by Quincy Kirn & Lydia McAllister
Lady Gaga, an American singer, songwriter, and actress is best known for hits like Bad Romance and Poker Face. She has won fourteen Grammys, two Golden Globes, and one Academy Award. Less than six months after the release of Joker: Folie à Deux, in which Gaga played Harley Quinn, “Mother Monster” is back for more with her seventh studio album labeled MAYHEM, released on March 7, 2025.
The album pops off with a single released back in October 2024, “Disease” is a pop song that explores the ideas of facing one’s deepest fears, learning to live with them rather than reject them. With the tracks’ dark aspects and fashionable music video, it could be described as a song only Gaga could pull off. (Quincy Kirn)
On February 3rd of 2025 Lady Gaga released “Abracadabra”, this single is 3rd on the Apple music chart this week, and it is no surprise the song has been well received with the music video getting sixty-six million views on YouTube. The album continues into “Garden of Eden” with the familiar religious themes associated with Lady Gaga on a track that details a party. The first six songs introduce the album as the dark pop genre Gaga is known for with sounds that remind listeners of David Bowie and the glam rock of the 1970s. In this we hear Lady Gaga referencing her own success with songs like “Perfect Celebrity” and “Zombieboy” the later of these includes allusions to her song “Monster” from fifteen years earlier, this example and the dance-inducing music really make the album a love letter to fans who understand the nod to her own music and the music that inspires Lady Gaga.
Of course, no one can talk about the first seven songs of this album without discussing “Vanish Into You” A song that reminds fans of “Alejandro” but with a stronger dose of 1980s influence, continuing with this Madonna like 1980s effect is “Killah”. The whole album just exudes Lady Gaga in her iconic way through making references to past art but being unafraid to make it her own. (Lydia McAllister)
The compilation continues with the flirtatious bop, “How Bad Do U Want Me”, where Gaga is quick to reference her fiery side. When comparing herself to “the good girl”, she also raises questions, likely to her fiancé and co-writer, about how badly he wants her. In “Don’t Call Tonight”, Gaga revisits the toxic relationship themes that are abundant in her 2009 album, The Fame Monster. Subsequently, “Shadow Of A Man” is all about Gaga taking back her power after being overshadowed in the industry by men her whole career by learning to “dance in the shadow.” Her old-school pop ambience with modern distorted elements continues to innovate the pop genre. “The Beast” is a standout track, delving into themes of human duality while weaving in metaphors about loyalty and being misunderstood. Gaga ends the compilation with a well-known single released in August 2024, “Die With A Smile”. This anthem about love and mortality, features Bruno Mars, and has quickly become one of the biggest songs of Lady Gaga’s’ career, winning her the fourteenth Grammy of her career. Gaga’s return to pop has not only shaken her fans but has also taken the entire pop genre by whirlwind. The dramatic dark themes and vintage beats make this album worth a listen, as she delivers an unpredictable album that lives up to its name. (Quincy Kirn)