madonnaLooks like Madonna is trying to re-spark the controversy that Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" is a rip-off of "Express Yourself."

Days before her MDNA world tour kicks off in Tel Aviv, Madge was caught rehearsing a mash-up of the two very, very similar sounding tracks.

When Gaga first released her hit last year, she was criticized for copying the queen of pop, who offered this backhanded compliment in an interview with 20/20:

I thought, "What a wonderful way to redo my song." I mean, I recognized the chord changes. I thought it was ... interesting.

She also added:

I certainly think she references me a lot in her work. And sometimes I think it's amusing and flattering and well done. There's a lot of ways to look at it. I can't really be annoyed by it ... because, obviously, I've influenced her ...

Madonna diehards have long accused Lady Gaga of being an imitator, while the "Poker Face" singer's Little Monsters swear she's an innovator. Well, the leaked rehearsal footage shows just how seamlessly the songs blend together.

Of course some Lady Gaga fans may think Madonna is just paying homage to an equally dynamic diva. But if you listen carefully, you will hear her end the medley with the line from her Hard Candy track, "She's Not Me," which is a song about Madonna being copied by another woman. Total dig!

Hear for yourself:

What do you think? Is "Born This Way" a total rip-off of "Express Yourself"?


Image via david shankbone/Flickr