After several largely successful acting performances and accompanying albums, Lady Gaga is back with her own sound. On Mayhem, Gaga presents a mature version of her original style. The first singles promise a powerful pop album. This trend does not fully continue throughout the album, but that does not make it any less impressive. Lady Gaga is back!
After Chromatica in 2020, Stefani Germanotta did not release any more albums under the name Lady Gaga. Last years, she featured on The Rolling Stones album, featured in numerous movies, Harlequin was released, an album inspired by her character in Joker 2, but the signature Gaga sound was absent. That changes now.
Mayhem evokes memories of the successful Born This Way from 2011, particularly through the first singles Disease and Abracadabra. Both are strong pop tracks with a powerful beat and fantastic vocals that make it almost impossible to stand still.
These two tracks set the tone for Mayhem. Although the rest of the album does not always reach the same heights, it contains strong songs that will likely receive that final push towards a hit when performed live. Like Chromatica, Mayhem is an album that will shine even more in a live setting.
Mayhem is predominantly electronic
If there is one thing you cannot accuse Lady Gaga of, it is sticking to just one genre. She started as a pop artist but has also explored country and singer-songwriter styles.
On Mayhem, she once again explores new genres. Many tracks are built around electronic beats and sounds, complemented by electric guitar. This results in fresh, funky grooves that give the album a unique atmosphere. Killah and Garden Of Eden are strong additions that highlight this innovative sound within Gaga’s discography.
This electronic trend is present in most tracks, which sometimes makes certain songs resemble each other, particularly in the first half of the album. For instance, Zombieboy and LoveDrug have noticeable similarities. Fortunately, the second half of the album provides some welcome variety with a few ballads.
Dark themes
Lady Gaga has long been known for her unique style—not only in fashion and performances but also in her musical themes. This time, she has chosen a darker theme. The title Mayhem already hints at this, but she carries it through both lyrically and visually.
The album progresses from darkness to light. Disease and Abracadabra open the album, featuring not only darker lyrical themes, such as internal dialogues about mental struggles, but also a darker vocal delivery. With Garden Of Eden and Killah, Gaga continues this trend before shifting her focus to a (former) relationship. From LoveDrug to How Bad Do U Want Me and Don’t Call Tonight, her perspective on a man changes, creating a strong narrative arc within the album.
That Lady Gaga is currently happy in love is evident in the final tracks. Blade Of Grass is a heartfelt tribute to a moment shared with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, who also received a songwriting credit.
But the ultimate and most affectionate closer of this album is one of the biggest hits of the past year: Die With A Smile featuring Bruno Mars. This song has won over countless hearts in recent years. The power ballad from these two phenomenal vocalists is the perfect ending to an album that moves from darkness to light. Mars is the ideal feature here. Their voices and the arrangement make the song sound as if it has existed for years. It could have been released in any musical era. A timeless song that does justice to the timeless love they sing about. And with a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance already in the bag, Mayhem was a Grammy-winning album even before its official release.
Lady Gaga Mayhem tour?
What Lady Gaga has in store for us next will soon become clear. With the release of Mayhem, her schedule is packed with promotional activities, including her own press conference and an appearance as both host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Additionally, several major concerts are already being announced. Will “Mother Monster” finally go on tour again? We will find out soon enough. Until then, turn up Mayhem to full volume and dance along!
