I have been a Lady Gaga stan since the ripe age of 7 years old.
When I tell you that seeing the “Paparazzi” music video for the first time on MTV changed the trajectory of my entire life, I mean it. Gaga was my first favorite singer; she is the reason why I became so consumed by pop culture.
And like any loyal Little Monster, I have been seated for every single thing Mother Monster has released. Even throughout her country era with “Joanne” and jazz era with “Cheek to Cheek,” I was there in the trenches, defending her artistic decisions.
People began to say that Gaga went too mainstream, that she wasn’t weird anymore. She reeled her pop music crowd back in with “Chromatica” in 2020, but returned to jazz with “Love for Sale” in 2021 and “Harlequin” in 2024.
But I knew that the Gaga we all know and love was still there. It would only be a matter of time before she returned to us with her one of a kind pop sound.
Plus, Gaga’s jazz eras were delightful. While we all missed her pop music, if you call yourself a Little Monster and hate on the jazz records, grow up.
You are not one of us.
That aside, pop Gaga came back in full force on March 7 with the release of her seventh album, “MAYHEM.” And let me tell you, it’s everything I’ve been wanting and missing from Gaga for the past five years.
The record opens with lead single “Disease.” It was released in October of last year, and since it dropped, it’s been a constant in my rotation.
“Disease” borrows from an EDM, rock-esque sound. As soon as I listened to it for the first time, I knew that Gaga was 100% back. It’s an insane showcase of her vocal abilities, right off the bat.
Following “Disease” is “Abracadabra,” the album’s second single. Its release was a surprise, as it debuted through a Capital One commercial that aired during the Grammys. Gaga stans on X (formerly known as Twitter) went crazy for this song, and so did I.
“Garden of Eden” is one of my favorite tracks. Somehow, it sounds like 2000s Gaga and modern day Gaga at the same time. It reminds me a bit of her older songs “Money Honey,” “Boys Boys Boys” and “I Like it Rough.”
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The pre-chorus and chorus itself are simply perfection, and this song has been stuck in my head since my first listen.
“Perfect Celebrity” is more of a rock-sounding song, and I’m obsessed. I need to hear this in an arena ASAP. On this track, Gaga sings about her experience with fame and what it’s like to live a double life.
“So rip off my face in this photograph / You make me money, I'll make you laugh / Show me your pretty, I'll show you minе / You love to hate me,” Gaga sings in a way that scratches my brain.
“Vanish Into You” is a beautiful love song that truly puts Gaga’s vocals on display. It’s a track about wanting to disappear into the person she loves — presumably her fiance, Michael Polansky — and it gives me chills every listen.
A funky and danceable track, “Killah” features Gesaffelstein. It’s a bit of an unexpected sound, especially after the stunning run that is the first five songs on “MAYHEM,” but this one has definitely grown on me.
“Zombieboy” and “LoveDrug” are both very 2000s-sounding and fill me with nostalgia. It makes me so happy to hear Gaga giving a nod to her old sound, the sound that caused us all to fall in love with her in the first place.
Some people claim that Gaga reheated Taylor Swift’s nachos on “How Bad Do U Want Me.” This statement annoys me to no end. Why would Gaga ever need to copy Swift when she is literally thee Lady Gaga?
Gaga was doing pop music long before Swift. I hate to break it to Swifties, but Swift didn’t invent pop music with “1989.” Enough with the disrespect — Gaga is the ultimate pop star of our generation, and she’s on her own level.
“Don’t Call Tonight” and “Shadow of a Man” are both excellent, danceable tracks, especially the latter. It’s the kind of song that needs to be played in the club.
“The Beast” is more toned down, but the writing is phenomenal and Gaga’s vocals are unreal. “Blade of Grass” is another love song that’s very reminiscent of 2016’s “Joanne,” and I absolutely love it. This is a personal track on which Gaga shares an intimate moment between her and Polansky.
Finally, the record closes out with “Die With a Smile” featuring Bruno Mars. What is there to say that hasn’t already been said about this collaboration? It’s stunning, and it definitely deserved the Grammy it won for best pop duo/group performance.
Now it’s time for Gaga to bring home Album of the Year for 2025 with “MAYHEM.”
Rating: 10/10
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