The sensational singer-songwriter and actress Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, otherwise known at Lady Gaga, has developed an extensive music career over the past decade, and she hasn’t slowed down since the 2000s.
The widely known queer icon and pop queen gifted her newest album MAYHEM to the fanbase this month, and it has already proven to be sensational, debuting as no. 1 on Billboard’s top 200 albums chart.
In true Gaga fashion, the album’s theme still includes her iconic singing style: a grunge-pop sound with her own strange twist and her unique voice.
MAYHEM also conveys a deeper message that pertains to Gaga’s life, while still utilizing a similar theme as some of her other albums: lethal love and ruthless romance.
The album features a few songs that have already been released and praised by the public, including “Disease,” “Abracadabra” and “Die With A Smile,” featuring Bruno Mars.
Songs like “Disease” and “Zombieboy” are just two examples of Gaga’s unique style where she juxtaposes themes of both love and horror. Her strange, sometimes disturbing lyrics are what make her so spectacular, and Gaga even acknowledges her own fame within the album.
“Perfect Celebrity” is a work of art within itself, demonstrating Gaga’s flashy personality in the upbeat, 2000s sounding instrumental sequence of the song, but she sings about the reality of being a popular celebrity.
She sings, “I’ve become a notorious being. Find my clone she’s asleep on the ceiling now, can’t get me down,” and “You love to hate me. I’m the perfect celebrity.” Her intention behind the lyrics is a genius way of encapsulating her bold personality. She has had her ups and downs, reflected in other albums, but she is happier, and it reflects in the acceptance of herself in her lyrics.
Gaga also features songs off the album that sound a bit like something from her 2009 album, The Fame Monster. One of these songs and my favorite off the new album, “Garden of Eden,” displays another deliciously scandalous theme: sinful lust.
Gaga is no stranger to lustful songs with Biblical ties or references and one of her most popular songs includes “Judas” (2011), in which Gaga sings, “Jesus is my virtue and Judas is the demon I cling to.”
Like “Judas,” “Garden of Eden” has somewhat of a techno, club or party beat to it, making the song an immediate favorite, but Gaga takes the song to the next level with her confident energy reflected in her sexually empowering lyrics.
Gaga’s confidence and powerful femininity are evident in her discography, and MAYHEM is no different.
Songs like “Shadow Of A Man and “How Bad Do U Want Me” are songs of impeccable musicality while still incorporating Gaga’s signature “maneater” aesthetic.
In “How Bad Do U Want Me,” Gaga sings, “You like my hair, my ripped-up jeans, you like the bad girl I got in me,” and “She’s on your mind like all that time but I got a tattoo for us last week.” This song is not only perfect for any party, prom or event, but it also tells a bit about Gaga’s life and tells her story about accepting herself as a loud, outspoken woman.
Besides the badass beat and unique instrumentation, MAYHEM is making itself a name as the pop party album of the year, and will, no doubt, fit nicely with Gaga’s other timeless bops.