On May 3, pop icon Lady Gaga performed at Copacabana Beach, drawing 2.5 million attendees, making it the highest-attended concert by a female artist. Known for her captivating performances, unique style, and catchy songs, Gaga primarily performed songs from her seventh studio album, “Mayhem,” released on March 7.
“Mayhem” is a refreshing welcome to the overly saturated mainstream pop world, combining classic pop aspects with thoughtful lyrics over a haunting beat.
Gaga’s previous album, “Chromatica,” attempted to have songs with her classic sound. However, fans thought it sounded too generic and simple for Gaga, so “Mayhem” brought back her traditional dance-pop sound while providing strong production, powerful vocals and distinct character with each track to set it apart from other albums.
“Abracadabra” is the second song from the album, which rapidly grew in popularity. When Little Monsters, Gaga’s fans, first heard it, culture writers and fans were thrilled as they felt that the “old Gaga” and her sound were coming back. The song premiered during a commercial break for the Grammys, and the music video and lyrics captured the album’s essence. With a more haunting feel and very catchy dance-pop chorus, it reflects Gaga’s classic style, which is heard throughout the album.
A standout track was “Vanish Into You.” The track opens with strong isolated vocals, then transitions into more of a dance-pop sound. Gaga’s strong lyrics, paired with her impressive vocal range, are highlights of this song. This song is one of Gaga’s many love songs on this album, with lyrics about longing for someone and wanting to disappear into them as she sings: “Can I vanish into you/Like a ghost, oh, vanish into you.”
A song that falls a bit short of the others on the album is “The Beast.” The instrumental and vocal blend is underwhelming compared to other songs, causing it to be less catchy and have a different tone, disrupting the flow in a strange way.
“Mayhem” features many outright love songs and ballads, which could be influenced by Gaga’s engagement in 2024. The less-popular ballad “Blade of Grass” describes how Gaga is content with her relationship: she would be OK with a blade of grass as a replacement for a traditional engagement ring: “Come on and wrap that blade of grass/Around my finger like a cast.” The song is a slower song that consists of strong vocals highlighting her talent and range in the album.
“Mayhem” proves the far-reaching impact of Gaga’s music and her ability to shake the pop world. Making a pop album stand out in an industry filled with mainstream pop albums is no easy task. But Gaga provides a unique, catchy album that provides listeners with more than just songs. It is a multi-emotional experience that is unforgettable from the start to the very last note.
