After the 2020 dance-pop album, “Chromatica,” fans have yearned for Lady Gaga to release music reminiscent of her earlier works. The singer’s latest album, “MAYHEM,” wonderfully fulfills these wishes — despite some tracks still feeling somewhat restrained.
“MAYHEM” encapsulates all of the best elements of Gaga’s debut album, “The Fame.” She explores similar themes and imagery of nightlife, romance and stardom. It feels like Gaga is directly in conversation with her younger self on this album, and it’s thrilling to hear. Plus, she is clearly having fun experimenting with genres as she jumps from funk to grunge to pop. “MAYHEM” fits nicely as the more mature, older sister to “The Fame,” and reminds viewers who Gaga truly is — an experimental boundary pusher.
“Abracadabra” was an instant hit when it premiered during the Grammys, and for good reason. In this ultimate dance-pop track, Gaga explores the magical feeling of nightlife. She sings, “With a haunting dance, now you’re both in a trance / It’s time to cast your spell on the night.” Dancing to this track’s bouncy beat and strong witchy vocals is impossible to resist. Gaga is at her best when she’s not taking herself too seriously, and the lyric “Abracadabra, morta-oo-ga-ga,” serves as a prime example.
“Zombieboy” delivers magic in a different way as it emulates sparkly ’80s funk. Clapping, chanting, spunky keys and eccentric lyrics come together to create a celebration of life itself. Gaga describes a montage of nights out that lead the partiers to feel like zombies come morning — transforming what likely is a horrible headache into a fun collection of memories. This song invites listeners to party their hearts out and throw away their worries of any consequences — and is undeniably a highlight of the album.
Gaga then shifts gears from dance-pop to a darker, grungier sound. “Perfect Celebrity” approaches the singer’s feelings and reflections about balancing her persona and her true self in the public eye, as well as her general frustrations with the music industry. She sings, “I’m made of plastic like a human doll / You push and pull me, I don’t hurt at all.” Her anger shines through in her vocals as she growls and shrieks the lyrics. This harsher sound of this track contrasts nicely against the previous upbeat dance tracks. The song’s deeper meaning stands out among the lighthearted content of the others, adding a necessary note of maturity to the album.
In the latter half of the album, Gaga switches gears again, leaning into a pure pop sound. In “How Bad Do U Want Me,” Gaga sings to her partner, challenging their one-dimensional, idealized version of her. She phrases it, “The good girl in your dreams / Is mad you’re lovin’ me / I know you wish that she was me.” The simple melody and instrumentals on this track feel akin to Taylor Swift’s “1989” album. However, it feels inauthentic and restrained for Gaga — much like the work she put out on “Chromatica.” Gaga thrives with an eccentric, avant-garde sound, and this track is unfortunately anything but that.
However, when she strips the sound back on “Blade of Grass,” it totally works. With dramatic piano, a slow beat and her powerhouse vocals, Gaga creates a beautiful love song. She recounts a sweet moment with her partner where a blade of grass serves as a wedding ring, “Come on and wrap that blade of grass / Around my finger like a cast.” This lyric feels especially sweet if listeners associate the cast she’s singing about as a source of healing. Her belts are stunning and remind listeners of her work in “A Star Is Born.” Not many artists could pull off an emotionally charged song about grass, which further emphasizes Gaga’s one-of-a-kind charm.
The high points of this album are certainly the ’80s funk and dance-pop tracks where Gaga is extra playful. Her more emotional tracks are also fantastic and strike the necessary balance between the frivolous and serious lyrical choices. Luckily, the majority of the songs on the album fit into one of those two categories. However, when she falls into a more limited, generic sound, she deprives listeners of her unique sound. Still, “MAYHEM” represents an exciting recentering for Gaga that properly feeds longtime fans.
Contact Skylar Boilard at [email protected].