Real recession pop is back.
The meat dress. A jump from the top of the stadium during the Super Bowl LI Halftime Show. The iconic “Bad Romance” music video.
Whether listening to a first CD, playing Just Dance on the Wii, or driving home from school with Mom, Lady Gaga was the soundtrack to childhood. While Gaga hadn’t necessarily lost her way in the world of dance music, MAYHEM—with new songs like “Lovedrug”—is a return to tradition. With the initial buzz for the MAYHEM record, many anticipated a drop echoing the eccentricities and diversity of ARTPOP (2013). However, we got some of the best of Gaga from before the 2010s, and this 2025 release returns to this prime. It is a project honest to her sonic history and experience as an artist (see new song, “Perfect Celebrity,” a comment on the relationship the public has with celebrities).
Initially, Lady Gaga’s Grammy-winning single with Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile,” left fans with an excitement for new music, though it also sent mixed signals as to what the aesthetics of the 2025 record would be. However, during the Grammys, the next single “Abracadabra” and its music video were dropped. When this and other lead single, “Disease,” were released, fans became ecstatic for what else she had in store for the album. What we got was a work of art with all of the dance pop and disco influence that a true Little Monster could ever want. “Abracadabra”—one of the greatest mainstream pop songs and music videos from this year —became an addictive song, instrumental in setting the tone for the album: you can’t help but want to dance!
The hype for this album was undeniable, and each track became a hit. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a transition into the brighter, happier weather of spring. “Zombieboy”, “Garden of Eden” and “How Bad Do U Want Me” are the best from MAYHEM, and will certainly be streamed all summer long as anthems of the season.
Gaga—who had not planned to tour the remainder of this year—announced this past month that she will be going on tour for the MAYHEM release. This was due to the overwhelming amount of support from her fans. With the tour now announced, this will surely be a Year of Gaga. I cannot wait to see more love for this gem of an album in the upcoming months.
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