Embracing the Chaos of the Music Industry: Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM review
Little Monsters, or fans of Lady Gaga, have waited almost five years for her seventh studio album “MAYHEM,” released on March 7. The follow up to “CHROMATICA” returns to her old roots and iconic 2010 sounds.
In Mayhem, Lady Gaga crafts an album from her personal journey in the music industry. Each song is connected through themes of identity, evolution, and the acceptance of herself.
Starting off strong with “Disease,” the most catchy song on the album, the lyrics are shallow and simplistic, but that doesn’t mean it is not a great song. The beat is techno heavy, something you would hear at the club, and the music video itself is visually captivating, with Lady Gaga being enclosed by walls, showing that Gaga can’t escape the parts of herself that scare her.
“Abracadabra” is another catchy song, with Gaga reuniting the tradition of her putting her name into her songs. The music video references a part from “The Hunger Games”: the “Dance or Die” battle of dancing. Dressed all in white on a black background, Gaga takes on the challenge of fighting her demons back.
Both videos for “Disease” and “Abracadabra” have a character called “The Lady in Red,” revealed to be an inner monologue, obsessed with seeing Gaga fail. In “Disease” Gaga runs away, scared to face her inner demons. In “Abracadabra,” Gaga comes to terms with the challenge (dance or die), where she starts to fight back in the Mayhem Universe.
The “Garden of Eden” gives “Do Something” by Britney Spears vibes, specifically the beat. This song is forgettable, as it sounds too familiar, like one you’ve heard before. Referencing the biblical story of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge, birthing temptation and sin, in this song Gaga is the serpent, singing “Oh take you to the Garden of Eden/Poisoned apple take a bite,” inviting listeners to indulge in seduction and desire, just like the devil did to Adam and Eve.
“Perfect Celebrity,” an electro grunge track, shows how fame can skew people’s perceptions. The lyrics “I’ve become a notorious being/Find my clone, she’s asleep on the ceiling,” show an expectation to be someone on the stage, but then there is the real Gaga. She has explored fame in her past song “Paparazzi” which is an interesting contrast with this song. One is about how celebrities have to control their image and the other is about candid photographs taken without permission.
“Vanish into you” is perfect for “Mayhem,” a heartbreaking start to overcoming grief. This song feels like a tribute to Gaga’s deceased friend and fellow singer Tony Bennett, with three references to his songs. Gaga always wondered if Bennett, who had Alzheimer’s, would ever recognize her again. The lyrics “We were happy to just be alive” shows that Gaga knew in the back of her mind she wouldn’t have much longer with him.
“Shadow of a man” is about how men are more respected in the competitive music industry. Gaga doesn’t want to dance behind the men anymore and instead one up’s them to be treated equally. The song has a funky groove, but also intertwines complex emotions making it uplifting.
“The beast” sounds like a sequel to “Shadow of a man.” Instead of being behind in the shadows of others, she lets her pop-star side shine. Replicating a werewolf, unafraid of showing the world what she can be. The song is an experimental power ballad — very different from Gaga’s past work.
“Blade of grass” is up there with the best ballads Gaga has made, focusing on love, commitment and a reflection of her and Michael’s relationship. The song was inspired by a backyard conversation between her and her fiance. Michael asked Gaga how she would want him to propose to her. Gaga took a blade of grass and wrapped it around her finger, and so the song “Blade of grass” was made. This song is the perfect transition to “Die with a smile,” where Gaga finally gets her happy ending.
Featuring Bruno Mars, “Die with a smile” was added onto “Mayhem” even though It came out six months prior. The perfect ending, it shows that in the midst of darkness we all find our happiness. As the last track finishes, listeners undoubtedly finish the album with a smile.
