blogcritics.org/music-review-lady-gaga-the-fame2/|website=Blogcritics|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=November 13, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417100643/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-coachella-20170416-story.html|archive-date=April 17, 2017}} In his review for Consequence of Sound, Tony Hardy describes the song as a "repetitive chant which gets its point across in the first verse, rendering the rest of it almost redundant".{{cite web|last1=Hardy|first1=Tony|title=Lady GaGa – The Fame Monster|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/12/album-review-lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/|publisher=Consequence of Sound|access-date=November 16, 2015|date=December 4, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023931/http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/12/album-review-lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} Nick Levine of Digital Spy said "Teeth" is "the most sonically intriguing thing GaGa's put her name to, an ode to rough sex conducted over an intense, tribal production that recalls Cher's 'Half Breed' and Fleetwood Mac's 'Tusk'."{{cite web|title=Lady GaGa: 'The Fame Monster'|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/review/a187843/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/|publisher=Digital Spy|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=November 21, 2009|first=Nick|last=Levine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021149/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/review/a187843/lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}

MusicOMH called "Teeth" the album's "biggest curveball" and said in its review, "It doesn't really go anywhere, the chorus getting mixed in with the verses, but it's still a compellingly dancey listen and may be indicative of where she's heading next". MuuMuse{{'}}s Bradley Stern described the song as a "stomping, hoot-and-holler-worthy chant-along" that invites listeners to "cut loose and ... well, sink their teeth into the music". He added, "It's an odd choice to end the album, though a surefire crowd pleaser for live shows if the addictive backing beat is anything to judge by". Popjustice rated the song six out of eight and said it "foray[ed] into Black Betty territory". PopMatters{{'}} Evan Sawdey called "Teeth" Gaga's "most sonically adventurous song yet".{{cite web|last=Sawdey|first=Evan|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|url=https://www.popmatters.com/review/116603-lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/|work=PopMatters|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=November 22, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013032627/http://www.popmatters.com/review/116603-lady-gaga-the-fame-monster/|archive-date=October 13, 2015}} Nick Hyman of Under the Radar said the song was the worst on the album.{{cite journal|last1=Hyman|first1=Nick|title=Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster|journal=Under the Radar|date=January 13, 2010|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_fame_monster/|access-date=November 8, 2015|issn=1553-2305|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014759/http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/the_fame_monster/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} Vulture, an online blog associated with New York Magazine, included lyrics from "Teeth" in its "Best Lines" portal.{{Cite journal|url=https://nymag.com/music/lady-gaga/bestlines/|title=Best Lines: Lady Gaga|website=Vulture|access-date=November 8, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113164027/http://nymag.com/music/lady-gaga/bestlines/|archive-date=November 13, 2015}}

In 2017, Billboard ranked "Teeth" number six in its list of the 100 greatest "deep cuts" in 21st century pop music, writing that "what makes 'Teeth' so remarkable isn't its implied carnality... but the seething aggression lurking not far below the song's surface".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8039437/best-pop-album-tracks-21st-century-deep-cuts|title=The 100 Best Deep Cuts by 21st Century Pop Stars: Critics' Picks|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-01-02}}

File:The Monster Ball - Teeth revamped (cropped).jpg in 2010]]

Gaga performed "Teeth" during The Monster Ball Tour (2009–2011).{{cite web|last=Montgomery|first=James|title=Lady Gaga Goes the Distance at Montreal Monster Ball Tour Kickoff|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1642603/lady-gaga-goes-the-distance-at-montreal-monster-ball-tour-kickoff/|publisher=MTV|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=June 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117040543/http://www.mtv.com/news/1642603/lady-gaga-goes-the-distance-at-montreal-monster-ball-tour-kickoff/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}{{cite web|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|title=Lady Gaga Brings Monster Ball Home to New York|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1658395/lady-gaga-monster-ball-new-york/|publisher=MTV|access-date=November 8, 2015|date=February 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117040541/http://www.mtv.com/news/1658395/lady-gaga-monster-ball-new-york/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} The Riverfront Times said her January 2010 performance of the song in St. Louis was "fantastic" and described it as "a fierce Broadway strut full of vamps, vigor and choreographed dancing which recalled Chicago".{{cite news|last1=Zaleski|first1=Annie|title=Show Review + Setlist: Lady Gaga, Jason Derulo and Semi Precious Weapons at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Thursday, January 7|url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/musicblog/2010/01/08/show-review-setlist-lady-gaga-jason-derulo-and-semi-precious-weapons-at-the-fabulous-fox-theatre-thursday-january-7|access-date=November 8, 2015|work=The Riverfront Times|date=January 8, 2010|location=St. Louis, Missouri|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031195540/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/musicblog/2010/01/08/show-review-setlist-lady-gaga-jason-derulo-and-semi-precious-weapons-at-the-fabulous-fox-theatre-thursday-january-7|archive-date=October 31, 2015}} Gaga performed an "angry version" of the song at Radio City Music Hall a few days later; she "hunched over in an animalistic crouch, surrounded by a predatory-looking pack of dancers" while images of a "ferocious" wolf were displayed.{{cite news|last1=Zinoman|first1=Jason|title=For Lady Gaga, Every Concert Is a Drama|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/theater/23gaga.html|access-date=November 16, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=January 22, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827091042/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/theater/23gaga.html?_r=1|archive-date=August 27, 2017}} She grabbed her crotch and "snarled" to emphasize the song's lyrics; Dan Aquilante of the New York Post said these actions "didn’t seem all that inappropriate".{{cite news|last1=Aquilante|first1=Dan|title=Radio (City) Gaga|url=https://nypost.com/2010/01/21/radio-city-gaga/|access-date=November 16, 2015|work=New York Post|date=January 21, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117063230/http://nypost.com/2010/01/21/radio-city-gaga/|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}

Gaga performed a "concert version" of the song at Lollapalooza in August 2010, during which a guitar solo was played between each iteration of the line, "Show me your teeth!"{{cite magazine|last=Blauvelt|first=Christian|title=Lady Gaga kicks off Lollapalooza: On the scene|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 7, 2010|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2010/08/07/lady-gaga-kicks-off-lollapalooza-on-the-scene|access-date=November 8, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108112047/http://www.ew.com/article/2010/08/07/lady-gaga-kicks-off-lollapalooza-on-the-scene|archive-date=November 8, 2015}} During some performances of the song, she told concert attendees she never lip syncs. In his review of Gaga's April 2011 performance in Montreal, Mike Lepage said the reminder was "needless" and wrote, "What idiot would actually have charged this canary-haired dynamo with that? If anything, you can’t shut the Gaga up, and she has both the chops and the pride to deliver it all live."{{cite news|last1=Lepage|first1=Mike|title=Concert review: Lady Gaga, The Monster Ball, Bell Centre, April 25|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/concert-review-lady-gaga-the-monster-ball-bell-centre-april-25|access-date=November 16, 2015|work=The Gazette|date=April 26, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117061425/http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/music/concert-review-lady-gaga-the-monster-ball-bell-centre-april-25|archive-date=November 17, 2015}} In 2017, Gaga performed the song in her setlist for the 2017 Coachella Festival.{{cite magazine|last1=Weatherby|first1=Taylor|title=Lady Gaga Debuts New Single & Plays Beyonce Collaboration During 2017 Coachella Performance|magazine=Billboard|date=April 16, 2017|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/music-festivals/7760481/coachella-2017-lady-gaga-performance-new-song-debut-the-cure-beyonce|access-date=April 16, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416140522/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/music-festivals/7760481/coachella-2017-lady-gaga-performance-new-song-debut-the-cure-beyonce|archive-date=April 16, 2017}}

In 2011, Discovery Channel used "Teeth" to promote its Shark Week programming.{{cite magazine|first=Mandi|last=Bierly|date=July 5, 2011|title=Shark Week promo: Great Whites and Lady Gaga's 'Teeth'|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/07/05/discovery-goes-gaga-with-first-shark-week-promo-exclusive/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 23, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220923093706/https://ew.com/tv/fabien-frankel-house-of-the-dragon-episode-5-criston-cole-interview/|archive-date=September 23, 2022}} Target Corporation was selling a "singing" toothbrush that plays two-minute excerpts of "Born This Way" and "Teeth".{{cite web|title=Brush Buddies Singing Lady Gaga Toothbrush|url=http://www.target.com/p/brush-buddies-singing-lady-gaga-toothbrush/-/A-15064220|publisher=Target Corporation|access-date=November 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023855/http://www.target.com/p/brush-buddies-singing-lady-gaga-toothbrush/-/A-15064220|archive-date=November 17, 2015}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Fame Monster.{{cite AV media notes|title=The Fame Monster|others=Lady Gaga|year=2009|publisher=Interscope Records|type=Liner notes|id=2726601}}

• Lady Gaga – vocals, songwriter, producer, background vocals
• Pete Wyoming Bender – songwriter{{ref|a|[a]}}
• Teddy Riley – producer, songwriter{{ref|a|[a]}}
• Taja Riley – songwriter
• Dave Russell – recording at Record Plant, Los Angeles, California, audio mixing at Mason Sound, North Hollywood, California
• Mike Daley – recording assistant

{{notelist}}

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{{Lady Gaga songs}}

Category:2009 songs

Category:American contemporary R&B songs

Category:Lady Gaga songs

Category:Song recordings produced by Lady Gaga

Category:Song recordings produced by Teddy Riley

Category:Songs about BDSM

Category:Songs involved in royalties controversies

Category:Songs written by Lady Gaga

Category:Songs written by Teddy Riley