American singer Lady Gaga, the queen of all things strange and iconic, reinvented herself with her newly released album “MAYHEM,” released March 7. With her jaw-dropping disco instrumentals and catchy vocals, Gaga breathes life back into what pop really means in the modern era.
Her distinct style in her new album screams ferocious confidence, as if stating, “I am here, I am back.” Her first two songs in the album, “Disease” and “Abracadabra,” both have powerful and catchy hooks. Stepping into a dark, powerful character, Gaga brings back her 2000’s siren-like sound with stylized vocals.
The same style of lyrical writing is seen in “Garden of Eden,” where Gaga cleverly contrasts a Biblical reference to the trashy reality of clubbing and party culture in today’s world. Gaga makes pop music sound fun while sticking to her unconventional and unique style. In “Perfect Celebrity,” she reveals the internal struggles of what it’s like to have your private life on display through charismatic, clashing rock. In choosing such a topic with a contrasting music genre, Gaga shows empowerment through backlash.
“Vanish Into You,” sung through a pop music style, expresses deep affection and the wish to be seen. Lady Gaga sings it similar to her hit “Bad Romance” in that she makes her songs seem larger than life. Like most of her other songs, repetition is a unifying element in her lyrics. This return to 2010’s pop continues through the songs “Killah” and “Zombieboy.”
Gaga’s “How Bad Do U Want Me” reminded me of Taylor Swift’s flirty lyrics in the beginning. With a more emotional approach to this song, Gaga confronts preferred archetypes and beauty standards among women, portraying herself as a “bad girl,” and the man she addresses as preferring a “good girl.” A fall from grace and the shattering of rose-colored glasses is continued in “Don’t Call Tonight,” where she finds power in independence.
Changing the mood and slowing her disco pop groove down, Gaga sets the stage for “Die with a Smile” with “The Beast,” a song in which Gaga’s impressive vocals are still on full display. Following these storytelling lyrics about a dangerous man, Gaga ends her album with the banger “Die with a Smile,” featuring Bruno Mars, which was earlier released last year.
All in all, I enjoyed the fact that Gaga kept her authentic style through the decades. MAYHEM revived 2000’s and 2010’s Gaga pop, which I imagine will be played at large social events. Modern sound technology and Gaga’s powerful vocals proved to be revolutionary in her new album.
Gaga’s album cover represents her breaking through fears of returning to the pop music industry. In breaking the mirror that always faced her, she shows that something new and beautiful can be created through embracing creative chaos. (Graphic/Alina Sukhovskaya)
